How can I tell where dust is at?

[NikonDude]

I seem to have dust on my camera. Where I don't know. When I zoom in with my lens, black orbs appear in some images.

But how can I tell if it's on the sensor, the side of the lens going into the camera, inside the lens, or on the end of the lens?

If it's how the sensor, how do I clean the sensor?

Thanks.

 

[SCraig]

It's unlikely that it is inside the lens. To see if there is dust on either end of the lens, just look at it. To check for dust on the sensor shoot a perfectly white wall or other subject (I normally maximize my web browser with no page open), shoot it with a very small aperture. Don't worry about the focus, it doesn't matter. Open the images in an image editor and look for black or dark areas. If you see any that is probably dust on the sensor.

Lots of articles on the web about sensor cleaning. Here's a good place to start

 

[480sparky]

Take the lens off, take a photo of a light wall using a flash. Adjust the flash and/or distance until you get below a totally blown-out image... bright white but not pure.

Load the frame into your PP software and start hunting for fuzzy dots. If you see them, they're on the sensor.



Another option is to buy a sensor loupe.

 

[NikonDude]

Well I don't think I can get to the sensor itself, but there is a mirror inside once you take the lens off. This has several dust particles on it. I used a q-tip and wiped them all off. I also took a q-tip to the body side of the lens, because there were a few specks there as well. Will test again tomorrow.

 

[Sw1tchFX]

there is a mirror inside once you take the lens off. This has several dust particles on it. I used a q-tip and wiped them all off. I also took a q-tip to the body side of the lens, because there were a few specks there as well. Will test again tomorrow.

It's on the sensor dude......Not the lens, not the mirror, not the prism, not the focusing screen..on the actual effing sensor itself.

 

[mjhoward]

If it's showing up in the photo, then it isn't the mirror. The mirror moves out of the way when you take a photo. It is on the sensor. To get rid of this, you need to either try using something like a rocket blower or you need to get some sensor swabs. I would not advise sticking a Q-Tip in there again, at least not on the sensor. Last time I cleaned mine, the blower didnt do the trick so I would recommend the Sensor Swabs (they'll also remove any oil or residue): Photographic Solutions Sensor Swab Plus with Eclipse PE2C B&H

Be sure to get the correct type for your sensor if you decide to go this route.

 

[480sparky]

Look in the user's manual that came with the camera for instructions on how to raise the mirror for sensor inspecting / cleaning.

 

[snowbear]

Lock the mirror up and you'll see the sensor. On the D40, the mirror lock up is in the "tool" menu (wrench icon).

 

[SCraig]

Please put the Q-Tips down and leave them alone. You can do FAR more damage than good using them inside a camera. Do not use cans of compressed air either. Use ONLY a blower bulb such as a Rocket Blaster.

 

[NikonDude]

Well, what ever it was, it's gone.

 

[chuasam]

there is a mirror inside once you take the lens off. This has several dust particles on it. I used a q-tip and wiped them all off. I also took a q-tip to the body side of the lens, because there were a few specks there as well. Will test again tomorrow.

It's on the sensor dude......Not the lens, not the mirror, not the prism, not the focusing screen..on the actual effing sensor itself.

Technically, unless it's a D800E, it's sitting on the highpass filter and not the sensor itself.

 

[mjhoward]

there is a mirror inside once you take the lens off. This has several dust particles on it. I used a q-tip and wiped them all off. I also took a q-tip to the body side of the lens, because there were a few specks there as well. Will test again tomorrow.

It's on the sensor dude......Not the lens, not the mirror, not the prism, not the focusing screen..on the actual effing sensor itself.

Technically, unless it's a D800E, it's sitting on the highpass filter and not the sensor itself.

If you want to be technical, and clearly you do, it's not on the sensor with the D800E either: Nikon D800 Camera - Initial Test

 

[NikonDude]

There seems to be a few dust particles on the sensor itself. Why isn't the sensor cleaner on the menu cleaning it off?

 

[mjhoward]

There seems to be a few dust particles on the sensor itself. Why isn't the sensor cleaner on the menu cleaning it off?

This is similar to asking why the windshield wipers doesn't always scrape the bird sh*t off your windshield. Sometimes the dust is just stuck on there and the tiny sensor vibrations that are produced as the self cleaning mechanism just arn't enough.

 

[NikonDude]

Is the sensor cleaner supposed to make a noise? I have sensitive hearing, and cannot hear it.

All that aside, who makes a good sensor cleaner?