A continuation of my other cleaning thread, did I get a good deal ?

[90blackcrx]

So I bought a used rebel xt (350d) for $550. Came with

EOS Digital Rebel XT (Silver), EF-S 18-55 Lens, 1 GB 80x Optima CompactFlash Memory Card, Battery, Video Cable VC 100, Interface Cable IFC-400PCU, Battery Charger, Neck Strap, Carrying Case & All Software and Owners Manual

Ok so I was happy, I got a deal. Well I got the camera yesterday and saw how dirty the sensor was. So I'm going to drop it off for a cleaning, the image mark on the camera is about 600 photos. So the camera is still pretty new. My question is, if I get the cleaning invoice and its say $200, should I even do it ? Should I just try to get my money back and get a brand new camera ? I don't no what to do, I hate to send it back, but I also hate thinking that I could of just got a new camera for that price ( well roughly ).

Need advice guys.

My other thread about my dirty sensor.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=215678

[storeman]

Buy some eclipse solution and the correct pads for the 350D for around $39 and clean it yourself. It isn't difficult and you will still have solution & swabs for future use.

[90blackcrx]

I did buy the kit, but it looked to dirty for me so I let them do it. Roughly how much do you guys think its going to cost to clean the sensor and lens ?

[Mark_Cohran]

Last time I had mine cleaned (it needed some other stuff done as well), it was $40. You can definitely clean the lens yourself. Plenty of threads in the forum will tell you how to clean the lens, others well give you ideas of how to clean the sensor. It's really not that hard.

Mark

[90blackcrx]

Mark, if that is your first name :) . Thanks, I have seen some of your replies in this forum, all I have been doing is reading, reading and reading some more. I'm hoping its not that much, $40 would be great though. If its higher then $200, I might consider taking it to ritz, they will send it away for $65. Anyone have experiance with them ? I went to a Mom and Pop store today, nice people so hopefully everything goes well and I can keep on going back there.

[joayne]

Uh, I think most folks would tell you to avoid Ritz.....

[90blackcrx]

Do you guys think it will just need a cleaning then ? Am I worried to much, the camera only had about 600 shots, could something really be wrong or was I just seeing dirt ?

[Bob_A]

Without seeing some images it's pretty hard to tell you if a camera is ok or not.

If you want to see how dirty the sensor is, take a picture during the day of a clear sky at f/16-f/22 and see how many fuzzy spots show up on your images. If it's not that bad then just clean it yourself with a Rocket blower. If the rocket blower doesn't remove enough of the dust then use the Copperhill method.

Now, if you look at the sensor when in the sensor clean mode and you can actually see dust all over it, it's pretty dirty. Still, I wouldn't think it could ever be so dirty that you couldn't do it yourself.

[Laffctx]

I promise you can do this! I felt the same way, but if I can do it anyone can do it really!!!

Just order that Copperhill kit and follow the instructions. I promise it wont hurt if you follow the instructions. I would try that before I would send it off. You need to learn how to clean it yourself anyway. I mean your not going to send this thing off everytime you get dust on the sensor are you. You will be sending it off all the time if you do.

I promise you can do this honest you can. Try it!! what you got to lose. You wont hurt the camera really. If you can read you can do this.

[superdiver]

If its really dirty I would have it cleaned professionally, then afte that do regualr small cleanings with a kit...