Dirty sensor - I stuffed it up again!

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

01/15/2012 01:39:28 AM · #1

Well, I did it again. I changed the lens near the beach and although I thought I was careful the dirt got in. I had Eclipse and a few swabs, I watched the training video (never cleaned the sensor before), followed the instructions and made things worse! So I had no choice but to take it for cleaning to Camera Clinic for $77 (!) BUT on my first change of lens at home the dirt is back! Not in the same places but it is there. I called Camera Clinic and they said that it must have been the dirt on the lens that fell onto the sensor. Are they right? What should I do next? I have no swabs left and no confidence in my abilities but another $77 is just too much. What should I do?? Any ideas?

Lydia

Canon EOS-6D

01/15/2012 01:43:29 AM · #2

You can do this, Margaret.

Clean Q-tips... untouched by human hands... breathe heavily on the tip... swap left to right, right to left, in a sweeping motion...

Test shot. New Q-tip, new breath (yeah... I know you've been holding it. It did, too...)

Repeat.

You'll be fine.

*hugs*

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

01/15/2012 01:58:55 AM · #3

You know, canned air works great for me...

Although there are complexities that make it dangerous.... Instead, perhaps a good bulb-blower? They make suction bulbs for baby ears that might work pretty ok on the cheap.

Message edited by author 2012-01-15 01:59:22.

Judi

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

01/15/2012 02:18:27 AM · #4

Errr....if you are going to spend a fortune on a DSLR and don't want to pay for professional cleaning then why don't you bite the bullet and invest in a proper cleaning kit. For me to send my camera away it costs me over $100-00 plus cleaning fees and up to 2 months without a camera....if we can do it...all of you can!! It isn't that hard...and I would never breathe on anything going into the sensor...any germs or tiny fragments of food are really not good for the sensor.

01/15/2012 02:19:51 AM · #5

Thanks, Lydia and Cory. I just looked again at the picture Camera Clinic emailed to me as proof that they did a good job:

I retook my own photos (f22, MF, 1s exposure while moving camera of white paper)and compared with their photo with increased contrast. I marked spots that I could see. Unfortunately the upper part is dark so I cannot see underneath. Is it a professional way of checking the sensor??

Judi

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

01/15/2012 02:22:41 AM · #6

Originally posted by MargaretN:

Thanks, Lydia and Cory. I just looked again at the picture Camera Clinic emailed to me as proof that they did a good job:

I retook my own photos (f22, MF, 1s exposure while moving camera of white paper)and compared with their photo with increased contrast. I marked spots that I could see. Unfortunately the upper part is dark so I cannot see underneath. Is it a professional way of checking the sensor??

Make the shutter speed longer until you get a pure white image whilst moving right through the exposure as you do. That way only the dust spots will show and no dark areas....I usually wave mine whilst pointing at the ceiling and light. No mistaking the spots that way.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

01/15/2012 02:26:23 AM · #7

Originally posted by Judi:

I usually wave mine whilst pointing at the ceiling and light. No mistaking the spots that way.

Thanks, Judi. I have wooden ceilings :) But I think that what I identified on their own photo (that's not mine, mine is white) should be enough to get a re-clean free of charge. Why did they use graded color background??

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

01/15/2012 02:26:34 AM · #8

Originally posted by Judi:

Originally posted by MargaretN:
Thanks, Lydia and Cory. I just looked again at the picture Camera Clinic emailed to me as proof that they did a good job:

I retook my own photos (f22, MF, 1s exposure while moving camera of white paper)and compared with their photo with increased contrast. I marked spots that I could see. Unfortunately the upper part is dark so I cannot see underneath. Is it a professional way of checking the sensor??

Make the shutter speed longer until you get a pure white image whilst moving right through the exposure as you do. That way only the dust spots will show and no dark areas....I usually wave mine whilst pointing at the ceiling and light. No mistaking the spots that way.

The best solution I have found so far is a blank white new tab in Firefox, even illumination, and no irregularities.

ETA: And I try for a light gray, never white. :)

Message edited by author 2012-01-15 02:27:00.

Giles

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/15/2012 04:39:22 AM · #9

my 5d is filthy, i change lens so often in gigs etc and dirty places i used use the spot removal tool its easier than all this worry andmessig around

the new cameras have self cleaning dont they were they vibrate the dust off

mines getting about rready for a clean now after a day spent shooting brilliant blue skies shoes them all up, ive got about 6 big marks and a few smears hehe

although now i did that high contrast and definition to make them worse and shooting almost into the sun its time it went for a clean haha

re teh qtips i did it with my 20d using canned air to blow the q tips then used them, job for today i think clean my 5d will report back

Tiny

Apple iPad mini 4

01/15/2012 06:40:27 AM · #10

As a matter of interest I believe its a filter not the actual sensor that you clean.
Have always used a Lenspen Sensorklear ,had no problems yet !!!

