need help and advice on a particular black spot

[inxherxeyes]

hi all, i can't seem to find a thread or a topic on a problem im currently facing on my eos30d. need some help and advice from all who have an idea or know what is going on and what should i do.

i just discovered yesterday night while after transferring the pictures from the eos30d, that 95% of my pictures contain a particular black spot at the same position. it is very evident and obvious in pictures taken in daytime.

i thought it was the lens problem however, it wasn't because i switched between 2 lenses. therefore, i suspect it has to be the body. but im not quite sure what exactly is the problem.

anyone knows and can advice on this? would truly appreciate it. thanks alot.

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn139/inxherxeye/mix/mix233.jpg

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn139/inxherxeye/mix/mix232.jpg

[scotteisenphotography]

dust on the sensor..time for a cleaning!

[inxherxeyes]

dust on the sensor..time for a cleaning!

is just sensor cleaning fine, or do i need to send it for extensive servicing/sensor cleaning at canon?

[scotteisenphotography]

You need special stuff to do the sensor cleaning. I always send my stuff into canon, but you can do it yourself if you get the right stuff.

[Permagrin]

the simple thing is to get a rocket blower and try to blow it out (make sure you don't use canned air...a rocket blower is the tool designed for this) using the sensor clean mode on the camera.

If that doesn't work try the lenspen sensor klear pen...that works pretty good without too much frustration.

If that doesn't work, there's the wet clean method (which we never use so someone else can explain that).

or the arctic butterfly (which we always use but it's an expensive initial outlay...though it seems to last forever).

[Jim G]

is just sensor cleaning fine, or do i need to send it for extensive servicing/sensor cleaning at canon?

What do you mean "just sensor cleaning"? By going into the sensor clean mode you're not actually cleaning it, you're just flipping up the mirror and opening the shutter so that you can clean it yourself...

Do a search on here for sensor cleaning, there's heaps of information on here and Google.

Start off with a hand-powered air blower and go from there.

[inxherxeyes]

You need special stuff to do the sensor cleaning. I always send my stuff into canon, but you can do it yourself if you get the right stuff.

the simple thing is to get a rocket blower and try to blow it out (make sure you don't use canned air...a rocket blower is the tool designed for this) using the sensor clean mode on the camera.

If that doesn't work try the lenspen sensor klear pen...that works pretty good without too much frustration.

If that doesn't work, there's the wet clean method (which we never use so someone else can explain that).

or the arctic butterfly (which we always use but it's an expensive initial outlay...though it seems to last forever).

What do you mean "just sensor cleaning"? By going into the sensor clean mode you're not actually cleaning it, you're just flipping up the mirror and opening the shutter so that you can clean it yourself...

Do a search on here for sensor cleaning, there's heaps of information on here and Google.

Start off with a hand-powered air blower and go from there.

thanks alot all for the info and advices. i think i'll be sending mine to canon for cleaning then.

[eddarr]

You really don't have to send it in. Follow Permagrin's advise. The rocket blower comes with instructions and there are instructions in the manual for your camera. Just take your time and follow the instructions, you'll be fine.
Welcome to the forum.

[inxherxeyes]

You really don't have to send it in. Follow Permagrin's advise. The rocket blower comes with instructions and there are instructions in the manual for your camera. Just take your time and follow the instructions, you'll be fine.
Welcome to the forum.

appreciated permagrin's advise definitely, however, i've heard then cleaning it by myself is pretty risky cause if not properly cleaned, might scratch it.

[inxherxeyes]

btw, just an update, i totally forgot and did not realise something.

about 2 weeks ago, when i was looking through the viewfinder, there is this black spot-like thing at the bottom right of the viewfinder. however, when i took a picture, the black spot-like picture doesn't appear on the bottom right.

right now, im guessing the black spot-like found on the top right in my attached picture is the black spot-like i see on the bottom right when looking through the viewfinder.

so is it still dust or is it something else that's wrong with the camera?

