nikon d 40 cleaning tips

[kushan_dave]

Hi everyone,

I'm a amateur photographer, and hence the questions is also naive , but some clarity would definately help.

I have a nikon d40 with nikkor 18-55 and 55-200. And i've been using this for about 2 years now and have traveling insanely to extreme climates (deserts and chilly snowy places).
I do maintain it by cleaning the lens tips with '3-1 lens cleaner kit' by Vanguard.

However there are small problems i feel with the cam/lens and need your opinion on it,

1. There are tiny black spots that i see when i look through the viewfinder and eventually on the photograph as as well.

2. the images are not as crisp and sharp and even the color perception is not as it were couple of months back..im worried if i have damaged the sensor by not maintaining it for so long.

3. The 18-55 nikkor lense doesn't seem to auto-focus as efficiently as it used to earlier...specially under low light conditions...its like i need to sear for a bright light to focus.

4. Also the while auto-focusing, the lens motor makes noise and gets jammed and then i have to switch to manual mode and rotate it a bit and again switch it back to auto mode. Can that be because of too much dust that went inside ? how can i clean it ?


Any suggestions and methods to improve the quality of my DSLR would really help.

Thanks you.
Kushan

[JFSanders]

It needs to go to Nikon for repair and refurbishment. Both the lens and body. You can send it in and they will give you a quote on the cost before they do anything. You didn't say how many shutter actuations but the lens locking up is a definite time to go thing.

Jim

[Almond.Butterscotch]

Originally Posted by kushan_dave

1. There are tiny black spots that i see when i look through the viewfinder and eventually on the photograph as as well.

Are the black spots in the same spot in the viewfinder and the photos? If they are, then you've got a dirty lens.

If you see them in the viewfinder but not the photo, don't worry about it so much. You've got dust in the pentamirror. No biggie.

If there are spots coming up on the photos, especially at small apertures (f/11, f/16, f/22, etc.) that you can't see in the viewfinder, you've got sensor dust. A bit of methanol and a swab can help you with that. Photographic Solutions Sensor Swab Plus with Eclipse PE2C B&H