Where is the dust/lint/whatever coming from on these photos??

[hambino]

Its not coming from a lens: I took pics with two different lenses and get the same specs. I'm scared to flip the mirror up and clean it so maybe my real question is, how do I get rid of these (assuming they're coming from something that's indeed removable!!)???

Thank you!!!

[edbayani]

try shooting a white wall or cardboard. keep it out of focus and if you see the specks, it must come from a dirty sensor.

[hambino]

got it. and if the sensors dirty, is there a good way to clean it? (I'm scared i'm gonna ruin it!!)

[edbayani]

try the blower that you use for lens cleaning. just be careful not to touch the sensor.

[Digidave]

Originally Posted by hambino

got it. and if the sensors dirty, is there a good way to clean it? (I'm scared i'm gonna ruin it!!)

It's really not all that bad. Once you try it you'll be saying, "Pffft, I don't know why I was so worried!".

Sensor cleaning kit

Tutorials

Upper right-hand corner will get you to the swabbing part.

[Mr Guy]

It's dust on your sensor, and it's easy as pie to take care of. Later Pentax models have dust removal features courtesy of the Shake Reduction motors, but I don't believe the *ist does. What you're going to need to do is run into your local camera store and buy a bulb blower. Brand isn't critical, but the rocket blowers are nice because they have a filter on the intake and sit on legs that keep in the intake a little cleaner. All you need to do is make yourself a nice clean space, take off the lens with the opening pointed down, and find the menu option in your settings for Cleaning or Mirror Lock-up. That'll flip your mirror up, you squeeze the bulb a couple times to blow out the dust, and that's all there is to it!

It isn't a big deal at all, and the worse that can happen is you get a little more dust in than you started and you need to try again. You can't damage the sensor without putting some effort into it.