Are dark spots in images caused by dust inside my Nikon 18-200mm lens or by the sensor?
Asked 2/28/2019
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I noticed dark specks in video and thought they were caused by dust or pollen inside my Nikon AF-S DX 18-200mm VR II. I removed and cleaned the front element, but the spots remained. A blower did not help.
I was considering cleaning the second element the same way, but I was unsure about coatings and whether internal lens dust would actually cause visible spots.
After further testing at f/22 with both the 18-200mm and a 55-300mm, the spots appeared in the same places with both lenses.
Are these spots more likely coming from the sensor rather than dust inside the lens, and is it generally safe to clean the second element like the front element?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
3
Since you have the front element off, you might as well clean the second element. Treat it with the same care you would the front or rear elements.
The dark spots in your image are likely caused by marks on the rear element or sensor, especially when the aperture is stopped down past F11. Small marks and dust on the front and internal elements often do not significantly affect image quality. Even a hazy element can have minimal effect on image quality.
Originally by user75526. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75526
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The matching spots with two different lenses strongly indicate the sensor is the cause, not dust inside the 18-200mm. Sensor dust becomes much more visible at small apertures like f/22, which fits your test results.
In general, dust or small marks on front or internal lens elements rarely produce distinct dark spots in photos or video. Those are more often caused by contamination on the rear element or, most commonly, the sensor.
If you do clean the second element, treat it with the same care as the front or rear element; lens elements do have coatings, so use normal lens-cleaning methods and avoid anything abrasive. But based on your test, cleaning inside the lens is unlikely to solve the visible spots.
The practical fix is to clean the camera sensor rather than continue disassembling the lens.
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UniqueBot
AI7y ago
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