Can anyone help with this issue/problem - Spot in the images

cambsno

cambsno

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Simon
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Had this problem today at a baby group shoot.

Basically the first few shots were ok (all images here are untouched RAWs and just to show the issue). SS was 1/160 or 1/1200 from memory and aperture was f8-f10. On a D300 with 24-70.

Test-1 by snowens, on Flickr

After a few shots I noticed this black 'spot' between lip and nose

Test-2 by snowens, on Flickr

It seemed to be that the first few shots were ok, then it happened. Luckily had backup (D700) so put the 24-70 on that and all was fine. Went back to D300 and put on my 50mm. I machine gunned it a bit and the first few shots were ok but then it happened again. I changed to f3.5 and machine gunned and all looked fine.

Test-3 by snowens, on Flickr

So went back to f10, and first couple ok

Test-4 by snowens, on Flickr

Then if you look at the windscreen...

Test-5 by snowens, on Flickr

So, it didn't happen on the D700 so can't be the lens (and on D300 it happened with both lenses) - Happened at various backgrounds. Seemed to be ok at the start but then happened.

Only thing I can see is that at wider apertures its not an issue? Last use was a few weeks ago at Duxford shooting planes - never had an issue before so can't be 'sun damage'?

Ideas welcome!
 
Read about cleaning your sensor before you go anywhere near it.

Clean your lens front and back first.

To see if it is sensor dirt, set your aperture to f22, set your focus to infinite and take a photo of something white.

If you are not 1000% sure about cleaning your sensor, pay to have it done properly.

Any sensor dirt will show more at smaller apertures. The mark did not go away in your examples, it is just harder to see because the shots are over exposed.
 
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Forgot the rocket blower today, did blow into it and did the sensor clean thing!! If it was dust though why would the first few shots (from cold so to speak) be ok?
 
Don't ever blow into the camera as you may get moisture in there and you'll be in a worse position. I either use a rocket blower or wait. :)
 
you know, it looks to me like a small bug or fly of some sort - and no, not sure if its dead or alive, but possibly, whatever it is, its sitting safely the bottom of chamber when cold, but then combination of the 'draught' from the shutter of the first few pics and the sensor 'charging' when in use is pulling it onto the sensor filter itself?
 
Just lifted mirror and rocket blew sensor. Couldn't see anything there but fired off some shots and looks ok. Still don't understand why 1st few shots were fine though?
 
cambsno said:
Forgot the rocket blower today, did blow into it and did the sensor clean thing!! If it was dust though why would the first few shots (from cold so to speak) be ok?
Click to expand...
Stuff blows about in-camera - you pump the zoom in and out if you have one, if it's a dslr the mirror flaps ...

Change lenses in a discplined way, too, to minimise the intrusion of foreigners ... that sounds a bit UKIP but it's from the manifesto of the KBOOC party ...
 
cambsno said:
Just lifted mirror and rocket blew sensor. Couldn't see anything there but fired off some shots and looks ok. Still don't understand why 1st few shots were fine though?
Click to expand...

Like the dust anywhere, it moves :)
 
cambsno said:
Just lifted mirror and rocket blew sensor. Couldn't see anything there but fired off some shots and looks ok. Still don't understand why 1st few shots were fine though?
Click to expand...

I'm curious, what sort of camera do you have?

I have a 5D2 which is perfect now, but about 18 months ago I had a complete nightmare with it. It got driven half way across Cyprus (to the only Canon dealer on the island), sent back to Canon service 3 times, before finally running spot/dust free.

If anyone has trouble getting to sleep, just ask and I'll tell the whole story.
 
Sometimes dust comes factory installed or just a happens with normal usage, even without changing lenses.

I purchased a brand new Canon 5D and a Canon 24-105 lens and never changed, or removed, the lens for the next 4000+ photographs.
Guess what - it didn't take a lot of pics for the dust to show up.
 
That looks like an almost visible speck of dust or fibre.
This time of year is especially bad, I reckon a lot of it is pollen and that's slightly sticky.
When the camera is on I suspect you can get slight charges of static which can attract particles to the sensor.
 
The static charge makes sense. When it did show it was in exactly the same place each time.
 
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