Dust?

dancorder

I've recently taken some macro shots with my lens stopped right down to F22 and noticed what seem to be dust spots in some of my shots. I've tried with another lens shooting a blank wall and get spots in the same places. However if I lock the mirror up and look inside the camera the sensor looks spotless to my naked eye.

Is it common to not be able to see the dust that is causing blotches or could it be something else?

Sorry if it's a stupid question but I've not had to deal with dust before.

gluwater

You may not be able to actually see the dust on your sensor but if you can see it in your shots at small Apertures then it is definitely there. Check out this thread in the [thread=8350]Hall of Wisdom[/thread]

wxwax

It's definitely dust motes on your sensor. Pick your poison of sensor cleaners and get to work! The first time is scary. But after you're ruined one camera, it gets a lot easier.

JamesJWeg

wxwax wrote:

It's definitely dust motes on your sensor. Pick your poison of sensor cleaners and get to work! The first time is scary. But after you're ruined one camera, it gets a lot easier.

That was just wrong

James.

pathfinder

wxwax wrote:

It's definitely dust motes on your sensor. Pick your poison of sensor cleaners and get to work! The first time is scary. But after you're ruined one camera, it gets a lot easier.

Now that's really encouraging waxy!!:D

wxwax

dancorder

Thanks everyone, at least I've only got a D50 to break

photocat

dancorder wrote:

Thanks everyone, at least I've only got a D50 to break

I paid thirty dollar in Orlando to have my sensor cleaned (as I dare not tackle it myself) and the day after that it had new dust in it... aaagggrrrrr

Thusie

wxwax wrote:

It's definitely dust motes on your sensor. Pick your poison of sensor cleaners and get to work! The first time is scary. But after you're ruined one camera, it gets a lot easier.

Yea thanks a bunch Sid My new (used) 20D has dust bunnies and I'm already having panic attacks about cleaning it..Geez

Shay Stephens

Think of it like this
Every car, truck, and motorcycle on the road has to have it's oil changed. You put in fresh clean oil, and before you know it it is dirty again and needs to be replaced.

It's the same thing with SLR's. They will get dust. They will need regular cleaning. It is nothing to get worried about.

And just like using manual mode on the camera, it will liberate you and give you freedom . Cleaning the sensor yourself is no big deal. Learning to do it yourself will give you the power to clean when needed.

And also remember this, you are not cleaning the sensor directly, you are cleaning a piece of glass in front of the sensor. As long as you are using materials that will not scratch glass, you have little to worry about. Just follow the directions of the cleaner you have and keep practicing until you have it down pat. It can be mastered the first time you try it.

wxwax

Thusie wrote:

Yea thanks a bunch Sid My new (used) 20D has dust bunnies and I'm already having panic attacks about cleaning it..Geez

Do it once and you'll wonder what all the fuss was about, Thusie.

Say, how much can a new camera body cost, anyway?

Shay Stephens

You're incorrigible

http://www.homevideos.com/freezeframes7/youngfrank18.jpeg

wxwax wrote:

Say, how much can a new camera body cost, anyway?

Thusie

Thank you Shay will wade in soon as the stuff to do it gets here



Sid..What Shay said

Shay Stephens wrote:

You're incorrigible

Nikolai

What Shay said

Shay Stephens wrote:

It's the same thing with SLR's. They will get dust. They will need regular cleaning. It is nothing to get worried about.

And just like using manual mode on the camera, it will liberate you and give you freedom . Cleaning the sensor yourself is no big deal. Learning to do it yourself will give you the power to clean when needed.

And also remember this, you are not cleaning the sensor directly, you are cleaning a piece of glass in front of the sensor. As long as you are using materials that will not scratch glass, you have little to worry about. Just follow the directions of the cleaner you have and keep practicing until you have it down pat. It can be mastered the first time you try it.

It sounds scary (and yes, if you're *totally* careless, it *IS* possible to damage your sensor/shutter severely), but in fact it's pretty simple. Different methods may bring different results, but they all will do the job well enough, so get the one you like more (for whatever reason) and just do it.
If you ever cleaned your glasses (or saw somebody doing it) - it's about same skill level..:):

HTH

Scott_Quier

Just do it
I have to with all the positive statements about cleaning the sensor. I am relatively new to the digital game and when I saw all the dust on my sensor, I just about freaked. A little research and a deep breath later, I had a pretty clean sensor.

