30D and Rocket Blower?

Hello Everyone,

I received my 30D last week and noticed maybe six specks of dust on the sensor. I know it isnt enough to clean, but when it comes time to clean, I am undecided whether to try the Rocket Blower or not.

I have read pros and cons here on this site about the Rocket Blower. Either people love it or hate it saying it blows dust into parts of the camera where dust shouldn't be.

I'm scared to death at the thought at having to swab clean the sensor!

Any thoughts about the use of a Rocket Blower would be appreciated.

make sure u have a full battery, use mirror lock-up and turn the camera upsidedown, insert rocket blower (NOT too far) and squeeze the rocket blower. just make sure you hold the camera upsidediwn so that the particles fall out, and not further inside the body.
i haven't had problems using a rocket blower.

I've used the rocket blower on my 30D too many times to count. As for using the wet method, the first time is a scary but after you do it a few times, it's just like changing lenses after a while. Learn to do it and don't be afraid. There are a lot of tutorials out there if you need.

Your lucky, mine was filthy when new and required a thorough wet cleaning to get it anywhere close to six specks left.

I have found that the easiest, safest way to clean with the blowers is to mount the camera on a tripod. Then face the camera so the lens is pointing towards the floor, remove the lens and place the camera on manual cleaning mode. You now have both hands free to use the blower. With one hand, hold the tip of the rocket so that it will not hit the sensor when you blow. This leaves the other hand to vigorously pump away.

Here is a cropped image I just took. It is from the upper right hand corner. Do you think the Rocket Blower would take care of this?

Thanks,
A very nervous new 30D owner!

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It might take care of it, it might not. What aperture did you take this at? If that was F/16, then it's really not that bad

I go on paid shoots with a heck of a lot more dust on the sensor than that. AND... I shoot at F/16 to F/22 very often. It only shows up if it's a sky or a while wall or something. It's no big deal really. Don't sweat it.

And I have no problems using a rocket blower on any of my cameras. Yes, sometimes you blow some crap onto your sensor, but you just blow it again. Its good to get all those little dust particles out.

I shot it at f/22 ISO 100

Thanks!

snatiep wrote in post #4070249
I shot it at f/22 ISO 100

Thanks!

That's not much dust at f/22. You probably can't see it at larger apertures, right?

-js

I don't think I have noticed it at larger apertures. I did run out this afternoon and bought the large Rocket Blower.

From what you see, should I go ahead and blow out the dust, or should I wait until I notice more dust and blow it out then?

I sure appreciate your comments!

I always use the Rocket Blower first. Only use the wet method when the sensor looks much worse than yours. In my experience those particals will not show at larger apetures.

When my 30D was new it had a half dozen or so spots on the sensor that would not come off with the rocket blower no matter how hard I tried. Wet cleaning took care of it in about 10 seconds. I later found out it was excess lubrication not dust which is why it would not blow off the sensor.

I use my rocketblower (ok, not a genuine one... an "optex" knock off) very regularly. Like almost every time I pick up the camera to go and shoot. There's no harm in using it often unless you're clumsy and keep ramming the blower into the sensor and other mechanical parts, or if your kid decided to deposit saliva into the blower or something.

Darn it!!!!!!

I just used the Rocket Blower and now there is a black speck when looking through the viewfinder. The Rocket Blower must have blown the speck up into the camera. I took a few pictures and the dust is still in the photos too.

I think I'm just going to send it in to Canon to have the "new" speck removed and have them clean the sensor since it is under warranty.

Should I mail it to the Irvine, Ca center or the Jamesburg,NJ center?

Should I also include the Sigma 17-70 when sending it in?

Thanks!

You have probably just put some dust on the focussing screen.

And you give up too easily. I usually have to repeat clean a few times to get it to my satisfaction.