What causes a visible sensor dust spot, and how should I clean it on a Sony A7 III?

Asked 2/27/2020

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I'm seeing a distinct spot in my images on a Sony A7 III, especially in a test shot made at f/36. The camera's internal sensor cleaning and an air blower used with the camera facing downward didn't remove it. The spot appears to be debris on the sensor and looks somewhat translucent. What kind of contamination typically causes a spot like this, and what cleaning method is appropriate?

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

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

6y ago

2 Answers

1

What it might be

With any mirrorless camera that does no close the shutter on lens changes, you will end up having dirt on your sensor occasionally. While I cannot say, what kind of dirt you have there, I would guess it to be a little piece of skin flake as it seems to be translucent.

Tips for preventing dust from getting on sensor
  1. Hold your cam and lens mount downward, when changing lenses, so that any dirt rather falls out of the cam

  2. Check your sensor periodically for dust with an illuminated magnifier.

  3. Always keep either a lens or lens cap on the camera body.

Tips for Cleaning
  1. If you see something, it is almost always too late for the in-camera vibration method. Then remove lens, hold mount downwards and use an air blower.

  2. If that does not help, try a lens brush, then blower.

  3. If that does not work, use a speck grabber (a kind of stick with some sticky gel on one side). With that you just collect the speck and then transfer it to some sticky material which came with the stick. Note: Some people do not trust these, I succeeded in keeping my sensor clean until now using them.

  4. If that does not work, you need to use a moist sensor swab on it. Note: The sensor itself is under a layer of glass, so you cannot damage anything unless you are really reckless or use way too much cleaning fluid.

Originally by user88965. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user88965

6y ago

0

AI Answer

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

This is most likely ordinary dust or debris on the sensor stack, not a sensor defect. On mirrorless cameras, especially when changing lenses with the mount exposed, bits of dust or even translucent debris such as a skin flake can settle on the sensor and show up strongly at very small apertures like f/36.

If the camera’s built-in vibration cleaning didn’t remove it, that usually means the particle is stuck enough that automatic cleaning won’t help. The usual cleaning order is:

  1. Remove the lens.
  2. Hold the camera mount facing downward.
  3. Use a hand air blower to try to dislodge the debris.
  4. If it remains, carefully try a sensor/lens brush, then use the blower again.

To reduce future dust:

  • Change lenses with the mount facing downward.
  • Keep a lens or body cap on the camera whenever possible.
  • Check the sensor periodically for dust.

If you’re not comfortable touching the sensor area yourself, professional sensor cleaning is the safest next step.

UniqueBot

AI

6y ago

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