I hope it's just a dirty lens - DPChallenge Forums

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

10/19/2009 09:29:41 PM · #1

I've been playing around with hdr programs, trying to decide which one to buy (hence the watermark).

I got quite fright when Dynamic Photo HDR came up with this one - I've never seen this before. Even the other photos in this batch look clean, and the spots are hardly visible on any of the 3 images used to create this one.

I sure hope it's just the sun coming at just the right angle to show up a dirty lens, and not sensor dust.

bassbone

Nikon Z8

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S

10/19/2009 09:32:13 PM · #2

looks like a very dirty sensor to me....time for a serious cleaning

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

10/19/2009 09:35:00 PM · #3

If it's the sensor, why can't I see it on any of my other photos?

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S

10/19/2009 09:35:47 PM · #4

Looks like sensor dust to me. It's nothing to get upset over though. Cleaning dust off the sensor is very easy to do. Copperhill

bassbone

Nikon Z8

10/19/2009 09:38:25 PM · #5

You said that it was 'barely' there. When you process shots using topaz and HDR techniques, often times sensor dust and other artifacts are amplified. Try shooting a blank white sheet of paper at high f-stop (f22 or so). The closed down aperture will show you the dust....and you will be horrified!

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

10/19/2009 09:44:46 PM · #6

Thanks

bassbone, I guess I'll have to give that a try in the morning.

I know

Mick says it's easy, but the idea of cleaning the sensor TERRIFIES me.

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

10/19/2009 09:47:49 PM · #7

Just wanted to add that HDR hasn't done it to any of my other photos, not even the very similar ones taken within minutes of this, where the only likely difference was the angle of the sun on the lens.

Edit: I just checked image data and this was the only one where I used a small aperture. So it looks like it must be sensor dust. Help!

Message edited by author 2009-10-19 21:53:57.

ErikV

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

10/19/2009 09:56:52 PM · #8

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

I know Mick says it's easy, but the idea of cleaning the sensor TERRIFIES me.

Try a good blower first, for example the Rocket Blower. Actually the Copperhill people specifically state to use a blower before you use their liquid stuff and the pads. So when I got my Copperhill kit I went out and bought a blower and the blower got rid of so much dust that I never got around to using the Copperhill liquid stuff. And using the blower is super easy and you never touch the sensor. Now, if your sensor is super dirty you may still need the liquid stuff.

10/19/2009 09:57:55 PM · #9

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

Thanks bassbone, I guess I'll have to give that a try in the morning.

I know Mick says it's easy, but the idea of cleaning the sensor TERRIFIES me.

Just read the directions (at least twice) and follow them carefully. Soon you'll be wondering why you were so scared to try such a simple procedure. Basically, all you're doing is wiping dust off a small piece of glass. You never actually touch the sensor itself because it's behind the glass of the high-pass filter. You don't need to press very hard to get the job done, and you would have to press extremely (stupidly) hard before it would damage the camera. Zip zip and you're done.

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

10/19/2009 10:11:50 PM · #10

I've printed out the instructions and will have a look at them at a more suitable hour. I think there's a fair chance that someone at my favourite camera shop will be able to help me out with this.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/19/2009 10:21:44 PM · #11

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

I've printed out the instructions and will have a look at them at a more suitable hour. I think there's a fair chance that someone at my favourite camera shop will be able to help me out with this.

Yup. If they're any good, they will. That's sensor dust at small apertures, hideous stuff. Don't be afraid of Copperhill. Easy-peasy...

R.

desertoddity

Nikon D300s

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

10/19/2009 11:31:09 PM · #12

i'd never done it because i didn't know what the sensor looked like! so it's the glass...oh how red i am

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

10/19/2009 11:45:15 PM · #13

Sensor dust is not visible at low apertures, but the moment you stop down, say F16 or above and shoot a bright scene like the sky, your dust will show. After you clean your sensor the best way to see what is new is to stop down as far as you can (f22 or more) and shoot the sky, its amazing what you'll see. You can start with just blowing off the sensor with a rocket blower, but if you still have spots you must clean your sensor.

Seriously, you should clean the sensor about once a month or so, dust happens. Its not scary. Its just maintenance.

Message edited by author 2009-10-19 23:46:10.

Bugzeye

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

10/20/2009 12:28:30 AM · #14

Agree with what Cindi said, Would like to add. Make sure it is a pure blue sky. It really makes the sensor dust spots pop out.

Bugzeye

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

10/20/2009 01:03:09 AM · #15

The sensor surface looks exactly like the bottom/recordable side of a CD.

Originally posted by desertoddity:

i'd never done it because i didn't know what the sensor looked like! so it's the glass...oh how red i am

Message edited by author 2009-10-20 01:03:54.

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

10/20/2009 07:49:13 AM · #16

The funny thing about this is that if I hadn't used that particular image for an HDR test, I wouldn't have even noticed the spots. I'm just glad it happened before it ruined a photo that really mattered.

Lydia

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

10/20/2009 10:15:15 AM · #17

A fresh battery is a MUST... and a tripod is really handy.

10/20/2009 03:01:55 PM · #18

Here's another website dedicated to cleaning DSLRs: Demystifying D-SLR Sensor Cleaning

The site also has some information on other methods of sensor cleaning, although they point out that the standard 'Eclipse & PecPad' method is the most widely used, even by camera manufacturers. BTW, I totally agree with what they say about the 'scotch tape' method, "Not only no, but heck no!" :)

Photologist

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

10/20/2009 04:20:01 PM · #19

And yet another do-it-yourself sensor-cleaning how-to link.

That link contains some very detailed information on how to do it, complete with pictures.

.

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

10/28/2009 01:52:23 PM · #20

Well I finally got to the shop today. They guy sprayed something in the camera - I presume compressed air - and said it was clean. I haven't had a chance to check the blank photo on the computer yet, but it looks okay on the screen. He didn't charge anything and wouldn't sell me the spray. He did have some swabs, but they were kind of pricey, so I decided not to buy them unless I really have to.

Ja-9

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

10/28/2009 02:04:49 PM · #21

I just got a sensor cleaning kit at my local photo shot...it has a "loop" (my words) to look at your sensor 5x magnified...man was my sensor dirty!!! and the steps for cleaning were right with the kit...great kit (IMO) it was $99 vs taking the camera in to get it cleaned at $45 a pop...with enough cleaning stuff to last a long, long time...oh and it has a little suction vac as well...Sensor Scope by Delkin Devices worked like a charm....and boy was I scared to do it...

CEJ

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

10/28/2009 02:14:33 PM · #22

loupe

Photologist

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

10/28/2009 02:21:47 PM · #23

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

That's all he did? (sprayed something in the camera)

Did he swab anything?

I would shoot a test image as soon as I could (at a small aperture and display it on a computer screen). Many times, simply spraying with compressed air could make things worse as it could stir up more ambient dust, or worse...

10/28/2009 02:41:29 PM · #24

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

You should never spray compressed air (or any other compressed gas) into your camera. Canned air can spray gooey propellant residue onto the sensor and make a huge mess. A hand-operated blower is okay, but IMHO they just blow dust around inside the camera and make things worse. Anyway, it's very likely that your sensor is even dirtier than it was before you took it to them.