Hi, I'm new to the DSLR world, just got one yesterday. It's used, and I'm wondering if these anomalies I see are due to dust on the sensor. Thanks!

This one taken at full 300mm zoom.


This one taken at 75mm zoom.

unavoidable in the DSLR world..just get a rocket blower or something like it and give it a few puffs of air. NOT canned air though

they may also be less visible with a wider aperture

also wanted to re-emphasize 05s "NOT CANNED AIR" advice

Will definitely stay away from canned air then. Might I ask why though?

you dont want condensation inside the camera

or if you notice the weird stuff that it leaves on things you spray it on...don't want that on the sensor

this is the product we're referencing

http://www.amazon.com/Giottos-AA1900-Large...2488&sr=8-1

Ok, thanks! I've never used canned air before so I had no idea it left weird stuff behind.

yeah if you spray it upside down it leaves a weird residue on your stuff that eventually disappears, but still not something you want on your sensor

at the 20 second mark the person sprays and you can see the stuff collecting on the hand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iYnHkENOPc

weird residue....aka "frost"

when it is used as freeze spray (can upside down), it leaves a residue

when used as intended as air spray the right side up, it does not

your camera, your choice, though

there are also dealings with the force behind the compressed air

http://www.amazon.com/Giottos-AA1900-Large...9008&sr=8-1

Don't mess with your sensor! Take it to a professional shop to get it cleaned or you will most likely ruin your sensor. trust me.

My photography website

Using air to clean a sensor is quite safe.

i am a little confused about using the rocket blower... wouldn't you just be blowing more dust onto the sensor?

also being as un familiar with my camera as i am, do you need to do anything to expose the sensor before blowing off the dust? isn't there a mirror in the way? sorry for the n00bish questions.

yes, I would good "sensor cleaning [insert model here]"

it'll tell you how to access it and use mirror lock stuff

lol what? i have an xsi.

haha, iphone changed google to good

I said to google "sensor cleaning xsi"