Sensor Cleaning Nikon d610: Bought a refurbished D610 about a month ago. after about 500 exposures I have debris building on the sensor. Just realized their was a setting in the menu...

b2bjacks Loc: Sequim, Washington

Bought a refurbished D610 about a month ago. after about 500 exposures I have debris building on the sensor. Just realized their was a setting in the menu for clean when turned off and on. It's now activated. Will this cure my problem or do I need to lock the mirror up and "hand clean" the sensor. If so, how often? The upper left of the image is by far the worst. I didn't think the D610 had this problem. I thought it was only the D600.

tusketwedge Loc: Nova Scotia Canada

still under warranty, sent it back. If your getting a lot of debris I would try to find out how your getting it.Is it when changing lens,oil like the 600 or what.I set my camera to clean on start up and it seems to do the job.But if you have a buildup I don't think that will be enough. Like I said earlier , myself would send it back with an explanation what is the matter. GMO. Good luck

b2bjacks Loc: Sequim, Washington

"If your getting a lot of debris I would try to find out how your getting it.Is it when changing lens,oil like the 600 or what."

Well I only have one lens, so I can rule out changing lens. I guess it would be oil. I cleaned it with the "clean now" button several times, turned it face down and unlocked the mirror a couple of times, and turned on clean at start up and shut down. I need it tomorrow I guess I'll see what happens. If I didn't make any headway, I'll call Cameta.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

b2bjacks wrote:

Bought a refurbished D610 about a month ago. after about 500 exposures I have debris building on the sensor. Just realized their was a setting in the menu for clean when turned off and on. It's now activated. Will this cure my problem or do I need to lock the mirror up and "hand clean" the sensor. If so, how often? The upper left of the image is by far the worst. I didn't think the D610 had this problem. I thought it was only the D600.

Junk on the sensor is a fact of life. I just noticed spots in my D7100 images, but they're easy to clean up in post.

Get a Giottos Rocket and shoot some air in there. That might be all you need. Setting the camera to clean the sensor is a good idea, but it's not a cure-all.

You might want to get a cleaning kit and clean it yourself. It's not rocket science, but be prepared to make several passes over the sensor. I've never gotten it clean with just one pass. There is a new cleaner that's a bit of gel on a stick - good reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=camera+sensor+cleaning+kits

Keeping the sensor clean is easier than cleaning it.

http://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Your-Camera-Sensor-Cleaner

More links -

http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/
http://content.photojojo.com/tutorials/digital-slr-sensor-cleaning/
http://www.steves-digicams.com/knowledge-center/how-tos/digital-camera-operation/how-to-avoid-getting-your-dslr-image-sensor-dirty.html

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

jerryc41 wrote:

Junk on the sensor is a fact of life. I just noti... (show quote)

:thumbup: :thumbup:

b2bjacks Loc: Sequim, Washington

Thanks Jerry.
This link shows the upper left of the image where the build up is.

http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/

Thanks for the other links too!

CharlesA Loc: New Jersey

b2bjacks wrote:

Bought a refurbished D610 about a month ago. after about 500 exposures I have debris building on the sensor. Just realized their was a setting in the menu for clean when turned off and on. It's now activated. Will this cure my problem or do I need to lock the mirror up and "hand clean" the sensor. If so, how often? The upper left of the image is by far the worst. I didn't think the D610 had this problem. I thought it was only the D600.

Yes, that is very strange to have a build-up in the same area as the D600 sensor, the lower left corner of the sensor as you look at it. The D610 has a different shutter which should have solved the problem; I shoot a D610 and (lucky me) the dust is spread out uniformly.

When you say refurbished, did you buy it from Nikon or some other camera dealer? If you go ahead and clean the sensor and the problem persists, I would send it back to whoever you purchased it from.

A Rocket blower is the best way to start, but if that does little to nothing in the lower left corner of your sensor, it may be lubricant and it will need a wet cleaning. Others have posted good links to get you started, here is my recommendation:
http://www.copperhillimages.com/index.php?pr=Copper_Hill_Products

Charles

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

b2bjacks wrote:

Thanks Jerry.
This link shows the upper left of the image where the build up is.

http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/

Thanks for the other links too!

Of course, on the sensor itself, the spots are upside down from where they appear on the sensor.

CharlesA Loc: New Jersey

jerryc41 wrote:

Of course, on the sensor itself, the spots are upside down from where they appear on the sensor.

Right Jerry, it's one vertical flip from where you see it in the image to where the dust is on the sensor as you look into the chamber. The D600 owners learned this orientation well as the problem was lubricant in the lower left of the sensor showing up in the upper left of their images. I don't believe there have been any reports like the OP with the D610, or I may have missed them.

Charles

b2bjacks Loc: Sequim, Washington

[quote= I don't believe there have been any reports like the OP with the D610, or I may have missed them.

Charles[/quote]

I thought I was safe from getting an oil problem on a D610. I read enough, where I knew to stay away from the D600. I only see two or three in normal viewing in Lightroom. But when I click on the magnified version, there had to be 30 to 35 spots to deal with. Have to take the real good shots and clean em up in photoshop. But I'm thinking if it's oil, they will have to be removed with a brush.
Off to shoot the sunrise on a beautiful west coast morning... we'll see if the self cleaning helped at all.

CharlesA Loc: New Jersey

b2bjacks wrote:

I thought I was safe from getting an oil problem o... (show quote)

It's a very unusual situation you have there, a D610 with a D600 problem.

Do not use a brush on the sensor before having it wet cleaned to remove the lubricant. You'll wind up dragging the oil across the sensor and then you'll have dark lines where you've just brushed.

Go out and shoot and use the in-camera cleaning as planned. Before you return home, take a shot of that beautiful sky stopped at f/22 to see every last dust bunny and/or oil. Enjoy your weather, it was 20 degrees here this morning.

Charles

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

Be sure to use a Rocket blower first B4 getting too nervous about the dust. As far as the camera itself, where did you buy it? was it from an authorized dealer and who refurbished it?
I'm going to say something now that will scare you but but for the good of all UHH readers be careful who you by a refurbished D610 from. I haven't seen this yet but having been around for 3/4 of a century and a good part of that in the photography retail field I wouldn't be shocked to learn that used D600's, which are going to be hard for merchants to unload, are being re-badged as D610's and sold as refurbished.

CharlesA Loc: New Jersey

Rich1939 wrote:

Be sure to use a Rocket blower first B4 getting to... (show quote)

Rich,

That was my first thought, too. It would be near impossible and unheard of for Nikon to sell a counterfeit refurb, but I wouldn't put it past a shady dealer.

Charles

b2bjacks Loc: Sequim, Washington

Sample 1 is first photo of the day.
Sample 2 is photo #62
Sample 3 is # 202 of 202.
All three are upper left corner of the photo.
All have been enlarged 200%

Cleaning sensor with the "clean sensor" button helped. And activating the sensor clean at start and shut down did help keep the some wolves away. BUT clearly is not the total answer. Just as Jerry said this morning. Still on the fence as to try a different refurb from Camenta or just clean it after every use. Another post will follow with image # 202 in it's entirety.

(Download)

b2bjacks Loc: Sequim, Washington

#202 of the day.

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