Cant Get sensor clean

I have a 7d. I noticed last weekend one of those "dots" in my pics from the sensor being dirty. I tried cleaning it a few times on the camera function, nothing. I tried with a cloth and lens cleaning fluid, nothing. Tried with a Qtip as I read online, nothing. i can't get this dot gone!

What else can I do?

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The self cleaning function helps keep the sensor clean longer but not forever. Using a Q-Tip is not a good idea and you can do more damage than good. Sounds like it is time for a wet cleaning with the appropriate tools. Check out this website for more details.
http://www.cleaningdig​italcameras.com/
http://www.copperhilli​mages.com/index.php?pr​=tutorials

Thanks I'm reading now. I have inspected the sensor under direct light and can not even see what's causing the spot, is that normal too

Get good at cloning in PS!

Seriously, if you have done all of that and it still shows, it is most likely in between the front two filters and the sensor..which is an area YOU cannot get to. not unless you disassemble the camera, remove the sensor, then disassemble the sensor assy and clean ALL surfaces, and then hope and pray that another speck doesnt fall on your filters/sensor while reassembling..lol

IMHO, one spot would be great..I regularly clone out 10-15 spots on my 5D2 and maybe 5-6 on my 60D...

Even if you send it into Canon, they do not disassemble the camera, remove the sensor, and then clean all surfaces..they clean it like you have already done.
(this is AFAIK, I may be wrong about this...)

Good luck!

Whaaaaatttttt ? Omg this puts a damper on things!

I have a 1DMark IV and was told by a professional photography repairman that the sensors on the Canons are notorious for attracting dust especially the 5D's and the 1D series. This is an industry wide problem I'm told. After 2 different photo shops and $150.00 later they still can't clean all the damn spots. I sent it to the Canon factory and was told that the dust has gotten between the filter sensor & the sensor itself and the only way to rid of the spots is to replace the sensor and filter. The cost for this repair is $1565.00, I declined for now and utilize software to remove the spots. They show up only at f16 and above during sky shots.

Well, are you sure it isnt on the rear element of your lens?
Try turning the lens SLIGHTLY(dont want it to fall out/off!!) and see if the spot moves.
If it stays stationary, it is on/near the sensor area...
If you think about it, look at this image(attached). you have FIVE optical surfaces inside your camera alone that can get 'dirty'..
1) front side of front filter(LPF-1) LPF=Low Pass Filter
2) back side of front filter(LPF-1)
3) front side of second/rear filter(LPF-2)
4) back side of second/rear filter(LPF-2)
5) front side of sensor glass/window. this is sealed onto the ceramic packaging of the sensor itself. it is sealed in an airtight chamber, so there should NEVER be any dust inside the actual sensor. not unless something has gone HORRIBLY wrong!!
But dust can easily attach itself to the front of this surface just as easily as the other filters.

But, there is a 'sealing material' they use between the first two filters, and between the filter holder/assy and the sensor(it is on the back of the puke-greenish plate/piece of plastic in the image). and this HELPS keep dust from working its way into these areas..

Now, because of this, the front filter surface is where 99.99999999% of all dust will ever go...most of the time. BUT, I have seen many times where a speck will work its way in between one of the filter surfaces and at that point you have two choices..1-live with it..you own an INTERCHANGEABLE LENS system..it is a way of life, dont like it? get a P&S.. or 2-send it to canon and tell them you would like it cleaned completely and that the dust is NOT on the front filter but in between filters/sensor,etc..

It sucks. but 'dust happens' with SLR's(or any type of camera system that allows for removal of lenses,etc..
actually, dust can even get into the camera in a number of ways, unless you are using a 1D series with excellent weather sealing..but even then..'dust happens'

I need a bumper sticker that says that... hmmm..

EDIT: In case a Mod is worried I "ripped that image from a website without permission", that is MY image...it's not from a website..it's from my desktop..

Fuzzleak wrote in post #14776010
I have a 1DMark IV and was told by a professional photography repairman that the sensors on the Canons are notorious for attracting dust especially the 5D's and the 1D series. This is an industry wide problem I'm told. After 2 different photo shops and $150.00 later they still can't clean all the damn spots. I sent it to the Canon factory and was told that the dust has gotten between the filter sensor & the sensor itself and the only way to rid of the spots is to replace the sensor and filter. The cost for this repair is $1565.00, I declined for now and utilize software to remove the spots. They show up only at f16 and above during sky shots.

That is ridiculous...
Maybe I should start doing this kind of 'service'. It is nothing for me to do as I have done filter mods to nearly 350 Canon DSLRs alone(not including Nikon, Sony, Pentax,etc)..and have done every model from the 1D4 and 5D3 to a 350D!!

I could remove a sensor, clean it, and reassemble everything in my sleep.(geek here. lol)

Honestly though, without a clean-room it is impossible to get 100% dust free installs. I am happy if I can get a sensor assy cleaned to the point where MAYBE 1-2 spots show up at F/22, but GONE completely by ~F/11-13,etc..imho, that is cleaner than most Canons I get straight from the factory, or after a couple weeks of use..

I will do it for you for the low price of $1k!

Alright, this is all useful information thank you all. I think I got the spot gone. At f22 anyways, but I have some other dust, one speck in the middle. I'm gonna check it again in a minute.

I had a speck like the one thats there now before and it eventually went away.

I am going to buy a good cleaner for it (this time I just used a lens cloth and fluid).
It was not the lens b/c I tried 3 lenses and got the same result.

Hyper,

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind, but for now, I can live with it. Fortunately, I don't shoot at f16 often enough to justify the cost of repairing it. It is very frustrating when shooting HDR sky shots though, I've got to clean about 17 spots everytime.

I was kidding about the price..(just making sure you caught that

I too find it annoying, but I have yet to find a dust spot that cannot be VERY easily cloned out..and yea, sky shots are notorious for showing them..

Good luck!

So am I reading this right that a good percentage (more so than not) of you all clone out dust spots and it's just part of it.

Oh I caught that (lol), I wasn't sure if you're serious, but I played along. Would you mention that if you were to sell the body or does everyone know that dust is part of norm?

Lenspen SensorKlear will take care of that. Easy, quick, dry.

Canon seems to consider dust to be part of the "norm", since they include the dust delete data function in most DSLRs these days.