Is there a lot of dust risk with changing lenses?

[guyguerra]

I am new to digital SLR's and have been told (and read) that there is potential to get dust on the mirror while changing lenses, and that this could be a serious problem. I just bought my camera (canon 5D) two weeks ago, and decided to buy 1 lens that would cover most of my needs so that I didn't have to change lenses often and would eliminate a potential problem. After two weeks I am realizing that by doing this I have limited myself with the type of shots I want to take. In my film days I had several lenses and would change them freely, and enjoyed the different choices I had. I want that back, heck, it's part of the reason to have an SLR. Is dust a real risk? How often is "too" often for changing lenses? I read that you should hold the camera upside down when taking the lens off, and thats easy enough, but is it alright to change lenses a couple times a week, or even several times in a day? I read the manual about the procedure for cleaning the sensor. Is this something you do often? Is it a big deal to clean it if you do see dust? Theres also a lens junkie in me that would like a fix too. Thanks, Guy

[Vision Eyez]

I personally am new to the D-SLR and changes lens several times a day. I havnt noticed any differnce and if I do see dust I will simply spray it off with high pressure air. (If on the mirror)

But dust al depends were you change your lens. If your in a dusty room more is likely to go in.

[Livinthalife]

dust on the mirror wont effect your pics at all, its dust on the sensor that becomes a "problem" but if you buy soemthing like the rocket blower or soemthing similar you can just blow off the dust, very simple and easy. jus tfollow the instructions in your manual. DONT USE PRESSURIZED AIR, it can damage your sensor.

dont allow dust to limit you, change your lenses as often as you need. just do it quick, and in a relativly clean enviroment (sand storm would be a bad idea to change your lens in :))

[dgcorner]

As long as you follow common sense rules, there shouldn't be any problems with changing your lenses. As Andy mentions, a rocket blower normally will suffice to get the dust off the mirrow and the sensor.

I make it a point to thoroughly plan my shoot. If I need to change lenses in the field, the steps I take are:

a) figure out where the wind is coming then block that with my body or bag flap.
b) make sure that the camera exterior is dust free, use the rocket blower of necessary.
c) I release the lens but do not lift it off the camera;
d) I ready the replacement lens, i.e., remove cap, check for dust (which shouldn't be there in the first place)
e) swap - this shouldn't take more than a couple of seconds
f) store lens.

The steps look long but takes a few seconds to do in reality.

Good luck!

[guyguerra]

While posting this thread I saw several threads in the similar threads box (I'm new to this site) and they answered all my questions. I couldn't think of any more questions after reading the available threads. Done! Time to get some more lenses! Thanks for all the info.

[Tapeman]

I was paranoid about dust after reading so many posts about it. I went to my first DSLR in June 05 and have changed lenses many times expecting giant dust bunnies to take over my house. I don't baby my equipment and I have only had to use a Rocket blower a couple of times to remove small bits of dust.
Have fun taking pics and don't worry about it.

[Jim_T]

You WILL get dust on your sensor. It is absolutely guaranteed to happen.

Get a good bulb blower (Like the Gitzo rocket) and some sort of sensor cleaning kit. (Copperhill, Sensor Swabs etc). Search for sensor cleaning on this forum.. There are several hundred posts on the subject, most with good cleaning information :) :)

[JaertX]

I think the whole worry of getting more dust on your sensor is something the CCD people have to worry about, but my memory may be wrong...it seems like I've read that CCD stays charged as long as it has power running to it, so is more likely to attract dust. CMOS only charges when needed, so it's not as likely to be a problem. You're still going to get some dust though. Hopefully someone will correct me if that's wrong.

[Choderboy]

Have you checked your 5D for dust yet?
I got a 5D yesterday. It came with 2 dust spots (unless I introduced them when I fitted it's first lens) - tested by shooting sky at f16.
I'm not going to stress about 2 little spots , I just wanted to know what I started with.

[spiky_simon]

Make sure the camera is switched off while changing lenses - apparently if the camera is switched on, the sensor wil have a static charge, attracting dust. I'm not sure whether it's true, but it can't hurt to make sure it's switched off, can it?

I change lenses all the time, and just blow dust off with a big bulb blower; seems to work OK for me.

[Laffctx]

I use blower and the Copperhill Kit.........works great and easy to use.

[Jack W.]

Bought my 20D in October of '04. The sensor was quite clean, but there were a couple of minor dust spots.
I may not change lenses as often as others, but I do change. I've yet to find it necessary to clean my sensor.
The few dust bunnies are only visible in some shots, and when they are, take only a few seconds to get rid of in PS.

Jack

[andyanderson179]

If you are really paranoid, why not change lens inside a plastic bag?

[Jon]

Make sure the camera is switched off while changing lenses - apparently if the camera is switched on, the sensor wil have a static charge, attracting dust. I'm not sure whether it's true, but it can't hurt to make sure it's switched off, can it?

I change lenses all the time, and just blow dust off with a big bulb blower; seems to work OK for me.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. The sensor isn't exposed while you change lenses. The shutter's in the way, completely covering it. So turning off the camera is not going to make any difference.