10D + routine maintenance

[edmund]

I have a 10D and a nice selection of lenses (17-40f/4L, 70-200f/4L, 28-135f/4-5.6IS, 50f/1.8 - all purchased over the summer). I'm still very much in the enjoying/experimenting with/getting used to the kit stage ... so I'm changing lenses a lot. I'm not aware of dirt etc on the sensor, but I'm wondering if it's a good idea to use a blower brush just to try to clear any dust that might get into the mirror box. What do you think? And is there any other kinds of routine maintenace that you good people do??

[commando]

I read a thread here a few days ago about cleaning the sensor. It points to a site that was very, very good. Maybe try a bit of a search and see what it brings up? I'd give you the link but it's on my work PC.

[Jesper]

As long as you don't have any problem with dust on the sensor, leave it - the only thing that could happen is that you blow more dust into it than what's there!

Here is the link to the famous sensor cleaning website:
http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning

I use the SensorSwipe from that website to clean my 10D sensor and it works very well. I've only needed to clean my sensor 3 or 4 times in the past year.

[Jon, The Elder]

EDMUND-

Take your favorite lens - stop down to f22 or there abouts - shoot a clear blue sky (or blemish free white card) - call it up in PS or whatever- zoom in as much as possible - go over the photo looking for dark spots.

Then decide what you want to do.

Dust in your viewfinder can be on the viewfinder itself or the mirror, not your sensor.

[Persian-Rice]

I purchased a Giottos blower.

It's really nice, very effective.