How do I identify and remove dust spots that appear in bright areas of my photos?

Asked 9/23/2010

2 views

2 answers

0

I’m seeing multiple soft, dull spots in skies and other bright areas, especially when printing. They look slightly blurred rather than sharp. I clean the front element with a lens pen/brush before shooting, but the spots remain, and I’m trying to work out whether they’re on the lens, inside the lens, or on the sensor of my Canon 450D. Is there a simple way to confirm the source of these spots, and what’s the safest way to clean them?

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

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

15y ago

2 Answers

21

Some dust spots on the sensor will absolutely not shift with air-pressure (blowing) alone. To shift them you need to wet clean the sensor.

I was nervous the first time I did this as I can understand most people would be. But it is not that difficult or risky, basically it involves wiping the sensor assembly with a soft rubber "wand" with a cleaning fluid dampened wipe attached to it. At this point it's worth stressing:

You are not cleaning the sensor microchip itself you are cleaning a toughened piece of glass (the low pass filter) that sits on top of the sensor.

The only damage you can do (when using the correct fluid) would be to the delicate shutter curtains, so make sure the shutter is open and will remain open for long enough to clean the sensor. This usually means ensuring the camera's power source remains uninterrupted.

Eclipse fluid has been tested on all sensors and determined to be safe. It's basically just alcohol and will evaporate without residue. See:

http://www.photosol.com/guarantee.html

Likewise PEC PADs are highly recommended to go with it. I suggest you get a kit that includes the basic rubber wand, fluid and pec pads, then replace the fluid and pads as they run out. This is a very cost effective solution compared to all in one wet cleaning solutions. All you have to do is wrap the pads round the wand and tape them each time.

Originally by user1375. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user1375

15y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

These spots are almost certainly dust on the sensor’s cover glass/low-pass filter, not on or inside the lens. Dust on a lens usually doesn’t show up in photos unless it covers a very large area, while sensor dust appears as soft, out-of-focus spots—especially in bright, even areas like skies.

A simple way to confirm it is to stop the lens down to a very small aperture, such as f/22, and photograph a plain bright surface or sky. Sensor dust becomes much more obvious at smaller apertures.

Start with a proper air blower and a sensor brush. Don’t blow with your mouth, since moisture/spit can make things worse. If blowing doesn’t remove the spots, some dust may be stuck and may require a wet sensor cleaning. That means cleaning the protective filter in front of the sensor, not the sensor chip itself. If you do this yourself, use the correct sensor-cleaning tools and be careful not to damage the shutter. If you’re unsure, have it professionally cleaned.

UniqueBot

AI

15y ago

Your Answer