Transparent dots????

[brenz45]

After taking 20 odd outdoor shots I noticed 2-3 small transparent dots in blue sky shots,these were easily editable using the blurring tool in Elements.Many more test shots and
lens changes I concluded that there must be material on the CCD.Dissapointing to say the least on a new camera.I emailed the supplier and he assured me that due to the large megapixel count 3-4 transparent dots is acceptable by the manufacturer,anyone know if this is fact?Brenz.

[shutterbugtae]

Welcome to the world of cleaning your CCD!,From your description I can imagine you have,what I have come to call"unidentified photographic objects"
(IPO's).The forums that address cleaning your CCD are very helpful.The "Sensor Swabs",and accompaning directions(also addressed in your S2 manual)are a must. Are you using zoom's,for your lenses? There is a thought that zoom lenses can ad to the dust problems , but the fact is it is the "nature of the beast". Good shooting (and CAREFUL cleaning).TAE:D

[Tom V]

Blobs in your image can be dust on the surface sensor. The dust specs do not show up like dust on a film negative because there is a thin glass(?) layer over the sensor. Dust on the sensor is "out of focus" and shows up as a semi-transparent blob. I suppose if your dust spec was large enough, it wouldn't be so semi-transparent looking.

There is no reason to expect that you should get 100+ shots before you start getting dust. It can happen on the first shot. The dust can come from many places, both inside and outside the camera or lens.

Some people suggest that zoom lenses can increase the amount of dust on the sensor because of the air that gets pumped in and out as the lens is zoomed. I am not suggesting that prime lenses are less prone to dust, you might have to change prime lenses more than if you used zooms.

Obviously, changing lenses allows ordinary air in the camera, which contains dust, some of which will eventually get on the sensor. Everybody has seen a lens mount that shows wear - all the material that gets worn off goes somewhere, some of it into the camera.

Dust that accumulates in the light-absorbing flocking inside the camera can work itself loose whenever the camera is turned over or shipped across country. Fuji might clean your camera before it leaves their plant, but loose dust somewhere in the camera can migrate or be jarred loose in shipping.

Unlike film cameras, dust that falls on the focus plane does not remove itself. In a film camera, a fresh clean piece of film is put inplace whenever the film is advanced. In an advanced digital camera, the dust stays there until you remove it.

I always turn my camera off when changing lenses. As I understand it, when the camera is powered, there is a electrical charge on the sensor that can attract dust. Turn the camera off, and the charge is gone, and the sensor is less likely to attract the dust.