Cleaning my sensor

canon400d

I have a 40D and I did the usual test by taking a shot on the lowest F.stop and taking a shot of the bright sky. I noticed some wee dots although they never appeared with usual photos. I went today and purchased a sensor cleaning kit for £35 from Jessops who told me it was the best and would meet my requirements. The kit included a lenspen blower, pen and accessories and cloth together with a carrying case. There website is www.lenspen.com.
I followed the instructions and yet I still have a few wee spots which will not go away and in addition which I am more concerned about is a large blur spot which has appeared that was not there before. I have enclosed a couple of shots for you to see and give me advice on which I would really appreciate. I bought the 40D and 17-85mm last September and I am covered for three years as I took out the full warranty.
Regards
Bob

aerialphoto

canon400d wrote:

I have a 40D and I did the usual test by taking a shot on the lowest F.stop and taking a shot of the bright sky.

First off - you're shooting the test wrong. The "lowest f-stop" should be the smallest f-stop, which is the highest number. Looking at your gallery I see these were shot at f/4, they should be the other end of the range; around f/16-f/22 (Whatever the highest number is). That'll make your spots stand-out big-time...frankly, shot at f/4 that piece of dust must be pretty darned big! It looks like there might be one on the right side and right-lower corner too. Reshoot the test at f/22 and see what pops up.

I've never used a lens-pen product on a sensor. If a blower doesn't get the crud out I'll pull out my spec-grabber wand, clean it, then dab it on the sensor in the general area of the dust (if the dust is in the upper-left corner of the screen I'll dab in the lower-left portion of the sensor).

canon400d

aerialphoto wrote:

First off - you're shooting the test wrong. The "lowest f-stop" should be the smallest f-stop, which is the highest number. Looking at your gallery I see these were shot at f/4, they should be the other end of the range; around f/16-f/22 (Whatever the highest number is). That'll make your spots stand-out big-time...frankly, shot at f/4 that piece of dust must be pretty darned big! It looks like there might be one on the right side and right-lower corner too. Reshoot the test at f/22 and see what pops up.

I've never used a lens-pen product on a sensor. If a blower doesn't get the crud out I'll pull out my spec-grabber wand, clean it, then dab it on the sensor in the general area of the dust (if the dust is in the upper-left corner of the screen I'll dab in the lower-left portion of the sensor).

Thanks for telling me, as you have guessed I am a learner. I thought I had to use the lowest F.stop but obviously I have been wrong. I am a wee bit concerned now about the size of the blur and what has caused it. I will certainly try tomorrow and report my findings to you. I sure hope you will be able to tell me how to go about this problem. As I say I am totally covered and I just got this cleaning gear today. Thanks once again for your kind help and advice.
Regards
Bob

aktse

Do a search on sensor dust and you'll find plenty of answers. The smudges might be grease.

Also, try copperhill.

Scott_Quier

aktse wrote:

Do a search on sensor dust and you'll find plenty of answers. The smudges might be grease.

Also, try copperhill.

- Copperhill works quite well.

Here's a quite long thread cussing and discussing the topic of cleaning a sensor. Lots of good information scattered throughout the thread. I might suggest you read the entire thing. Yes, it'll take a while but I believe it's time well spent.

gus

Scott_Quier wrote:

- Copperhill works quite well.

Here's a quite long thread cussing and discussing the topic of cleaning a sensor. Lots of good information scattered throughout the thread. I might suggest you read the entire thing. Yes, it'll take a while but I believe it's time well spent.

canon400d

gus wrote:

I have taken another shot at F.22 and ISO at 100 and is as follows:-
I will certainly acknowledge the aforementioned replies after I have read them. I would appreciate if anyone can comment on this last shot. Is this common or what.
Regards
Bob

Cuong

Bob, that's one dusty sensor your camera has. Definitely use the Copper Hill cleaning method to get rid of those dust bunnies. Lens pens are for cleaning lenses, not your camera imaging sensor. The Jessops people might have thought that the dust you mentioned are on the lens.

