Bad dust problem..

Running a search on potn hasnt turned up an answer to my specific question. My 50D has really bad dust. There's tons inside the viewfinder, and showing up on pictures. Whenever I try to clean, it either gets worse or stays the same. I also have quite a bit inside the lens, a 28-135mm kit. I know there's pretty well nothing I can do about the dust in the lens, and that doesn't seem to be affecting image quality anyways. My question is, would dust on the sensor be visible when looking through the view finder? If not then where else would the dust be in addition to the sensor? I would like to know where it is so I can clean it out, I am tired of looking at a mess lol. No matter how much cleaning I do on the outside of the viewfinder, it never goes away.

To determine the extent of dust on the sensor, use a lens capable of f/22 or smaller, have plenty of light, and shoot at a solid white, gray or blue target. Some even say use the sky but do this opposite the sun. Sensor dust will show up on the resulting images. The key here is to get a small f-stop so there is extreme depth of field. Sensor dust doesn't show up well at something like f/5.6.

sensor dust will affect the photo at large aperture numbers - say f11 and higher[f22/32/45/etc] but can be removed in camera or with software

i'd send the body off for canon to professionally clean

ymmv

Yeah, if it is that messy put some money into it and have it professionally cleaned either at a good local shop you trust or send it off to Canon for a couple of weeks.

For dust showing up in images... Clean the sensor.

For dust showing up in the viewfinder... Clean the focus screen.

People will tell you to check the mirror, but that's a waste of time since dust on the mirror can't show up in the viewfinder.

Dust in the viewfinder and inside the lens will not be noticed as spots on your images. Also, dust on the sensor is not visible through the viewfinder.

If you are seeing dust spots on your images then your sensor needs to be cleaned. Can you describe to us how you are currently cleaning it (what products are you using and how are you using them)?

I haven't done much of anything besides a blower. I can do it, I feel confident with my fine motor control and sensor cleaning research I've done. I really don't like the option of sending it off to canon as that leaves me with no camera for a while. From what ive read, cameras can come back as dirty or dirtier than when they were sent out. I think I'd rather just get the tools for it and do it myself. So now my next question, what are the best tools for the job? Anyone have any arctic butterfly reviews?

It is very easy to clean that lens as well. You can google instructions.

I've used kits from www.copperhillimages.c​om to clean mine and I've been very pleased with the results. It's the "wet" method, but it tends to always work when the blower and other less invasive measures do not.

Josh_30 wrote in post #14750388
I've used kits from www.copperhillimages.c​om to clean mine and I've been very pleased with the results. It's the "wet" method, but it tends to always work when the blower and other less invasive measures do not.

That looks like something I need. It's about time I invest in sensor cleaning kit anyways. Thanks for posting that for me!