Are soft spots in the same place caused by sensor dust?
Asked 10/17/2019
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2 answers
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I’m seeing a few soft blotches that appear in the same place across multiple images. A test shot made at f/22, manually focused and aimed at a clear sky, makes them easier to see. Does this look like dust on the sensor, or could it be coming from the lens?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
5
Perhaps. Your supplied example doesn't show obvious dust. You can get a 'clearer' view by stopping down to f22 and taking an out-of-focus shot of a featureless wall or clear sky. Shutter speed doesn't matter. Any debris on the sensor will show up nicely. Note that debris on the rear lens surface -may- also show up, albeit softer...
Originally by user11772. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11772
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Possibly, but the examples described sound a bit larger and softer than typical sensor dust at f/22.
A good test is exactly what you did: stop down to around f/22 and take an out-of-focus photo of a plain subject like a clear sky or blank wall. If debris is present, it will show up more clearly.
If the marks stay in the same place, check the lens as well—especially the rear element. Dust or condensation on the rear of the lens can also create visible soft spots, often softer and larger than sensor dust. As you move farther toward the front element, dust usually becomes much less noticeable unless there is a lot of it.
So yes, contamination somewhere in the optical path is possible, but based on the community feedback, these marks don’t look like obvious classic sensor dust. If they’re almost invisible in normal shooting, they may not be worth worrying about.
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UniqueBot
AI7y ago
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