EOS Rebel SL3 Dark Circles on Photos

[Susan588]

 

Happy Friday! I purchased an SL3 in 2019, but I haven't used it a lot, since I have mostly been home for the last couple of years. I have an issue with random shadow-looking dark rings appearing in my photos. My lenses are compatible with the camera and are all Canon EF or EF-S. I've search the forum but only found an issue with third party lenses that didn't look like this one. I'm attaching an example, and sometimes is much more prominent than this one. Is it a setting or anything I can fix? I'm hoping it's not a defective camera since it's out of warranty. Thank you. 

[Peter]

More visible at 1/4000 sec than 2 sec? Then it is a failing shutter.

[Susan588]

It is more visible at faster shutter speeds. I don't have the issue with pictures of the moon, etc. Thank you. 

[jrhoffman75]

Can you post an "out of camera" file to Dropbox or One Drive?

[Peter]

Checked your pictures again. Indeed it is a circle. I just saw the half of it before. You can try with auto ISO, f/14 and just change shutter speed.

Have you also taken a look at the sensor so that nothing is laying on it?

[wq9nsc · Accepted solution]

It looks like a hair or similar sitting loosely on the surface of the sensor.  Look in your manual (the advanced user guide which you may need to download from the Canon website) for manual sensor cleaning and follow the instructions to look carefully for anything stuck to/directly in front of the sensor.  NOTE!!!  Be sure to have a fully charged battery in the camera for this because you don't want to have the battery expiring and the mirror moving back into position.  Use a lens blower to remove anything sticking to the sensor.

Rodger

[Susan588]

Thank you all very much! I'll get a lens blower and try to clean the sensor. 

[jaewoosong · Accepted solution]

i agree with rodger that it might be a hair or eyelash.  use a camera specific blower and not anything with compressed air can.

[Susan588]

Rodger, I ordered a blower and followed the instructions in the manual. I've taken a few test shots, and I think it's finally gone. Thanks to you and everyone else for the help. 

[ebiggs1]

"Thank you all very much! I'll get a lens blower and try to clean the sensor."

Not so fast!

I don't want to throw salt on the wound but I doubt you did correct the ring issue. Why, because it looks to be a  perfect circle. It would be an almost impossible coincidence if it was a random hair making a perfect circle. I hope it was for your sake.  I would take Rodger's advice and clean the sensor but have a pro do it for you. Rocket blowers are nice but they do not clean the sensor.

Did you say it happens with all your Canon brand lenses? Because a ring like that looks like a lens issue. If you have any lens correction or optimizer on, turn all that off. Perhaps a full reset to factory default of the SL3 is in order.

Does the ring move or is it in the same place every time?