Comments on: How to Avoid a Dirty DSLR Image Sensor http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 20:09:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ryan Parent - Ottawa Wedding Photographers http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-85719 Ryan Parent - Ottawa Wedding Photographers Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:17:54 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-85719 I have always been terrified to touch my sensor. Im not sure why. It feels like an area Im not qualified to touch. I haven't had to clean one yet. For now I just use a blower to blow dust away. It works great for light dust. I have always been terrified to touch my sensor. Im not sure why. It feels like an area Im not qualified to touch. I haven’t had to clean one yet. For now I just use a blower to blow dust away. It works great for light dust.

]]> By: Karen Stuebing http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-84924 Karen Stuebing Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:33:52 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-84924 I am not convinced that the automatic sensor cleaners work. I have a "sensor shake" on power up on my K10D and I have sensor dust. I am extremely careful when changing lenses and don't do it very much. So now I will have to learn how to clean the sensor. Good tips. Now need to check out the links on cleaning. I am not convinced that the automatic sensor cleaners work. I have a “sensor shake” on power up on my K10D and I have sensor dust. I am extremely careful when changing lenses and don’t do it very much. So now I will have to learn how to clean the sensor. Good tips. Now need to check out the links on cleaning.

]]> By: AlienBee4Ever http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-82810 AlienBee4Ever Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:55:56 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-82810 I'm one of those who never change the lens. I rather have 1 body for 1 lens. If i need a super zoom i will try to get a dedicated body for that zoom. I know some people find this very silly to have a DSLR and not changing lens. But who are they to say that DSLR are meant for lens changes. If you are very happy with the lens you have and you can do everything with that lens, there is no need to switch lens unless you need a fisheye or a super zoom. (which i never need) for the type of photography that i do. By changing lens, i once damaged the viewfield glass in a 5D Mark II which cost me 150.00 to repair. Cleaning the sensor is easy, but cleaning the viewfield glass can be a pain if you don't have the propar environment and equipments. Sometime dust get inside the viewfield section. It does not affect the picture but its damn annoying to look at. By not changing the lens, you will hardly get dust anymore and hardly need to clean anything. Also the good thing about dedicated lens for dedicated body is that you can quickly switch camera when time is a factor. Having multiple camera with different lens around your neck is very useful for wedding shooting where you do not have to the time to play around the settings... Ofcourse, this is if money isn't an issue. On my Nikon D300s i never changed its lens (17-55) f2.8 DX. And nearly 12000 shots later there is absolutly no dust inside. I’m one of those who never change the lens. I rather have 1 body for 1 lens. If i need a super zoom i will try to get a dedicated body for that zoom.

I know some people find this very silly to have a DSLR and not changing lens. But who are they to say that DSLR are meant for lens changes. If you are very happy with the lens you have and you can do everything with that lens, there is no need to switch lens unless you need a fisheye or a super zoom. (which i never need) for the type of photography that i do.

By changing lens, i once damaged the viewfield glass in a 5D Mark II which cost me 150.00 to repair. Cleaning the sensor is easy, but cleaning the viewfield glass can be a pain if you don’t have the propar environment and equipments.

Sometime dust get inside the viewfield section. It does not affect the picture but its damn annoying to look at. By not changing the lens, you will hardly get dust anymore and hardly need to clean anything.

Also the good thing about dedicated lens for dedicated body is that you can quickly switch camera when time is a factor. Having multiple camera with different lens around your neck is very useful for wedding shooting where you do not have to the time to play around the settings…

Ofcourse, this is if money isn’t an issue.

On my Nikon D300s i never changed its lens (17-55) f2.8 DX. And nearly 12000 shots later there is absolutly no dust inside.

]]> By: Alex - Suffolk Wedding Photographer http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-71538 Alex - Suffolk Wedding Photographer Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:07:46 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-71538 Some good tips there - just also be aware that there isn't too much need to be totally anal about having a 100% spot free sensor. If you check your sensor at f22 and you see a few bunnies - don't sweat too much, as you wont see them at wider apertures (unless you routinely shoot at f16/f22). Unless they are seriously effecting your images (say a speck gets stuck somewhere where it's often noticed - I shoot most things portraiture and so faces occupy certain parts of my sensor regularly), I'd say leave well alone and have it cleaned properly when you get your cameras serviced every year. Newer cameras of course have 'self cleaning' and the like to lessen the effects of dust. Some good tips there – just also be aware that there isn’t too much need to be totally anal about having a 100% spot free sensor.

If you check your sensor at f22 and you see a few bunnies – don’t sweat too much, as you wont see them at wider apertures (unless you routinely shoot at f16/f22).

Unless they are seriously effecting your images (say a speck gets stuck somewhere where it’s often noticed – I shoot most things portraiture and so faces occupy certain parts of my sensor regularly), I’d say leave well alone and have it cleaned properly when you get your cameras serviced every year.

Newer cameras of course have ’self cleaning’ and the like to lessen the effects of dust.

