Would this bother you???

[Jonny]

I decided to check for dust on my 20D sensor and took the following pic of a plain blue sky:


http://homepage.ntlworld.com/j.speed/Forums%20Pictures/dirty1.jpg

I noticed only one real spot of dust but at wider apertures it doesn't really show up so i wasn't too worried. This pic was shot at f25.

But after reading that i should apply an 'Auto Levels' to the image to help show the dirt this is what i got:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/j.speed/Forums%20Pictures/dirty2.jpg

:cry: :cry:

Jeez!!! Should i be worried about this?? Would it concern you??

[HKFEVER]

Try CopperHill, it will clean up 90-99% of the big dust. But some tiny tiny one may stay at the same position as long as you have the camera.

So I wonder should we judge the sensor's cleaness by auto level?

[pcasciola]

Here's mine at f/22, before and after auto levels. I've never seen it in my pictures, so I don't think I'll be cleaning it anytime soon.

http://www.casciola.com/pics/dust1.jpg

http://www.casciola.com/pics/dust2.jpg

[Redbird_xo]

I generally don't use f-stop smaller than f/11. I know for fact that my 300D sensor has a few specks, but because of my usage, I am not taking any cleaning action any time soon. Sounds reasonable?

[RJSorensen]

Of all the 'things' with digital . . . dust on the sensor is just the weak link in the SLR chain. I think whom ever comes up with a way to either clean or keep dirt from attracting to the sensor . . . will have a real leg up on the rest of the market.

[Belmondo]

If you've tried blowing the dust off the sensor, that's about all I'd do. When (and if) the dust gets worse and the blower isn't getting it, then I'd try the pec pads/eclipse fluid method of cleaning. What you have right now isn't rally bad enough to affect the vast majority of images in typical shooting situations.

[DocFrankenstein]

If it's not seen at f/16 f/11... I don't worry about it.

Do you think you're gonna notice that spot in the actual picture at 5.6 or so?

[Redbird_xo]

Olympus's E-300 has supersonic wave filter to ensure no dust on sensor. I am not sure if I will buy it after looking at the sample pix.

[Jonny]

If you've tried blowing the dust off the sensor, that's about all I'd do.

Yeah , i gave it a good blast with the rocket blower but it must be some stubborn dust because it ain't movin'!!!
I think i will just try to ignore those little voices teasing my mind about it and hopefully they will leave me alone before long. Last time i listened to the 'go on clean it' voice i wrecked my rebels focusing screen. Lesson learnt there!

Hey belmondo has anyone else mentioned that you look like Paul snr from american chopper in that avatar?

:lol:

[dsze]

I've found that if I stay in the habit of using the rocket blower on my sensor at least every 5 lens changes, then I only have to use the copperhill method every 2-3 months, sometimes longer. I tend to do alot of lens changing.

-

[Belmondo]

Hey belmondo has anyone else mentioned that you look like Paul snr from american chopper in that avatar?

:lol:

It has to be the camera angle (and the fact that you can't see my arms).

Paul Sr's biceps are roughly twice as large as my thighs. If I wore sleeveless tee shirts like him, It would look like two pencils stuck in a pumpkin. BTW, that is one of my favorite shows. Mikey is a god!

[Scottes]

When I see it in my pics then I clean it. I do blow it out all the time, though, every time I get home.

Sometimes, if I think it's dirty and I know that I'm going to be doing a lot of f/16 or f/22, then I might clean the sensor. I've only done that twice though, which makes 3 times I've cleaned my sensors.

[kb244]

When I see it in my pics then I clean it. I do blow it out all the time, though, every time I get home.
...


If nothing else, this would introduce more dust most likely.

I cleaned mine once with the speckgrabber, then I just leave it alone from there til I notice it again macro shots, which is less likely to happen if I just leave it alone than if I keep trying to clean it day after day.

[pcasciola]

I live about 15 minutes from Canon's Jamesburg headquarters (pass it on the way to work every day actually). Does anyone know if I can bring it there periodically for a "professional" cleaning? Or do they only do warranty repairs there?

[dsze]

Don't pay Canon to clean it regularly. Seriously, its not that hard to keep clean. Hold it over your head upside down and Blow it with the rocket blower now and then and then use the copperhill method when you notice specs in your photos.

-daniel

[defordphoto]

Canon won't do any better, and sometimes worse, than you can. You're picking nits here. Quit examining everything with a magnifying glass and just get out and shoot. Of the 4 dSLRs I have had I have sensor cleaned a total of 4 times in three years. In the past year I cleaned the MKII sensor once. Never cleaned the 20D, yet, and cleaned the 10D twice and the old D60 once in the two years I had it.

[Jon, The Elder]

..."Just get out and shoot"

First clear thinkin' I've heard all day.

My philosophy EXACTLY. Winter is cloggin' minds.

[Sydor25]

Here is a shot that I took yesterday:


http://sydor25.com/Pictures/Shots_2_19_05_244.jpg



Today I decided to clean my sensor, here is a shot after the first round of cleaning:


http://sydor25.com/Pictures/SensorClean002.jpg


Here is a shot after the second round of cleaning:


http://sydor25.com/Pictures/SensorClean007.jpg

The spots left after the second cleaning are easily removed with the healing brush if they show up on pictures.

