Lens Cleaning - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

09/27/2005 04:44:31 PM · #1

Hello all, I have a question. My nikon 18-70 seems to have some dust or somthing inside the lens. On the outside it is clean of dust but every time I take a photo I get some spot that appears to be dust. What I would like to do is have it proffesionaly cleaned, do any of you know where I might be able to get this done? Here is a picture showing the spots outligned in red. Also this does not show up when I have any other lens on.

Thanks

Travis

xylke

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

09/27/2005 04:57:52 PM · #2

Judging from the size and clarity of the spots, I'd say it was dust on your sensor or maybe the back end of your lens. I am not sure how to clean sensors on a Nikon D70, but on a Canon you put it in sensor cleaning mode, the mirror flips up and if it's dust you can blow it out with some dry air with something like the Giottos Rocket Air Blower. I wouldn't breath on it, you might get spit on your sensor and compound your problem. If it's a watermark or something, I'd get it professionally cleaned. I'm not brave enough to phyisically touch the sensor.

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

09/27/2005 05:01:04 PM · #3

Well I dont think its sensor dust beacuse it does not show up if I put a different lens on.

SteveJ

Canon EOS-7D

09/27/2005 05:03:00 PM · #4

Dust bunnies! Dust bunnies!

I bet they show on sky shots! Shut the lens down and they will be there.

Steve

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

09/27/2005 05:53:07 PM · #5

Originally posted by Formerlee:

Shut the lens down and they will be there.

Steve

What do youu mean?

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

09/27/2005 05:54:03 PM · #6

It is sensor dust and it will show up with any lens at small apertures. Dust inside the lens, rarely, if ever, shows up in a photo.

FotoMunki

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/27/2005 06:32:43 PM · #7

What you have is beyond a doubt sensor dust. John is right - stop down to f/16 or 22, take a picture of the sky, and you will see the spots - on any lens. Figure out how to lock up the mirrow on the D70 (sorry, I use a Canon) and try blowing the stuff away. If that doesn't work, do some internet searches on "sensor cleaning" and you should find a solution that fits your needs.

Nuno

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/27/2005 06:50:45 PM · #8

You can search the web for sensor cleaning tutorials and you'll find a lot of them.

It's not as hard as it looks, if you're a handy person. First I used the technique of flowing the dust, but as I readed I comprovate myself that most of the times it only moves the dust form one side to the other, and next time you zoom in and out you might be getting it on the sensor again. Tele lens are excellent in moving the dust around.

I know use pecpads around a sensorwand and a drop or two of eclipse fluid (higly purified methanol). The first cleaning I did I was terefied, afraid I risked the sensor protection (this is what you clean and not really the sensor). Now I clean it every two weeks or wennever I have an important job that can't go wrong. It's as easy as changing a lens. A special note: in some places and if your camera is under warranty and if you have some problem with it, and they can see that you've been cleaning the sensor yourself you'll be out of the warranty.

So if your not confident enough you might want to take the camera to a store and let them make the job for you. But I've heard that they charge about 50 bucks for doing it, mor or less. With that money I can clean the sensor at least 50 times.

It's your call, but it's simple and easy.