Anyone else seriously annoyed with sensor dust / specks?

[Adam Hicks]

I've had my 20D since the day after they became available to the public, and have shot around 6,000 shots with it now. I find that I can clean the sensor, go on a shoot, and a few days later specks start showing up in the sky at f7.1 or higher. It's driving me nuts. I'm shooting mostly outdoors, but not in dusty conditions, and I turn the camera off before changing lenses. I use a rocket blower quite often but still have problems with needing to clone half of the images I take to remove sensor specks. It's one of those things that there seems to be nothing I can do about but grin and bare it.

Just wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences with their 20D? Is the 1D MkII any better?

Thanks,
Adam

[Lesmac]

It's an annoying fact of life with digital SLR's, both my 10D and now 1DS MKII need the sensor cleaning regularly.
Previously I used the sensor swabs and eclipse (copperhill method), but recently have been using visible dust brushes, which seem to do a better job.
Les
http://lesmclean.photoblink.com/

[Adam Hicks]

Thanks Les... and what AMAZING photos on your site. Some of the finest I've seen. I can only assume that this is your profession.

Adam

[tannoy]

I have had a 10D and now a 20D. Early on I had more problems than I do now. My method has changed and now I only find I need to blow the dust off with a rocket blower once every couple of months.

I always change the lens with power off (to reduce the sensor static charge). I am very quick in changing lenses, one in hand ready to go before the previous comes off. The change itself is very quick (hopefully reducing the chance for dust). I always aim the camera towards the ground, limiting falling particles from getting in. I do my best to avoid changing in extremely dry, windy, or dusty conditions if possible.

Since adopting this method I have almost no dust issues, but I do find it annoying when they occur. I have yet to find the need to swab the sensor.

The only other problem I had was a contminated blower which added more specs than it removed.

The high price of not having to change film? :)

Cheers,

Darrin

[Huckaback Photo]

Hi Adam
I'm no expert by any means, so maybe just a few things to consider re : the crap we get on our sensors.

1: lots of people are now using Digtal slr bodies do not consider the extra precautions required with handling, etc.

2: low cost of cameras like 300D/rebel has made them more affordable everyday use by millions & not just us (more serious Shooters shall we say) some of these millions have never changed a lens before, or even owned a second lens.

3: so we now have problem no one ....AT HOME ... take off lens to try out other new lens...stand removed lens on table without fitting rearcap...telephone rings...you now place camera body on table face up without fitting body cap !!!! following day you spot camera still there where it was left...it should be o.k. because the painter finished sanding in yesterday and the wife hovered the floorthis morning...refit lens...take photos...on to computor screen... what are all those spots ????ah DUST...
OH F???

4: find a blower brush or blower and clean as per instructions in manual
now this should work and hopefully no more problems.

5: However the blower may have only moved the dust around inside the body & what about inside the rear of lens is there dust in there if this is the case any air movement will redistribute it. as the mirror travels up & down and some zooms push & pull we have air movement !!!

sure a lot to think about so.
Do not lie camera body down face up without covers in place.
Do not carry body's or lens in bags/pockets without caps in place.
Do not let rain or moisture into the body.
If windy or dusty where you phograph try and avoid to many changes of lenses
I actually carry second body in this situation or just my 1D mk 2 which has better weather & dust proofing. also worth mention is a good quallity filter on each lens not a cheap one if the filter glass is loose in its mount dont buy it because dust will get through on to front element.

READ THE MANUAL re cleaning of sensor do exactly what it says, brilliant it worked, or get it cleaned professionally i.e. canon.

I read somewhere on here about some high quallity special brushes that you charge up drag across the sensor & dust basically jumps onto the brush with the static i guess, now that sounds the tops

IMPORTANT PLEASE NOTE THIS POST IS NOT TO SHOW YOU HOW TO CLEAN A SENSOR prevention is better than cure

Martin (Huckaback Photo)

[Lesmac]

I read somewhere on here about some high quallity special brushes that you charge up drag across the sensor & dust basically jumps onto the brush with the static i guess, now that sounds the tops

Sensor brushes made by 'visible dust', not cheap, but do the business.

[Huckaback Photo]

Thanks Lesmac

actually viewed that companies website the brushes are made to suit the actual size of each cameras sensor cheapest being with the 1.6 crop factor camera, bigger size 1.3 and 1.1 are the most expensive . start saving now i guess.
i never thought you could spend that sort of money on such a small brush.