Sensor dust

[momo911]

I have had my Nikon D7000 for about a month now. I notice quite a few dust spots on my sensor. (Photo attached) I took the shots with a small aperture setting (large number).


I have tried using a blower to dislodge the dust after turning on the 'lock mirror for sensor clean' option. I don't think it did a lot of good.


My query is : should I buy a sensor cleaner or just give it to a shop to clean it up for me?!



Thanks.



M*

[Almond.Butterscotch]

Others will say that doing a wet cleaning yourself is a HUGE no-no because you might break something or scratch something or w/e. Personally, I'm all for wet cleaning. I've been wet-cleaning my sensors since 2008. A swab and some methanol is all you really need, but if you really want to be safe (not a bad idea), go for a brand that really emphasizes the immaculacy of their cleanrooms. I use PhotoSol's Eclipse solution and their sensor swabs with no problem. Cleaning Digital Sensors, Cleaning Digital Cameras - Photographic Solutions, Inc. - Digital & Photographic Cleaning Solutions - Photographic Solutions (No, I'm not a paid endorser or anything. It really does work though.)

Oh- and it'll save you a butt-load of money over the years. Do you really think this'll be the only time you'll ever have sensor dust problems? A shop'll bill you $80 or so every time...

YMMV

[momo911]

Okay. Thanks a ton for that advice.


I took the camera into a shop today. I tried showing the man the dust spots on the pictures. He look at the camera and the lens and without even locking the mirror, told me there was nothing wrong with the sensor. Then he showed me two spots on the lens. Said they were scratches.


He tried cleaning them, but they wouldn't come off. So i believed him and came back. When i cleaned the lens again at home. I can't see those spots anymore.


So this is def dust yeah???

[OsmosisStudios]

From the samples you provided, that's dust. The salesman at the store was an idiot.

[momo911]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

From the samples you provided, that's dust. The salesman at the store was an idiot.

I thought so myself. I've pretty much made up my mind to buy a sensor cleaner and do it myself. Don't seem too hard to me.

[Aussie Coop]

Ive had my 550d for about 15 months, I cleaned it myself the first time last week, its really not hard at all. I used the same gear as Almond, watched a few youtube videos and just did it. Most said to put pressure on the swab to bend it a bit, you'll know if its too much pressure because the swab wont slide easily. I think it was about $50 Aud and I got 12 swabs and a bottle of fluid big enough to pass on to my grand kids one day. It works out a lot cheaper than going to a store . . . and by the looks of that store you went to would you even trust him to clean it 8-) . . . oh yeh and Im happy as a pig in sh*t with the nice clean sensor

[momo911]

Haha. True. So that's it. I'm buying a sensor cleaning kit


Thanks everyone

[Almond.Butterscotch]

Ooh- good point, Aussie Coop; I definitely remember watching a bunch of YouTube videos before doing it myself just to see how much pressure people were applying. I don't really think about that too much anymore... Easy, peasy, Japanesey. Wash your bum in Lemon Sqezy.

[Jo.T]

I was advised by a pro who has high end nikon and Hasselblad cameras to use an Artic Butterfly and not to touch the sensor unless you have to, swabs are a last resort. the Artic uses static electriciy and you dont have to touch the sensor for it to work.
Products ? DSLR sensor cleaning
I havent got one yet but will be very soon