is my sensor clean - help please, don't know what to do

[woodentom]

i have had my 30D sensor cleaned only 6 weeks ago and i noticed some specs on the images. i have been to a trade fair and was shown how to clean the sensor with the swabs and liquid...they make it look so easy.

i went through 5 swabs trying to get it clean and after many sample shots i have come to this.

the photos are on my site and are at large size.

http://www.woodentom.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/IMG_8085.jpg


after a flick through some site i was told to auto level in ps3 and it will show up the specs of dirt better (image is onyl 1024 due to the size...please look)

http://www.woodentom.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/IMG_8085a.jpg

it appears that the sensor is not as clean as i hoped. i have now run out of swabs and after taking it to a shop they said that these could be dug in dirt and poss can't be removed.

what do i do now? i can get a 2nd opinion which i will do but i have used the blower and all my swabs.

am i to get my camera profesionally cleaned from now on??

on idea was do i buy a 2nd body therefore not have to change the lenses all the time.....if so i have a 30D so what do i get to compleiment it (lens are canon 28-300mm & 17-40mm). i am not going to spent £2000 on another body.

please can anyone help. i am going away in 7 weeks and all my kit is going with me so i need to get this sorted

thanks
tom

[John_B]

woodentom,
Looking at the first pic you posted, it didn't look that bad for f/40 How often do you shoot at f/40? ??? Most lenses don't even close down that small ;)
I have had my camera cleaned by Canon and they do an excellent job. However I only sent it to them as a last resort, the way your pictures looked wouldn't fit that category for my eyes. Also you sensor even if cleaned by Canon will get dirty again even if you don't change lenses (sorry but it seems to be a fact of life at f/40) :)

[woodentom]

thanks john

i don't shoot a f40 but was told to test the clenliness by taking smaple shots at that. i uusally shoot at 7-13 i reckon.

i have had mine done by canon in the past.

how do you clean your camera....swab, brush etc???

thanks

[René Damkot]

Don't use auto levels to search for dust.
Go out and shoot....

IMO the sensor is clean enough, untill dust shows up on an actual image.

[racketman]

what lens stops down to f40 - none of my macros do that? You are looking for trouble, in real world photos I reckon you have a clean sensor.

[bwolford]

If you can't see the dirt in your shots, the sensor is clean.

I don't understand the fanatical urge to clean a sensor when there is no dust in a normal shot. I shoot up to F16, tops, and I didn't clean my sensor on my old camera in 2.6 years until I got caught up in all the "OMG I must clean my sensor!" hoo haw. Cleaned it, actually tried to, never got it clean enough to pass a test. Know what, not a lick of noise or dust from a dirty sensor in ANY of my images. I'm over it.

[Davidoff]

thanks john

i don't shoot a f40 but was told to test the clenliness by taking smaple shots at that. i uusally shoot at 7-13 i reckon.

i have had mine done by canon in the past.

how do you clean your camera....swab, brush etc???

thanks

Still, how did you manage to close down the apperture that much ?

[John_B]

woodentom,
I usually clean my cameras with a rocket blower and when needed the Copperhill method (uses pec pads and eclipse cleaning liquid for my 5D). So far I only have used the rocket blower on my 40D ;) The main reason I clean is many of my photos are f/16-f/22 for macro and landscape and especially in macro photos dust is noticeable.


Davidoff,
There are a number of lenses that can have the aperture close down that much. ex. the Canon 75-300 f/4-5.6 USM III can close down to f/32 at 75mm and f/45 at 300mm ex2. the Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS USM can close down at 100mm to f/32 and at 400mm close down to f/40
So it is possible but not common :)

[Quad]

Your sensor is clean.

[marian]

Unfortunately, you can get kicked in the butt at the wrong time for it! I shot a wedding at the beach about 2 months ago. It was so bright out, I was shooting nothing less than f/11 for the photos.

It is NO fun to edit over 700 images in PS to take the black specs out! $81 dollars to have the camera cleaned.

[kevie]

I thought if there was dust on the sensor the specks were white and if they were dark they were on the lens I could be wrong.

[Tixeon]

Kevie.....If it's a speck, it will cast a shadow --- that's what the sensor sees & shadows are dark, not light, no matter where the speck is. BTW dust specks on the lens will never cast a distinct shadow on the sensor unless you have a lens that focuses so close that the front lens element is in focus - very rare indeed.

[jameskr]

This reply may sound completely ignorant, but I just have a very basic sensor cleaning question that could perhaps be answered in this thread, as it pertains to what I'm curious about.

I've seen here and on several other threads where people have decent images showing exactly how their sensor looks, IE - some people have shots of before/after cleaning where you can really see all the spots that are removed from the clean, etc. Here's the dumb question: how exactly are these images created? Do you set the camera in a certain spot without the lens on, and shoot and save this image..? I'm uncertain about the need to clean my sensor, as it's been a long time since a real clean, and when taking pictures with a small aperture, I think I can notice some slight specks here and there.

Anyhow, if anyone could chime in and answer my stupid newbie question, I would really appreciate it!... :-)

James

[John_B]

jameskr,
One way is to set you lens on its smallest aperture ex. f/22 and aim your camera at the sky and over expose the shot. ex. your meter says a shutter speed of 1/200 set the camera to 1/50. This will have everything show as white and all the dust will show as gray.
There are many that then take that photo and with software try to accent the dust even more by using auto contrast or just contrast adjustment.

Not a stupid newbie question, as we have to learn somehow :)

P.S. you would get quicker and more replies if you started your own topic of your question. :)

[AccidentalArt]

shooting the shy at f22 is a great way to determine what's there.

BUT, from what i've found, its way mo betta if the sky is blue :)
I've done it with clouds and just doesn't work as well for me

[PhotosGuy]

How often do you shoot at f/40? My opinion, too. My sensor is probably filthy, but it doesn't affect these shots, or most anything else I shoot: Fall Leaves 2007 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=397479)

Some personal views on Sensor cleaning. (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=184448)

[jameskr]

Thanks John_B and AccidentalArt for the quick replies! I'm lucky that today is actually a very clear sky, so I think I'll go and give this a shot. Clear day in late October in the pacific NW = not a normal thing :cool: so I gotta take advantage!

Thanks again for the help, it's much appreciated.

James

[Mum2J&M]

This may sound stupid as I have no idea about any of this, but I've read on here someone mentioning mold/mildew on a lens before? I'm probably way off, but thought I'd mention in case it helps.