What is this and how do I get it off of my photos?!!?!

Markw · Dec 30, 2010

Hi all. I dont really know where this should go...we dont have a "Equipment Problems and Remedies" forum here. So, I suppose I should post it here?

I keep getting these things in my photos. Theyre killing me. I dont know what they are or how to get rid of them. Theyre not on the lens because theyre on all the photos I take now, regardless of which lens I use. I am assuming it's something on the sensor? If so, is it something I could take care of myself?

Please help..theyre driving me insane.
Mark

RauschPhotography · Dec 30, 2010

Looks like a dirty sensor to me. Be thankful you've already caught onto it! One time, I had to edit a wedding with the entire shoot having dirt spots... (Wasn't my camera, didn't have to clean it myself..) Ended up cloning them out nicely, but I never want to do that again!

oldmacman · Dec 30, 2010

Is this with all lenses? If so, it's time to clean the sensor. Not as scary as it sounds.

Markw · Dec 30, 2010

It is. That shot was with my Nikkor 80-200/2.8D. This is with my Sigma 10-20mm F/4-5.6:

Now theyre just in portrait oreintation.

Mark

pwrstrk02 · Dec 30, 2010

The hair looking objects are definitely "dirt", but the circles around them in your second picture have me baffled.

oldmacman · Dec 30, 2010

Markw said:
It is. That shot was with my Nikkor 80-200/2.8D. This is with my Sigma 10-20mm F/4-5.6:

Now theyre just in portrait oreintation.

Mark

Well, no biggie. Every sensor will need cleaning at some point. If you shoot a lot, it is cheaper to learn to do it yourself. Literally two swipes of a senor cleaning swab with a little solution. The kits are kind of expensive, but way cheaper than having it cleaned. I think the last time I picked up a kit, it was $20 for the solution and $10 for 5 swabs. Make sure you get a swab the exact size for your sensor.

Josh66 · Dec 30, 2010

Copper Hill Images - D-SLR CCD/CMOS Cleaning Supplies & Camera Accessories

Less than $40 shipped and it will last a lifetime if all you use it for is sensor cleaning.

Most shops will charge you more than that for one cleaning.

Your sensor WILL need cleaning again. It just happens... I recommend learning to do it yourself. It's not as bad as it sounds.

Try a blower first - if it's still dirty after that, you need a wet cleaning.

benhasajeep · Dec 30, 2010

I use a Lens Pen Sensorklear Loupe, and Lenspen Snesorklear II cleaning pen for small items a blower may not be able to get off the sensor. If you don't already have one. Might want to pick up a Giottos Rocket air blower, or similar. A blower may take care of what you have. If not the Loupe and cleaning pen work great.

djacobox372 · Dec 30, 2010

Try not to touch the sensor needlessly, use a hand squeezed blower first (avoid canned air, you don't want liquid co2 on your sensor). If air isn't enough, you can lightly brush the sensor with a soft brush, and try again.

Wet cleaning is a last resort

RyanLilly · Dec 30, 2010

I think that wet cleaning is the way to go, Its really quite easy. Read the instructions in your manual, about how to set it for cleaning(mirror up, shutter open, full battery).

Do try to blow hair and loose dust off first, it makes the swabs work better with less dust. I don't remember what brand i have used, but there all pretty similar.

Anyway take a OOF photo of a blank wall or the sky at a very small aperture and you will see all of the dust on the photo, or the lack of dust after you have cleaned it.

vtf · Dec 30, 2010

What ever your method is for cleaning the sensor "FOLLOW THE MANUAL". Very bad things can happen when opening up the sensor.
We will laugh at you if you create another thread titled " I took my sensor out to clean and can get it back in" or "I took my sensor out to clean and it fell apart".
Good Luck.:thumbup:

Josh66 · Dec 30, 2010

No kidding - I have seen threads here where someone tried to clean their sensor with a Kleenex. The person was asking how to get all of the bits of tissue out. And the oily residue from the tissue wouldn't come off of the sensor. :lmao:
(They did use the proper cleaning mode though.)

And I remember another one where the person was trying to do it by holding the shutter release down in bulb mode. Finger got tired, shutter got destroyed.
That one was fairly recent.

The Kleenex one might have been a year or two ago.

The point is, if you know that you can't be trusted with pointy objects - let someone else do it for you.

If you use a little common sense and the proper tools, it is very easy and there is nothing to worry about.

It sucks to hear about people ruining their cameras, but I guess you could consider it the idiot tax for being such a dumbass.

edit
At least in the case of the Kleenex - there was no damage to the camera and all it took was a little guidance to get it cleaned right.