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

01/15/2012 07:59:46 AM · #11

Originally posted by Tiny:

As a matter of interest I believe its a filter not the actual sensor that you clean.
Have always used a Lenspen Sensorklear ,had no problems yet !!!

Thanks, Neil. I have just ordered a kit with a loupe from B&H Photo. It looks like something I will be more comfortable with than Eclipse swabs.

tanguera

Nikon D750

01/15/2012 12:16:51 PM · #12

I'm having stubborn dirt problems myself. I've cleaned the sensor a couple of times with the swab kit, but it just seems to move the spots around. I've also cleaned the mirror, as well as both ends of each of my lenses. IT'S AN INVASION!!!!

GinaRothfels

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

01/15/2012 01:30:55 PM · #13

Having never mastered the art of cleaning the sensor on my 400D, I was terrified to try cleaning my 7D. Just when I thought I was going to have to try, my camera needed to go in for service (while still under the guarantee) and the sensor was cleaned free of charge at the same time. I arranged to take the camera in to check everything was okay just before the guarantee ended (early December 2011) and planned to take the 400D in for a cleaning straight after that even though I would have to pay for it. I was delighted to discover that Canon South Africa are now offering free sensor cleaning (I think once a month). I'm really pleased that I now have one less thing to worry about.

littlemav

Nikon D90

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED VR

01/15/2012 02:17:36 PM · #14

Hey

Judi Where did you get a pro-cleaning kit? Brand name? We've got a photo lab and camera store here that cleans for $35.00 ..... butttttt I am a tiny bit leary of them, LOts of photographers have had them clean sensors w/ no problems, I've bought some things from them and the "sales" people don't seem to know squat. SO REALLY Intrested in hearing about your Pro Cleaning Kit.. Thanks

kiwinick

Sony DSLR-A550

Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha

01/15/2012 03:07:19 PM · #15

just as a tip.Each time I chande lens I doit with ths camera facing downwards. I aldo cleanthe new lens with a blower brush before attachind and ditto with the lens comind off all my lens are equiped with lens caps. Btw the pro who does lens cleaning here if the same thing had happened her would have cleaned the lens aswll with compressed air to eliminate cross cotamination.

Try setting your camera to cleaning mode hold with the lens area down and blow out with a ROCKET brush dont let the tip of the brush touch the sensor

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

01/15/2012 03:07:24 PM · #16

Any little grodies will show up nicely if you go outside and shoot an image of clear blue sky at f22, using your normal settings, or normal +1 EV for metering.
I scratched the sensor filter in a Fuji S3Pro using a Qtip. There was a tiny chip of chrome from the lens mount that got on the Qtip, and it made a serious scratch. I was being pretty aggressive though, because there was an oily looking smutz on part of the UV filter.
There shouldn't be any problem if directions with a cleaning kit are followed.
Some people use Scotch tape for sensor cleaning, though I haven't tried it yet.

BaldurT

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sony SAL-70200G 70-200 2.8 SSM G

01/15/2012 03:09:24 PM · #17

This is the way I always clean my sensor. By blowing canned air across your brush you statically charge it and it actually attracts the dust to it. Oh, and I forgot to add that I believe it's actually cheaper than buying a cleaning kit, since you can get the brushes on Ebay for a few dollars.

Message edited by author 2012-01-15 15:11:46.

Judi

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

01/15/2012 04:01:03 PM · #18

Originally posted by littlemav:

Hey Judi Where did you get a pro-cleaning kit? Brand name? We've got a photo lab and camera store here that cleans for $35.00 ..... butttttt I am a tiny bit leary of them, LOts of photographers have had them clean sensors w/ no problems, I've bought some things from them and the "sales" people don't seem to know squat. SO REALLY Intrested in hearing about your Pro Cleaning Kit.. Thanks

This is the kit I have used for years and I have recommended to many others. Make sure you get the one for your model camera.

bhuge

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

01/15/2012 06:12:11 PM · #19

Originally posted by Judi:

Originally posted by littlemav:
Hey Judi Where did you get a pro-cleaning kit? Brand name? We've got a photo lab and camera store here that cleans for $35.00 ..... butttttt I am a tiny bit leary of them, LOts of photographers have had them clean sensors w/ no problems, I've bought some things from them and the "sales" people don't seem to know squat. SO REALLY Intrested in hearing about your Pro Cleaning Kit.. Thanks

This is the kit I have used for years and I have recommended to many others. Make sure you get the one for your model camera.

+1
I also use the CopperHill cleaner. It scared me to death the first time I did it but it was easy and works great.