Dust and Sensors

[MassJester]

I wonder if it's possible to receive a post graduate degree in shopping for a new camera?

oh...the real question:

I have given much consideration to the question of dust, dust removal and dust mittigation.

I am intrigued by the Canon dust removal feature on it's xti--does anyone ahve any experience with this? Even better, does anyone have any experience with this who has also used a dslr without this feature?

What is involved in having dust professionally removed? (cost, time, annoyance factor)

What are your thoughts about software solutions to mittigate dust, and at what point (or on what type of image) is that not effective?

Are those too many questions for one post?

 

[ukcatfan]

I believe that almost every DSLR brand either has a dust removal system, or has plans for one. It should be a standard feature on all models in the near future. My Pentax K100D does not have it, but their new model K10D does. I have yet to have any problems (knock on wood), but I do plan to buy a cleaning kit. I am sure I will need it in the future. Also, the dust removal system on the camera is not 100% effective. You will still eventually have to clean it.

Software can decently remove spots, but it should not be relied on for removing them.

Kevin

 

[jann1033]

i have some dust on my sensor but it only shows up on areas of sky so far and i just use the healing brush to clean it up .

while we are on the dirt topic i do have an additional question about dust...if you don't mind. there is a big speck i see in my viewfinder that does not show up in a photo but is annoying since i see if every time i look via the eyepiece...it's not on the lens( shows up no matter which i use) and it's not on the outside of the eyepiece .wondering if anyone else would have any idea where it could be..

 

[ukcatfan]

It is likely on the inside of the eyepiece. I believe that Groucho has been having this problem lately. A blower might help.

Kevin

 

[Ratpack]

I had a spec of dust that was showing up on my photos in the sky and very light areas. Turned out it was just on the mirror, not the sensor. Take a little blower for cleaning, remove the lens and blow down in the area and that might cure any issue. It did for me.

 

[boBQuincy]

From what I read the dust removal systems work, but are not the final answer, some dust will still get on the sensor and we will still have to remove it.
Professional removal costs too much and takes too long.
Healing brushes and such can mask the problem but it is better to start with a dust free image. Or shoot only at wide apertures.
Fwiw, I prefer the VisibleDust removal system.

Dust that is in the viewfinder but not in the image can be in the viewfinder itself, on the mirror, or on the focusing screen. I usually ignore dust in these places as it is only a nuisance but has no effect on the image.
Cleaning these places is not difficult but is not for the faint of heart, a mistake can cause some real (expensive) damage.

 

[Groucho]

I've heard the same as Bob, the built-in systems (like the Pentax K10D and Canon XTi) work but are not 100% - but they're theoretically pretty darn close. It's usually a combination of a dust-resistant coating and the sensor being physically shaken. The Pentax has a little adhesive strip under the sensor to "capture" the dust, I'm not sure about the Canon.

I did recently buy this kit for cleaning my sensor and it helped a lot. The Rocket Blower alone got the big chucks, and a quick wipe with a Pec-Pad removed the stuff that was catching my eye - but I haven't gone into Photoshop to make sure it's all gone. If it isn't, one more wipe will probably take care of it.

Jann, chances are that your focusing screen is collecting dust - ukcatfan is right, mine sure was! If you look on the very top of the empty chamber when you don't have a lens attached, you'll see a ground glass screen there (if you look really close, you can see the lines scribed into it)... that's probably where you're collecting gunk. A blower should take care of it - on my trip, I got desperate and wiped it with my microfiber cloth a few times, no doubt letting the junk fly all around inside, despite my best efforts to pull the stuff out rather than let it fall in.

It's possible that it's the mirror, too... but I didn't have any problems with that, just the focusing screen.

 

[jann1033]

what is the difference between the rocket blower and a regular baby nose blower?
husband used my lens brush to brush one piece of gunk off the mirror and now i can't find the other one so hopefully it fell out and not it but i can't see it anymore

thanks for the help

 

[handicap18]

I wouldn't bother having the dust removed professionally. Will take way to much time and cost way to much money. It is something that can be done yourself and for not much money. I use Copper Hill Images, they are great. He has a great tutorial and excellent prices on the equipment/supplies.

I've done it a few times, the first time is very nerve racking, but once you get used to it its pretty simple. The whole process takes about 10 minutes. The actual swiping takes about 10 seconds.

Since I started doing the sensor swiping I've gotten better with switching lenses and my dust issues haven't as bad and I haven't gotten them as often. I do think I have a few specks now, I'll have to take a pic to test it then give it a cleaning sometime soon.

Don't know anything about the bodies that have the dust removing/preventing features. If you really good and take care when switching lenses then this feature will really come in handy and may keep the dust bunnies away a lot more often.