All shots taken with the 50mm f/1.8 @ f/22 (ISO 100).

[Scottes]

When I see it in my pics then I clean it. I do blow it out all the time, though, every time I get home. If nothing else, this would introduce more dust most likely.
If you find this to be true then you're doing it wrong.

How the heck do you possibly think that this would introduce more dust? ? ?

[tim]

Jonny, i'd clean that sensor or have it cleaned by a professional. If you do it once it should be a good while before it needs to be done again, so long as you're careful.

[FlyingPete]

Potentially dumb question (no dumb answers please!), but I have noticed in some of these cleaning posts people talk about things being worse at certain apertures.

I am missing something here, as I can't see how any lens settings could affect the amount of dirt seen on a sensor, it is either there or not?

Thoughts???

[René Damkot]

Since the dust is on the filter a bit in front of the actual sensor, if you shoot wide open some light will 'come from the edge of the lens' and go 'around' the dust particle. At aperture 22 all the light will go 'through the center' of the lens, so no light can 'pass' the dust.

[FlyingPete]

Since the dust is on the filter a bit in front of the actual sensor, if you shoot wide open some light will 'come from the edge of the lens' and go 'around' the dust particle. At aperture 22 all the light will go 'through the center' of the lens, so no light can 'pass' the dust.

Thankyou! You got it in one! Now it makes sense!

[DocFrankenstein]

Yeah... the dust is around 3 mm from the actual sensor actually...

This virtually elliminates dust being visible at f/5.6 or so.

[Tom W]

Jeez!!! Should i be worried about this?? Would it concern you??

I think I'd quit using auto-levels on monocontrastic images (I don't know if that's a word or not, but it fits).

I blow mine out with the Giotto whenever I see a substantial amount of dust on the sensor. I've used Copper Hill once, and will probably not need it again for a long time. It worked very well.

The dust shows up at small apertures, so if you don't shoot at f/16 or f/22, it shouldn't be a problem. I use those apertures occasionally when I stack converters, and will use them when shooting macro this summer.

[dsze]

I've had dust show up in photos at more wide open apertures. Perhaps it was on the lens, but I wouldn't be so quick to positively state that dust on the sensor never shows up at 5.6 or wider. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm sure I've seen it in my images before.

-daniel

[DocFrankenstein]

I've had dust show up in photos at more wide open apertures. Perhaps it was on the lens, but I wouldn't be so quick to positively state that dust on the sensor never shows up at 5.6 or wider. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm sure I've seen it in my images before.

-daniel
Oh no... i didn't mean it generally at all...

f/5.6 on a 400mm prime is very different from f/5.6 on a 14mm lens....

Cheers

[timmyquest]

Canon won't do any better, and sometimes worse, than you can. You're picking nits here. Quit examining everything with a magnifying glass and just get out and shoot. Of the 4 dSLRs I have had I have sensor cleaned a total of 4 times in three years. In the past year I cleaned the MKII sensor once. Never cleaned the 20D, yet, and cleaned the 10D twice and the old D60 once in the two years I had it.

For the half year that i owned my drebel i never onced noticed spots on my pics. With my 1D it is a weekly problem. This thing is a vacume i tell ya! :evil:

[blackviolet]

Here is a shot that I took yesterday:
(cloudy image)

Today I decided to clean my sensor, here is a shot after the first round of cleaning:
(less cloudy image)
Here is a shot after the second round of cleaning:
(almost blue sky)


wow... your cleaning method is great way for clearing away clouds. tell me, does it work when it's overcast?

[Sydor25]

wow... your cleaning method is great way for clearing away clouds. tell me, does it work when it's overcast?


Nope, but wind and time does. ;)

[dsze]

...gotcha. Thanks

-daniel

[Persian-Rice]

Holy CRAP!

You guys are pretty lenient............... even one little baby pixel of dust at 100% view gets me angry. Mind you my focus is a mess(10D).

I'm so anti dust I went and spent $150 on an ionizer and before I clean, I shower and work in my boxers so I can avoid all bits of fibre as I can.

Thank god I'm careful though. After 15,000 shots on my MKII, I have only seen dust once, it was my fault, forogt to turn it off as I changed lenses. 30k on the old 10d was my first dust experience, once again at 40k, but thats about it. My new 10D is spotless, but for some reason the focus screen has 3-4 spots.

I hate spending time cleaning it, but its a new found pet peeve, I just can't stand it.

[xdjoynerx]

If you find this to be true then you're doing it wrong.

How the heck do you possibly think that this would introduce more dust? ? ?

because unless you own a clean room with millions of dollars of cleaning and filtering equipment and you have an air lock where you put on a white suit, there is BILLIONS of particles of dust floating around in your house, there is no way around it.

[Scottes]

The idea is to reduce the dust by blowing. Not eliminate it. I know that I have cleaned most of the larger, more noticable particles simply by blowing the sensor clean.

Hold the camera upside down, blow out the blower upside down, and then blow the sensor - this process will reduce the number of particles.

