02/26/08: Slow shutter can reveal dirty sensor!

We went ice skating recently and the rink has a rule about taking cameras out on the ice. Naturally, this is a rule I completely disregard. :) With that rule in mind I did use my 4th string DSLR...my trusty 4 year old Canon EOS 10D. I love shooting slow shutter of action shots (especially sports and children...bonus when I can combine the two).

A slow shutter can reveal nasty dirt specks on a DSLR sensor at a low / slow shutter speed that a normal or fast shutter speed would not reveal. See below for examples...


slow - sensor specks barely noticeable... (1/45 second, f22, ISO 100)







evern slower (well...I could go much slower...but...I'd need a monopod!) -- dust specks very noticeable! (1/20 sec, f32, ISO 100)



And here's a fast shutter speed -- same camera and lens. The image below was shot at 1/500 second, f5.6. The sensor was not cleaned for this shot...but you can not see the dust specs.