unusual dots

[dyrer]

I have Canon 300D and see some unusual dots like dust
Is this normal?

[fishingjts]

Probably IS dust... Is it visible in your pictures or just the viewfinder?

[dyrer]

the dots are in pictures. Do i have to clean CMOS and how?

[Belmondo]

It sure sounds like it. Do it the way they tell you to in the manual. Do not used canned compressed air....use one of the squeeze blower brushes or something comparable. It's really no big deal.

Good luck,

Tom

[Jesper]

First, clean your lens (using special lens cleaning liquid and lens tissue) and try some test shots, to see if the dirt isn't in the lens.

If you still see spots, you probably need to clean the sensor. You have to be VERY careful when cleaning the sensor! Here are some pointers:

http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning
http://www.photo.net/equipment/digital/sensorcleaning/
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/sensor-cleaning.shtml

I've just ordered cleaning equipment (Eclipse fluid and PecPads, as described in first article above) for cleaning the sensor of my 10D....

[kahfluie]

if they aren't plentiful and you don't mind editing them out with your paint program, I'd wait. You'll see them more if you take a photo of the sky or just take a photo of a bright object.

If you just can't have the dust, or refuse to take time to edit a couple of specks out... you can either send it back to Canon for cleaning... which can take a weekend up to 6 weeks, depending on where you live... or you can try to do it yourself and at your own risk. I've done both... was without the camera for 4 weeks. The second time I did it myself and got great results, but as Jesper says... you need to be very careful in doing it yourself. If you screw it up, I'm not sure Canon would honor the warranty.

Additionally... I have heard that cleaning the sensor with swabs and eclipse is not something you want to do on a regular basis.... so again... depends on if you can live with a couple of specks or not.

[robertwgross]

All it takes is one Q-tip swab and a drop of lens cleaner solution.

---Bob Gross---

[Jesper]

All it takes is one Q-tip swab and a drop of lens cleaner solution.

Can you do it with regular lens cleaning fluid from a $ 5 lens cleaning kit? I asked somewhere else and got the answer "No, only use Eclipse!"... ???

[robertwgross]

All it takes is one Q-tip swab and a drop of lens cleaner solution.

Can you do it with regular lens cleaning fluid from a $ 5 lens cleaning kit? I asked somewhere else and got the answer "No, only use Eclipse!"... ???

Maybe the person who said that was in the business of selling expensive Eclipse or cleaning stuff. You have to understand somebody's motives when they tell you something.

My Q-tip cotton swabs cost me about 1/3 of a cent each. The standard lens cleaner solution came in a $5 kit.

I've cleaned the sensor about 30 or 40 times over a year and a half. After I've cleaned it, I let bright light reflect off of the surface, and I turn it back and forth to study the reflection for any remaining anomalies.

---Bob Gross---

[AJSJones]

Bob, The reason folks recommend Eclipse is that it is completely volatile and leaves NOTHING behind. Typical lens cleaning solutions will have some surfactant in and they're not volatile. Water may also slowly dissolve the AA filter. So you'll slowly build up residue from it. However, the camera itself may fail before the effects of that build-up are noticeable. But caveat vice versa!

[MidKnight]

where would i find Q-tip cotton swabs?

[robertwgross]

Every corner drug store in the entire civilized world sells cotton swabs. If you are lucky, they are cheap.

---Bob Gross---

[MidKnight]

robertwgross

the name Q-Tip was not familiar, we probably call them something else, could you please post a picture so i know 100% what to look for.

thanks

[robertwgross]

White cardboard stick approximately three inches long and 1/16 inch wide. White cotton oval on each end, approximately 1/2 inch by 1/8 inch. Sold at drug stores.

---Bob Gross---

[Bubber Jones]

http://www.qtips.com/

[Jesper]

I've looked for pre-made Sensor Swabs, I found a store where you can buy a pack of 12 for € 65 ($ 81) !!! I'm NEVER going to pay € 5.40 for a cotton bud that's supposed to be "special" because it's been packed in a clean room...... :shock: there must be a cheaper way.

[robertwgross]

Mine cost me about 1/3 cent each.

---Bob Gross---

[defordphoto]

http://www.webistry.net/jan/images/qtip.gif

[Waterstar]

In UK "Q-tips" are "Cotton Buds"

Two nations divided by a common language indeed!

[OviV]

I have not had a very positive experience with QTips. They tend to leave little cotton strands behind that can be a real pain to get out.

[robertwgross]

Mine don't leave behind any fibers unless I scrape them over sharp edges in there. Plus, that is why the liquid is on it.

---Bob Gross---