sensor dust or lens dust?

If dust on pictures only appear at f/8 or smaller, does that mean there is dust on the sensor or inside the lens?

Sensor.
Seldom on the lens.

Try switching lenses. Borrow one from someone if you only have one lens.

Dust on/in lens rarely show up in pics.

drjiveturkey,
Yup, its probably sensor dust

John_B wrote in post #5592633
drjiveturkey,
Yup, its probably sensor dust

You're right. Tried swapping lenses and it's on the sensor. Now I wish Nikon put a self cleaning sensor on their D3s! I guess I'll have to send it back for cleaning and break out the old 5D in the mean time!!

You can do it yourself. It's quite easy.

V8Rumble wrote in post #5593085
You can do it yourself. It's quite easy.

I tried using a blower and examined the sensor. There doesn't appear to be any dust on it but the specks still show up on images. Is it better to send it in or purchase a cleaning kit? what kit do you use?

drjiveturkey wrote in post #5593617
I tried using a blower and examined the sensor. There doesn't appear to be any dust on it but the specks still show up on images. Is it better to send it in or purchase a cleaning kit? what kit do you use?

A blower should do the job, that's all I've done. If it still doesn't show up, contact the manufacture and ask for a UPS/FedEx label to send it in for some cleaning (if it's still under warranty). A sensor-klear lens pen should work as well.

There's a few videos on YouTube that show how to clean your own sensor. Watch them and give it a try?

13inches wrote in post #5599504
There's a few videos on YouTube that show how to clean your own sensor. Watch them and give it a try?

Cuz if I damage the sensor, I don't know if that will affect the warranty or not.

I checked with a local pro camera shop and it was pretty cheap to have them clean it, but they said the turn around is 4 weeks! Nikon didn't give me a turn around time.

drjiveturkey wrote in post #5600990
Cuz if I damage the sensor, I don't know if that will affect the warranty or not.

I checked with a local pro camera shop and it was pretty cheap to have them clean it, but they said the turn around is 4 weeks! Nikon didn't give me a turn around time.

I was quite nervous about cleaning my sensor initially but I've had to do it a few times now and I'm totally comfortable with it. You don't actually clean/touch the sensor. You actually clean the anti-aliasing filter which covers the sensor and this filter is quite robust.

I use PEC pads with a few drops of Eclipse fluid.