Photo Spot Question (Page 2): This is dirt or dust on your camera's sensor. It comes and goes because its visibility is dependent on the background color and illumination. Go outside...

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

jaymatt wrote:

Notice the dark spot on the photo.

This spot appears intermittently on my photos when using my 18-55 zoom (Canon kit lens). It is not a dirt spot, as it simply comes and goes for no reason that I can think of. It always appears in the same place on the image. It has not happened with any other lenses.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what causes this?

This is dirt or dust on your camera's sensor. It comes and goes because its visibility is dependent on the background color and illumination. Go outside on a sunny day and photograph a white sheet of paper completely filling the frame and with your camera out of focus, then view the image on your computer monitor. If the spot is visible in about the same place it confirms that your sensor needs to be cleaned.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

My vote, and personal opinion based upon my experience, is that what you have is on the sensor. Clean it, or have it cleaned, and it will go away. Best of luck. Happy Holidays to all!

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

You know, if you have had the camera a long time and you never cleaned the sensor, maybe you can skip the testing and just clean it anyway.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Thanks, all. You’re beginning to convince me that it’s the sensor. When and if the sun ever shines again in Indiana, I’m going to give Bob's test a try.

If that is the problem, I really don’t feel comfortable cleaning it myself, so I’m planning to take it to nearby Jack’s camera in Muncie to have the job done.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

jaymatt wrote:

Thanks, all. You’re beginning to convince me that it’s the sensor. When and if the sun ever shines again in Indiana, I’m going to give Bob's test a try.

Turn on the lights and you can use the ceiling or tape a piece of blank paper to a wall under a lamp, just focus on the edge of the paper to give the AF a contrast to focus on. Then recompose on the center white. But, knowing where the dust is usually isn't important unless you're doing a wet cleaning that a blower can't remove.

ELNikkor

Spots like that showed up on my sensor while I was flying past Mt. Hood from Portland Intl. Airport. I was befuddled, as I hadn't removed the lens since shooting the day before, and none of those shots showed the blotches. I thought it might be the dreaded "shutter oil splatter" in my new D750. But, on careful consideration, I remembered that TSA had taken my camera for "inspection" when I was going through security. I believe one of them was talking (or coughing, or sneezing) at the time they removed the lens. So, now I have some TSA splatter on my sensor. It only shows up on shots where there is a lot of brightness in the area affected, so I simply use the retouching tool when necessary. I'm not going to go through the hassle/expense to have the sensor cleaned just because of TSA's carelessness. Anyone else out there have a similar experience?

JohnFitzharris Loc: Arizona

Dirty sensor. I had the same thing on My D7000, and after having it cleaned, it was gone. Cost me $65. The tech said either changing lenses or the frequent use of a zoom could be the underlying cause.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Since we are on this. Does anyone have an opinion on the best sensor cleaning kit? I have not use enough of them to have an opinion. The last one I used came 12 swabs to a pack and I have only used 3 so far.

RRS Loc: Not sure

jaymatt wrote:

But that’s the thing--I don’t see it when I change lenses. It doesn’t appear when I shoot with my 50mm, nor my 70-300, only the 18-55 and then intermittently.

It might still be there but is hidden by the subject. Take your 50mm lens and shoot a white wall or the sky with no clouds and if it's on the sensor you will see it.

ClarkG Loc: Southern Indiana USA

It is DEFINITELY a spec of dust on your sensor. It will only show up in smaller apertures. Be careful, but it is not hard to clean your sensor if you do some homework about how to do it beforehand.bv

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

jaymatt wrote:

Notice the dark spot on the photo.

This spot appears intermittently on my photos when using my 18-55 zoom (Canon kit lens). It is not a dirt spot, as it simply comes and goes for no reason that I can think of. It always appears in the same place on the image. It has not happened with any other lenses.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what causes this?

Does it only appear with one lens? Clean that lens. Does it appear with other lenses in the same place? It is something on the sensor. Clean the sensor.

yorkiebyte Loc: Scottsdale, AZ/Bandon by the Sea, OR

CHG_CANON wrote:

Classic sensor dust. You might see it if you do a ... (show quote)

Yes! This. .... Your small apertures will show you the dirt on your sensor. Easy cleaning fix. Look on U.tube for Canon sensor cleaning.
... Whoohooo!!

yorkiebyte Loc: Scottsdale, AZ/Bandon by the Sea, OR

dsmeltz wrote:

Since we are on this. Does anyone have an opinion on the best sensor cleaning kit? I have not use enough of them to have an opinion. The last one I used came 12 swabs to a pack and I have only used 3 so far.

I use the swabs also... Work terrific! Have cleaned my D90, D3100, D3200, D7000 and D7100. If I can do it, ANYONE can!!
Sensors get dirty, it seems, no matter how hard I try to keep dirt out! I rarely shoot at apertures smaller than f 5.6..... but still......less post work is always good (at least for me!!)!

Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)

jaymatt wrote:

Notice the dark spot on the photo.

This spot appears intermittently on my photos when using my 18-55 zoom (Canon kit lens). It is not a dirt spot, as it simply comes and goes for no reason that I can think of. It always appears in the same place on the image. It has not happened with any other lenses.
Does anyone have any ideas as to what causes this?

Dust/dirt on your sensor. It actually doesn't come and go; where it will show up on your image is dependent upon zoom focal length being used. As for it not showing up with other lenses ... Go outside and photograph the open blue sky, do it with several lenses and I think you will find that the spot is indeed there with all of them; don't expect it to be in the exact spot with each lens - look your photos over very carefully.

orchidalan Loc: Arroyo Grande, CA

Take a closer look at the pictures using other lenses and there may be spot on their pictures also. It looks like dust spot on your sensor.