How often should a DRebel be cleaned?

[Blitz]

I've had it for over a year now and haven't had it cleaned yet. I went to Ritz Camera and the lady there told me I should get it cleaned at least 3 times a year, but I figured that may just have been a lie to make money. Also, they want $140 to clean the camera.

Is it time for me to get the thing cleaned? And if so, is that price a ripoff?

[tim]

I'm no expert, but I would say clean it only when necssary, when you can see dirt in your pictures. It's delicate and personally i'd rather avoid the (probably small) chance I could break something. I would also recommend cleaning it yourself, as described here (pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning).

[JK]

...the lady there told me I should get it cleaned at least 3 times a year
WHAT THE...??? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!

You really only need to get the sensor cleaned if there is dust or dirt on it. This is something you can so yourself just by locking up the mirror and gently blowing air on the sensor. There are also dedicated brushes/swabs you can buy to clean off more stubborn dirt particles. $140 is a pure rip off!!!! :evil:

[DocFrankenstein]

Also, they want $140 to clean the camera. Holy cow!

I don't know where that Ritz thing is, but I've heard so much cr@p about them... I'll never set foot in their store.

It needs no "cleaning". When you see that your sensor has dust on it, clean as instructed. Maybe viewfinder hairs.

But other than that it should be fine by itself.

Cheers

[Canuck]

This is most interesting! I have never had a problem w/ my local Ritz/Kitz/whatever they call them here. Although, I go in with a purpose and I have shown the people there some stuff so I don't get the stuff like mentioned above. :confused:

I forgot to mention...I got my 10D in May, 03 and have cleaned it once so far and that was about 6 weeks ago. If you shoot some sky pics at F16-F22 and notice blobs like in this pic on the left just above mountains above the rit side of the wing of aircraft in the clouds., then it is probably time to clean it. They are the blobs that look like snow falling.
http://images.fotopic.net/?id=9615110

[ron chappel]

As everyone is saying-ONLY clean it when it needs cleaning.It's a delicate/expensive job that should be done as little as possible.
Look in clear plain areas of your pics to see if there are any specs or blobs.Sky is pretty much ideal.
I recommend you learn to do it yourself or find a place that charges a whole lot less!! $140 is too much in any ones currency!!


I have (partly*) cleaned mine three times in one year.In that time i've taken 13000 pics and changed lenses hundreds of times so it's no real surprise if yours is still mostly clean.

* I've developed a method where i lift the specs off one by one with a folded sharp lens cleaning paper that has been slightly dampned with cleaning fluid.It's a very good way to do it if you can see them (a huge light helps)

[tommykjensen]

I had my 300D for one year, I never cleaned it through the 6000 shots I took with it.

[Canuck]

Maybe the full hog pic might make it easier to see???
http://therock.fotopic.net/p9615110.html

[tim]

Now I can see two big blobs, one with a big smear off it. I'd definitely clean it, just do it yourself.

[F1_Fan]

the lady there told me I should get it cleaned at least 3 times a year,
That's pretty damn funny.

I take no real precautions when changing lenses and after 15 months of ownership I've got one... that's one... speck of dust on the sensor that causes a little circle only under certain conditions. I've just learned to check and remove if needed in Photoshop. It's not worth messing with the sensor at this point.

[mdr]

I only clean the inside when necessary. I occasionally shoot a picture of an even grey sky which will show up any dust on the sensor. If so clean lightly with a blower brush. Plenty of grey skies in wet Scotland. If you don't get grey skies, take a shot of a grey card under even lighting.
I keep my glass, including the cameras viewfinder, etc. always clean with a lens cloth, and keep the outside of my camera (and lenses) clean with a damp cloth, especially after being a day in the salted sea air or in dusty areas.

[C.S.I.]

3000 pics on mine, havent cleaned it yet, as it doesnt need it. If it aint broke.........

[Longwatcher]

$140 sounds like it would be cheaper to send it off to Canon for the full servicing (which may put more dust on the sensor). I had always been told that if you get heavy use out of you camera it would be adviseable to send in once per year. I am kind of the opinion that it is not so important as it was anymore, so these days I would say, Have a backup and when the camera breaks or has enough problems send it in.

To date:
- D60 sent in for servicing once (out of stupidity - although it focused a bit better after), Still no dust to date. Had since Jul 2002

- 10D have cleaned sensor three times myself (five if you take into account one time it took three tries to get the last two specks to go away). This camera seems to like collecting dust. Had since Mar 2003

- 1DsMkII one evil speck of dust so far. I am not touching yet as it usually does not show up in the pictures. When it gets a bit more, I will work up the courage to clean myself, unless for some reason there are other problems that require fixing anyway. In that case it will be off to Canon. Had since Nov 2004

[xdjoynerx]

i cleaned my sensor my self. compressed air, held level and from a distance in short bursts i think it perfectly safe.

i think they recommend against it because too many stupid people will hold it too close, press for too long and cause the gas to become freezing, or hold it at an angle and get the fluid on the sensor.

anyways..... i had great results with it, and it only cost 4$

its also great for blowing dust off of lenses

[mdr]

Consider using CO2 based compression. You won't get the frozen cold air, i.e. water on your sensor. Tetanol do a good one. I agree, don't blow to close to the sensor. Also hold the camera upside down so any blown away dust will fall away from the camera and doesn't end up on another part of the sensor.

[Mogwyth]

3,700 pics in 6 months and not needed to clean mine yet. IMHO there so many varibles involved in dust on the sensor that you can't realy put a schedule on cleaning, like others have said just do it when it needs diong.

[Jon]

Cleaned my D60 after about 15 months - it wasn't objectionable, but it seemed like everyone else was doing it, so I didn't want to feel left out (sorta like L glass!). Haven't done anything to the 20D yet.

:{)# but true.