What kind of a spot is this?

[QUOTE=Sneaky;17992151​]

Choderboy wrote in post #17991448
As mathogre mentioned, you don't have "Editing Permitted" turned on but you are asking for help so I'll go ahead:

How do I enable "Editing Permitted?" Thank you

I don't know! Maybe that feature does not exist anymore with AMASS forum software.

Just for an exercise, stop the lens all the way down and shoot against a solid, light surface; preferably without focusing. This should tell whether you have some difficult sensor dust giving you issues, as well. It'll show you a bunch of specks if you do.

It's unlikely that dust in the lens is doing much to you here. Lens dust, unless it's catastrophic, won't impact images due to the way light travels through the lens. You can plunk a postage stamp (sized piece of paper) on your front element and still take a clear photo...it's sort of amazing, really.

Sneaky wrote in post #17991072
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Presuming this is a crop of the original image given the aspect ratio, can you post the full image? that way we can gauge the size of the spot relative to the rest of the image & make an educated guess what the issue is.

I'm picking it's either crud on the sensor or flare from lighting but other shots taken at F/9 and above in other situations should have similar spot if it's the sensor needing proper cleaning...

Thanks everybody! Welp, the cleaning specialists at my camera store were baffled by this one. According to them, my sensor is clean, with the exception of the tinniest, barely visible speck. Small enough, that it should not be causing these light spots. Here are a couple un-cropped jpegs (one of the camera store guys thought shooting in jpeg might make a difference compared to my usual RAW shots). When I shoot dark garments, it is not uncommon to have several of these "ghosts." I wish I had another lens to try out on my 60D. Is there a setting in the 60D that might be causing this? Damaged sensor? Am I looking at having to send both my lens & camera to Canon for repair? Ugh.

It's in the same place within the frame every time, it looks like. Did the service folks take a look at your lens, too? Also, what *is* your location? Maybe someone near by can lend a hand with that; or you could rent a lens for a weekend and see if a new lens does the same thing.

There are a few spots, and they are in the same place every time. There is dust inside the lens. The service reps saw this, and said it is unlikely that the dust would be causing this. I'm in the Western NY area (outside Buffalo). I might know somebody with a lens that I could borrow. I don't think the camera shop I went to today rents lenses. They had a used Nifty Fivety for sale. I may have to buy something cheap to help me get to the bottom of this.

it's a lens flare...turn off the lights, leave everything in the same spot, adjust the exposure to get the jacket looking equal and they will go away...instead of lighting the background from the back, why not get a white paper, and light it from the front...

or try shooting with the lens more wide open, and see if they go away slightly more

Dre,
I use a three flash set up. Two in front, and the illuminated background. I absolutely love the way my photos come out. These spots are only a problem when I shoot dark garments. I may have to figure out a different system for shooting the dark stuff. I'm not sure what you mean by "turn off the lights." You mean, don't use the strobes? I wish the modeling lamps on my old Profoto e600 kit were stronger. I've tried shooting with the lens more open, and every other which way I could try. This has been going on for a long time.

Sneaky wrote in post #17995057
Dre,
I use a three flash set up. Two in front, and the illuminated background. I absolutely love the way my photos come out. These spots are only a problem when I shoot dark garments. I may have to figure out a different system for shooting the dark stuff. I'm not sure what you mean by "turn off the lights." You mean, don't use the strobes? I wish the modeling lamps on my old Profoto e600 kit were stronger. I've tried shooting with the lens more open, and every other which way I could try. This has been going on for a long time.

Agree with Andre. I'd be willing to bet that you have flare in the images of lighter subjects when you use that backlighting, too. It's just that they blend in & you don't see them like you do with a black subject.

Sneaky wrote in post #17995057
Dre,
I use a three flash set up. Two in front, and the illuminated background. I absolutely love the way my photos come out. These spots are only a problem when I shoot dark garments. I may have to figure out a different system for shooting the dark stuff. I'm not sure what you mean by "turn off the lights." You mean, don't use the strobes? I wish the modeling lamps on my old Profoto e600 kit were stronger. I've tried shooting with the lens more open, and every other which way I could try. This has been going on for a long time.

i mean turn off the lights, use a longer exposure, and i'd be willing to bet that the spots go away...that isn't a solve to your problem, but it will show you that the issue is a lens flare from the lighting, and there's nothing really wrong with your camera

the flare is probably there in other shots, just harder to see without the darkness...it's like how you can't notice sensor dust on a busy scene, but if it's a blue sky they'll pop right out

your illuminated background light is pointed at the camera, right?

I'd troubleshoot by keeping subject & lights exactly the same and try turning the camera up the other way to see if the spot moves in relation to the subject to see if it's lens or sensor related (spot will remain in same place if it's lighting...)