Sensor

When reviewing my images I noticed what appeared to be a mark on them when shooting a blue sky. Initially, I thought it might be dust but it now appears to be a stain on the K 10 sensor, albeit I cannot see it with the naked eye. If it is a stain, what is the likely cause and how might it be removed. Any suggestions will be gratefully received!!

If the mark on the images is in the same place every time, it will be muck of some description on the sensor for sure.

Options are:

- Blow it off with a rocket blower. This causes as much trouble as it solves, lots of folk here find that it can easily introduce more muck.

- If it's dust or a hair, gently remove it with an Arctic Butterfly. Expensive, but highly rated by folk here, including me.

- If it's something stuck (pollen tends to stick), a wet clean will be needed. Kits can be bought online, and it's not as scary a process as some people would have you believe.

Be a little careful using the term 'sensor stain'. There was a problem with early batches of K-5 cameras where there was an actual defect with the sensor. This became known as the 'sensor stain' problem. Ancient history now, but referring to sensor stains does tend to risk confusion!

Hi, I had exactly the same yesterday when out. The price you pay for changing lenses outdoors regularly. Such stuff doesn't show up in the usual dust alert check.

Fully charged battery, Mirror up, body tilted down and my hurricane blower vigorously half a dozen times. Do not use a brush and do not touch the sensor.

Afterwards take another blue sky to check and repeat as necessary. So far I've been lucky with three models and haven't had to resort to the direct cleaning mentioned helpfully by ChrisA.

Many thanks for the advice. The mark is in the same place but only comes into view against a sky background. Will look into a wet clean as the blower has not worked.

If it is only one mark, I'd be inclined to leave it a while and just clone it out in the pictures.

I admit to only cleaning my sensor (with a Butterfly) when the dust bunnies take too long to clone .

I'm with Gwyn on this one. My K10 has two dust specks visible in the top right hand corner. Knowing where they are, cloning is just a simple and swift part of post-processing.

I always feel that blasting away at the sensor with a blower runs the risk of introducing "new" filth and redistributing "old" muck. I just accept sensor marks as part of digital photography despite never changing my lenses outside.

It's no problem at all compared to dust on negatives and the requirement for spotting prints.

I wouldn't buy them from there though. I got mine off ebay for less than half that price.

That's why wet cleaning is the best way IMO.

I have to say the HF sensor cleaning feature on the K-5 is superb. I've never had to clean either of my K-5 sensors, despite changing lenses in some much conditions outdoors. The LF sensor clean on the K10D/K20D was obviosuly not as good as I was always getting unshiftable muck on the sensors and required wet cleaning regularly.

Again many thanks for the advice from everyone!!!