Do your images have small, round, dark spots in the light areas, such as blue skies? This can be caused by debris on the digital sensor of your camera. So, how can you correct this problem? The simplest (and costliest) answer is to take the camera to a repair shop and have the sensor cleaned. This is about a $100 job at most reputable shops. If, like me, you live in an area without a camera repair shop, you have to ship it out. That always makes me nervous!
Another answer is to get a sensor cleaning kit and do it yourself. Delkin Devices makes a good sensor cleaning kit. I have one and I use it regularly.
The old adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is particularly applicable in this case. Some tips for keeping your sensor clean:
1. Do not remove your lens from the camera body in a windy situation. This includes most outdoor locations. Do it in the car!
2. Turn your camera off when changing lenses. When it's on, the sensor attracts dust due to electrostatic charges.
3. Point your camera down when changing lenses. Dust and particles will fall out, not in. Gravity is on your side.
4. Keep your camera bag clean. Vacuum it out to eliminate dust.
5. Keep your lenses clean. A lot of the dust that winds up on your sensor comes from your lenses. It transfers due to the motion of the lens when it zooms.
6. Never store your camera without a lens or a body cap attached.
A little common sense goes a long way. A clean sensor can save you a lot of time in post processing!
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