new XT - is sensor dust ok?

[reemas]

i just got a second XT - problems with the first one. (mainly an insane amount of dust on the sensor.)

i put the lens on as carefully and quickly as possible and took some test shots. only to find some dark spots. im posting an image. is this acceptable or should i return the camera and ask for another NEW one?

to some of you i might sound picky, but having spent $1450 on a XT plus 17-85 lens.... i want it right, so let me know if this is as good as it gets:

[transcend]

How is this not right? I don't understand returning a camera due to sensor dust...takes 90 seconds to clean perfectly?

[reemas]

you should see photos of the last xt. that was really not right. i think that being that it's so expensive and new, it should come clean.

[tim]

Use a simple blower to try and get the dust off that sensor, it's not bad. If that doesn't work you could use the copperhill method, or return it and ask for it to be cleaned or replaced. It should be clean when you first get it, but I think all sensors do come with a little bit of dust on them. Personally I returned one 20D that was terrible when I got it, even after cleaning it was dirty, my 2nd came dirty but after a quick cleaning it was ok so I kept it.

[robertwgross]

This is about as awful as buying a new luxury car, and when you receive it, there are three peanut shells on the floor carpet.

---Bob Gross---

[DavoMrMac]

I returned twice and third time was a sealed box, this was better, but still a little dust sorta comparable to you 350D.

Go for the cleaning route.

[pcasciola]

This is about as awful as buying a new luxury car, and when you receive it, there are three peanut shells on the floor carpet.You read my mind Bob, except I was thinking it's like returning and exchanging a car with dust on it rather than going to the car wash. :D

But, I have to admit, I was afraid to clean my sensor the first time I saw dust on it, so I can understand being a little gun shy about it.

Just get a Giottos Rocket Blower. It's a $10 rubber bulb that you just squeeze to shoot some air on the surface of the sensor to remove the dust. It will do a good enough job most of the time. Don't use compressed air, though, which could damage the sensor.

[reemas]

thanks for the replies. im going to try the giottos blower and see if that works.

where should i do this so no dust will enter while im cleaning? im afraid of getting more dust in, than actaully comes out.

[pcasciola]

You should be ok if you just point the camera down the entire time. I always turn the camera off and point the camera down now while changing lenses too which I never used to do.

[reemas]

oh good advice. about the sensor... when i go to sensor cleaning in the menu options and press OK, the mirror moves up and the sensor is open. however, if i turn the camera off, the mirror flips back down and the sensor closes.

how can i clean it while the camera is off?

[raylks]

The procedure is that you need to keep the camera on while you clean the sensor. After you have finished the cleaning, switch off the camera and the mirror and the release will be restored to its original position. Switch on the camera again and then you have the camera in operation.

[pcasciola]

Oh yeah, duh!!! I forgot when you hit the sensor clean option you don't turn it off until you're done. Only while switching lenses. :o :o

I edited my other post so it doesn't confuse anyone.

Also, whatever you do, don't blow into it with your mouth to try and clean it.

[Carzee]

I wonder if the canon engineers discussed/dismissed the other -more lateral- approach to sensors and dust.

Premise 1.
We are used to paying for what we get regarding expensive lenses, and we treat them very carefully.
Premise 2.
Also, in the case of the L quality, they are fairly well dust sealed. After all that effort put into the lens, unfortunately, we suffer the situation that the quality/functionality of 'L' product is at the mercy of an exposed sensor.

Possible solution....
Why not mount the CMOS at the back of the lens and have a contact to feed the data into the onboard digic? Just like the lens motor data is passed thru to the body for interpretation.

In this alternative "CMOSL" universe the image sensor is 'dust serviced' as and when the glass itself needs attention. The rear end of USM lenses is pretty wide... the lens becomes a true 'Digital Lens'.

Costs....
If you have -say- 2 zooms and 2 primes on the job and one shows dust, you'd have to 'adapt and overcome' the situation by swapping the lens, choosing another, but you can keep shooting... if you object to owning/paying the extra costs for the 4 sensors involved in this scenario, don't sweat it, in 3 years I guess a big CMOS will be a lot cheaper compared to prices now. Obtaining the best possible glass will always be the most expensive component of canographe. ;)

[Dante King]

Cant remember the maker, but was reading on the web about a DSLR manufacturer that was using a built in sonic emitter to remove and keep dust from the sensor.

[pcasciola]

Olympus has the sonic dust reduction system.

There's a good demonstration of it here:
http://www.olympus-esystem.com/dea/technology/usf/index.html

[ron chappel]

If you have reasonably good eyes,use this method-
Hold it under a strong light (at least 100w ,i use a halogen worklight which gives me sunburn :) )
You should be able to see a spec that size.
Fold a lens tissue into a poited shape and moisten with lens cleaning fluid (moisten-not wet)
Now simply pick the dust spec off.
Easy,no fuss-nothing will go wrong:).
You may only want to remove that one worst spec,the others simply won't show up in any photo's

[HKFEVER]

If you have reasonably good eyes,use this method-
Hold it under a strong light (at least 100w ,i use a halogen worklight which gives me sunburn :) )
You should be able to see a spec that size.
Fold a lens tissue into a poited shape and moisten with lens cleaning fluid (moisten-not wet)
Now simply pick the dust spec off.
Easy,no fuss-nothing will go wrong:).
You may only want to remove that one worst spec,the others simply won't show up in any photo's

I did this before.;)

[psybear]

I just started to play with my new 350D today and I think I also have a dusty/dirty sensor. I would appreciate a second opinion. I am a complete newbie to the DSLR thing and this isn't a very encouraging start. How come I haven't read about Nikons with this problem, yet this Forum seems full of people with dirty sensors, even people like me who have just lifted the camera out of the box?

