Dusty sensor, no idea how to fix it.

So, I've got some dust on my 400D's sensor, I noticed it when I was out at Cumberland Falls shooting around dusk using I think F29 at 2" trying to smooth the falls without so darn much light coming in. I noticed the dust right away. Made me sort of angry... I don't know how to fix it or where to take it, I don't want to send to canon as I've heard that it is exorbitant cost. I read about the rocket blowers or even canned air but I don't know if I want to risk the canned air on my sensor. I know that its actually on the sensor and not the mirror as I carefully inspected it with lots of light and a magnifying glass. I don't really do many landscapes, when the waterfall is frozen (1/500) the dust is not visible but when smoothed it is, I did some test shots in my white box, as I do a lot of macro and portrait, I really just need some help. If anyone knows of any photography stores that would have the proper cleaning stuff on hand around the Cincinnati, Oh area that would be great!! My only other thought was to take it to an A/V repair and see if I could get a quote or even if they can work on it.

This is in my white box with the white balance way off, but it shows the spots the best.

this question comes up all the time,dont use cans just a rocket blower,have a quick search how to clean my sensor.

Well,you got one part right,not to use canned air on the sensor.
I have used a rocket blower on mine,it got some of the dust but not the stubborn dust.After that I use a sensor brush,if still there after that then I use the wet cleaning.
Scary,yes.Risky,yes.Ch​eaper than sending it in,yes.
I still get nervous doing it but once you get the hang of it,it's not that bad.
I use Copper Hill stuff,but there are others out there that does the same thing.

Does anyone have any experience with the Lenspen SensorKlear pen thingy, I am looking for something that would fix my problem now, but that I can continue to use for the future and it looks like this is a multiple use tool. I also don't want to break the bank here... I start my second year of college in like a week and money is on the low end of the spectrum.

thanks!
~Casey

that bit shouldn't make you angry. if you fret over that little amount, photography might become a very stressful hobby. just clone out little spots like that and use a rocket blower (not canned air, never canned air) every so often to clear off little motes every once in a while. the amount that i see on your test shot doesn't look severe enough to warrant a wet clean in my opinion.

if you avoid taking pics of the sky at above f/16 you won't notice them. I think many people would be better off getting a ND filter instead of cleaning the sensor so often

Its a bit hard to tell in the white box at the resolution that photobucket allows, here's the first one I really noticed, at full res its painfully obvious.

cwr89 wrote in post #8432391
Does anyone have any experience with the Lenspen SensorKlear pen thingy, I am looking for something that would fix my problem now, but that I can continue to use for the future and it looks like this is a multiple use tool. I also don't want to break the bank here... I start my second year of college in like a week and money is on the low end of the spectrum.

thanks!
~Casey

I use the SensorKlear and it works pretty well. Sometimes it takes a few attempts to get a really clean sensor but it seems to do the job.

dealsGapCobra - is it easy to use? I don't see any instruction on B&H, I didn't google it yet but I was wondering about the first hand experience from people here.

The steps I take to clean a dirty sensor are:
1- Rocket blower,
2 - Arctic Butterfly,
3 - Wet swabs.
Yes, cleaning the sensor can be tricky, but if you get someone to teach you how to do it safely, you won't have a problem. I've web swabbed my 40D several times and never had any trouble.

You do need to learn how to clean your sensor. It is just part of using a digital SLR camera. It is very easy to do once you get over the nervousness.

are there any tutorials that you recommend for blowing or swabbing a sensor?

~Casey

butugly wrote in post #8432182
this question comes up all the time,dont use cans just a rocket blower,have a quick search how to clean my sensor.

stewartlittle wrote in post #8432235
Well,you got one part right,not to use canned air on the sensor.
I have used a rocket blower on mine,it got some of the dust but not the stubborn dust.After that I use a sensor brush,if still there after that then I use the wet cleaning.
Scary,yes.Risky,yes.Ch​eaper than sending it in,yes.
I still get nervous doing it but once you get the hang of it,it's not that bad.
I use Copper Hill stuff,but there are others out there that does the same thing.

you both are actually not correct... it is safe to use canned air, you must just do it properly. If you do a search you will find out that even canon cleanings are done with canned air.

I've had lots of experience with canned air, plus I watched the video on safe use of it found in another thread. I think I might try a few (2 or 3) little bursts. should I defuse the blast? i don't have a can here at home and I will have to buy one new that is 100 full, I was thinking of running it down about 1/2 first though.

James P wrote in post #8432728
The steps I take to clean a dirty sensor are:
1- Rocket blower,
2 - Arctic Butterfly,
3 - Wet swabs.
Yes, cleaning the sensor can be tricky, but if you get someone to teach you how to do it safely, you won't have a problem. I've web swabbed my 40D several times and never had any trouble.

^^
Agree.

I find that the Rocket blower gets almost all the dust I ever have on my sensor. I have never wet cleaned a sensor but the first 2 steps work wonders for me.