Help Please!

[jayeshp]

Hi -

When it comes to photography, I am a beginner. I took the attached pic with my Canon T1i - 18-55mm lens with 58mm UV protector.

For some reason, I get light reflection in my shots. The dots appears at different locations in different pictures. I am not sure what is causing this.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks,
-Jayesh

[autofocus]

I'm only guessing, but I would check to make sure my lens under the filter and the filter itself are both impeccably clean of dirt, dust, and smudges. I don't think dirt on your sensor would show up against a black sky like that, so, we can possibly rule that out. Next, but probably not likely, a few bad pixels. Try the cleaning option and see if it still happens. Does anything show up like this on a light sky?

Vince

[jayeshp]

Yes, I took a picture of light sky as well and I see them there (see attached - No, they are not stars). T1i has self sensor cleaning system and it cleans every time the camera turns off. I also tried cleaning manually.

If there is a problem with sensor pixels, I would see them in daylight images as well!? However, I do not see them in normal daylight images.

Thanks,
-Jayesh

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by jayeshp

Yes, I took a picture of light sky as well and I see them there (see attached - No, they are not stars). T1i has self sensor cleaning system and it cleans every time the camera turns off. I also tried cleaning manually.

If there is a problem with sensor pixels, I would see them in daylight images as well!? However, I do not see them in normal daylight images.

Thanks,
-Jayesh

cleaning a sensor could be very risky unless you use extreme care...could be some damage?? Did you clean your lens?...also take off the filter and try to shoot again

[Nicole]

Really easy solution that is almost certain to work: Take off the UV filter when you're shooting at night, especially with long exposures. The lights in the city (in the first shot) are just reflecting between lens and filter. It's not a cleaning thing in this case.

[jayeshp]

Thank you, Vince and Nicole. I'll try without UV filter.

Thanks again.
-Jayesh

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by Nicole

Really easy solution that is almost certain to work: Take off the UV filter when you're shooting at night, especially with long exposures. The lights in the city (in the first shot) are just reflecting between lens and filter. It's not a cleaning thing in this case.

Nicole, I believe we agree on taking off the filter, but having your glass clean is also very important, so let's not forget the basics

[Nicole]

By all means, have clean glass, but I've never had dust on a filter free lens or even a dirty sensor causing that kind of reflections. In any case, skipped over that last sentence in your second post suggesting removing the filter. But I can honestly say, removing it would be my first course of action after recognising what's happening.

[LeeR]

The most likely cause is dirt or scratches on the lens or filter as has already been discussed. You may also have some dead pixels. I would resist the urge to clean your sensor with anything but compressed air and even that I would do sparingly. Lastly, you may be suffering from reciprocity failure. Sensors are designed to work within certain limits. When you exceed those limits you may pick up some unwanted artifacts. Be that as it may, I don't see anything here that can't be easily fixed with PS or one of the free alternatives.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by Nicole

By all means, have clean glass, but I've never had dust on a filter free lens or even a dirty sensor causing that kind of reflections. In any case, skipped over that last sentence in your second post suggesting removing the filter. But I can honestly say, removing it would be my first course of action after recognising what's happening.

Maybe I should have put my response in bold text...that way it would have been more easily seen!