Dust on sensor
Dec 7, 2015 20:50:15 #
What is the best/safest way to remove dust from a camera sensor.
(In spite of trying to be careful when changing lenses, some dust is visible on the sensor, and it affects the image... visible mostly in flat areas like sky.)
(In spite of trying to be careful when changing lenses, some dust is visible on the sensor, and it affects the image... visible mostly in flat areas like sky.)
Dec 7, 2015 21:09:41 #
Dec 7, 2015 21:28:22 #
Dec 7, 2015 21:40:01 #
Jbat
Loc: Charleston, SC
LeeG wrote:
Thanks. I'll check it out.
Is that compressed air or a bulb-type blower?
Is that compressed air or a bulb-type blower?
The Rocket is a bulb type blower. I would stay away from compressed air in my camera.
Dec 7, 2015 21:50:24 #
Jbat wrote:
The Rocket is a bulb type blower. I would stay away from compressed air in my camera.
+1 on stay away from the compressed air.
Dec 7, 2015 21:58:20 #
If you get a rocket blower, use it in stages.
(1) it should be stored in a box so dust doesn't get into the blower. When you take it out of the box, give the bulb a few squeezes to blow any dust out of the nozzle.
(2) Charge the battery on your camera.
(3) when you take the lens off, hold the camera with the hole facing downwards (so dust won't settle back into the camera) and use the blower to blow out the mirror box (with the mirror down).
(4) Activate the "mirror up for cleaning" menu item and blow out the sensor area. Keep the nozzle out of the camera so it doesn't touch anything.
(5) Check to see if the dust is still there. I find the easiest way to do this is to bring up a blank white page on the word processor on my computer, set the camera to manual focus, set the lens to infinity and a small aperture, put the front of the lens as close to the screen as you can and take a picture. That should give you a fairly uniform gray picture. You may have to blow it up to check for small dust particles. If you see some, go back to step (4)
(6) If the dust is still there after several tries with the blower, it may be dust that is stuck to the sensor. In that case you have to decide whether you want to do a wet cleaning or have someone do it for you. It's not that hard if you have a reasonably steady hand.
Note that you don't want to use a time exposure instead of the "mirror up for cleaning" setting. The sensor is powered up for the time exposure, so static charges may make it hard to get the dust off. The sensor power is turned off for the cleaning setting.
(1) it should be stored in a box so dust doesn't get into the blower. When you take it out of the box, give the bulb a few squeezes to blow any dust out of the nozzle.
(2) Charge the battery on your camera.
(3) when you take the lens off, hold the camera with the hole facing downwards (so dust won't settle back into the camera) and use the blower to blow out the mirror box (with the mirror down).
(4) Activate the "mirror up for cleaning" menu item and blow out the sensor area. Keep the nozzle out of the camera so it doesn't touch anything.
(5) Check to see if the dust is still there. I find the easiest way to do this is to bring up a blank white page on the word processor on my computer, set the camera to manual focus, set the lens to infinity and a small aperture, put the front of the lens as close to the screen as you can and take a picture. That should give you a fairly uniform gray picture. You may have to blow it up to check for small dust particles. If you see some, go back to step (4)
(6) If the dust is still there after several tries with the blower, it may be dust that is stuck to the sensor. In that case you have to decide whether you want to do a wet cleaning or have someone do it for you. It's not that hard if you have a reasonably steady hand.
Note that you don't want to use a time exposure instead of the "mirror up for cleaning" setting. The sensor is powered up for the time exposure, so static charges may make it hard to get the dust off. The sensor power is turned off for the cleaning setting.
Dec 7, 2015 22:08:26 #
LeeG wrote:
What is the best/safest way to remove dust from a camera sensor.
(In spite of trying to be careful when changing lenses, some dust is visible on the sensor, and it affects the image... visible mostly in flat areas like sky.)
(In spite of trying to be careful when changing lenses, some dust is visible on the sensor, and it affects the image... visible mostly in flat areas like sky.)
Agree with the rocket blower, but if that don't do the trick, I had excellent luck with this, easy too:
https://photographylife.com/product/sensor-gel-stick
Dec 7, 2015 22:53:40 #
Dec 7, 2015 23:04:17 #
Buy a camera with a dust reduction system next time. I Haven't had to clean a sensor since owning a camera with it (2007).
That said, I use a rocket blaster on my lenses. Works great.
That said, I use a rocket blaster on my lenses. Works great.
Dec 7, 2015 23:40:05 #
I use the tear drop shaped things we used to suck the buggers out of our kids noses when they were little.
works great. doesn't cost much.
works great. doesn't cost much.
Dec 7, 2015 23:42:57 #
Cdouthitt wrote:
Buy a camera with a dust reduction system next time. I Haven't had to clean a sensor since owning a camera with it (2007).
That said, I use a rocket blaster on my lenses. Works great.
That said, I use a rocket blaster on my lenses. Works great.
wow,
I use top of the line cameras and need to clean mine. but I change lenses regularly.
Dec 8, 2015 00:11:32 #
jim quist wrote:
My Pentax cameras are set up so they clean the sensor every time I turn camera on.wow,
I use top of the line cameras and need to clean mine. but I change lenses regularly.
I use top of the line cameras and need to clean mine. but I change lenses regularly.
Dec 8, 2015 00:47:53 #
jim quist wrote:
I use the tear drop shaped things we used to suck the buggers out of our kids noses when they were little.
works great. doesn't cost much.
works great. doesn't cost much.
Or maybe never shoot at smaller apertures which cause it to show up!
Dec 8, 2015 03:07:37 #
mwsilvers
Loc: Central New Jersey
LeeG wrote:
Thanks. I'll check it out.
Is that compressed air or a bulb-type blower?
Is that compressed air or a bulb-type blower?
What ever you do, DO NOT USE COMPRESSED AIR!!!
Dec 8, 2015 05:30:29 #
LeeG wrote:
What is the best/safest way to remove dust from a camera sensor.
(In spite of trying to be careful when changing lenses, some dust is visible on the sensor, and it affects the image... visible mostly in flat areas like sky.)
(In spite of trying to be careful when changing lenses, some dust is visible on the sensor, and it affects the image... visible mostly in flat areas like sky.)
The gel stick is a great tool, but when you have smudges and other debris, it won't work. A blower is great as well, but if your debris is "cemented" on, like can happen in damp environments, you are going to need a wet cleaning. Visible Dust and other companies sell swabs and cleaning solution, and they have videos to show what the process is. If you are nervous, you can always send it in for a cleaning - Nikon charges $50, which is pretty reasonable.
Never use compressed air. The cans you get at Staples and other places do not have filtered air. When you press that button, you are propelling tiny particles across the sensor (in most cases the AA filter, actually), and at great speed - resulting in permanent scratches.
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