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Canon EOS 70D DSLR camera
EOS 70D Support
FAQs & troubleshooting

What causes black spots to appear in the same places in images taken and how can I get rid of them?

Content Id: 8201093000


If certain kinds of black stains, dots, or dust are always visible in the same areas on images captured with the camera, dirt or dust may have adhered to the image sensor (CMOS).

Clean the image sensor, prevent dust from appearing in images

When changing the lens on a Digital Single-Lens Reflex Camera or Interchangeable-Lens Compact System Camera, depending on the environment and situation, it is possible for particles and dust in the air to attached to the image sensor.

Because this phenomenon cannot be completely prevented due to structural reasons, the image sensor can be cleaned when you think there might be dust on it.

How to clean the image sensor varies depending on the model being used.

Some Digital Single-Lens Reflex Cameras and Interchangeable-Lens Compact System Cameras are equipped with a Self Cleaning Sensor Unit to clean the image sensor automatically. If you are using one of the following models, please see Automatic Sensor Cleaning.

EOS-1D X
EOS-1Ds Mark III
EOS-1D Mark IV
EOS-1D Mark III
EOS 5D Mark III
EOS 5D Mark II
EOS 6D
EOS 7D Mark II
EOS 7D
EOS 70D
EOS 60D
EOS 60Da
EOS 50D
EOS 40D
EOS REBEL T5i/EOS 700D
EOS REBEL T4i/EOS 650D
EOS REBEL SL1/EOS 100D
EOS REBEL T3i/EOS 600D
EOS REBEL T2i/EOS 550D
EOS REBEL T1i/EOS 500D
EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi/EOS 450D
EOS REBEL XS/EOS 1000D
EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi/EOS 400D DIGITAL
EOS M2
EOS M

Or, if you are using one of the following models, please see Manual Sensor Cleaning.

EOS-1Ds Mark II
EOS-1Ds
EOS-1D Mark II N
EOS-1D Mark II
EOS-1D
EOS 5D
EOS 30D
EOS 20D
EOS 20Da
EOS 10D
EOS REBEL T5/EOS 1200D
EOS REBEL T3/EOS 1100D
EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT/EOS 350D DIGITAL
EOS DIGITAL REBEL/EOS 300D DIGITAL
EOS D60

Caution

If the dirt or dust cannot be removed by the means above, please consult a Canon repair center.

Removing dust from images using the software that came with your camera

The Digital Photo Professional software that came with your camera* has a function that you can use to remove unnecessary spots (dust and dirt) in images and blend those areas in with their surroundings. For details, please see the Digital Photo Professional instruction manual.*

*If the abovementioned items (Digital Photo Professional software/Instruction Manual) were not included with you camera, please download them from the Canon homepage.

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