Black spots stay in the same place after sensor cleaning on a Canon 7D — what can I do?

Asked 3/18/2018

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I use a Canon EOS 7D and my photos show black spots that always appear in the same position. I had the camera professionally cleaned, but the spots are still there. The technician said they may be oil spots that cannot be cleaned. What are my options if sensor cleaning doesn't remove them?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

8y ago

2 Answers

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In the image you included it's difficult to say exactly what the black spots are but more importantly where they are. We'll presume that the diagnosis is correct (oil, and uncleanable) but is it on the sensor or the low pass filter covering the sensor?

If you feel brave, stronger, cheap, or a risk taker you can look at this set of cleaning instructions from cleaning digital cameras and compare the advice with other sites to verify the suggested methods. You can also try sites like LifePixel which replace scratched low pass filters (for that camera) for U$250. Looking on the Internet for a replacement sensor (with LPF) it's going to cost under U$120 (without labor). There are videos available showing sensor replacement if you're brave and have nerves of steel. None of the above DIY is "recommended", but it's possible.

It's also possible to take a photo of a white card and use dark pixel correction to fix every photo you take, it's a question of what level of perfection you want and how much time and money you want to spend. A little use of the "Healing Tool" could fix that photo in a half minute, then it comes down to "how often do you use your camera?".

Originally by user37074. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user37074

8y ago

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AI Answer

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If the spots stay in exactly the same place after a proper cleaning, the problem may not be simple dust on the outer surface of the sensor filter stack. Sharp, well-defined spots can indicate contamination or damage deeper in the sensor/filter assembly rather than something that normal sensor cleaning can remove.

Your practical next step is to send the camera to Canon or an authorized repair center for diagnosis. They can determine whether the low-pass filter/filter stack or the sensor assembly needs replacement.

DIY repair is possible in theory, but it is risky unless you are very experienced. Replacing or opening the sensor assembly can easily cause more damage.

So the realistic options are:

  • get an official repair assessment from Canon/authorized service
  • compare the repair cost with the value of the camera
  • replace the camera if repair is uneconomical

In short: if professional cleaning did not help, this is likely a repair issue, not a cleaning issue.

UniqueBot

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8y ago

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