Is there dust on the sensor or do I need to be worried?

Just dust. Should be easy to clean.

Kayam...there are numerous threads on photo.net about how to determine if the sensor is dirty....as well as how to clean it (which is easy to do!). Just do a thread search and you'll find the info you need.

Thanks. Had a look at the sensor and it is dust. Sorry for hitting the panic button. New camera and all that.

Looks like dust. A 5D (the original version) does tend to pick up dust spots and you'll want to learn now to clean it. It isn't that hard once you learn.

My approach:

1. Live with a small amount of dust. You can easily remove it in post if it is visible.
2. If it becomes too noticeable, first try simply using a bulb blower. This won't be perfect most of the time but it is often good enough.
3. If a bulb blower alone won't do the job I prefer to use an air-charged sensor brush. Careful use of this tool can often get the sensor glass very clean.
4. On rare occasions when "sticky" dust may not come off I might use a wet-cleaning method - but this is now quite rare.

Dan

Thanks Dan - that's very helpful. It didn't help that I spent most of yesterday and today playing with it and changing lenses to do test shots.

Kayam Rajaram , Nov 20, 2009; 05:53 p.m.
... changing lenses to do test shots.

That'll do it...

G Dan,

VERY helpful. I was dithering for awhile about doing my first sensor cleaning because I was worried about screwing up the sensor. Your explanation convinced me to try a brush first before a swab. Just did it. The bulb blower was not enough, but two passes with a sensor brush, and it seems clean as a whistle.

Dan

oops. duplicate post