Camera Labs

Hi all - newbie here!

I took my EOS 5D MKII out yesterday and took some portrait photographs only to find a grey spec on all my images. I don't see it through the viewfinder and the spec is in exactly the same place on all my photos. Thankfully it wasn't a paid shoot.

My question is, does it look like a full sensor clean is required and if so can anybody recommend any "While you wait" service in the Hampshire/Berkshire/Surrey area as I need it for the weekend!

Thanks in advance

I had a similar issue with my 550 and I took the lens off and checked the mirror to find a small spec of dust, very noticeable under direct light. So using a cotton bud I just touched the spec, seemed to get it, gave it a puff with a dust removal blower and voila, clean image.

Worth just checking.

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Canon 550D, Canon EFS 17-85 IS USM, Canon EF 75-300 IS USM, Canon EFS 10-22mm USM, Canon EF35mm F2.

Got some of the gear but really still no idea...

Thanks for the reply robbon44

Sorry should have said that I've used a blower on the Mirror etc and the spec hasn't moved

You need to use the blower on the sensor. To reach it, activate the "manual clean" option in the menu somewhere. That will flip up the mirror, open the shutters and expose the shutter for you.

Also a single speck in images isn't the end of the world. You can work around them with photoshop or similar to edit it out. Just a little extra work so still worth cleaning.

As for places to clean it for you, do you have local independent camera shops you can ask? Mine offers the service although I have the kit to do a wet clean at home anyway. Personally I wouldn't put anything physically onto the sensor other than dedicated cleaning products as it is too easy to leave more dirt on it than was on there in the first place!

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Just a thought, if you're only using one fixed lens, the lens might be the problem, but I really don't think so.

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Gear: Canon SX20 IS, Canon Rebel T3i, Canon EF-S 18-55mm
Wishlist: Canon 50mm f/1.8 II, Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II
Visit me and leave me a comment in My Flickr

Thanks for all the replies - definitely not the lens as have tried different ones. Managed to find somewhere but they need to send it off and charging £60!

I'm really not confident of doing the self clean as don't want to cause more than £60 of damage!

Thanks again for the replies guys

My local camera shop charged me £35 a few months ago. Suppose it depends on location? (1 of the few advantages of living oop North I suppose. )
Where is your nearest shop/dealer?

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Nikon D800E & D700 bodies + Nikon AF-S 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR, 50mm F1.4G, 16-35mm f/4G VR, 105 F2.8 VR macro, 70-300mm lenses. A couple of filters, Giotto tripod & ballhead. Lowepro Slingshot 302 AW

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcarlos/

Thanks all - a simple blower and youtube meant I cleaned this myself and now we're back in perfect working order!