Dirty sensors (Page 2): Why?

leftj Loc: Texas

BebuLamar wrote:

If you can clean it well then it's not much of a problem. I found it's quite difficult to clean a sensor very well.

Why?

leftj Loc: Texas

coolhanduke wrote:

My Z9 is a dust collecting hog. My D850 not so much.
Yes, the Z9 has a sensor shade that drops down that helps.
I try to not swap lenses as much as possible mounting the Z9 with my 28-300 leaving my D850 for mixing if need be.
Ant it appears that Nikon now charges like $58 for a cleaning where it used to be $40.

Why are you paying someone to clean your sensor?

agillot

Your household vacuum cleaner with a hose take care of this in a instant .

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Architect1776 wrote:

Perhaps most of us cannot have multiple bodies nor desire to carry 2 bodies just to avoid changing lenses.
In fact last I looked that is the whole concept of the ILC is the ability to change lenses as things change

I do not carry both. I only carry one body/lens/spare battery to suit what I am planning to shoot.
I still send . .
Best Wishes,
JimmyT Sends

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

It's a known fact that mirrorless cameras are more susceptible to sensor dust than DSLRs--this isn't just a Sony problem. I carry a rocket blower in my camera bag that takes care of any dust on the sensor 99% of the time. In five years of using Sony mirrorless cameras I have done three wet cleanings. It is easy to do.

ELNikkor

D40, D5100, never needed to clean sensor. D200, had dust in it when I bought it for $35, blew it out once with canned air. D750, needed to have TSA snot/saliva cleaned off with solution. (They sneezed/coughed onto the sensor of my new D750 at the Portland airport while checking to see if it was a bomb!)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

JohnR wrote:

Over the years I've had half a dozen or so Nikon APSC cameras with various lenses finishing with my present D5500 with 18-55mm kit lens and 18-300mm (a more useful lens) and in all this time I've NEVER had a problem with dirt/dust on the sensors !

As my mother got older, she wasn't able to see the dirt on dishes. I can sympathize with you. 🤣

Seriously, I have heard that mirrorless cameras are more susceptible to dirt on sensors.

https://www.sansmirror.com/articles/mirrorless-accessories/sensor-cleaning-in-mirrorle.html

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Jimmy T wrote:

I do not carry both. I only carry one body/lens/spare battery to suit what I am planning to shoot.
I still send . .
Best Wishes,
JimmyT Sends

Even more luxury beyond many here to have cameras sitting on the shelf in case one wants to it.
Ps, what if conditions change, or a photo op unanticipated arises that will not work with the lens?
Do you go home to get the other camera?
Just bringing this up because many of us poor folks have to use one camera and 2-3 lenses that we can afford.
2 cameras with lenses fixed on them is NOT an option.
Glad you can do that but many cannot.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

I’ve owned my Canon R5 for about a year. On a given shoot, I might change lens a third of them. I’ve never had a dust issue (I don’t think) and have never cleaned the sensor (nor saw the need) that is covered by a cover when the camera is turned off. What am I doing wrong?

Bayou

Mirrorless

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

47greyfox wrote:

I’ve owned my Canon R5 for about a year. On a given shoot, I might change lens a third of them. I’ve never had a dust issue (I don’t think) and have never cleaned the sensor (nor saw the need) that is covered by a cover when the camera is turned off. What am I doing wrong?

Nothing wrong.
You are using the camera as intended
My 7D was never cleaned and we shall see if the R7 is as good as your R5.
Only ever cleaned the 10D and that was because it didn't have the self cleaning sensor.
It was pretty worthless when I finally upgraded so now it is a beach camera with a couple of very cheap used EF lenses.

User ID

Architect1776 wrote:

Even more luxury beyond many here to have cameras sitting on the shelf in case one wants to it.
Ps, what if conditions change, or a photo op unanticipated arises that will not work with the lens?
Do you go home to get the other camera?
Just bringing this up because many of us poor folks have to use one camera and 2-3 lenses that we can afford.
2 cameras with lenses fixed on them is NOT an option.
Glad you can do that but many cannot.

Since you are broke you should stick with an SLR cuz those are cheaper. The silver lining is that those cheaper cameras are much more resistant to dust and boogers reaching the sensor.

Being fabulously wealthy, I simply use a rocket blower to clean the sensors on all my exorbitantly expensive nonSLRs. If they ever get TOO dirty I will just throw them away.

Prepping to make Smores
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burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

JohnR wrote:

Over the years I've had half a dozen or so Nikon A... (show quote)

Here are the lessons I learned a LONG time ago, way before I bought a mirrorless camera:

Lesson 1: Change lenses in still air. A car with the AC off and windows up is a good place. If you must change lenses outdoors, do it with your back to the wind, and find something to block the wind whenever possible. Don't change lenses on a beach or at a construction site where earth movers are working.

Lesson 2: When changing lenses, hold the camera with the lens mount facing DOWN.

Lesson 3: If you remove a lens from a camera, cap the body with a CLEAN body cap, immediately.

Lesson 4: Keep the rears of your lenses clean, including rear element and the entire mount. Use rear lens caps when lens is not in use. Vacuum out your camera bag or case every now and then, especially after working in a dirty/dusty/gritty environment.

Lesson 5: Be sure the camera's sensor cleaning system is enabled and runs every time you switch the camera on or off.

Lesson 6: NEVER change lenses without first turning off the camera's power switch. Sensors retain a static charge when the camera is on, and it WILL suck up dust from the air. (Power off avoids sending power surges and static through the sensitive electronics of body, lens, and memory card...)

Lesson 7: Carry a Giottos AA1910 Medium Rocket-Air Blaster (blower bulb) with you to dislodge surface dust.

Lesson 8: Buy a kit for sensor cleaning that includes Photosol Eclipse fluid and Sensor Swabs. Get the one for your size of sensor. Watch the video online that explains how to wet-clean your sensor safely.

Cleanliness discipline is just part of photography. DUST is one of the biggest enemies in film photography, and it is still one of the biggest enemies in digital photography.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Architect1776 wrote:

It is frequently said, unsubstantiated, that Sony cameras are notorious dust collectors.
Second your D5500 has a shutter protecting the sensor when you change lenses,thus less likely to get dust on a protected sensor.

The shutter doesn’t protect the sensor but the mirror does.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

JohnR wrote:

That's why I have a 24-240mm for the Sony, an 18-300mm for my Nikon and a 12-200mm for my Olympus

I have a load of different lenses but 3 DSLRs all the same brand so I put on a different lens at home before heading to the field in my car. I try to not change or swap lenses where there will be dust, skin dander, etc. But still I do get "dirt" on my sensors. The newer models are better about removing it automatically. I have a few super zooms but I prefer using prime lenses.