More help than critique?

So I have finally started shooting in m-mode exclusively (loving it), and noticed something pretty odd today. First off, I know I have dust on my sensor of my 300D, but I think I found a way to make it so you can't see it?

1.

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png'

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png'

b-rice wrote in post #11268855
Should I always aim for wide open apertures and fast shutter speeds?

Not always - but a greater depth of field (smaller aperture) means that dust will be more noticeable.

TheBurningCrown has it right.

You may want to either take your camera in for a cleaning, or get a kit to do it yourself.

As for shooting wide open, it really varies based on what you're shooting. Wide open and fast is great for low-light portraits. Not really necessary or desirable for landscapes or still-lifes though.

smaller apertures have more detail to them so the dust is more noticeable, you shouldnt always aim for wide open apertures and fast SS, use whatever you need to accomplish the effect you want while being able to properly expose

Larger apertures will make the dust invisible. The real solution is to clean the sensor. This is easily done yourself. Google copperhill images

in the second shot you were shooting at f 20.. in the first you were shooting at f5... solution- rocket blower and stop shooting at f 20...

poloman wrote in post #11269211
Larger apertures will make the dust invisible. The real solution is to clean the sensor. This is easily done yourself. Google copperhill images

Yeah, I have read up on sensor cleaning. I figure that if it gets bad enough I'll go for it, but right now I can just PS the spots away. Clone tool is a godsend.

Or...

I could just buy that 7D I've had my eye on for a while hahaha.

bdpaco wrote in post #11269086
smaller apertures have more detail to them so the dust is more noticeable, you shouldnt always aim for wide open apertures and fast SS, use whatever you need to accomplish the effect you want while being able to properly expose

I know that I usually set the aperture to what I want it at, and then correct exposure via shutter speed. Theoretically I can set my shutter speed and then gain correct exposure by adjusting the aperture right? I guess it could change given the application (ex: landscapes vs. motorsports).

canonnoob wrote in post #11269218
in the second shot you were shooting at f 20.. in the first you were shooting at f5... solution- rocket blower and stop shooting at f 20...

Yeah, honestly the only reason I put it on 20 (had some above that too) was to experiment. Just recently found out how to adjust aperture and was shooting test shots I guess. These captures weren't really to try and see if anything would look different (since there really isn't anything else that would be able to come into focus with a higher f-stop), they were just messing around shots and I just happened to notice that the dust had disappeared.
Whoa ok. I see. I mean, exposure usually isn't that big of a deal- it's either right or it's wrong. I mean, what do you do with aperture and shutter speed? Set your aperture and then adjust shutter speed for correct exposure, or vice versa?

there are a lot of variables...if your shooting sports, SS is going to be more important, portraits usually DOF is important so you would adjust your aperture...dont forget about ISO which is a factor for correct exposure...

bdpaco wrote in post #11269248
there are a lot of variables...if your shooting sports, SS is going to be more important, portraits usually DOF is important so you would adjust your aperture...dont forget about ISO which is a factor for correct exposure...

Right right. I'm always trying to shoot at low ISO. Dunno if you've ever had the pleasure of shooting a 300D, but it gets pretty noisy anywhere at or above 800 haha. I'm usually at 100 or 200, and 400 in dire straits.

b-rice wrote in post #11269266
Right right. I'm always trying to shoot at low ISO. Dunno if you've ever had the pleasure of shooting a 300D, but it gets pretty noisy anywhere at or above 800 haha. I'm usually at 100 or 200, and 400 in dire straits.

Part of the reason I bought Neat Image.....

The general method to find dust bunnies on the sensor is shoot at real high f-stop and over expose just a bit - preferably a clear blue sky or a solid white monitor screen.

That 7D has an automatic sensor cleaning system....

b-rice wrote in post #11269266
Right right. I'm always trying to shoot at low ISO. Dunno if you've ever had the pleasure of shooting a 300D, but it gets pretty noisy anywhere at or above 800 haha. I'm usually at 100 or 200, and 400 in dire straits.

yea,I have shot with a 300 before and understand the noise, but dont be scared of it..
A couple things I have learned about about noise is, as long as you expose correctly its manageable...I usually shoot to over expose 1/3 of a stop or so, its better to over expose than under expose...also noise always looks worst on screen than it does in print...and finally noise is better than missing the shot, under exposing the shot or having motion blur from to low a shutter speed...

bdpaco wrote in post #11270137
A couple things I have learned about about noise is, as long as you expose correctly its manageable...I usually shoot to over expose 1/3 of a stop or so, its better to over expose than under expose...also noise always looks worst on screen than it does in print...and finally noise is better than missing the shot, under exposing the shot or having motion blur from to low a shutter speed...

I learned this a long time ago. A sharp but noisy shot is better than a blurry shot, and a noisy shot is better than no shot at all.

Remember too that exposing a shot properly will keep noise to a minimum.