Clean Sensor? About a month ago I bought a Sony α-6000 and since then have done more reading about it than using it. Full of features, there's a lot to learn about the camera. A...

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

About a month ago I bought a Sony α-6000 and since then have done more reading about it than using it. Full of features, there's a lot to learn about the camera.

A couple days ago I took the lens off to look at the sensor (I think I had the lens off exactly twice before but had not examined the sensor). To my horror I saw what looked to me like a water-mark on the lower right side of the sensor.

I now have an order in for what I think I need to clean the sensor, but this morning I decided to take a test shot to see how that imperfection is affecting my images. To my surprise, in the image I can't find a trace of it in a shot I took of a clean piece of paper (a small pebble was added to give me something to focus on and a small insect was nice enough to climb on to help me confirm the orientation). The image below shows only the lower right quadrant of the actual RAW image.

So is this a case of if it's not broke don't fix it or not? Looking at the sensor it looks dirty.

Lower Right Quadrant

tsilva Loc: Arizona

Looks pretty noisey to me.

Set your aperture to f22 and take a picture of a blue sky and post it with download.

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

If you had the camera for only a month and changed lens only twice, I doubt the sensor needs cleaned. If you think the sensor is dirty, go outside and take a picture of the clear blue sky. If the sensor is dirty, it will show up in the picture.

twowindsbear

A 'defect' visible on the lower right area of the sensor would show in the upper left area of the image.

Can you make a photo of thhe sensor showing what you're seeing?

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Click "store original" to help us help you.

Thanks

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

tsilva wrote:

Set your aperture to f22 and take a picture of a blue sky and post it with download.

Clear blue sky is in short supply today so I had to settle for including some wispy clouds. After three failed attempts to upload the entire image, this time I'm sending only the upper left quadrant of the image.

Upper left of Blue Sky

(Download)

sbucko Loc: Dublin, OH

Looks like you need to clean it. Those little blobs are all some sort of particulate matter. Cleaning it yourself is not a big deal either. I use the Copperhill products. Works great!

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

sbucko wrote:

Looks like you need to clean it. Those little blobs are all some sort of particulate matter. Cleaning it yourself is not a big deal either. I use the Copperhill products. Works great!

Concur on all of the above. Make sure you get the applicator for your specific camera

Flyerace Loc: Mt Pleasant, WI

I don't know if you have already tried the automatic sensor cleaning mode already in the camera. That might fix this problem. If this doesn't work, then manually cleaning the sensor might be your only alternative. I always try the clean sensor feature on my cameras. Every time it has solved the problem. Good luck.

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

Flyerace wrote:

I don't know if you have already tried the automatic sensor cleaning mode already in the camera. That might fix this problem. If this doesn't work, then manually cleaning the sensor might be your only alternative. I always try the clean sensor feature on my cameras. Every time it has solved the problem. Good luck.

My understanding is that this does not really clean the sensor but rather it post-processes the image to remove the specks. I'll take a look, but I seem to remember reading that it's intended as something to be used to get by until you can properly clean the sensor.

ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

You may want to send your images to cleaningdigitalccds@copperhillimages.com and ask for their input. It could be lubricant on the sensor, sure looks excessive for a new camera.

pecohen wrote:

Clear blue sky is in short supply today so I had to settle for including some wispy clouds. After three failed attempts to upload the entire image, this time I'm sending only the upper left quadrant of the image.

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

ABJanes wrote:

You may want to send your images to cleaningdigitalccds@copperhillimages.com and ask for their input. It could be lubricant on the sensor, sure looks excessive for a new camera.

Thanks. I'll give that a try.

The Villages Loc: The Villages, Florida

What the heck do I know BUT - I think it is rare that you'll find a sensor that is 100% clean, even after a "professional" cleaning.

Looking at the sky shot you displayed, I don't see much to really be concerned about. In 99.9% of the shots you take, you won't see it, and if you happen to, it can be taken out in post in no time.

ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

My Nikon D7100 had lubricant on it and it became gummy. Took me 1.5 hours and 12 wet swabs to get it off (wet brow first time nerves). Two new cameras had the same problem. Now that it is clean, the Gitzo puffer (large) has worked since but I have all of the supplies to wet swab again as needed. The folks at Copperhill eased my concerns when they said, "It is just like wiping glass" and were very responsive on my first cleaning now I am much more relaxed. We don't have any camera shops close by and the one who is an hour away says, "We send them out, it take a couple of weeks and it costs $90.00" I bought extra wipes & solution from Copperhill and the stickers that hold them on from Staples. The loupe with a light is a must and comes with many of the kits. I bought the deluxe kit but it has items I will never use. I would suggest wipes, solution, plastic wipe holders for the size of your sensor, loupe/magnifier with a light & a large Gitzo puffer.

pecohen wrote:

Thanks. I'll give that a try.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The first image you posted confused me. I thought that big thing in the upper left was what concerned you.

The spots you show in the blue shot aren't terrible. First try something like the Giottos Rocket. If you aren't bothered by spots in your actual pictures, you might want to wait a while. Cleaning can be a nuisance. You swipe the sensor and see that the original spots are gone, but now there are four new ones. And so it goes. Getting an inspection loup will save you a lot of time checking the sensor.

http://www.amazon.com/Giottos-Rocket-Blaster-Blower-Large/dp/B00017LSPI/ref=sr_1_13?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1435322134&sr=1-13&keywords=sensor+cleaning+kit

http://www.amazon.com/Carson-SensorMag-Cleaning-4-5x30mm-SM-44/dp/B0091SS310/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1435323432&sr=1-1&keywords=camera+sensor+loupe