Dust...

Hi,

I'm noticing dust on my pictures now for the first time and it freaks me out!

It only seems noticeable when I use long exposures and small apertures, but still I'm starting to think of cleaning it.

Thing is, I never thought I would have dust this fast (1 year or so) Would it be best to buy a cleaning kit and do it myself, or bring it to a shop?

thanks,

I had dust on mine when I took it out of the box. Try a rocket blower first. Then try this.

And follow the directions in your manual to get the mirror and shutter open.

Roger - there are a lot of great threads out here on cleaning your Sensor ... if in fact that's what your issue is. I had a similar issue with my 30D after 1.5 years of use and returning from a 2 week trip; pictures a "mess" due to sensor crud. I assume this was a result of changing lenses on my trip. Anyway, I fretted over this as well -- considered paying the $80 (?) to have it cleaned. After reading words of wisdom here, I decided to just bite the bullet and learn how to do this myself ... So I bought the "Copperhill" method for cleaning, a rocket blower, and static brush. It took a while for me to get the hang of it -- the nervousness of course of damaging my sensor. But after like 30 "pads" and 2 days of experimenting, I actually have my sensor very well cleaned. So if you're mechanically included - so to speak - read thru the various threads and just jump in and learn to do it yourself. else you're at the mercy of paying to have it done occasionally.

I clean my sensor as often as once a month. Twice a weekend after off road races.

Small apertures will do it.
Some personal views on Sensor cleaning.

ryant35 wrote in post #5398251
I clean my sensor as often as once a month. Twice a weekend after off road races.

Wow !! Are you changing lenses a lot during those races?

Cody21 wrote in post #5401910
Wow !! Are you changing lenses a lot during those races?

I did last season, switching locations, and running to the podium for the victory lap & the racers getting out of their trucks to get the shots of them holding the checked flag on the roof of the truck.

The season starts tomorrow but this year I have a new 40D, so I will keep my wide angle lens on my old 20D so I don't have to switch lenses.

Hi guys! Thanks for your replies!

I'll go shopping for a cleaning set, then. I hope not to damage my sensor while cleaning the #&% thing.

Just take your time. Read those links. As the Copperhill method discusses, just apply enough pressure like you would when you write with a pen. And always do just a single swipe across the sensor thereby not dragging any dirt back across ... blah blah blah. It's all out there to read. You can do it!

First of all, relax, and know that freaking out is normal.

Then read the above posts carefully. There is no one perfect approach or solution - some of us regularly wet clean, some just blow with the "rocket", and others like me use "compressed air" (against the advice of many here, but I won't get into that).

Some of us just clone the spots out - OK if it's in a clear sky with no clouds.

Some never shoot beyond f/8 or f/11.

Some blow and then check the size of the "blobs" and then decide whether to wet clean or not - I fall into this camp.

BTW - I freaked out the first time too, as have many others.

+1 .... it IS very scary the 1st time...