Smudge/mark on lens or mirror

NorthernGuardian · 08-30-2009, 04:14 PM

Hallo,

I have this mark/smudge that turns out in most of my pictures, here is a link to an example.

Could you tell me how to clean my lens or mirror to get it off? I don't know what else it would be.

pbo · 08-30-2009, 04:29 PM

That's dust on the sensor. Just search "sensor dust", and you'll find a lot of discussion on that matter. Usually, a Giottos Rocket blower will suffice for the task.

Wombat · 08-30-2009, 04:34 PM

The one at top right looks like a hair on your lens and the small dot middle-left is just a speck of dust. Have a good look at your lens, both ends, and give it a good blow with a rocket and/or a gentle wipe with a lens brush, then a lens cloth. If you have a UV filter, it may be on there, or trapped between the filter and the lens. Blow the mirror while you're at it, but that won't show up on your photo. If it's still there after you've thoroughly examined and cleaned the lens, then it will probably be dust on the sensor. (Check by trying another lens, point it at the sky or a wall and see if the same marks show up in the same place). You can clean that yourself with a special kit. Whether it's the lens or the sensor, go very gently indeed and don't put anything other than proper camera cleaning gear anywhere near them.
You might want to get into the habit of spending five minutes cleaning everything whenever you get home from a shoot. That way you're ready to go if you see something you want to shoot in a hurry.

NorthernGuardian · 08-30-2009, 08:11 PM

I got it, thanks guys, I was like a small piece of mulch or something.

Damn Brit · 08-30-2009, 09:27 PM

Originally posted by NorthernGuardian

I got it, thanks guys, I was like a small piece of mulch or something.

Cameras are for taking pictures, not gardening.

Welcome to the forum.

legacyb4 · 08-30-2009, 11:31 PM

Noticed I had the same this week; thought I had dislodged it but it appeared in some pics today. Guess a little cleaning is in order!

MJB DIGITAL · 08-31-2009, 06:02 AM

Originally posted by Damn Brit

Cameras are for taking pictures, not gardening.

Welcome to the forum.

If you take the lens of, the shutter/mirror box makes a great cereal bowl. Then, when you are done, you can splash the milk with the mirror by using the shutter button. FUN!

As for gardening, I think the mirror box is a great mulch cup. It's kinda like a wheel barrow but smaller--like a cup. 8)

clmonk · 09-01-2009, 08:14 AM

Damn Brit wrote: Cameras are for taking pictures, not gardening.

Then why do we "crop" our shots?

Wheatfield · 09-01-2009, 11:15 AM

Originally posted by clmonk

Damn Brit wrote: Cameras are for taking pictures, not gardening.

Then why do we "crop" our shots?

Speak for yourself.

sfdealer · 09-01-2009, 07:05 PM

Originally posted by NorthernGuardian

Hallo,

I have this mark/smudge that turns out in most of my pictures, here is a link to an example.

Could you tell me how to clean my lens or mirror to get it off? I don't know what else it would be.

How many shutter activations does your camera body have? About 12-15,000? The top right of the picture is an example of the sensor entering puberty.

res3567 · 09-01-2009, 10:45 PM

Originally posted by Damn Brit

Cameras are for taking pictures, not gardening.

Welcome to the forum.

Ha!!!!!

08-30-2009, 04:14 PM	#1
NorthernGuardian New Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 5	Smudge/mark on lens or mirror Hallo, I have this mark/smudge that turns out in most of my pictures, here is a link to an example. Could you tell me how to clean my lens or mirror to get it off? I don't know what else it would be.

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08-30-2009, 04:29 PM	#2
pbo Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 891	That's dust on the sensor. Just search "sensor dust", and you'll find a lot of discussion on that matter. Usually, a Giottos Rocket blower will suffice for the task.

08-30-2009, 04:34 PM	#3
Wombat Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 901	The one at top right looks like a hair on your lens and the small dot middle-left is just a speck of dust. Have a good look at your lens, both ends, and give it a good blow with a rocket and/or a gentle wipe with a lens brush, then a lens cloth. If you have a UV filter, it may be on there, or trapped between the filter and the lens. Blow the mirror while you're at it, but that won't show up on your photo. If it's still there after you've thoroughly examined and cleaned the lens, then it will probably be dust on the sensor. (Check by trying another lens, point it at the sky or a wall and see if the same marks show up in the same place). You can clean that yourself with a special kit. Whether it's the lens or the sensor, go very gently indeed and don't put anything other than proper camera cleaning gear anywhere near them. You might want to get into the habit of spending five minutes cleaning everything whenever you get home from a shoot. That way you're ready to go if you see something you want to shoot in a hurry.

08-30-2009, 08:11 PM	#4
NorthernGuardian New Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 5 Original Poster	I got it, thanks guys, I was like a small piece of mulch or something.

08-30-2009, 09:27 PM	#5
Damn Brit Guest	Originally posted by NorthernGuardian I got it, thanks guys, I was like a small piece of mulch or something. Cameras are for taking pictures, not gardening. Welcome to the forum.

08-30-2009, 11:31 PM	#6
legacyb4 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tri-Cities, British Columbia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,784	Noticed I had the same this week; thought I had dislodged it but it appeared in some pics today. Guess a little cleaning is in order!

08-31-2009, 06:02 AM	#7
MJB DIGITAL Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: st. louis Posts: 1,170	Originally posted by Damn Brit Cameras are for taking pictures, not gardening. Welcome to the forum. If you take the lens of, the shutter/mirror box makes a great cereal bowl. Then, when you are done, you can splash the milk with the mirror by using the shutter button. FUN! As for gardening, I think the mirror box is a great mulch cup. It's kinda like a wheel barrow but smaller--like a cup. 8)

09-01-2009, 08:14 AM	#8
clmonk Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Eastern TN Posts: 269	Damn Brit wrote: Cameras are for taking pictures, not gardening. Then why do we "crop" our shots?

09-01-2009, 11:15 AM	#9
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,975	Originally posted by clmonk Damn Brit wrote: Cameras are for taking pictures, not gardening. Then why do we "crop" our shots? Speak for yourself.

09-01-2009, 07:05 PM	#10
sfdealer Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: San Francisco Posts: 53	Originally posted by NorthernGuardian Hallo, I have this mark/smudge that turns out in most of my pictures, here is a link to an example. Could you tell me how to clean my lens or mirror to get it off? I don't know what else it would be. How many shutter activations does your camera body have? About 12-15,000? The top right of the picture is an example of the sensor entering puberty.

09-01-2009, 10:45 PM	#11
res3567 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Houston Tx. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,876	Originally posted by Damn Brit Cameras are for taking pictures, not gardening. Welcome to the forum. Ha!!!!!

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