Cleaning the D30

[shejobe]

Hi all,

I just started reading this board when I was reading up on the D30. I just purchased it from a reputable camera shop yesterday. It's my first SLR, quite a move from my Nikon Coolpix 950, which I love.

Anyway, I noticed a little dust in the camera and asked if it could be cleaned. The sales rep took it and said they could blow it out. He took it to the technician who was sitting just a few feet away and asked him to do it. The technician said it is a digital camera and you don't use air on it, you use a vac.

They gave me a card and referred me to a camera repair shop that would handle it.

I go to the other shop, just down the street and the tech there (older fellow, seemed very experienced with cameras, but I can't speak for his knowledge of digital slrs) and he used a cloth, q-tip and was reaching for the canned air when I asked about using canned air on a digital camera.

He dismissed the warning by the other tech and stated pro photographers use canned air on their equipment all the time out in the field. The only caution he had was to not shake the can - so as to not get the cold air blown onto the sensor.

Anyone have any thoughts or experience with using canned air on dSLR? Also, any other care and use beyond what is mentioned in the manual would be appreciated.

Thanks for any and all info.

Sheila

[daveh]

My 10D manual says to never use compressed air/gas due to the danger of too much pressure and freezing action on the sensor. However, I figure that many warnings like that have an implied "Unless you know what you're doing, accept any risk, and are very very careful. We've warned you so if you bust it, don't try to return it under warrantee." (Whether that applies to the person who sprayed yours is something you'll need to judge for yourself.)

As for what pro photographers do - I wouldn't necessarily use that as a guide to caring for my own equipment. Most pros have lots of equipment and don't have the time to treat it all gently when under shooting pressure. For them, the occasional breakdown is part of the job and in the budget. For someone who isn't making money from his camera, it may seem like a bigger deal.

[Roger_Cavanagh]

Sheila,

I've got a description of some useful items and links to articles on cleaning on my site:

http://www.rogercavanagh.com/helpinfo/09_cleaning.htm

Also I'd steer clear of compressed air to clean the sensor, one tiny bit of gunk and it's real pain to clean - jumbo blower or similar for shifting is safest.

Regards,

[shejobe]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

daveh:
Good point on the difference of how equipment may be used (and treated).

Roger_Cavanagh:
What a link! That looks very helpful.

Thanks again.

Sheila

[martcol]

And to scare you silly sheila, have a look at this thread; if you haven't already.

I had no luck with cleaning, some seem to. It freaked me a bit. I don't think that I've ever seen anything look so highly polished. It's a bit like when you're a kid, and you see a jelly in the fridge and you think hmmm.... The rest as they say, is history.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=10665

Martin

[justme_dc]

I see lots of posts about cleaning digital cameras. I thought all digital cameras were top rack dishwasher safe. Was I mistaken?

[martcol]

justme_dc wrote:
I thought all digital cameras were top rack dishwasher safe. Was I mistaken?

LMAO :D

[shejobe]

And to scare you silly sheila, have a look at this thread; if you haven't already.

Geee...thanks. :)

I'm beginning to think I'll become more friendly with the guy who took the can of compressed air to it...as long as he'll guarantee his work.

At least *I* knew the camera bodies weren't dishwasher safe, but I bet they work fine in the delicate cycle of the washing machine.

SJ

[Morden]

I thought all digital cameras were top rack dishwasher safe.

If you have several cameras, minimize cleaning time by loading them all into the back of a pickup truck and taking it through your local car wash.

Or don't.

[justme_dc]

Morden wrote:
If you have several cameras, minimize cleaning time by loading them all into the back of a pickup truck and taking it through your local car wash.
Or don't.
Yeah see I tried that once but when the brushes kicked on they flung my cameras out of the truck bed and into the windshield of the car behind mine. It was not a pretty sight, trust me. I think I'll stick with the top rack in the dishwasher or just leave them grubby.