Dust on the sensor?

[igorcheb]

I rarely take the lens off of my camera but lately I've been having a spec in every photo that I take. I cleaned the lens externally but it doesn't go away. Electronic sensor cleaning doesn't work, can anyone advise a solution to this? I can see the spec in the view finder and it it most clearly visible when I zoom in as much as I can. I need to fix this as soon as possible. Please stand by after you respond, as will I. Thanks a lot, any help will be most appreciated.

 

[Drake]

If it's visible in the viewfinder, there's no way it's on the sensor. If you cleaned the front element on the lens, the only option left is the back element. Any dust on it will be much more obvious on your photos than on the front element. Of course the dust could be also inside the lens, and in this case I'd advice getting it cleaned professionally.

 

[tyler_h]

I can see the spec in the view finder and it it most clearly visible when I zoom in as much as I can.

By 'viewfinder' do you mean in live view cause you refer to zoom...

 

[igorcheb]

I cleaned the back element but still no luck. I took the lens off and when I look through the viewfinder, I can see a tiny black spec, so this has to be on the sensor. But it's weird... when I look through the viewfinder (without the lens), the spec is in the center of the viewfinder in the far left corner. But when I look through the live view (with the lens because nothing is clear without it), the spec is magnified and is in the far left top corner of the screen. Is it supposed to switch places or are those two different specs that I'm looking at? If only I had another lens to test this with...

 

[tyler_h]

SLT?

 

[igorcheb]

If it's visible in the viewfinder, there's no way it's on the sensor. If you cleaned the front element on the lens, the only option left is the back element. Any dust on it will be much more obvious on your photos than on the front element. Of course the dust could be also inside the lens, and in this case I'd advice getting it cleaned professionally.

I actually meant to say live view, sorry about that. But I still can see a spec through the viewfinder, though it's in a different area than what I see in live view. Refer to my other response please. Thank you.

 

[igorcheb]

SLT?

Are you referring to a Sony camera model? If so, no, I own a Canon Rebel T2i.

 

[tyler_h]

SLT?

Are you referring to a Sony camera model? If so, no, I own a Canon Rebel T2i.

Yeah, cause then dust on the mirror would appear in live view and in the viewfinder.

I cleaned the back element but still no luck. I took the lens off and when I look through the viewfinder, I can see a tiny black spec, so this has to be on the sensor. But it's weird... when I look through the viewfinder (without the lens), the spec is in the center of the viewfinder in the far left corner. But when I look through the live view (with the lens because nothing is clear without it), the spec is magnified and is in the far left top corner of the screen. Is it supposed to switch places or are those two different specs that I'm looking at? If only I had another lens to test this with...

So not the exact same spot?

Cause then you probably have one of the sensor (liveview) and one on your viewfinder - wiped the viewfinder where you place you eye?

 

[igorcheb]

SLT?

Are you referring to a Sony camera model? If so, no, I own a Canon Rebel T2i.

lol, my bad... I looked it up. 'Single-lens translucent' is what you're talking about. My bad... Yes, I have an SLT camera.

 

[tyler_h]

lol, my bad... I looked it up. 'Single-lens translucent' is what you're talking about. My bad... Yes, I have an SLT camera.

T2i is not an SLT...

 

[igorcheb]

Isn't this an SLT? http://www.marketnews.ca/upload/00000001_mirror.jpg
http://www.marketnews.ca/upload/00000001_mirror.jpg
That's how my camera looks...

 

[tyler_h]

Isn't this an SLT? http://www.marketnews.ca/upload/00000001_mirror.jpg

That's how my camera looks...

"We're Sorry. The page you are looking for is currently unavailable. Please try again in a few moments."

And if it's a T2i I'm 100% certain because the 550D which I have in the international naming of the same camera...

 

[igorcheb]

Just read a Wikipedia article on SLTs. "The major difference compared to DSLRs is that SLT cameras do not have an optical viewfinder, instead they rely on an electronic viewfinder, using the image collected by the sensor."

Got it. I'm such an amateur.

 

[igorcheb]

So would it be okay to use a compressed air spray dust cleaner to try to remove this?

 

[tyler_h]

Everyone's gotta start somewhere.

So two spots in similar locations? Have you checked...