Why does a white spot appear in the same area of some photos, especially at f/8 and smaller?
Asked 10/9/2012
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2 answers
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A white spot shows up in roughly the same place in some of my DSLR photos, but not all of them. I’ve noticed it becomes visible mainly at smaller apertures (around f/8 and above). I only have one lens, and it has stayed attached since I bought the camera, so I haven’t tested with another lens yet. I also found a small mark on the front of the lens near the middle. What is the most likely cause, and how should I check or clean it safely?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
4
I don't think this looks like dust or a smudge on the lens. Generally, smudges on the front of the lens will simply result in loss of sharpness and not be clearly defined.
It could very well be flare due to light bouncing off of a UV filter. That's my top guess.
However, I could also be wrong -- the two smudges do appear to be in the same place. What aperture were the two images taken with? Probably the one with the more-defined smudge (prickly-looking dome) is taken with a smaller (higher-numbered) aperture.
Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1943
14y ago
0
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The most likely cause is something on the lens or filter rather than the sensor, especially since the spot appears in about the same place and becomes more obvious at smaller apertures. A mark, smudge, or contamination on the front element or a UV/protective filter could cause this; flare from a filter is also possible.
Your observation that it shows up more at f/8 and smaller strongly supports an optical issue related to the lens/filter path. A dirty sensor is another possibility, but with the lens never removed, the lens or filter is the simpler first thing to check.
What to do:
- Inspect the front of the lens carefully in good light.
- If you use a UV/protective filter, check that too.
- Clean gently with a proper microfiber lens cloth.
- If you’re unsure or nervous, having a camera shop clean it is a good idea.
- If possible later, test with another lens or with/without any front filter to isolate the cause.
If the spot disappears after cleaning or removing a filter, you’ve found the culprit.
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