is this a smudge on the lens of my s410?

[css01]

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/3117/img0006large2jn.jpg

I took some pictures today and they all have a "C" shaped smudge in the same spot.

Is my lens messed up, is this fixable? or should I get a new camera?

[JMAS]

Note that I don't realy know the s410.

It's strange if it is smudge in the lens as it would have to be very noticible just by looking at the front element.

If it appears in all photos, I sugest taking it to Canon.
In a camera with interchangable lenses, this kind of mark usualy is dirt on the sensor, not on the lens. Did you by any chance remove the lens from your camera? (If you haven't, then don't)

[css01]

it's on every picture I've taken. I've tried cleaning the lens, but I'm still getting the problem.

if I zoom, the smudge appears in the same spot, but it becomes a lot more noticable.

here are more examples:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/christopherskillman/

I don't know how dirt could have gotten onto the sensor.

[JMAS]

You didn't had or at least it was not visible in the earlier photos you took.

I think you shouldn't worry. It's most probably something like a hair or fibre that was inside the camera since the assembly and now is now deposited either in the rear element of the lens or the sensor.

If this is the case then I'm sure Canon services will certainly repair it under warranty.
This must not be something that is not your fault, unless you dropped the camera and even so they need to detect it.

It will leave you cameraless for a while but if I were you, I would sent it to Canon. Sorry.


BTW - you have some great architectural and landscape photos on your site.