Have you seen sensor dust like this?

[robinpeeples]

<p>I've been neglecting this issue for quite a while since I so rarely shoot at the specifications required to reveal it, but I'd really like to fix it if I can.</p>

<p>In all my searching, I can't find any examples of sensor dust as tiny, numerous and densely clustered as this. Is this normal sensor dust? Using a rocket blower does nothing. Is it a moisture / oil situation? Can I clean it? Will a professional be able to clear this up?</p>

<p>My camera is a D80, and I really only see this result at higher f stops using a wide angle lens. The example image is at F/22 and 16mm. I most often shoot at 50mm at or near wide open, and this issue doesn't arise under those conditions.</p>

<p>I appreciate your opinions.</p>

<p><img src="http://robinpeeples.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/sensordust.jpg" alt="sensor dust" /></p>

[MichaelChang]

<p>Hi Robin, I'm leaning toward dried water spots from a mist spray; can you think of an occasion where a lens change might have exposed the camera to that? </p>

[robinpeeples]

<p>Thanks, Michael. It does look like some kind of spray pattern. I'm somewhat careful when changing lenses, facing the camera downward and avoiding exposing the inside of the camera in dusty or wet situations, but the camera has definitely been near the water a fair bit in its life. If that's what it is, will cleaning fix it, or could something be permanently damaged?</p>

[JDMvW]

<p>Yeah, it looks like something liquid in origin - did you, or someone, ever do a wet cleaning? change lenses by the sea in the picture?</p>

<p>It will take some kind of wet cleaning to eliminate it, anyhow.</p>

[MichaelChang]

<p>I doubt that would cause permanent damage, Robin, if our guess is correct, but it might be harder to remove. Think water stains on glass.</p>

<p>I don't have first hand experience with serious wet cleaning but I'm sure there are many web resources on the topic, or others might chime in. </p>

 

[dave_wilson1]

Maybe some condensation from temp change that dried leaving the spots.

[robinpeeples]

<p>Thanks, all. Yeah, I mean I've changed lenses on boats before (as I was when I took the example photo), but never when it's choppy or misty, and always in the cabin or a protected area. Kind of to your point, Dave, I wonder if taking the camera from a really humid place to a drastically drier place (like an airplane) could cause something like that?</p>

[bob_flood1]

<p>Taking the camera body from an extended period (more than a few minutes) in a quite cold environment into a warm and moderately to highly humid environment will result in condensation, and it may have included moisture condensing on the sensor.</p>

<p>However, while it may be possible, the problem of condensation when taking the camera from winter outdoor use into the home has been around for a long time, and if it could cause this, it seems to me we'd have seen this from many users long before now. Maybe it's just my skeptical nature. In any event, a sensor cleaning is definitely in order.</p>

[andylynn]

<p>This looks a bit like what happened to me after a trip to a windy bit of shore in California. There are wet cleaning kits you can get, but I'd never tried it before and live near shops where I can get that sort of thing done so I took it in and they had it good as new in no time. Since a blower doesn't get it off I'd suspect it's water droplets that dried, leaving a residue. With a camera that's several years old and has been used on boats and frequently near water you'd have had a lot of occasions for this to happen and you might not have noticed when it did.</p>

[robinpeeples]

<p>Alright, thanks for all your feedback. I was afraid someone would tell me my camera had a terrible disease and that attempting to fix it would cause disaster, so it's good to be able to proceed with cleaning more confidently.</p>

[Ray House]

<p>This issue with D80's has been discussed here as well as on DPReview. As far as I know there is no cure and I for one gave my D80 away after many failed cleaning attempts. Sorry, but I think your camera has a terrible disease.</p>

[tom_boston1]

<p>Ray House could have made a more useful post. He's referring to the D80's reputation for having a defective cutoff filter and that these spots are something that is on the bottom of the filter</p>

<p>But if the spots were on the bottom of that filter, you'd likely see these at wider apertures. </p>

<p>The same places that do IR conversions can replace the filter with a full spectrum filter that allows conventional photography, but that's not a cost effective solution.</p>

<p>Note that even if the cleaning fails, the camera will still be useable at wide apertures. Please do let us know how you make out.</p>

 

[mike_halliwell]

<p>I'm with the condensation theory, although condensation should be pretty much distilled water and not leave a residue on evaporation. I can guess while 'damp' any particulates in the vicinity would stick and leave a pattern like this. It's also kinda concentrated in an oval pattern with the same proportions as the body throat. No lens and left briefly pointing up maybe?</p>

<p>I'm sure one of the kits for wet cleaning will make this sensor good-as-new in a matter of moments. I personally like the Visible Dust series.</p>

[francisco_salaquanda]

<p>I would not try a self clean myself, but a decision will need to be made because the cost of any repairs other than a dirty sensor clean, would probably exceed the value of the camera. Tough, but thats digital depreciation for you. Prices for D80's quoted on KEH seem to be in the $200-250 range.</p>

[robinpeeples]

<p>Hmmm... after reading <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/50282478">this</a>, <a href="http://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/109032/Tiny+spots+on+my+pictures.+Any+ideas">this</a>, and <a href="http://www.hyam.net/blog/archives/1909">this</a>, the defective cutoff filter does seem reasonable. By "disease" though, I meant something that would get worse or that I could make worse / ruin my camera. This stinks, but at least it seems like a stable condition.</p>

<p>I'll post again if I learn anything useful.</p>