Problem With Dust

[fxgeek]

I find that the biggest problem when taking landscapes is dust on my sensor. Because im usually using an aperture of f16 or f22 to get everything in shot sensor dust is more visible and no matter how much I try to clean the camera (I use a 5d) it always gets back in there pretty quickly.

Anyone any thoughts or suggestions?

[Darren Rowse]

sometimes the only way to get it pristine again is to take it back to the manufacturer and pay for a clean (expensive where I live). I feel your pain!

[RainPacket]

I have the EOS 400D / Digital Rebel XTi. It has a self-cleaning sensor; when I turn it on or off, it vibrates at a high speed for a second or so, which literally makes all the dust fall off. 'tis a thing of beauty and joy.

The reason I mention this is that apparently, all the future Canon camera models will come with this feature. So if you trade the 5D for a newer model down the road, the problem should be self-correcting.

That said, I've been told by at least one person that if you leave the lens off and the sensor exposed in a room with one of those allergy-preventing ionizing dust-removal machines, and blow into the lens with an air-bulb, it will literally suck the dust away. I haven't tried, so, YMMV.

[henryscat]

I use a negative blower brush thingy to get rid of dust. Not the recommended way but it works!

[ron.richardson]

i believe there are other companies out there that do it too, not just the manufacturer. and if you are brave enough, there are self-cleaning kits you can purchase. i hear it's not actually that hard, but you need to have a lot of light, clean work area, and nerves of steel.

[desi]

I recently purchased a cleaning kit from www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com. I have not had opportunity to try this yet but it looks promising.

desi

[jhawksley]

Rather than copying my reply to a similar question in another thread, I recommend that you read my reply here.

[smc1377]

Originally Posted by desi

I recently purchased a cleaning kit from www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com. I have not had opportunity to try this yet but it looks promising.

desi

I recently purchased a kit from them as well to clean my 10D sensor since I had some major dust in there all of a sudden.

After reading thru many sites online and many people's experience, I built up the courage to attempt this.

After the first clean, it was still dirty, though not as dirty as it was before.

After the second clean, I had removed about 50% of the dust.

After the 3rd clean, I still had about 25% of the dust left on the sensor.

After the 4th clean, I pretty much had all of it removed, though I still had two minor minor spots. I decided that the two spots were minimal enough and left it at that.

I was very happy with the results, though it seemed like I had to do it many more times than other people had to in order to get the sensor clean.

[butchyau]

Getting back into photography recently had to choose between DSLR or fixed lens ultrazoom; have chosen Ultrazoom ( Canon Powershot S3 ) to avoid this problem; don't know if i have done the right thing but want to use the new camera for travelling mostly and don't want to be hassled with the dust problem I read about; how much of a problem is it really?? i read different perspectives on it?? thanks, butchyau ( butchy from australia)

[Mtik]

Originally Posted by butchyau

how much of a problem is it really?? i read different perspectives on it?? thanks, butchyau ( butchy from australia)

It all depends on how/when you use the SLR.

The best way to keep it dust free ( for as long as possible anyway ) is to put a lens on right when you get it and never take it off. Of course, this is NOT the reason people buy SLRs, right? We buy them specifically because we can change the lenses.

You just have to be careful. Dust *will* get on the sensor. There are some tools you can use that are fairly safe ( like blowers ) that do a decent job.

There's no sure way to avoid dust. However, here are some tips:
Change lenses with the body facing downward ( to avoid dust falling into the body )
Don't change lenses during windy/dry conditions ( change the lens inside a building )

YMMV, but dust is inevitable.

It's normally not a problem, only when you get a large spec of dust on a prominent place.

-Tim