Cleaning 10D

[AndyDe]

I've noticed small round dark circles on my images. I can't see any obvious dirt on the sensor but they do not always occur in the same place. Any ideas ?

[martcol]

Andy, try looking through these posts:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=10665
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=10342
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6597

Some people did well - mine's a sorry tale and in the end I sent my 10D to Canon. I think the next time I attempt it I'll use some kind of vacum and a very fine, artists brush. Canon still have my camera and it's the Bank Holiday!

Mind you, if the spots aren't always in the same place then it doesn't sound like dirt on sensor.

Any way, a few simple rules:

Air can: out
fingers: out
dishwasher: jury's out

:D

Good luck.

[AndyDe]

Thanks, I forgot to mention that I'd used my blower brush on it which might be why they moved. I think this dust thing is going to be a problem...can see a modification to the Dyson comming !

[jduncan]

is a mini vacuum cleaner ok?
i have a tiny one which is made to clean the inside of computers, has anyone tried this and is it successful

thanks

james

[martcol]

I reckon a vac is the way to go, James and it's what I'll try next. The blower brush is safe but seemed to just blow the dust around. Wipes raise your heart rate by 70% but don't reduce dust by a corresponding amount!

Martin

[AndyDe]

Just tried a blower brush, don't know what the dust was but it smeared it over the sensor, resorted to a cotton bud & then a small AA battery powered sucker to clear any bits left behind.

[AndyDe]

I wonder if a few yards of plastic tubing was connected to an air can whether the air would warm enough to stop it freezing.

[spark]

jduncan wrote:
is a mini vacuum cleaner ok?
i have a tiny one which is made to clean the inside of computers, has anyone tried this and is it successful

thanks

james

Never, Never and Never! The last time I did so my camera was sent back to canon service center. The vacuum will suck and damage the fins of the shutters and also will tends to offset the pentaprism, blurring everything you view thought the viewfinder

[CyberDyneSystems]

This may sound odd,. but perhaps a much more delicate approach to a vacuum.... like a straw and a slight inhale?

One could even put a filter on the mouth side to prevent ingesting or inhaling dust particles (as if we don't do just that all day long) :D

[John Arnold Ph.D.]

See the following for how to clean a digital sensor:
http://luminous-landscape.com/essays/sensor-cleaning.shtml

[martcol]

I like Cyberd's idea. Hmmmm. Maybe the Dyson's a bit too much suck. When I used a blower brush it did just seem to blow the dust around. I'm sure if I could've just got the dust out....

[AndyDe]

I can't believe how one speck can become a streak when I tried to brush it off! It's clean now but I'm sure a Boots cotton bud wasn't the best thing to use. I'll try the Cyberd "suck & see" method next time. I can't bring myself to part with £39.95 for 12 sensor swabs, I've ordered some Eclipse fluid, & a Speck grabber from Crown & will try to find some alternative swabs.