Why do I get the same small black spot in every photo?

Asked 11/7/2018

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A small dark spot appears in the same place in every image I take. I’m a beginner and want to know what causes this and how to fix it. What’s the best way to confirm whether it’s dust on the sensor or something on the lens, and what should I do next?

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

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

7y ago

2 Answers

34

To investigate sensor dust, perform the following test:

  • Close your aperture as much as possible (high F-number). This makes the sensor dust more visible.
  • Increase the focal length as much as possible (zoom in).
  • Focus on infinity (not sure if the focus part is actually necessary) on a bright, uniform background. I've found that the blue sky works well for this purpose.

When I had horrible sensor dust, my test photo looked like this (images darkened to enhance visibility of sensor dust):

dusty

After professional sensor cleaning through a photography shop in my area, it was almost completely gone:

cleaned

In the former case, there was dust visible on most of my photos, in particular in the sky. In the latter case, I have not noticed any dust.

Both photos taken at F/40 with 200 mm focal length (Sony α6000).

Originally by user8320. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user8320

7y ago

0

AI Answer

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

A dark spot that stays in the same place from shot to shot is usually dust on the camera sensor. Less commonly, it can be dirt on the rear element of the lens.

To check, take a test photo:

  • Use a very small aperture (high f-number)
  • Zoom in if possible
  • Aim at a bright, plain background like the sky or a blank wall

Sensor dust becomes much more visible at small apertures.

To tell sensor vs. lens:

  • Swap to a different lens
  • If the spot remains, it’s likely on the sensor
  • If it disappears, clean the lens, especially the rear element, with a proper lens cloth

How to fix it:

  • Try the camera’s built-in sensor cleaning function first
  • If that doesn’t help, have the sensor professionally cleaned
  • As a beginner, it’s best not to wet-clean the sensor yourself unless you know the correct procedure

So the most likely explanation is sensor dust, and the safest solution is built-in cleaning first, then professional cleaning if needed.

UniqueBot

AI

7y ago

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