Camera Cleaning

[123SA]

How often should you have your camera cleaned? Looking at a white wall with 2 different lenses, I can see lots of specks and fibers in the same spot - -so it is definitely not the lens. I haven't noticed any of these specs on my photos.

Is it recommended to take it in for cleaning or do wait until it seems to be interfering in some way?

I have a Pentax istD

Thanks for your help.

[zackiedawg]

Cleaning is really needed when it's needed - there's not any particular schedule, but if you start seeing dust spots, and they're getting annoying, time to clean!

If you want to scare yourself a bit, simply set your camera to Aperture priority mode, dial the aperture down to F14-F22 or so, and take a photo of a blank white wall or neutral expanse of light color...that will show you pretty much all the dust that's hiding on your sensor. The smaller aperture reveals more of the dust that sometimes doesn't show up.

Easiest cleaning method is a bulb blower, commonly available for DSLRs - it's relatively cheap, super simple, and doesn't contact anything so less chance of damaging anything if you don't know what you're doing. And it works about 80% of the time, or more...so it's often all that's needed. Otherwise, you can get into using sensor brushes or wet swab systems, but those get a little more expensive and also involve a little more care on your part as you're wiping on the sensor's cover directly...if worried about this type of thing, there are usually camera shops somewhere in most cities that can perform it for you for a charge...or you can just get friendly with someone else with a DSLR that knows how to clean, and buy them a burger for lunch if they'll do it for you!

[ChiSoxKeith]

Have not tried cleaning the sensor myself but my local Calumet Photo was running a special - they cleaned the sensor and my lenses for $30. It was worth it.

First time I had my lens cleaned in years, but it definitely shows.

[Shutterbug]

I had to do it myself this past spring. The specks that were all over sensor could be seen on any blue sky pic or white background. It was pretty bad.
The cameras cleaning system couldnt get it off, and using very low pressure air rocket didnt work either.
I had dust "welded" to the sensor.

So I ended up buying this kit form local shop:
http://www.photosol.com/dskit.htm

I think I paid about $20 for the kit which will let me do future cleanings as well if needed.

Before I cleaned it, I watched all the tutorials, and was extremely careful.
I was able to get it all clean. :)

This kit goes with me on my trips :)

[123SA]

Thanks for the advice. I think I am too nervous to try it myself, but it defintely sounds like I need to take in.

[ukcatfan]

How often should you have your camera cleaned? Looking at a white wall with 2 different lenses, I can see lots of specks and fibers in the same spot - -so it is definitely not the lens. I haven't noticed any of these specs on my photos.

Is it recommended to take it in for cleaning or do wait until it seems to be interfering in some way?

I have a Pentax istD

Thanks for your help.

While I can almost guarantee that you have sensor dust, what you see is not that. It is dust up in the viewfinder or on the mirror. A sensor cleaning will not do anything for it. A bulb blower might do the trick though. I have a Giottos Rocket Blower that has worked well for me. If not, be sure to explain to the camera store that it might be in the viewfinder, or they might not even notice it.

[123SA]

While I can almost guarantee that you have sensor dust, what you see is not that. It is dust up in the viewfinder or on the mirror. A sensor cleaning will not do anything for it. A bulb blower might do the trick though. I have a Giottos Rocket Blower that has worked well for me. If not, be sure to explain to the camera store that it might be in the viewfinder, or they might not even notice it.


Thanks!