How to clean camera and get rid of these marks on images?

sooly

sooly

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Mark
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I took this photo on my Sony A6400 at f/16 and I see dark spots over the image. I'm wondering where they are coming from. The sensor, the back of the lens of the front of the lens? I have tried to blow dust off with my squeezy duster but the spots still remain. Any ideas? Open image in new tab to see the full size image


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Sensor spots, if a blower doesn't shift them a proper wet clean should - DIY or at a camera shop/repairer. :)
 
get a "Loupe" to check the sensor for dust below showing my sensor cleaning kit


Although I have a rocket blower as well, My thought on using it is it is going to stir up more dust within the camera body so I don't use it. you could use an Artic Butterfly (top centre) . Loupe top right

Du00EGj.jpg

Actually sensor cleaning is very easy ,there is no "magic" in it. OK I agree having the right gear may be a bit costly, but consider the cost of sending the camera away and being without it. Even then some moron may not do the job properly and your camera comes back just as bad.

So looking through the loupe no more guessing where the spots on the sensor are ,makes sensor cleaning so much easier, no taking a photo and then looking at the result to see the contamination.
If using sensor cleaning fluid DON'T put the fluid onto the swab direct you will only flood the sensor. What you should do is put a drop onto a clean surface nd dip the swap into it. that way you only put enough fluid onto the swap to do the wipe.



I have been cleaning my own camera sensors for more years that I can remember. It takes a bit of time- a bit of care- and being a bit gentle.

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you can see 2 dust spots at the5 o'clock position exactly where they are on the sensor

looking through the loupe I saw a couple of dust spot on mine. quickly got rid of using the Artic butterfly which builds up static electricity by spinning by switching on
Then stopping it spinning and just brush across the sensor. Just checked another sensor and a dust particle on it. Artic Butterfly soon picked it up and sensor now clean again,

What it would have cost me to have done professionally heavens knows let alone being without. Now done in less tghan 2 minutes including putting batteries in the Artic Butterfly

Last edited: 2 Jul 2025
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Thanks I thought sensor dust would be sharp and well defined these look very blurry which made me wonder if it was on the back element of the lens. I will buy a sensor cleaning kit and try that. Thanks!
 
Just a thought...

There's an old saying about the pitcher that goes most often to the well being most likely to break. Applying this to sensor dust, I've decided that the less often I change the lens on a camera, the less likely I am to get dirt on the sensor.

It's worked for my needs over a couple of decades.
 
Just don't take pictures of blue skies or blank walls at f/16...
I only clean the sensor when it starts to affect my normal photography and it's too much of a hassle to edit the spots out.
 
The reason I'm asking is to does affect my photography a lot and I rarely change the lens. My camera does take a bit of a beating when I'm out in the field. I guess regular sensor cleaning is necessary for me then
 
sooly said:
The reason I'm asking is to does affect my photography a lot and I rarely change the lens. My camera does take a bit of a beating when I'm out in the field. I guess regular sensor cleaning is necessary for me then
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If you need to clean it, it's no big deal as long as you get the correct wipes for your sensor and work sensibly - shouldn't need doing too frequently.
 
I use a Giotto rocket blower and it gets most dust spots off with no problems. Before you lock the mirror up it is worth giving the mirror box a good blow out with the opening facing down, l normally give it a few blows, leave it for a while and then blow it out again. You can then lock the mirror up and give the sensor a few good blows, make sure that the battery is fully charged before you start. If you have a tripod then mount the camera body on the tripod, it saves you having to hold the camera :)
 
Suvv said:
I use a Giotto rocket blower and it gets most dust spots off with no problems. Before you lock the mirror up it is worth giving the mirror box a good blow out with the opening facing down, l normally give it a few blows, leave it for a while and then blow it out again. You can then lock the mirror up and give the sensor a few good blows, make sure that the battery is fully charged before you start. If you have a tripod then mount the camera body on the tripod, it saves you having to hold the camera :)
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O/P’s camera is mirrorless. :)
 
I use a Giotto rocket Blower and one of these, I haven't had to do a wet clean of the sensors in any of my cameras yet

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sooly said:
Thanks I thought sensor dust would be sharp and well defined these look very blurry which made me wonder if it was on the back element of the lens. I will buy a sensor cleaning kit and try that. Thanks!
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As an aside, the "sensor" is behind a glass cover plate that is a few millimetres thick (how thick varies with camera make) so the dust isn't on the sensor but on the cover plate.
 
Has anyone ever managed to get rid of something trapped between the sensor and the glass cover plate?
 
Buck said:
@sooly Mark I have some dust swabs for sale if these will help you as you may need a wet clean on your sensor?

You'll need some cleaning fluid and then you'll be good to go!
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I doubt the OP can access the classifieds with 14 posts

Barney said:
Has anyone ever managed to get rid of something trapped between the sensor and the glass cover plate?
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I expect they are bonded together.
Anything present is likely to have been there since manufacture.
 
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