Odd camera artifact on uniform background

[Serenity]

I'm getting an odd effect on some pictures I've taken recently. This is the first time I've taken pictures of miniatures with a uniform background with this camera. It only shows up on a bright uniform background and I'm wondering what would cause such a thing. This is on a Canon Powershot S3 IS, a superzoom point and shoot. The lens looks clean and is not scratched as far as I can tell. I've never had the lens removed and cleaned by a shop. Could it be something that simple? Thanks for any help!

 

Here are two examples of my Reaper Abyzaran WIP, one with the uniform background, and one without.

 

Uniform background:

 

Non-uniform background:

[Renowyth]

I know diddly about cameras, but:

It's on both images, actually. If you look at the Y on the piece of paper, you can just see the shadow.

 

Looks like a bit of lint/fuzz/hair.

 

I don't know how to clean a camera lens properly, so I won't offer any advice for that. If it were me, I'd try blowing on the lens and seeing if that helps. I'm sure a photographer will have a fit because I suggested that.

[Doug Sundseth]

The shape looks the same on both photos, so it pretty much has to be in or on the camera. The edges of the aberration don't look fuzzy, so I don't think it's on the lens. My best guess is that it's something on the sensor plane.

 

If the camera had a removable lens, I would recommend that you blow off the image plane, but as it is, I think a visit to a camera shop may be in order.

 

Sorry.

[Spike]

Being that yours is not an SLR it would have been pretty hard for a large particle to have gotten inside and on the sensor...or at least it would seem so. Chances are it's on the lens exterior. First you might try blowing the lens off. If you have a squeeze-bulb blower it is better If that doesn't work you could try very very gently cleaning it with a microfiber cloth made for camera lenses.

 

I found a pretty good HowCast on YouTube on the subject too.

[Serenity]

Thanks for the advice.

 

I checked the lens again for smears or lint and didn't see anything I'd missed before. Taking the idea the debris might be internal, I set the camera on its side and tapped it to try to dislodge it. It was a light tap. I took a couple shots and the artifact had disappeared.

 

That is pretty convincing evidence to me of something internal, and it will put off the trip to the camera shop for a while, anyway. I guess with age and wear, bits of material can get loose. I'd never thought of that happening inside a tightly sealed camera.