20D factory dust and mirror smudge

[Medic1]

I purchased my 20D a few weeks ago and had only shot nature and landscape until recently. The real test came a week ago when I did my first aviation shoot with it.

Up in the sky! Its a bird, its a plane!! NO!!! Its at least 5 highly visable dust spots at f5.6!!

Well, after shooting 3GB worth of images, let me tell you how much the photoshopping experience ate away at my spare time.

I locked up the mirror and blew out the sensor area with a hurricane blower bulb.....this only took care of 2 of the 5 highly visible spots. I shot an image at f22 and upped the contrast in PS and whaddya know? It looked like a sandbox in there.

Long story short....the store I got the camera from is possibly replacing the body for free since its only been a couple weeks.

Aside from that.....when I looked inside to get ready to clean out the sensor I notice a oily looking smudge on my mirror.

I have read alot of places in the forum that dust on the sensor is normal from the factory with the 20D......but this is horrible. After finding the smudge as well, I am starting to think maybe this camera was a buyer return and I just happened to be unlucky enough to get it.

Is this a Canon issue (dust and smudge) or did I happen to be the unlucky owner of a previously purchased camera body??

[kenyc]

Doesn't sound right to me, particularly for a $1500 camera. I'd take it back and get it exchanged.

KAC

[DocFrankenstein]

Doesn't sound too good. My rebel is a refurb and had no issues.

[psybear]

I had a brand new 350D which I returned - the amount of crap on the sensor was incredible. It came in a sealed box, but the date/time had been set on the camera which made me think it might have been a return.

[mdm]

I'd be pissed.

[Medic1]

I'd be pissed.

Don't worry....I am.

They are ordering a new one in for me....they didn't have any "body only" packages left.

Hopefully when I arrive, they still let me exchange it outright. The person I am dealing with is a salesperson....not management.