After a week of rain, snow, and rain, the sun came out today. I took advantage of the beautiful day to take some photos of the mountains emerging from the clouds.
While processing the photos, I noticed an inordinate amount of dust on the photos that had to be removed. It can be done in Photoshop, but it would be better if I could just get the dust off the sensor. This is where the advice I need comes in. Any recommendations on sensor dust removal systems would be greatly appreciated. I can have someone do it locally, but the last time I had it done it cost more than the camera is worth. So I’d like to be able to do it myself.
Thanks.
Maralee
Through My Lens 
The Pentax kit is supposed to be good, but I took my camera into my local camera store and they did it free. Check around, maybe there’s some place that will do it free or at least affordable.
Thanks. I’ll check around.
These are really nice landscapes. I can’t advise on the sensor cleaning. I use two cameras and I rarely change the lenses in the field, unless I need to use an extender. Sensors are easily damaged, though.
Thanks. I try to change my lenses as little as possible and away from any debris, but we’ve had some really windy days lately and I think stuff just got in there somehow.
Have you tried changing your lenses inside a lightweight microfiber bag?
Whole load of articles here: http://www.ultimateslr.com/clean-image-sensor.php
Best advice (as normal) probably comes from Thom Hogan: http://www.bythom.com/cleaning.htm
He recommends a couple. Check out his article.
Personally, I wouldn’t risk it due to the likelihood of sensor damage. But Thom points to stuff that Nikon themselves use. However, if there’s a stubborb spot, even Thom suggests letting Nikon handle it..!
Martin
http://www.everythingd7000.co.uk
Thanks for the info. I’ll check it out. Sounds like most people have a professional do it. It may be worth the money. Even though my camera is old, at this point I can’t afford a new one if I mess it up myself.
That’s a great idea. Thanks.
I swear my sensor needs cleaning too because it appears to be getting dirty (not dusty), so at some point I’m just going to have a professional do it. I worry too much about damaging the sensor. In the meantime I use my puff blower thing and lightly brush it. That is all.
Good Morning … I had dust in my old camera – bought kits to clean it, but it never came out good. Like Suzi I handed in to a special firm – wasn’t free -fare from it, but if the camera is used a lot and worth is money – let the experts do it for you. Dirt and dusty will get into the camera little by little. Professionals know how to do it.
I’ll throw my two cent’s worth . . .
The first line of defense is keeping both the camera and lenses clean. That means keeping the camera body pointed downward when changing lenses to minimize dust getting in there. It also means blowing (compressed air or hand blower) the end of the lenses before attaching them to the camera body.
It also means keeping the lenses capped when not on the camera. Not sometimes, not occasionally, but always.
Some people forget another basic step. Keep the inside of your camera bag clean. Vacuum it, shake it out, whatever you think is necessary.
OK, as far as cleaning the sensor. The first step is air. I hurt my D100 baffle by blowing compressed air forcefully and directly in to the opening. Never do that.
I own this product: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Giottos-Rocket-Air-Blower-Review.aspx
Again, keep the camera pointed downward, and squeeze the ball to shoot a puff of air in there. For occasional dust this is enough.
When I want more air, I use this product:
http://www.consolesource.com/ecomm/catalog/Air-Doctor-Game-Blaster-CO2-p-2489.html
For one thing, it’s Compressed CO2, so it has no residue, propellants, or anything nasty in it. For another, it does not shoot air very forcefully, and you can control how much it shoots. Still, NEVER POINT IT DIRECTLY INTO THE OPENING. I angle it to “swirl” the air in there. Blowing directly into the lens opening might damage your camera. Again, hold the camera pointed down when doing this.
My next weapon is this:
http://www.visibledust.com/products3.php?pid=3
I have an older one without the light. Amazon has those starting at $80. It has never failed to work for me, but I don’t let dust sit there for long (read next paragraphs). When I notice a dust spot, I try the air first, then the compressed air, then this brush. In between I take pictures of the sky or other light surfaces, crank up the contrast, and check for spots at 1:1 magnification.
I own the first product described in this article:
http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/methods.html
The Eclipse sensor cleaning kit, but I have never had to resort to using it. If your camera has had the dust on there long enough, it would have “welded” to the sensor filter, and then the air and brush might not be able to dislodge it. This kit (fluid and swabs) have been reviewed and used by many to their satisfaction.
There is an excellent article by Thom Hogan on sensor cleaning, and it’s worth reading:
http://www.bythom.com/cleaning.htm
Good luck.
I forgot to mention . . . one of the reasons I looked into all that is because the only places I would trust to work on my camera are the Nikon labs. That means shipping the camera off, hence being without a camera for a minimum of one week.
These days I have backup cameras (My D200, and I still have the D100), but a few years ago I only had the one. Hence I researched both the practices to keep it clean, and how to clean it myself.
If one is reasonably careful (or in my case, anal) there is no reason why one should not clean their own sensor with minimal to no chance of hurting the camera.
Thanks for so much great info!! I have always been very, very careful; but I did not know about the tip to keep the camera pointed down. So simple and it makes so much sense.
Thanks so much for all the information. It’s a little scary to think about doing it myself, but I think I can do it. I use a Nikon D200 and have an old D70 for backup (my husband’s using that one now). I’ll keep you posted.
I actually used a turkey baster to blow air on my sensor before I bought something similar to the rocket. They both worked for me.
i’ve tried to do it myself on multiple occasions, but with no luck, so every now and then i do bring it in the camera shop to be cleaned.. ; )
This looks like a lovely place. I just want to go there.
spectacular sight with those clouds in the sky…
Ahhh, I recognize this place. We are from the valley and try to spend as much time as possible in your neck of the woods. Love it there. It has been at the top of my wish list since the first time I saw it many years ago. One of these years I might be your neighbor. 😉