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/bmaguire/misc/dust.jpg

[Jackal]

I highly doubt when the camera is being constructed it's in this super hazard safety dust free environment where not one single piece of dust is floating around in....

Just blow it out with a little squeeze/rocket blower thing.

If you want to save that picture edit them all out in photoshop. It can be done in 20 seconds or less.

[robertwgross]

I see your five arrows, and I can see dust spots at four of them. I also see dust spots elsewhere.

For the amount of time spent posting these messages, we could have cleaned all of the sensors of the forum. It takes me about a minute or two, and it costs me about a penny to do it.

Besides, Nikon sensors use a different technology.

---Bob Gross---

[psybear]

I see your five arrows, and I can see dust spots at four of them. I also see dust spots elsewhere.

For the amount of time spent posting these messages, we could have cleaned all of the sensors of the forum. It takes me about a minute or two, and it costs me about a penny to do it.

Besides, Nikon sensors use a different technology.

---Bob Gross---

Nothing like a patronising and superior attitude from an experienced photgrapher to make me feel welcome here.

Thanks.

[reemas]

i used a blower to clean mine. specifically giottos blower. most of the larger particles were gone. a couple minor and not so minor ones remaind. i dont know if it affects image quality. but for a 1day old $1000 camera, that's not good enough. ill try an exchange...

[robertwgross]

Thanks.

You're welcome.

You probably should not expect to get a great deal of comment about Nikon digital cameras here.

---Bob Gross---

[Salleke]

I highly doubt when the camera is being constructed it's in this super hazard safety dust free environment where not one single piece of dust is floating around in....

Just blow it out with a little squeeze/rocket blower thing.

If you want to save that picture edit them all out in photoshop. It can be done in 20 seconds or less.

Can you please tell, in a few words, a novice in Digital photografy how to remove dust specs from a dirty sensor in a picture with Photoshop? Like the picture with the arrowe from Psybear. Where to go in Photoshop? Thank you.

[Incomplete Pete]

Can you please tell, in a few words, a novice in Digital photografy how to remove dust specs from a dirty sensor in a picture with Photoshop? Like the picture with the arrowe from Psybear. Where to go in Photoshop? Thank you.

Use the patch tool, just select the dust then drag the selected area onto a clean area which is the same colour and release. Voila, clean photo!

Most of you guys are fretting over nothing, most pros I know send their sensor to be cleaned every 6 months, treat it like sh*t for the rest of the time. A bit of dust won't hurt anyone unless you're shooting at f40!

[psybear]

You're welcome.

You probably should not expect to get a great deal of comment about Nikon digital cameras here.

---Bob Gross---

I wasn't expecting a great deal of comment about Nikons here, I was merely comparing the number of complaints re dust on Canon sensors (on various fora) with the complete lack of such complaints about Nikons.

I think my post was perfectly clear - it emphasised that I was new to this area and that I had genuine concerns regarding the expensive (for me) piece of kit I had just purchased.

I certainly did not expect (nor deserve) a post such as yours in reply.

My genuine thanks go to all others here who have offered constructive repsonses.


PB

[robertwgross]

Since Canon sensors use a completely different technology from Nikon sensors, it has been conjectured that this leads to completely different dust-gathering properties.

---Bob Gross---

[rdenney]

I just started to play with my new 350D today and I think I also have a dusty/dirty sensor. I would appreciate a second opinion. I am a complete newbie to the DSLR thing and this isn't a very encouraging start. How come I haven't read about Nikons with this problem, yet this Forum seems full of people with dirty sensors, even people like me who have just lifted the camera out of the box?

I think it's because Canon users have built up this cultish fear of jut cleaning their sensors. Canon didn't help with all its fear-mongering. I can only assume they thought we would be cleaning our sensors with steel wool.

To expand on what Bob said: I take a Q-tip, moisten it with lens cleaner (not so it's dripping), very lightly rub the glass filter behind the mirror, and dry with the other end. I'll blow out anything that's left with a bulb blower. I put my camera on M, shutter speed on B, press the button (and KEEP THAT FINGER ON THE BUTTON), and wipe away. It takes a minute. I don't worry about aiming the camera down, or going into a dust-free environment, or anything like that. I might still have a spot or two that I have to clone out with Photoshop. But I've also spent many hours in my life spotting prints, so it's not like this is something new.

Some people are getting paranoid about dust. "There's dust on my sensor and I can't even see all of it!" Guess what? If you can't see it, it doesn't matter.

Rick "who has cleaned his sensor at least a dozen times and has yet to ruin his camera" Denney