hgrinolds

Yes, static electricity can be an issue. As someone mentioned, make sure the lens is clean. A mirrored DSLR does provide a shield and, unlike the D600, does not ‘throw oil’ around. However, any sensor would pick up dust once in the camera. I have a Z7 and use the best practices cited. I have not had an issue but do sky shots with each lens change.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

If someone already suggested this, I apologize for the redundancy. I ALWAYS try to remember to turn the camera OFF before changing lenses. The electrical charge when on can attract dust.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

That’s smart!! Maybe Sony will come out with that. It might be worth the upgrade.

I have had dust on my sensor but the rocket blower took care of it. I actually saw the dust land on it! Now I always use the blower just before attaching a new lens and hold the camera facing the ground when putting a lens on while inside the house whenever possible.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

That is not an f stop I normally use nor do I see a need for it except for an occasional landscape shot. Even for that f/16 should be the smallest f/stop needed.

For me, I shoot portraits and people and like large openings for my aperture

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

My daughter does, too. I just never got away from the land, I suppose.

ButchS Loc: Spokane, WA

The OP didn’t say how he/she “manually” cleaned the sensor. If you feel the need to clean the sensor... First try a rocket blower. DO NOT use your breath or compressed air. If you need more than the rocket blower, ONLY use a sensor cleaning kit you can buy at Adorama or B&H. And follow the instructions to the letter. Best is to have it cleaned professionally.

Your breath has moisture in it, that is bad for the sensor. Compressed air has a propellant in it. The air is not pure, also not good for the sensors.

The most important thing is taking great care when changing your lenses. Your sensor should be left unprotected for the bare minimum amount of time. Avoid tilting the camera UP and allowing dust to settle inside. Before removing the lens from your camera, prepare the lens you want to mount by removing the rear lens cap. When ready, remove the previous lens from the camera and immediately mount the next lens. Avoid changing the lens in an outdoor setting, if possible. Cover the mount with a body cap if it is going to be open for more than a few seconds. Never let the camera sit for more than a few seconds without either a lens or a body cap In place.

One of the advantages that a DSLR has over a mirrorless camera, is that the sensor is protected by a closed shutter and a mirror when the lens is being changed. Making them easier to use in a dirty environment.

skyspy

What appears to be smudge is in fact lint. When the lens is stopped down all the way, the artifacts are in better focus and can be easily identified. This artifact has been removed with a blower.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...just experienced a "dirty" sensor on my Z6 and promptly cleaned it. What you say is golden, I'm notoriously too quick to act in any given situation so pay a tax on that behavior. But now will be *very* aware of when I dismount/mount any new glass. I mean, just look at how easy it is to clean those sensors! Because they are right there, almost poking out of the hole!

skyspy

With the lens stopped all the way down what appears to be a smudge is definitely lint. It has been removed with a blower. I believe I introduced it when I cleaned the body cap with a piece of lint free lens tissue!

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

Artifacts caused by any lint in the system might be more noticable because of diffraction. I have been using Fuji mirrorless cameras for several years now and have never noticed any of the problems you are describing. But then, I have never used F16 and above. If anything I would expect the mirrored systems to be dirtier because of the mirror slapping around next to the sensor. If you take care in changing lenses, there should be no debris problem with a mirrorless which provides lens cleaning on both on and off. I suspect your problem has much to do with the technique of lens changing and your environment. Also the artifacts in the sample image appear to be out of focus and I would suspect they are in or on your lens rather than on the sensor.

skyspy

Cleaned using manufacturer instructions and a blower. I still prefer using prime lens instead of zooms for various reasons. I do have several zooms for specific events.

Selene03

I don't think it is so random. I have had way worse problems with dust on all of my Sony cameras than any other cameras I have owned except for the Nikon D600, which was atrocious. The Sonys are almost as bad, but at least one can mostly blow the dust off with a rocket blower. It is my one complaint about Sony cameras (now an a7riv). I have had one dust spot in all of my combined Canon gear--many cameras for many years. It was after using an old push-pull lens in an extreme dust storm in Death Valley. Sonys get dust no matter where you use them or how careful you are changing lenses.

Abo

Easy... Fast aircraft, and fly West... stops the sun rising

skyspy

That is also the camera I'm using! I didn't mention the make before because I didn't want to influence the responses. Does it matter what quality setting you use? I'm using raw.

skyspy

I just did another test. I do believe the higher the quality setting(61 megapixels) the worse the problem is. At standard quality (24 megapixels) you can't see the artifacts at any f-stop setting. So what I'm seeing are very, very small and aren't visible until higher quality settings