[timmyquest]

The idea is to reduce the dust by blowing. Not eliminate it. I know that I have cleaned most of the larger, more noticable particles simply by blowing the sensor clean.

Hold the camera upside down, blow out the blower upside down, and then blow the sensor - this process will reduce the number of particles.

Indeed, people have been blowing the dust off their lenses for years...it works. But blowing then wiping works better.

[mdude85]

I don't know if I missed something, but are you sure the dust is on the sensor and not on the lens?

[mdude85]

Holy CRAP!

for some reason the focus screen has 3-4 spots.



check out the mirror.

[timmyquest]

I don't know if I missed something, but are you sure the dust is on the sensor and not on the lens?


I doubt it, i've had some pretty dirty lenses and it doesnt show up.

Usually spots are dust on te sensor.

[Persian-Rice]

check out the mirror.

No no, its not the mirror, as far as I know the mirror doesnt do a great job of reflecting dust to the viewfinder anyway. It's my focus screen and unless I pull it out, which I dont trust myself with handling(fingerprints and just plain old worried about breaking it), they will stay there. I blew most of it out, but some are stubborn.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Dust?

I didn't get all the fast lense to shoot stopped down!

What dust?

:lol: :lol:

[CyberDyneSystems]

Holy CRAP!

I'm so anti dust I went and spent $150 on an ionizer and before I clean, I shower and work in my boxers so I can avoid all bits of fibre as I can.



I'm afraid for you a simple weekly session with an anylyst will do no good at all,..

You need a team of specialists working on you round the clock,. it's off to Zurich with you for some full time relaxation in one of there fine clinics. :lol:

[Persian-Rice]

Dust?

I didn't get all the fast lense to shoot stopped down!

What dust?

:lol: :lol:

LOL that is a new reason why to get the expesnive models of all those lenses.
I could just imagine the guys at the camera store. "Sure you could buy the F/4 or f/5.6, but imagine all that dust you will see. The 2.8 is much better suited for your lazy bum!"

[FlyingPete]

I don't know if I missed something, but are you sure the dust is on the sensor and not on the lens?

The only lens I have seen that is capable of focusing on its own dust, is the Powershot G3, and only in the officially 'unsupported' super macro mode (i.e. force twist the lens further than designed! :shock: )

[Jonny]

Ok, Thanks everyone for your thoughts and comments on this.

Unfortunately those nagging voices won over this time and i gave it a good scrub washing up liquid and sandpaper.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/j.speed/Forums%20Pictures/Dirty3.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/j.speed/Forums%20Pictures/dirty4.jpg

Altough it seems nearly impossible to remove all the specks this certainly looks a whole lot better and something that wont bother me.

BTW, i used sensor swab and eclipse.

Thanks again

[fatrat]

Can you mirror lock (expose censor) and clean with alcohol and a lint free swab on a stick in circles?? thats they way the teach you to do it when you buy a CCD cleaning kit for a D70?? wonder if i can do that to my EOS 20D?? is the sensor robust enough?
When i look through my view finder i can see a spec of dust or tiny black spotbut i cant find it in my photos as of yet, does seeing a spec through your view finder mean you have dust on the sensoror mirror,or inside of the lens?? i would like to clean it !!! its annoying to see it in the view finder all the time but i dont know where to clean?

[HKFEVER]

I have a big arguement with Canon's tech and ass. manager for over 5 hrs today. Try to prove my 1DsMKII came with dust cluster and line on the sensor of the AA filter.

But their tech just wwon't come out for discussion. Finally I have to show mad to ask for the manager.

Guess what the tech in Canon centre say on the phone (I was in the service centre, the tech just didn't want to come out):
- Without looking at the camera, the tech said you have clean the sensor.
- The best we can do may be change the filter for you if we can't clean the dust off the AA filter.
- We may not have AA filter in stock, and don't know when it will arrive.

I was so mad that, start making sence in the centre. Finally thier ass. manager came out.

Then I said:
- I have the first 2 pictures to prove the camera came with those dust cluster and line.
- I only have the camera for less than 2 week, less that 250 shoots. As long as I can prove the camera came with line on the sensor (factory defect), you should replace the camera.
- You don't have clean room in HK, you may end up have more dust between the AA filter and sensor after the replacement of AA Filter.
- I have spent so much money with Canon gears, and I perpare to go all the way to get my fair share.

I saw the recreation of the ass. manager's face after he saw the pictures (guilty). He said the upper manager will have decision within 2 days for any further action (repair or replacement).

I will wait and see.

[HKFEVER]

Can you mirror lock (expose censor) and clean with alcohol and a lint free swab on a stick in circles?? thats they way the teach you to do it when you buy a CCD cleaning kit for a D70?? wonder if i can do that to my EOS 20D?? is the sensor robust enough?
When i look through my view finder i can see a spec of dust or tiny black spotbut i cant find it in my photos as of yet, does seeing a spec through your view finder mean you have dust on the sensoror mirror,or inside of the lens?? i would like to clean it !!! its annoying to see it in the view finder all the time but i dont know where to clean?

It may be stick on the prism. Cleaning the focus screen is easy. but the prism is difficult.