Need Help!

[NeverFollow]

Ok so I bought a new cannon digital rebeal xt, after taking many pictures a dust like object kept on showing up. So I took it to the camera store after cleaning the lens and mirror the took pictures and it stil appeared. They then went on the clean the sensor with high pressured air from an air compressor. Can this damage the sensor?

[Vega$50]

It is definatly not a smart way to clean the inside of the camera. I believe with a hard enough blast, dust can get behind the sensor. Thus causing you to have to send it in....

[NeverFollow]

I was afraid of that, I didnt even give him permission to do that

[NeverFollow]

Shoulld I try to return it?

[bolantej]

when did you buy it? where is the dust? you sure it's on the sensor? or is it on the mirror? do you see it in the viewfinder, or the final image? also, what aperture are you using when you see this? a small apeture can show the smallest dust particles. oh yeah, as far as cleaning, just get a handheld blower you can get at the camera shop. no compressed air IMO.

[CyberDyneSystems]

From a compressor?

Baaaaad Idea :(

[NeverFollow]

so far the images seem fine heres a pic of whats been showing up all the time and in reply to
bolantej I bought it a couple of weeks ago, lense and mirror were cleaned the spot still showed up. After he cleaned the sensor the spot went away. O yeh he also opened the the mirror with he finger!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/audidrvr/_MG_0733.jpg

[robertwgross]

For dust on the sensor, the conventional wisdom is to clean it yourself. It might be easy, so do it first with a simple blower-brush. If it is a tougher one, then there are liquid solutions that will get it clean.

Before you delve into this, though, you want to be sure that it is dust on the sensor. If you see the speck through the viewfinder, then it is not sensor dust. If you do not see the speck through the viewfinder, but if a light gray circle appears in the exact same place on each captured image, then this is likely sensor dust.

---Bob Gross---

[NeverFollow]

My ? to everyone is that can an air compressor on the sensor cause any long term damage to the camera because so far the camera seems fine( taking great pictures with the spot gone)

[Feihung08]

For dust on the sensor, the conventional wisdom is to clean it yourself. It might be easy, so do it first with a simple blower-brush. If it is a tougher one, then there are liquid solutions that will get it clean.

Before you delve into this, though, you want to be sure that it is dust on the sensor. If you see the speck through the viewfinder, then it is not sensor dust. If you do not see the speck through the viewfinder, but if a light gray circle appears in the exact same place on each captured image, then this is likely sensor dust.

---Bob Gross---
Bob, I thought I read in the manual (20D) that using a "blower-brush" isn't such a good idea on a 'sensor' because the brush can scratch it? I'm sure it's fine on a mirror though.

[sharrowm]

My ? to everyone is that can an air compressor on the sensor cause any long term damage to the camera because so far the camera seems fine( taking great pictures with the spot gone)

Yes, it can, but the damage would most likely show up immediately, not down the road. Theoretically the compressed air can propel particles onto the sensor causing abrasion or force dust into parts of the camera that are normally impenetrable and hard to access for cleaning. However, if your pictures and viewfinder are now clean then I'd say you're OK and no damage was done.

[NeverFollow]

I called the manager and question his technique. he said that hes been doing it that way for many years and has never damaged any camera.

[sharrowm]

I called the manager and question his technique. he said that hes been doing it that way for many years and has never damaged any camera.

I think that it is unlikely that using compressed air would cause any damage but it can in "theory". I wouldn't chance it unless it was my last resort.

[NeverFollow]

so basically if there was any damage it would show up now in my pictures

[robertwgross]

Bob, I thought I read in the manual (20D) that using a "blower-brush" isn't such a good idea on a 'sensor' because the brush can scratch it? I'm sure it's fine on a mirror though.

I think you will find many forum members that use a blower primarily. Then, everybody has a different definition of what a brush is. Some use a blower-brush for the blower part, and some use it for the brush part. Take your pick. Personally, I've used a blower-brush, but I mostly use a cotton swab moistened with lens cleaner.

The mirror is kind of a different thing, though. The mirror finish is thought to be quite fragile, and I don't think I would use a brush there at all, even though it does not directly affect the captured image.

---Bob Gross---

[robertwgross]

I called the manager and question his technique. he said that hes been doing it that way for many years and has never damaged any camera.

I wonder how many years he has been cleaning DIGITAL cameras that way.

---Bob Gross---

[NeverFollow]

Hey everyone thanks for the help! I went to the camera store today and the manager exchanged the camera for a brand new one! Iam soooo happy and let this be a lesson to all of us if we go to get our sensors clean or camera for that matter, question about how they clean it.