charles brown Loc: Tennesse

Currently, I have the Sensor Cleaning feature on my Canon EOS RP set to occur each time I shut the camera off. I often play around with the different features on the camera during which time I may turn the camera on and off multiple times. I am concerned that I may be overusing the Sensor Cleaning feature and overtime could damage the sensor. What experience has anyone had in this regards?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The UHH community comments and worries about everything. Between updates on what people had for lunch, or where they plan to vacation, or what camera to buy next, or what their cat eat for breakfast, or what they read on Facebook, or what their wife read of Facebook, or which serial numbers indicate where a camera was built, or whether filters degrade image quality, have you ever seen anyone even imply the sensor cleaning function caused a problem?

Canon EOS technology, along with all the popular brands, are built for the long-haul. There's always something new, but overall, the body and all the features are rather mature technology. Even the entry-level DSLRs have shutters rated to 100K.

When the manufacturers realized sensor dust was going to be an issue, they put in a process to shake the sensor to literally shake off any loose dust, hair, dirt. It went into the highest-end models first, then down to the entry-level. It's now very mature and represents no more risk of wearing out than simply turning your camera off and on, or taking pictures, or changing lenses, etc., etc., etc. We'd have UHH rumors and regular retellings of "I heard about ... " urban myths if excessive sensor cleaning was any sort of potential problem.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

They do.

I turn my camera on and off 6 times in 15-20 minutes? once a month checking 6 batteries' charge level individually.
The camera cleans the sensor each time it is shut off.
(The sensor must be really clean. )

charles brown Loc: Tennesse

Thank you for your response. I recently switched from a Nikon system to Canon (don't ask, it's a long story). I suspected that was the case, but have learned the hard way, never assume. Again, thanks.

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All of those risks are the reasons I leave my cameras behind take nearly all of my images purely mentally. (I do make sure my battery is fully recharged.)

My real concern about wear and tear is swapping lenses, as I favor single FLs. I know the lens mounts should outlive the other parts of the camera, but I worry about wearing out my Rocket blower as Im verrrrry fastidious about pollen, dust mites, nuclear fallout, and other debris that could invade through the openned lens mount. Rocket does NOT specify, or even estimate, how many full blasts can be expected from their blowers.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I just hold the face of the camera at a downward angle when changing lenses.
The nice part about using an 18-200 is I don't have to change it often.

I have a rocket blower, I think it's in the camera bag.

User ID

I do have a 28-300, just in case it starts raining volcanic ash, cats and dogs, toads or various other biblical grade plagues.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

If one removes the sensor assembly from any camera and examines, it will be obvious that sensors are rugged solid assemblies and are not easily dissembled...especially by a bit of cleaning vibration.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Thanks to Canon Zoom lens I very seldom (read rarely) change a lens from its' assigned body. If/when I do change a lens, it is Only at home with the body facing down in conditions I have control over.
Battery life is not an issue for me, as I always carry a fresh spare battery. Once I turn the camera on I may or may not remember to turn it off. My Canon bodies have an effective sleep mode.
Keeping all of this in mind I have my Canon bodies set to "Wrench, item 4, Sensor cleaning, Auto cleaning, Enable, Automatically clean the sensor when the camera is turned on or off".
Using this setting I have Never experienced a related failure of any kind, with any Canon body. I'm with CHG_CANON, the mechanicals of top-brand camera bodies are Very robust and time has proven.
Best Wishes, and don't sweat the small stuff. Photography is fun, so . . . .
Smile,
JimmyT Sends

agillot

How many time do you get dust on the sensor , once a year or 2 , or never if you dont change lens , so why ?????

Canisdirus

I was so worried... I finally disabled the dang thing...installed a nano windshield wiper I picked up on Ebay.

I sleep better now.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Good afternoon, if you click on "Quote Reply" we can tell who/where your question/response is aimed.
Hopefully, I am not being rude to assume that I am that person.

First question: I had an issue with a hairlike fiber on one camera only once in many years and involving a few DSLR Canon bodies going back to the Canon 7D.
I resolved that issue with a Giottos Rocket Blower while holding the camera body face down and promptly reinstalling the lens and testing to see if I was successful with my cleaning.
I Never leave a body face up even for a few seconds. A lot (most) YouTube How-To videos have great tips, however, their execution is sometimes not well thought out or just wrong.

Second question: I can only assume that the single incident above was a result of the manufacturing process or from my unpacking and installing the lens. Add to that I only shoot outdoors when I feel that conditions are favorable for both me and my equipment. I'm not a professional so I Don't Have to shoot in any extreme conditions.
I rarely change a lens because I have a 28-70mm F2 and a 100-500mm lens on my favorite bodies. I just don't see any value in swapping their current lens/body configurations.
Also, I usually know what I will be shooting and take the best tool for the job or I make do.
These are just my opinions however, I hope that they help.
Smile,
JimmyT Sends

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

^^^^^^^^^^ What he said ^^^^^^^^^^^

Where you have to be careful is wet cleaning a sensor in a camera with in-body image stabilization. Be firm but gentle. Follow the cleaner manufacturer's instructions very carefully, and only do a wet cleaning when a blower bulb won't get sticky stuff off the sensor.

charles brown Loc: Tennesse

Thank you everyone for taking the time to respond to this post. I have done further research and found that supposedly there is some type of a filter in front of the sensor and that is what is shaken, not the sensor itself.