Sensor Cleaning....

[FromtheBackofaHorse]

My A300 sensor had a few spots on it and my want-to-be-helpful boyfriend made things worse by trying to use a cloth on it to clean it. Is my only option now to have it professionally cleaned? I am supposed to do a engagement shoot for my daughter next week and I am trying to avoid having my camera in for servicing.

[DonSchap]

There are proper ways to clean a sensor and "improper" ones, too ... and the latter certainly outnumber the former. I would hazard to say you might be lucky if the sensor is not permanently damaged. That's why it is normally hidden behind a shutter.

I would have someone who knows what they are doing inspect it for damage and clean it. It may take a lot longer than a week. The sooner the better, obviously.

[FromtheBackofaHorse]

Here is a test shot after he "cleaned" it. I never should have mentioned to him that I was going to take it in for a cleaning. He is one of those who thinks that everything can be "Do-it-Yourself"



Guess it's going to the camera store.

[DonSchap]

If you look in that blue sky, you can see the spots. They are probably going to occur in every single shot from now on, until it is professionally cleaned. You will notice them in identical positions when photographing blank walls and sky images.

One of the things I am curious about, other than you B/F taking after the problem, is what you were doing that caused so much dust to be accumulated in the first place. Normally, it takes about three to six months to have a "noticeable" problem. and that's with a lot of lens changes. Your actually built-in "dust-cleaning" system may not be working.

[Samanax]

Originally Posted by FromtheBackofaHorse

My A300 sensor had a few spots on it and my want-to-be-helpful boyfriend made things worse by trying to use a cloth on it to clean it. Is my only option now to have it professionally cleaned? I am supposed to do a engagement shoot for my daughter next week and I am trying to avoid having my camera in for servicing.

Originally Posted by FromtheBackofaHorse

Here is a test shot after he "cleaned" it. I never should have mentioned to him that I was going to take it in for a cleaning. He is one of those who thinks that everything can be "Do-it-Yourself"



Guess it's going to the camera store.

Whoa...that's pretty bad.

Unless you know how to properly clean a sensor I think your best course of action now is to take it to a camera shop that does sensor cleanings.

In the future you might want to learn how to clean the sensor yourself. It's not that hard to do but you do need the proper equipment. I use the Copper Hill Method and use cleaning supplies I bought from them.

It took me awhile but I finally figured out how to hold the SensorSwipe properly against the sensor and the sweeping motion needed to clean the sensor surface. It used to take me 30 to 40 minutes (and lots of Pec*Pads) to clean my sensor but now it takes me about 5 minutes, a single Pec*Pad and I have a nice clean sensor to shoot with.

[FromtheBackofaHorse]

Samanax,
Thank you very much for the link. I will be reading it intently.

One of the things I am curious about, other than you B/F taking after the problem, is what you were doing that caused so much dust to be accumulated in the first place.
Don,
I have no idea. I have now had the camera for 6 months. I noticed a few spots a month ago but nothing like what there is after BF stuck a cloth inside it.

Thanks to everyone for all your help.

[Samanax]

Originally Posted by FromtheBackofaHorse

I have no idea. I have now had the camera for 6 months. I noticed a few spots a month ago but nothing like what there is after BF stuck a cloth inside it.

The dust and fibers/threads came from the cloth your BF used to clean the sensor. Looks like he didn't scratch the surface of the low-pass filter...whew...that would have been bad.