Cuong

aktse

canon400d wrote:

...
I would appreciate if anyone can comment on this last shot. Is this common or what.
...

Not even really dirty in my book, but you have some bunnies having fun in there.
http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=96700

Copperhill.

And there is a 25 page thread on sensor dust and cleaning. Search is your friend...

Scott_Quier

canon400d wrote:

I have taken another shot at F.22 and ISO at 100 and is as follows:-
I will certainly acknowledge the aforementioned replies after I have read them. I would appreciate if anyone can comment on this last shot. Is this common or what.
Regards
Bob

Not too bad, but not good either. Take a look at this post; it'll give you an idea of before and after conditions.

canon400d

Scott_Quier wrote:

Not too bad, but not good either. Take a look at this post; it'll give you an idea of before and after conditions.

Wow thanks ever so much for your replies. I certainly have a dirty sensor and it would appear that the Copper Hill is going to be the only answer. Can anyone give me a link as to where I can obtain this. Whilst I continue to read through the 25 pages.
Regards
Bob

aerialphoto

Cuong wrote:

Bob, that's one dusty sensor your camera has. Definitely use the Copper Hill cleaning method to get rid of those dust bunnies. Lens pens are for cleaning lenses, not your camera imaging sensor. The Jessops people might have thought that the dust you mentioned are on the lens.

Lenspen makes a sensor-cleaning kit too - hopefully that's what was sold. Regardless, I don't see it as a really decent way of lifting material off of the sensor (compared to the other methods).

I'll stick by my specgrabbers

aerialphoto

canon400d wrote:

Wow thanks ever so much for your replies. I certainly have a dirty sensor and it would appear that the Copper Hill is going to be the only answer. Can anyone give me a link as to where I can obtain this. Whilst I continue to read through the 25 pages.
Regards
Bob

A quick google revealed this.

I've never had much luck with their method myself, but use whatever works best for you.

gus

canon400d wrote:

I have taken another shot at F.22 and ISO at 100 and is as follows:-
I will certainly acknowledge the aforementioned replies after I have read them. I would appreciate if anyone can comment on this last shot. Is this common or what.
Regards
Bob

That is very mild by comparison to both of my cameras.

canon400d

gus wrote:

That is very mild by comparison to both of my cameras.

Thanks everyone for all your kind help. I have had another couple of attempts at cleaning the sensor with the pen and I took a couple of shots. The first shot was after the first cleaning so I tried again and you will see in the second shot I just seem to have moved the dust to a different place. However, it is an improvement to my initial attempts. This seems to be the best I will get with the pen and blower sensor cleaning kit.
Regards
Bob
1 I apologise for hitting the XL on the second image

2

SavedByZero

I just cleaned my sensor with these from Photographic Solutions.



The swabs come pre-wrapped and in single sealed plastic bags. Couldn't have been easier to do, once across and back and it was 100% clean. Paid $49.99 for the swabs and $13.95 for the E2 fluid. BTW there are 12 swabs in the box so it's a $5.35 cleaning cost which is much better then the $35 I was quoted at the camera shop I got the swabs and fluid from.

Photo Sol also makes these Eclipse or E2 pre-moistened swabs that you can use in the field and keep in your bag for when ever you need them.



They even have a great vid clip showing how to clean your sensor with their swabs and fluid.

==> http://www.photosol.com/swabdemo.htm

I'm totally sold on Photographic Solutions Swabs and E2 fluid!!!

==> http://www.photosol.com/index.htm

cmason

SavedByZero wrote:

I just cleaned my sensor with these from Photographic Solutions.

Btw, this is nearly the same as Copperhill, you get the same Eclipse solution, and rather than the expensive swabs, you get a reusable swab and PS disposable wipes to cover them.


Basic kit highly recommended

Tutorials here