Design idea on how to keep the sensor clean...

[Sicily1918]

OK, how's this for an idea (I know it'd be better to draw it, but I'm at work).

What Canon needs to do is design the shutter with two small triangular covers on either side. A third cover would actually 'pop' up from the bottom (if you're looking at the camera from the front, into the lens mount) into the shutter when the camera's switched off.

The end-result is that when the shutter's closed, the two triangular covers would extend back towards the sensor and protect it from dust, while the bottom cover effectively seals the sensor. When the camera's on, the bottom cover would simply retract. The two side covers won't actually get in the way of the shot (or when you do need to clean the sensor from time to time), but all three would effectively seal the sensor while the camera's off and you're changing lenses.

Now all Canon has to do is a) build it, and b) send me a free camera with this feature.

[steven]

At some point in time you have to get everything out of the way of the sensor.
It is at this time you will get dust on the sensor.

I don't think it is possible to keep dust from the sensor.
So the solution would be to have a easy way to remove dust from the sensor.

[Jon]

Well, the shutter's already acting as a barrier between the sensor and the mirror box when there's no lens attached. So any dust getting onto the sensor has to get there while the shutter's open. And an auxiliary shutter arrangement wouldn't prevent this, either. Sorry to be a wet blanket, but your free camera's going to have to wait . . .

[Sicily1918]

Well, the shutter's already acting as a barrier between the sensor and the mirror box when there's no lens attached. So any dust getting onto the sensor has to get there while the shutter's open. And an auxiliary shutter arrangement wouldn't prevent this, either. Sorry to be a wet blanket, but your free camera's going to have to wait . . .I agree that dust would get in no matter what (unless they can hermetically seal the sensor behind something that does not contribute to any distortion), but this would effectively keep the sensor covered (by the shields and/or by the lens) almost all of the time... I think it would reduce the amount of 'dirty sensor syndrome' instances by about 75%.


I want my free camera! :mrgreen:

[Jon]

I agree that dust would get in no matter what (unless they can hermetically seal the sensor behind something that does not contribute to any distortion), but this would effectively keep the sensor covered (by the shields and/or by the lens) almost all of the time... I think it would reduce the amount of 'dirty sensor syndrome' instances by about 75%.


I want my free camera! :mrgreen:

Like I said - they already have something that fills that role. It's called the "shutter". The only way that's open when a lens is off is if you either release it yourself or you choose the Sensor Cleaning function. So except when the shutter's actually open (50,000 actuations at an average shutter speed of 1/30 sec., that's about 1/2 hour over the life of the camera), the sensor's protected. Another layer of flaps would be just that much more stuff flailing around to catch and stir up dust.

[pradeep1]

I say install small windshield wipers. Press a button and PEC-pad juice mists on the sensor and little wipers come out and clean the sensor....just like your car. :p

[Nightcrawler]

What do you guys think of Sigmas way to keep dust off of the sensor.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sigmasd10/page4.asp

If the glass was high enough quality with good coatings, I would think it would work well while maintaining image quality.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I have allways found the Sigma solution to be best,. and make it an easily replaceable part. Make it a pricey filter type thing,. and give us the option or fr those that feel it would degrade image quality,. they can tak ie out.

In this way Canon can free itself of having to deal with tens of thousands of "semi serious amateur photogs" (like myself) .. oming to them with dirty sensors. :mrgreen:

ALl I can imagine is that there must be certain lenses in the EF line up that would prevent this option.. otherwise I'd think they would have allready done this.

[who me?]

I know, I know.... How about mounting the lens permenantly to the camera....
DOH....I guess that would defeat the purpose of the DSLR...8-)

[PaulB]

Ah, the Sigma idea.
Still even that will collect dust. Perhaps easier to get at to clean but easier to get at to damage or smear as well.
Not sure if there would be enough room in a Canon mirror box anyway.
Perhaps the pellicle mirror - as on the EOS 1nRS, RT and the even earlier breech-lock FD mount Canon Pellicle. But that gets dust on too................

[steven]

Even better enhance the Sigma idea by making the filter + sensor a vacume sealed unit.

[charlesu]

I say install small windshield wipers. Press a button and PEC-pad juice mists on the sensor and little wipers come out and clean the sensor....just like your car. :p


LOL! I love it!!

[iwatkins]

Every Canon should come with one of these:

http://www.karcher.de/pimages/255x255/1185101.jpg

Quick blast around the sensor with this and I have no dust problem with my 10D :)

Ian

[Dante King]

Just read somewhere, think it is minolta that has a sonic emmiter in the camera body to remove/repel dust. Now that is interesting.

[DavoMrMac]

The Olympus E300 has a device which vibrates the dust from the sensor, reviews seem to report this as being very effective. Maybe Canon could employ something like this, but obviously better ;-) in future designs.

[Ikinaa]

What about replacing the CMOS by some one-way plastic light-sensitive rectangle of about 36x24mm (for the full-frames) for example. These one-ways could be stored in some sort of little box which would putting them in the camera make easier.
As you use one plastic sheet per picture, you'll have no problem with dust...

[Tomsk]

Any attempt to stop dust reaching the sensor by an opaque device will eventually fail as dust will collect on the device which would eventually reach the sensor. Using an optically clear device just means dust collects on that instead.

Instead of trying to stop dust from reaching the sensor, Canon should make the sensor easier to clean. The obvious way of doing this is to have the back of the camera flip open, just like the good old days.... :)

[CyberDyneSystems]

Any attempt to stop dust reaching the sensor by an opaque device will eventually fail as dust will collect on the device which would eventually reach the sensor. Using an optically clear device just means dust collects on that instead.



Yeah but.. ;)

If it was an easily replaceable filter,.. up at the front of the openeing it would be;
A: Easier to clean
B: Easy to replace.
C: There wuld be no fear of damaging during cleaning as it is replaceable. (like I buy 77mm UV filters buy the half dozen! :lol: )

Essentially it would offer the same piece of mind that those of us who will use a UV filter on a lens get. We can clean and scrub all we want with no fear of lens damage,. and the purists who are concerned about image degredation can chose not to use one.

Best of both worlds baby!!!! :)

[Todd Jacobsen]

OK, how's this for an idea (I know it'd be better to draw it, but I'm at work).

What Canon needs to do is design the shutter with two small triangular covers on either side. A third cover would actually 'pop' up from the bottom (if you're looking at the camera from the front, into the lens mount) into the shutter when the camera's switched off.

Shutters are not immune from dust collection. All that does is provide another surface for dust to collect on. The very movement of this "protective" shutter would create airborne particles within the camera that have a high chance of being trapped BEHIND the "protective" shutter and settling onto the sensor.

[Todd Jacobsen]

Best dust protector is a zoom lens. Keeps lens exchanges to a minimum.

[Nightcrawler]

Best dust protector is a zoom lens. Keeps lens exchanges to a minimum.

Can't argue with that given what is currently available for Canon DSLRs.

[RockOne]

Some pieces of mining equipment suck in filtered air which keeps the air pressure inside higher than outside to prevent dust from enetering. Perhaps a minature verison of this which is activated by the lens removal button to keep dust from entering the camera when changing lenses.
Don't know if its technically possible...but just an idea :-) !

[Moments]

I liked the way my old Kodak DCS Pro 200Ci was designed. It was just like a polaroid back on my old F3. It had a normal Nikon 8008s film body with the film door removed, and the sensor and other digital equip was mounted on the back of the camera. When i needed to clean the sensor, I just took the back off and cleaned it.

Pete
www.memorablemoments.net