Is this muck on the sensor and if so how do I clean it off

G-Dubs

G-Dubs

G-Dubs

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When using the narrow apertures I notice smudges on some of my images.
Usually only when over an area of uniform colur such as the sky or water.

At first I thought it was dust on lens but it remains constantly placed when I change lenses which rules that out I think.

So I think it's muck on the sensor but i'm a bit new to photography and don't want to go making expensive mistakes.

So far all i've done is lift the mirror out the way and give a good blow with the rocket blower. This seemed to remove some but marks still remain.

Am I being picky and should just accept that this happens or is it easy to get rid of the rest of these marks.

I've put an image below to help show what i'm talking about.

All advice appreciated, especially re products to buy and technique, also whether it's best to take it somewhere instead.


022.jpg
 
That's a FILTHY sensor.

To see just how bad it is, take a shot of a plain white piece of paper at f22. You can up the contrast a bit as well in PP to really highlight the dirt.

If you're confident, get a Visible Dust Arctic Butterfly, and possibly some sensor swabs.

Alternatively, some of the larger independent camera shops offer a cleaning service for around £30 (IIRC).
 
Could be a dirty sensor but I'm going to hazard a guess at that being dust inside the lens being as that shot is taken at f/22
 
It looks like sensor dust to me. What camera are you using? Look for sensor cleaning in the menus as that will raise the mirror out of the way so you can manually clean. I use sensor swabs and eclipse fluid, if you google sensor cleaning you'll see there are plenty of methods. If you're not confident doing it yourself get it cleaned professionally for around £30 as already mentioned.
 
It just looks strikingly similar to a friend of mines issue with his Tamron 17-50mm. He bought it brand new and it came full of dust.

We took this shot on his 550D at f/32 and his sensor was perfectly clean.

f32.jpg
 
thanks for the advice

Can't understand how it got so bad. I change lenses very carefully and the camera never really goes anywhere "extreme"

Are there any tricks to avoid the muck in the first place?

tempted to have a go myself or i'll never learn.

What are the real pit falls to look ou for if doing it yourself?

Only other option is the J people. worth taking to them or steer well clear?
 
Sensor dust.

Which Camera have you got. If you've got a reasonably modern Canon, it should have a facility to map the dust specs so that when you use Digital Photo Professional (their free image manipulation tool that comes on the Software disc included with their cameras) it will automatically spot them out. Manual should have an entry called Dust Deletion Data.

I'm not sure if Nikons have the same facility, but I suspect they may do.

As for cleaning. Take a look at the following site for all the pros and cons of the different cleaning techniques.

http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/index.html

Quite few people on here go with the Pecpad/Sensor swap and Eclipse cleaning fluid method.
 
It's the Canon 60D

Can't understand how it got this mucky in a year? Is it normal or am I doing something wrong?
 
I've had my camera for 3.5 years, just took a picture and only have one tiny dust on the sensor, which is hardly noticeable. I don't change too much now but I did change around more in the first 2/2.5 years.
 
G-Dubs said:
It's the Canon 60D

Can't understand how it got this mucky in a year? Is it normal or am I doing something wrong?
Click to expand...

Some lens are worse than others, I beleive a far few Canon lenses have a bad reputation for dust like the 17-55 and 100-400. certainly any of the push-pull lenses are pretty bad for dust. Most of my lenses are now eather sealed and this helps reduce the problem.

A lot depends on the environment you use to change lenses. When I am in the dessert shooting I have to clean the sensor every day.
 
G-Dubs said:
Decided to take the plunge and clean it myself.

Question is Digipads or sensor swabs?
Click to expand...

I'd always recomend a dry method first, start with a rocket blower and then move up lets you build confidence waving things around inside your camera.
 
That's not dust, this is dust.

img0973yn4.jpg
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My work top, had to use cling film, no bin liners, feel like Dextor with it over the table :p

22453385in3.jpg


Before cleaning (with Auto Level)

39831783ng3.jpg



After about 8 swipes at F/22 (and a few scrubs....for the really hard ones)

66040329mq0.jpg


92372102ed8.jpg
 
dannyjo22 said:
Ray well they wouldn't show on that last picture anyway would they at that depth of field :p
Click to expand...

I did that to test I didn't mess it up :p the blue pic above is F/22 at the sky and nothing showing. Not bad for first attempt!

PistolPete said:
WTH??? Looks like the body was on the front of a car, minus a lens, and driven down the motorway!
Click to expand...

The result of a rocket blower + 14 floors up balcony.

To make the rocket lower effective you ideally need to use it in a room that is dust free. Preferably a pre-steamed room so all the dust has fallen down from the moisture in the air.

I don't have the patience for that so my rocket blower is purely to blow dust outside the camera and I clean my sensor on an annual basis with swaps.
 
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