BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Problems with Images

Photography Question 

Rachel Larson
 

I am seeing debris on my digital images.


I am seeing dust/debris on my images. I don't see them when viewing them in the camera, but I do when viewing the images on my computer. I keep my lenses and filters clean. Is there a easy afforable way I can tell where the problem lies? Is the debris in the camera or in the lens? I am assuming that a pressurized air duster is a bad thing to use.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
Rachel J. Larson

RJL Photography
rjl_photography@yahoo.com
RJLphotography.ifp3.com


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April 04, 2008

 

Pete H
  Hello Rachel,

There is a good chance what you are describing is dust etc on the sensor cover. Posting a photo would really help analyze this.

One of the easist ways to determine this is as follows;

Take a picture of the clear blue sky, don't worry about focus; you probably can't focus anyway, so set it on manual.

Next, in Adobe or whatever software you use, over and underexpose the image greatly using levels. If you have dust on your sensor cover, it will become quite apparent; especially when looking at it underexposed with levels.

This is the photo I'd like to see to determine if this is indeed a dust prob.

High pressure air is a bad idea. If a bulb type blower can't clear away the debris, your next step will be manually cleaning with specialized products.

al the best,

Pete


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April 04, 2008

 

Rachel Larson
 
 
  overexposed
overexposed

Rachel Larson

 
  original
original

Rachel Larson

 
 
Hi Pete,

Here are two photos that show the problem. I did as you suggested and greatly overexposed one of the copies.


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April 04, 2008

 

robert G. Fately
  Hi, Rachael,

Indeed, it looks as though you have stuff on your sensor - those black dots are in the exact same position in both images (of course, the images are quite similar, but unless there were birds in the precise same location from shot to shot those spots are probably dust).

As Pete points out, you should not use canned air on these - a bulb blower or else cleaning liquid and wipes are necessary.


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April 04, 2008

 

Pete H
  Yep,

That is a dust spot.
Try bulb blowing first, although this one looks like welded dust, so a physical cleaning will probably be necessary.

Do NOT do a physical cleaning of the sensor unless you have done it before or have thouroughly researched how to do it.

I suspect you have more dust than you think.
Feel free to email me the original and I'll have a look.

Pete


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April 04, 2008

 
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