]]> By: denzil http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-62115 denzil Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:32:41 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-62115 have you guys not tried using "dust delete data"? refer to your canon book that came with the camera. Download your shots to your computer using the canon software, and any dust spots will not show, need to update dust delete data regulary, in case you have picked up any more, regards denzil have you guys not tried using “dust delete data”? refer to your canon book that came with the camera. Download your shots to your computer using the canon software, and any dust spots will not show, need to update dust delete data regulary, in case you have picked up any more,

regards
denzil

]]> By: Lew http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-62068 Lew Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:17:32 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-62068 My 5D II sensor definitely stays cleaner than my 30D's. I used to clean the 30D sensor at least once a month or so. I haven't had to clean the sensor in my 5D II since I purchased it about 4 months ago. My preferred method of cleaning was to blow compressed air across a sensor cleaning brush and then brush the sensor gently which attracts any dust that has landed on the sensor. My 5D II sensor definitely stays cleaner than my 30D’s. I used to clean the 30D sensor at least once a month or so. I haven’t had to clean the sensor in my 5D II since I purchased it about 4 months ago. My preferred method of cleaning was to blow compressed air across a sensor cleaning brush and then brush the sensor gently which attracts any dust that has landed on the sensor.

]]> By: Oscar http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-61029 Oscar Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:49:10 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-61029 Thanks Arron. I actually found out that I live a few miles away from a Canon facility. I took it in to see how much they'd charge to do the job. She said le tme ask a technician, took it in the back and came back with it. Said "its done" have a nice day. I was excited, they did it in 3 minutes for free and no problem. A cloth would not fit up there at all and I don't feel like I should be touching the mirror or the other parts. I'm not sure about using "little extra force" the parts in there seem to vie in really easy to even the slightest pressure. I don't want to go messing with that. Thanks for answering though. Thanks Arron. I actually found out that I live a few miles away from a Canon facility. I took it in to see how much they’d charge to do the job. She said le tme ask a technician, took it in the back and came back with it. Said “its done” have a nice day.

I was excited, they did it in 3 minutes for free and no problem.

A cloth would not fit up there at all and I don’t feel like I should be touching the mirror or the other parts. I’m not sure about using “little extra force” the parts in there seem to vie in really easy to even the slightest pressure. I don’t want to go messing with that.

Thanks for answering though.

]]> By: Arron Lilley http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-61004 Arron Lilley Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:26:57 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-61004 Oscar.... the best way i found to clean that area is to use a lint free cloth and very gently run it over the area. because the image senser is not affected feel free to use a little extra force! Your photos, as you know , will remain perfect.. This is also the same for the mirror! give it a try!. Oscar…. the best way i found to clean that area is to use a lint free cloth and very gently run it over the area. because the image senser is not affected feel free to use a little extra force! Your photos, as you know , will remain perfect.. This is also the same for the mirror! give it a try!.

]]> By: SarahJ http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-32875 SarahJ Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:01:53 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-32875 I don't have a DSLR, but a Sony Cybershot DSC-P200. I've had it about 3 years, and for the past year or so, I sometimes get black blobs on the images, especially in very sunny conditions. I'm about to upgrade anyway, but thought I might pass this one on to my nephew, so if anyone has any ideas what is causing this, and how to fix it... I'd be very grateful! Thanks I don’t have a DSLR, but a Sony Cybershot DSC-P200. I’ve had it about 3 years, and for the past year or so, I sometimes get black blobs on the images, especially in very sunny conditions.
I’m about to upgrade anyway, but thought I might pass this one on to my nephew, so if anyone has any ideas what is causing this, and how to fix it… I’d be very grateful!
Thanks

]]> By: Oscar http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-23307 Oscar Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:12:19 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-23307 Hello, I have a similar problem but I'm not sure how to address it. During a recent trip to WRC in Mexico, I picked up some dust. I can only see it when I look through the viewfinder but it is very annoying. I followed all the tips as close as possible, but it was a pretty dusty environment and I don't have the $ to purchase another camera just to not have to switch lenses. I can't find a lot of information on how to get that cleaned. I have a rebel xti. If you remove the lens, you see the mirror and directly above it is a white piece that shows the focus points... the dust is settled on top of this so no amount of air will move them out of the way. Any suggestions? Again, the dust does not ever show up on the pictures, I see it only through the viewfinder and so its not a huge problem as much as it is an annoyance. Hello, I have a similar problem but I’m not sure how to address it. During a recent trip to WRC in Mexico, I picked up some dust. I can only see it when I look through the viewfinder but it is very annoying. I followed all the tips as close as possible, but it was a pretty dusty environment and I don’t have the $ to purchase another camera just to not have to switch lenses.

I can’t find a lot of information on how to get that cleaned. I have a rebel xti. If you remove the lens, you see the mirror and directly above it is a white piece that shows the focus points… the dust is settled on top of this so no amount of air will move them out of the way. Any suggestions? Again, the dust does not ever show up on the pictures, I see it only through the viewfinder and so its not a huge problem as much as it is an annoyance.

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