Total Beginner, got some white spots. Thoughts?

Hello everyone. I'm just starting to experiment with "real" cameras. By that I mean, cameras that don't serve dual purpose as a phone and internet provider.

Got my Nikon D5100 and my lens is Nikon Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm. Took it out to shoot some photo's for the first time today.

I don't know what I'm doing. In several of the shots a faded white spot appears. It's never in the same place, and the intensity varies.

In the attached photo it looks like the moon. That's not the moon. What is it? How can I prevent it?

Also, I want to try and take some sunset photo's near my house tomorrow. Let me know some tips on how to best shoot sunsets, like settings and stuff.

Let me know what you think. THANKS

View attachment 27526

I should mention, it does seem to me like it's light reflection. Several of the photo's that have the spot have a street light or something else involved like that.

Haven't taken any daytime photo's yet. I'd like some tips on how to diagnose the problem and prevent it from happening.

Unable to see your attachment...

Pat in NH

Not sure but you may have to reach a certain number of posts before able to attach photos.

Spots is either dust on the lens or lens flare would be the easiest conditions to address.

This site is particular about capitalized file extensions? Also, it's too big apparently.

You can try this. If there are rules about what can be linked to let me know.

Untitled

Like Pat I cannot see the attachment.

I tried to reply but it blocked me I think. I had a link to a tumblr page where I uploaded it. If I'm doing something against the rules sorry I won't do it again.

I'm thinking dust too. I have no idea how to clean the sensor or lens, like I said I'm a beginner. That's what they make manuals for though.

Is there a trick you can do to diagnose dust? Like taking pictures of certain colors with certain settings? Thanks.

It's a bridge and that's not the moon. Untitled

I tried the link again, didn't work. Also, the file is too big I think. It's 4 MB.

I'll try testing it some more tommorrow and maybe I can post a picture then.

Somewhere in the menu there is and option to clean sensor when turning on and off. I think the default is just when turned on but I have mine set for both.
Also when mounting a lens always have the body pointed downwards so no dust can drop in.

Set the camera to shutter priority, crank it up, and take a picture of a blue sky. You should be able to see if there is dust. If it's brand new, shouldn't be dust (unless it's a D600, lol). When you change the lens, you can also see some dust on the sensor if the mirror is up. Can't see the picture, but was it sunny? Maybe a lens hood would help... Just some thoughts without being able to see the picture.

There is absolutely no problem with your camera. What you are seeing in the picture is simply a "flare" of the light coming right at the lens. These also can be named ghost are internal reflections of the bright light that happen inside the lens. Depending on where the light is in the frame, it will be diffracted to different places on the pictures. It is a very normal physical phenomena that can only be avoided by carefully positioning oneself in regard of the incoming light source.

If you avoid having the light source touching the lens you will not see them.

Happy shooting while enjoying your Nikon!

I think Marcel is spot on - I just didn't want to guess until I saw photos. It could be flare, or if you are using a UV filter on it you can also get reflections. I use a UV a lot, but when I shoot at light sources, like the moon, and other things at night I'll always take it off to avoid getting reflections (light bounces off the lens and back up against the filter).

there were a couple posts here by nikonlion that got stuck in the moderation queue - they should now be visible

I am siding with Marcel on this. Do you have a lens filter on?

That looks more like light reflecting than dust.

Sweet, my picture shows up now. The moderator was real helpful.

No KW I do not have a filter on in this shot. I cleaned the sensor per the suggestions and took it the camera out again last night. No more white spots for now.

This forum has been great. I didn't reply to everyone but I learned alot from the advice offered, even if it didn't fix the problem.

nikonlion said:

Sweet, my picture shows up now. The moderator was real helpful.

No KW I do not have a filter on in this shot. I cleaned the sensor per the suggestions and took it the camera out again last night. No more white spots for now.

This forum has been great. I didn't reply to everyone but I learned alot from the advice offered, even if it didn't fix the problem.

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Just one thing to remember: Dust on sensor appears as "dark" spot on pale even color (usually sky), Flare appears as "white or sometimes rainbow" spot or smears that seem to irradiate from a light source either in our just outside of the frame.

Also, I'm not sure if cleaning the sensor did the trick. But I took several shots of downtown last night (lots of little lights) and did not get a single white spot. Whereas every other picture I took the first time had white spots. Only thing I really did different was clean sensor.

nikonlion said:

Also, I'm not sure if cleaning the sensor did the trick. But I took several shots of downtown last night (lots of little lights) and did not get a single white spot. Whereas every other picture I took the first time had white spots. Only thing I really did different was clean sensor.

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No no no… What you did different is that the angle of the lights hitting the lens was not the same. Flare are caused by internal refractions inside the lens and are VERY dependent on the angle and the intensity of the light source. I assure you it has absolutely NOTHING to do with sensor cleaning. I am 100% certain since we would get the same result with film in the good old days.