[qtfsniper]

If it doesnt show up on the pictures , but it's in the viewfinder, it would be a spot on the mirror. Cleaning the sensor is fairly easy though. Most of the time, a good burst of air will get it off.

[inxherxeyes]

btw, just an update, i totally forgot and did not realise something.

about 2 weeks ago, when i was looking through the viewfinder, there is this black spot-like thing at the bottom right of the viewfinder. however, when i took a picture, the black spot-like picture doesn't appear on the bottom right.

right now, im guessing the black spot-like found on the top right in my attached picture is the black spot-like i see on the bottom right when looking through the viewfinder.

so is it still dust or is it something else that's wrong with the camera?

If it doesnt show up on the pictures , but it's in the viewfinder, it would be a spot on the mirror. Cleaning the sensor is fairly easy though. Most of the time, a good burst of air will get it off.

so in the case that i quoted above, it means the dust is in the mirror? will using a blower be fairly easy to remove it? please enlighten me as im a real noob at this. thanks alot!

[tzalman]

A spot caused by dust on the mirror or focusing screen will not appear in a picture.
A spot in a picture is caused by dust on the sensor but will not be visible in the viewfinder.

Using a smaller aperture make sensor dust more visible. The upper shot was at f/22, an aperture that will reveal lots of dust. The second shot is at f/16 and the dust is less visible. At f/8 it will probably be invisible.

[tonylong]

Dust in the mirror or the viewfinder will not show up in the picture. You have dust on the sensor (you proved this by switching lenses).

There are three progressive steps to cleaning sensors yourself: a blower, a "dry cleaner" such as a brush or a pen, and a "wet cleaner" with Eclipse and a swab.

If you want to maintain a happy sensor, be equipped to do them all:)!

[inxherxeyes]

A spot caused by dust on the mirror or focusing screen will not appear in a picture.
A spot in a picture is caused by dust on the sensor but will not be visible in the viewfinder.

Using a smaller aperture make sensor dust more visible. The upper shot was at f/22, an aperture that will reveal lots of dust. The second shot is at f/16 and the dust is less visible. At f/8 it will probably be invisible.

understood. however right now, the "dust" is appearing in both my viewfinder and image however in opposite direction. i've indicated in the image attached below.

Dust in the mirror or the viewfinder will not show up in the picture. You have dust on the sensor (you proved this by switching lenses).

There are three progressive steps to cleaning sensors yourself: a blower, a "dry cleaner" such as a brush or a pen, and a "wet cleaner" with Eclipse and a swab.

If you want to maintain a happy sensor, be equipped to do them all:)!
yeaps, definitely need to learn how to start doing these! thanks for the info!

have attached this picture edited with colour for further understanding and seeking anymore explanations/advices/help from anyone.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn139/inxherxeye/spot.jpg

the red outline is the big unknown black spot shown in image.
the green outline is where the big unknown black spot is seen in the viewfinder.

does this still means that the sensor is the one that needs cleaning? im wondering if it is caused by dirt, or is it scratches or anything? because i have not dropped the camera before or have physical contact with the inside.

[qtfsniper]

understood. however right now, the "dust" is appearing in both my viewfinder and image however in opposite direction. i've indicated in the image attached below.


yeaps, definitely need to learn how to start doing these! thanks for the info!

have attached this picture edited with colour for further understanding and seeking anymore explanations/advices/help from anyone.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn139/inxherxeye/spot.jpg

the red outline is the big unknown black spot shown in image.
the green outline is where the big unknown black spot is seen in the viewfinder.

does this still means that the sensor is the one that needs cleaning? im wondering if it is caused by dirt, or is it scratches or anything? because i have not dropped the camera before or have physical contact with the inside.

Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it's both(and it really isn't a big deal to clean, it's to be expected, and a simple process). To understand how the camera works, when you look through the viewfinder and you see a picture, you're looking at the mirror + focusing screen. The focusing screen is matte-like and the mirror literally is a mirror. That is the first spot in green that you highlighted. The spots on the mirror and the focusing screen do no transfer to the picture you take at all because once you press the shutter button, the mirror flips up! And then the sensor (+ filter in front of the sensor is revealed). That sensor is what picks up the signals for the picture. When people say cleaning the sensor, it's actually the filter in front of it. Now that is where the spot highlighted in red is. It's just a coincidence that they are in opposite directions. If you are careful and don't spit when you blow, it might not be suggested(or recommended) but a quick puff of air might clear the dust from the sensor filter. When you clean the mirror, pick up some Eclipse E2 and lint free pec pads. Apply some fluid on the pad and clean it in one motion (not rubbing). It is a surfaced mirror so the reflective coating is on the outside ,You don't want to rub it off. It will be fine if you hard trying to pry it off, but be gentle.

[PhotosGuy]

a quick puff of air might clear the dust from the sensor filter. Consider " a cheap, quick puff of air "?
Some personal views on Sensor cleaning. (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=184448)

[tonylong]

Are you saying that the spot you see in the viewfinder is identical to the spot you get on an image? This doesn't make sense, because what you see in the viewfinder follows a totally different optical path. You can see spots in the viewfinder, but they won't show up in your final shots.

[Mike]

2 different blobs of dust. Just a fluke that they are in alignment. The mirror dust will have no effect on your final image.

Yes, your sensor still needs a clean. The techniques described above will work. First things first is to give it (the sensor) a blow with a rocket blower. Shoot a test shot and see if that has shifted it. If not you can wet clean it yourself (I have done this myself with complete success) but you will need to get the right products to do this. Search for the copper hill method.

How to test for dust on the sensor.

Dust becomes more visible in your shots as your aperture narrows. At wide apertures (f/2.8 for example) the dust will not be as visible in the picture if at all. As your aperture gets narrower so the visibility of the dust in the final image increases. Your first shot was at f/22 and the second was at f/16. Notice that the first image's dust spot is slightly darker? That's because your aperture is narrower.

So, when you are cleaning your sensor, the best way to check for a dusty sensor is to put your camera in Av mode and get your aperture as small as possible - f/32 should do it. Then point your camera at a blank wall/piece of paper/blue sky (anything that is flat, uniform in colour and without pattern or texture). Take a shot and review it on your lcd or computer. You'll be shocked to see quite how much dust you have if you haven't cleaned it in a while!

[gooble]

1. Dust of focus screen, visible in viewfinder, has absolutely no effect whatsoever on the image. It is physically impossible for it to do so.

2. Since dust on the focus screen has no effect on the image it can be completely ignored unless it bugs you, in which case you can use a blower to try to remove it.

3. All sensors have dust to some degree and will most likely be visible when you're shooting at f/22.

4. To eliminate dust spots in your image you can try blowing off the sensor or you can not stop down the aperture so much. How small is too small for the aperture. Hard to know because it probably depends on the size of the dust speck but I'd try to go below f/11, and f/8 would be better.

5. IMHO there is very little reason to ever shoot smaller than f/11. I don't say I never do but I hardly ever do. For wide to normal lenses you can often get all the DOF you need at f/11 and below. If you need more DOF with longer lenses you may need to stop it down more, fine but realize that your images will lose sharpness due to difraction.

[inxherxeyes]

hey guys, thanks so much for the advise! did the sensor cleaning myself with a blower, and that hair-like spot is gone. after a week, some grey spots appear. so time for me to do a sensor cleaning again.

by the way, can i check, i read a few articles/post that mention that we should not off the camera until the sensor cleaning is done. my question is, then how do you stop the sensor cleaning function when you're done blowing and cleaning it?

[Mike]

by the way, can i check, i read a few articles/post that mention that we should not off the camera until the sensor cleaning is done. my question is, then how do you stop the sensor cleaning function when you're done blowing and cleaning it?

Once you are done blowing and cleaning then you must turn off your camera. That is the normal and only way to end your sensor cleaning session. Just make sure that there is nothing in the way of the mirror for when it returns down.