I have Spots on some of my Pictures, not sure what this is, maybe the weather of some Mist.

[pris796]

Their were a lot of Fog, not on all my Pictures, just some. Please help me understand what is going on. Thank you all.

1/400

F/18

75 MM

ISO 1600

T3

1/400

F/11

18 MM

ISO 1600

T3

1/1250

F/11

35 MM

ISO 1600

T3

Pris796

[Waddizzle]

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@pris796 wrote:

Waddizzle,

I like your comment, this is what money is for, got it. I want to thank everyone for helping me.

pris796

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If I were a seasoned prefessional, shooting hundreds of thousands of pictures per week, I am sure I would feel differently.  I am mostly a weekend warrior shooting a few hundred on the weekends, when i do get out.  Right now, it's freezing out.

Some car repeirs you can do yourself, like changing a flat.  Some folks can do an oil change, and some pay for it.  I pay for it.

[lly3988 · Accepted solution]

DIY sensor cleaning is not for the fainted heart. If you can manage to do it, you will have the satisfaction. I experienced the procdure on my old 40D, then T4i and then my 5D2 and 5D3. All successful. I did it for free for my friends.

It is pretty easy if you follow a few simple steps.

1. Turn on your camera installed with a fully charged battery. Clean the sensor in camera menu then select "clean manually". Mirror will lock up.

2. With the camera mount hole facing down. Use a blower to blow in air several time to remove any dust particles attached superficially to the sensor.  (actually the filter on top of the sensor itself) Avoid touching any component inside the mirror/sensor mechanism.

3. Turn off the camera and test again to see if the dust particles are gone. If there are only a few left and won't affect your photos, just leave it. The big spot on your posted pictures are intolerable. So, definitely, you need to remove it. Normally if you do not set the aperture to f11 or above, some spots are basically invisible. Repeat the in camera cleaning a few times and hopefully you will see better results.

4. Some dusts are easy to remove. A few blow will help but some are hard to remove. You may have to use wet clean method as others suggested above. Don't get freak out when you see something liked my attached pic #3 below. A follow up dry swap will remove the streaks.

5. Unless you are very careless or you use the wrong tools ( can of compressed air, sharp tools,lens cloth instead of quality swaps and low quality alcohol solution) chances of damage to the camera is minimal.

[Waddizzle]

"DIY sensor cleaning is not for the fainted heart. If you can manage to do it, you will have the satisfaction. I experienced the procdure on my old 40D, then T4i and then my 5D2 and 5D3. All successful. I did it for free for my friends.

It is pretty easy if you follow a few simple steps"

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I am sure it is pretty easy, IF you can see what you're doing.  Some of us are vision impaired.

[pris796]

lly3988,

Thank you.

pris796

[TTMartin]

A lighted magnifier is a must have for sensor cleaning.

[RobertTheFat]

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TTMartin wrote:
A lighted magnifier is a must have for sensor cleaning.

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It also helps to have three or four hands, does it not?

[pris796]

Bob,

Sounds like it.

pris796

[amfoto1]

You have a dirty image sensor. Actually, it's a multi-coated glass filter that sits in front of and protects the image sensor that needs cleaning. You're T3 doesn't have a self-cleaning sensor, like many other Canon models do.

So you have choice of paying someone to clean the sensor for you or buying the stuff needed to do it and learning to clean it yourself.

Sensor cleaning isn't difficult, but needs to be done carefully and properly. To help you decide if you want to do it yourself or not, I would highly recommend you do some online research. Google for a website Cleaning Digital Cameras (I'd post a link, but it's against forum quidelines, so they'd just remove it.)  That site was put together and is maintained by professional repair techs who've done hundreds of cleanings and also happen to run Micro-Tools, one of the main sources of camera repair and service tools and supplies in the U.S. and Europe. They've tried practically every sensor cleaning method that's ever been invented.

Study every page at that website. It's very comprehensive info about the sensor cleaning process. It should help you decide whether to do it yourself or to pay someone else to clean in for you.

If you decide to do it yourself, some basic info you need to know:

- Be sure your camera battery is fully charged. The cleaning process requires setting the camera in a mode that lifts the mirror and opens the shutter. This requires a continuous supply of power to maintain. If the battery is low on power, the shutter might close or the mirror drop down onto the cleaning tool you're using, causing damage to the camera.

- If the camera has never had a sensor cleaning, the first cleaning must be a "wet cleaning". This is because there are almost always some oils specks on the surface, which any sort of dry cleaning method will only smear and contaminate the tool.

- You must be very careful working inside the camera. Avoid touching the mirror.... it front-surfaced, usually with vaporized aluminum that's easily damaged. Also stay clear of the focus screen immediately above the mirror, which is optical plastic and easily damaged. On most cameras there are also delicate foam light seals around the perimeter of the focus screen. Once the camera is set into the sensor cleaning mode, the mirror flips up to cover and protect the focus screen. They are really only vulnerable when the camera isn't in sensor cleaning mode.

Hope this helps! I do think it's good to know how to clean the sensor yourself, and to have at least a basic set of sensor cleaning supplies and tools available, because who knows when or where it might be needed.

***********

Alan Myers
San Jose, Calif., USA
"Walk softly and carry a big lens."
GEAR: 5DII, 7DII (x2), 7D(x2) some other cameras, various lenses & accessories
FLICKR & EXPOSUREMANAGER 

[pris796]

Alan,

Thank you for your info, I did use the blower and it seem to work but I will take some more pictures and make sure I do not have any spots on the photos.

Thank You,

pris796

[TTMartin]

The first cleaning does not have to be a wet cleaning. Wet cleaning is generally a last resort cleaning method. SensorKlear followed by DustAid (both dry methods) worked great for me when I had stubborn spots that didn't blow or brush off. This was covered in the link I PM'do you.