 

[Groucho]

what is the difference between the rocket blower and a regular baby nose blower?

Supposedly the Rocket Blower has valving to keep dust that's been sucked in from being blown out.

 

[jann1033]

I wouldn't bother having the dust removed professionally. Will take way to much time and cost way to much money. It is something that can be done yourself and for not much money. I use Copper Hill Images, they are great. He has a great tutorial and excellent prices on the equipment/supplies.

I've done it a few times, the first time is very nerve racking, but once you get used to it its pretty simple. The whole process takes about 10 minutes. The actual swiping takes about 10 seconds.

Since I started doing the sensor swiping I've gotten better with switching lenses and my dust issues haven't as bad and I haven't gotten them as often. I do think I have a few specks now, I'll have to take a pic to test it then give it a cleaning sometime soon.

Don't know anything about the bodies that have the dust removing/preventing features. If you really good and take care when switching lenses then this feature will really come in handy and may keep the dust bunnies away a lot more often.

can you explain what you mean here. i was told you should always turn off the camera, if possible hold the body opening down and don't switch anymore than you really need to or in a dirty dusty environment ie windy day at the beach not a good place but other than that??? i surprised how much junk i have on my sensor in only a few months ( well it's really only 2-3 spots but they are bugging me)

 

[Groucho]

I think you're doing about all you can... unfortunately dust is omnipresent and it'll get in there no matter how careful you are. I was a little skeptical of just how much of a problem it is but I've been convinced.

 

[handicap18]

can you explain what you mean here. i was told you should always turn off the camera, if possible hold the body opening down and don't switch anymore than you really need to or in a dirty dusty environment ie windy day at the beach not a good place but other than that??? i surprised how much junk i have on my sensor in only a few months ( well it's really only 2-3 spots but they are bugging me)

Everything you said is right on, however when I first got my D50 I might not have been completely adhearing to all these points. I was sloppy and over the first 4 months or so I got a lot of dust spots. After doing the first cleaning I started paying more attention to the points you list above and my dust issues have be much less. Doing the cleaning isn't a huge deal, but I figured the better I got at making sure I was more careful the less often I would get dust and the less often I would have to clean. Thus far it has worked. I did 2 cleanings over the 1st 6 months, over the last 6 I've only needed 1 (which is the one I need to do now).

 

[jann1033]

Everything you said is right on, however when I first got my D50 I might not have been completely adhearing to all these points. I was sloppy and over the first 4 months or so I got a lot of dust spots. After doing the first cleaning I started paying more attention to the points you list above and my dust issues have be much less. Doing the cleaning isn't a huge deal, but I figured the better I got at making sure I was more careful the less often I would get dust and the less often I would have to clean. Thus far it has worked. I did 2 cleanings over the 1st 6 months, over the last 6 I've only needed 1 (which is the one I need to do now).

so would you say about twice a yr would be normal...i am guessing that would keep it really clean, since i have had my camera about 9 months and really just noticed some spots...of course that depends on if you are a fanatical photo taker like me or not i guess( if it started at 1, i've take 9,678 photos since i got my camera in mid june)

 

[handicap18]

Dang Jann, I though I was taking a lot of picture, but I'm not quite at 5,000 in the just slightly over 1 year I've had my D50. You go girl!!

Yeah, I think about 2 years sounds about right if your pretty careful. Though honestly I have no scientific or any other kind of data to back that up. I think in our case as non pros/advanced amatures/hobbiests/enthusiests with multiple lenses who take thousands of pics a year, then 2 times a year cleaning sounds good.

 

[Lachesis00]

How does the sensor cleaner work?

I think more dust gets on my mirror and above the mirror then on the sensor. I had problems and was being told it was on the sensor. It was on the mirror and above it. Go figure!! I kept trying to clean it to no avail and it got worse!

I got it cleaner then paying the $50 to have it done professionally. Can't say I enjoy cleaning it though.

 

[tinksdad]

what is the difference between the rocket blower and a regular baby nose blower?
husband used my lens brush to brush one piece of gunk off the mirror and now i can't find the other one so hopefully it fell out and not it but i can't see it anymore

thanks for the help

The Giotto Rocket blower has a larger volume than the small "baby nose blowers" and the intake valve is at the opposite end from the nozzle. This prevents the dust that you're hopefully blowing off not to get sucked up and redistributed back on your clean surface. Plus the one way valve too!!

 

[tinksdad]

I had my DSLR for almost a year now and so far haven't had the need to clean it wet. A good blowing gets dust I've had off so far. I've been very careful with lens changes; Turn the camera off to avoide the static charge problem. Be careful to blow off the backs of the lens and the plastic lens cap to avoid that possible dirt entry and holding the camera opening down when I do change lenses to let gravity help avoid dirt entry.

So far, so good!!