And, like someone above said, you are not cleaning your sensor, you are cleaning a glass (filter?) layer that is placed on top of the sensor by the manufacturer.

I made a contribution to the thread mentioned above wherein I state that I was unable to clean the sensor with just a dry brush. I ended up having to use a liquid solution (no pun intended).

swintonphoto

When is the rest of the photo world going to make dust reduction technology like Olympus?
http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_dust.asp

Shay Stephens

Does it work? I haven't heard anything about it other than it exists.

swintonphoto wrote:

When is the rest of the photo world going to make dust reduction technology like Olympus?
http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_dust.asp

Stormdancing

wxwax wrote:

It's definitely dust motes on your sensor. Pick your poison of sensor cleaners and get to work! The first time is scary. But after you're ruined one camera, it gets a lot easier.

Well at least you didn't tell him to put it in a plastic bag and take it to the car wash.:D That's what I got when I asked at another forum about dust in my EVF.

swintonphoto

Shay Stephens wrote:

Does it work? I haven't heard anything about it other than it exists.

Phil Askey from DPReview has this to say about it:
"The "Supersonic Wave Filter" is a method of cleaning the sensor which involves making it vibrate at a very high frequency, this vibration causes any dust or dirt to literally drop off the sensor surface and on to a sticky tape material (which apparently has been used in conventional SLR's for some time now). This built-in cleaning takes place every time you power up the camera and can also be invoked from the camera menu. It's reassuring to see at least one manufacturer taking dust seriously and attempting to solve instead of avoiding the issue."
Quote pulled from:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse500/page4.asp

Shay Stephens

Well ya, I know how it works, but what I am wondering is how well it works? I agree it is good that they are trying to do something about it. But, does it work.

swintonphoto wrote:

Phil Askey from DPReview has this to say about it:
"The "Supersonic Wave Filter" is a method of cleaning the sensor which involves making it vibrate at a very high frequency, this vibration causes any dust or dirt to literally drop off the sensor surface and on to a sticky tape material (which apparently has been used in conventional SLR's for some time now). This built-in cleaning takes place every time you power up the camera and can also be invoked from the camera menu. It's reassuring to see at least one manufacturer taking dust seriously and attempting to solve instead of avoiding the issue."
Quote pulled from:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse500/page4.asp

Thusie

Did it
Got the Copperhill sensor brush, followed instructions. Cleaned the reb first:): then the 20D, it worked, both cameras still work. There was no mis-alignment of the planets, I didn't faint, the house nor camera (s) exploded. The reb could probably use it again. Did not need a doube Jack on the rocks before or after.

Poo on you Sid

wxwax

Just wait, the Copperhill solution eats away at the glass.

Thusie

wxwax wrote:

Just wait, the Copperhill solution eats away at the glass.

oh forgot to add :fu. Love ya Sid:D

JamesJWeg

wxwax wrote:

Just wait, the Copperhill solution eats away at the glass.

You just never quit do you.

James.

wholenewlight

wxwax wrote:

Just wait, the Copperhill solution eats away at the glass.

I just toss mine in the Maytag on the delicate cycle . . .

I don't use the dryer though

Thusie

Sid was right!

Jeffro

dancorder wrote:

I've recently taken some macro shots with my lens stopped right down to F22 and noticed what seem to be dust spots in some of my shots. I've tried with another lens shooting a blank wall and get spots in the same places. However if I lock the mirror up and look inside the camera the sensor looks spotless to my naked eye.

Is it common to not be able to see the dust that is causing blotches or could it be something else?

Sorry if it's a stupid question but I've not had to deal with dust before.

I shoot alot of motocross racing, and dust is a given. I tried sensor swabs and the dreaded cleaning fluid, and it worked ok, but stressed my heart. I recently bought a sensor brush kit from www.visibledust.com and it works great. The kit was pricey, but well worth it. My 20D is now better than new. Every D-SLR owner should keep it clean!

Jeffro

OK I led you astray, I learned about the sensor cleaning brushes at www.visibledust.com but ordered it from www.bhphotovideo.com since they are the best!

wxwax

I use the Sensor Brush too, even though it's crazy expensive and I'm sure I'm being ripped off. What can I say, it works.

wxwax

Thusie wrote:

It's OK, after a while all the glass is destroyed by the Copperhill chemical, your shots look fine again.

Thusie

wxwax wrote:

It's OK, after a while all the glass is destroyed by the Copperhill chemical, your shots look fine again.

That's good to know Sid, thank you:D