What causes fixed ring-shaped spots on every photo from my Nikon D7200, and how do I clean them?
Asked 5/26/2019
6 views
2 answers
0
I’m seeing several fixed spots/blotches in the same place on every photo from my Nikon D7200 with the 18-105mm lens. Cleaning the front and rear lens elements did not change them, and I only have this one lens so I can’t compare with another lens. The spots include a larger ring-shaped blotch near the center plus a couple of similar marks nearby. What is the most likely cause, and should I clean the lens, the sensor, or have a shop do it?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
3
The ringed splotches are unlikely to be dust. I suspect water spots. Tim Campbell suggests oil. If you really want to know what they are, you should examine the sensor with a loupe. Regardless, you will likely need to clean the sensor with wet swabs.
I disagree with having someone at a camera shop clean the sensor for you because it's such a simple process. However, you might have to visit a shop to buy the swabs and solution.
- Obtain a sensor cleaning kit. Consider one that uses a low-alcohol solution.
- Read the instructions that came with the kit.
Read the instructions again.
Enable sensor cleaning mode to lock the mirror and open the shutter. Consider using a room that has had an air purifier running for several hours.
- Use a dust blower to remove any free dust.
- Read (again) and follow the instructions that came with the sensor cleaning kit.
- If your kit has dry swabs, you may use distilled water in the final pass. This is usually unnecessary. Also, please refrain from serving large amounts of liquid to your camera.
- Turn off sensor-cleaning mode.
- Check for remaining dust with a plain, diffuse background and lens set to F22-32. It's normal to have a few small spots left, and it's a losing battle to attempt to remove every single spot, especially if all that's left is a single spot a corner. Most dust spots will not appear in photos taken with apertures larger than F8.
Originally by user75526. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75526
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Because the marks stay in the same position in every image, they’re most likely on the sensor (or its cover glass), not the lens. Ring-shaped blotches like these are less likely to be ordinary dust and more likely to be liquid residue such as water spots, possibly oil. A sensor loupe can help confirm that.
A blower may remove loose dust, but spots like this usually need a proper wet sensor cleaning with sensor swabs and cleaning solution. Follow the kit instructions carefully, use the camera’s sensor-cleaning/manual-clean mode to access the sensor, and start with a blower before wet cleaning.
If you are not completely comfortable doing this, take the camera to a reputable camera shop or service center. The sensor area is delicate and expensive, so careless cleaning can cause damage.
To reduce future contamination when changing lenses: point the camera body downward, keep body and rear lens caps on when gear is not mounted, and avoid lens changes in dusty environments.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI7y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
What causes circular spots on black-and-white negatives after developing and scanning?
Purple blotches in one corner of Canon 60D images — sensor dirt or damage?
Purple squiggly spots in photos: sensor dust, debris under the filter, or dead pixels?
How do I remove dried water or condensation spots from the front element of my lens?
Can a Nikon D7200 use a sensor from a different camera model?