Help, small spot seen while decreasing aperture

[jehanne]

Hi! I'm really just a beginner in using cameras and got myself a mirrorless cam. I just knew things like mixing exposure in manual mode recently. While trying to test aperture, I noticed a small spot in my pictures. Is this alarming? I just purchased it a month ago so I'm really worried.

You can see a small spot appearing while f-stop decreases. Anyone, please help Thanks a lot!

 

[jaomul]

You need to get your sensor cleaned

 

[jehanne]

Thanks for the reply! Is it quite dangerous to clean the sensor myself? Just wondering coz the Sony support in my country is not that reliable.

 

[Tinderbox (UK)]

Have a look on youtube lots of video guides, read the comments as some peoples advise may be damaging.

John.

 

[jehanne]

Thaaaanks!

 

[photoguy99]

It's easy. It's pretty much safe.

Make sure you get the right products to do it. If you are of average or better dexterity and carefulness, you should not have any trouble.

 

[qleak]

Start with something like a Giottos rocket blower the bigger the better. This is the safest option.
Do NOT use compressed air. It's cold, it squirts freezing cold liquid, it can damage more than just the sensor.

If that doesn't fix it then you want to use a specific wet sensor cleaner such as the viable dust sensor cleaning kit. This too is relatively safe. Not as safe as the blower, but you're not actually cleaning the sensor itself anyway you're cleaning a filter in front of the sensor. Be very careful and follow directions watch a few videos so you know exactly what to do before doing this.

 

[jehanne]

Start with something like a Giottos rocket blower the bigger the better. This is the safest option.
Do NOT use compressed air. It's cold, it squirts freezing cold liquid, it can damage more than just the sensor.

If that doesn't fix it then you want to use a specific wet sensor cleaner such as the viable dust sensor cleaning kit. This too is relatively safe. Not as safe as the blower, but you're not actually cleaning the sensor itself anyway you're cleaning a filter in front of the sensor. Be very careful and follow directions watch a few videos so you know exactly what to do before doing this.

Thanks! I have to get that blower. I am searching for the proper tools to clean the sensor and blower is really recommended. Do you have an idea how the blower and kit costs?

 

[qleak]

Thanks! I have to get that blower. I am searching for the proper tools to clean the sensor and blower is really recommended. Do you have an idea how the blower and kit costs?

Yes I just got them on amazon. You're looking at $10 for the blower and $30 for the sensor cleaning kit.

 

[jehanne]

Thanks! I have to get that blower. I am searching for the proper tools to clean the sensor and blower is really recommended. Do you have an idea how the blower and kit costs?

Yes I just got them on amazon. You're looking at $10 for the blower and $30 for the sensor cleaning kit.

Oh it's cheaper than the local store nearby. Thanks!

 

[Tinderbox (UK)]

If you can, get an air blower/rocket with an air-filter built in you would not believe the dust in the air, I just tried blowing an filter one day and the more i blew the more dirty the filter got, i am glad i was not blowing it inside a camera.

John.

 

[KmH]

Many DSLR cameras have a sensor cleaning function that vibrates the image sensor to shake dust off.

There have been reports here in the forums of people using compressed air on their image sensor with no problems..
What is in most of the cans is actually compressed fluorocarbons and isn't 'air'.
Fluorocarbons are denser than air, and they boil at very low temperatures and cool any surface they are sprayed on.

The shutter curtains have to be open to clean the sensor, but the shutter curtains are by necessity very lightweight and kind of delicate so why take the chance of damaging them using compressed air.
Gases get hot when compressed, and they get cold when they decompress.

There is an array of filters in front of the actual image sensor. You are in fact cleaning the front of that array, not the image sensor itself.
No doubt, a scratch on the array will still be a scratch.

Some people have a camera shop clean the image sensor for them.

 

[Tinderbox (UK)]

The sensor cleaner on my Pentax K-50 sounded and felt like i was using a hammer drill

John

 

[TreeofLifeStairs]

Are you guys sure it's on the sensor? Shouldn't the spot look the same regardless the f stop then? To me it would seem like it's on one of the elements of the lens.

 

[Trever1t]

Are you guys sure it's on the sensor? Shouldn't the spot look the same regardless the f stop then? To me it would seem like it's on one of the elements of the lens.

No! Dust on the sensor would likely only be visible when stopped down. If it were the lens, it would be visible at any f stop