I thought I just ruined my sensor!

[DVC Jen]

We are leaving for Disney on Friday and I know I will be taking ALOT of photos and wanting a lot of depth of field - so I cleaned my cameras sensor again today. There was only one dust spot that really bothered me - since I had just cleaned it last week -but I wanted that spot gone.

So I do a cleaning aiming the camera at the blue sky with my aperture set at f/22 - hmm few spots left - do another cleaning - eh - still want to get it a bit better. So I do another cleaning.

While looking at the photo after the last cleaning - my heart drops, I have a hard time breathing, my whole body starts shaking and I am in tears. I ruined my sensor.

Something told me to not panic yet - maybe i got the sensor swab caught and or a bit of the lint from it came off and that is what it was - so I went back into the bathroom, cleaned both ends of my lens and the sensor one more time and I got this.

WHEW! gone - but those two blobs are not OK - so - big deep breath - one more time to see if I can get them off.

DONE! yes there are two tiny spots on the right hand side - but I can deal!

Then Kylie walks by and sees me with my head down on my desk - breathing in and out and asks me what is wrong. So I show her the photo where I thought I had ruined my sensor. She looks at me strangely and says, "Mom? Isn't that a tree?"

I look at the photo again and start laughing hysterically - boy did I feel stupid - yet strangely thankful and relieved!

 

[gruZ]

HA! I thought it was a tree at first, then after reading some more thought, "She really screwed up the sensor!" I was relieved to finish your post and see that it was indeed a tree.

I bought a sensor cleaning kit about a year ago - have used it a number of times without any problems - but will admit that every time I use it I hold my breath during that first test shot hoping I didn't screw anything up!

 

[DVC Jen]

HA! I thought it was a tree at first, then after reading some more thought, "She really screwed up the sensor!" I was relieved to finish your post and see that it was indeed a tree.

I bought a sensor cleaning kit about a year ago - have used it a number of times without any problems - but will admit that every time I use it I hold my breath during that first test shot hoping I didn't screw anything up!

LOL it IS very nerve wracking - but I have done it so many times now that I was getting pretty confident - until that "blob".

We have had so much going on - my MIL was here for just over a week and she has vascular dementia - so that was a bit challenging - emilys dance recital and a million other things. I think I am starting to lose it.

At least I can totally laugh at myself. That means I can't be too far gone - right????

 

[AndrewWG]

Wow Jen! You REALLY need this upcoming vacation! Sorry for laughing as I would probably have done the same thing, but that is a good happy ending story.

 

[Hunnypaw]

You can get a Giottos Rocket for some some, if not most of the dust that finds it way onto the sensor when you travel. they are small and work pretty well. Just do not use compressed air...ever. the propellent is bad news for the sensor/camera.

When I have to clean my sensor, I use a sensor soltuion and sensor wipes. It is a bit tricky to keep the mirror up and clean.. but it sounds like you know this. Just keep in mind if you get sensor cleaner, I do not think you can air-travel with it. It is VERY flamable so do those intense cleanings at home.

 

[Groucho]

That's a relief, eh? I didn't even notice the tree in the corner, I thought you were seeing some kind of discoloration across the middle?

Regardless, good to see you doing well with sensor cleaning now, after the nightmare experience of the past... see, I told you that you could do it!

 

[Steve's Girl]

That is pretty funny! But I must admit, as I was reading that, I kept thinking what is she talking about, all I see is a tree and a few dust spots. Then at the end I had one of those ohhh....moments. After your experience last year, I can understand your sensor sensitivity.

Have a great vacation!

 

[Gdad]

Ha- funny story. I did not even notice the tree either was looking at the spots.

 

[jann1033]

Jen you need to stop going to disney...it is to dangerous for your cameras( IE wasn't the last sensor nightmare right before your vaca? de ja vu all over again)

 

[DVC Jen]

Jen you need to stop going to disney...it is to dangerous for your cameras( IE wasn't the last sensor nightmare right before your vaca? de ja vu all over again)

LOLOL wellllll - that happened last year in April - but when I realized I would have to send the XTi in to be cleaned right - and was told it would take 6 weeks - that is when the panic set in and DH got me the 30D. I would have been without a camera for Emilys 14th birthday, recital, 8th grade graduation.. Kylie's contract ceremony, honor grad banquet, graduation AND vacation.

I had cleaned the sensor a few weeks ago without any problems - then we went to the arboretum and I had to change lenses - ended up with a few specks and jsut wanted to get them off before we left for Disney.

I really think I am just slowly losing my mind. Hopefully I find it again while we are gone.

 

[Groucho]

Are you getting dust spots almost every time you change lenses? You should be able to change quite a few times without letting dust in... maybe you're leaving the lens off the camera too long? I try to have the new lens in one hand while removing the lens with the other, so the switchover is one continuous movement. It works pretty well for minimizing dust entry.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I couldn't figure out what you were talking about. I saw two little specs and the tree branches and couldn't find the "blobs". I laughed so hard when you explained it. hahaha

 

[AndrewWG]

Are you getting dust spots almost every time you change lenses? You should be able to change quite a few times without letting dust in... maybe you're leaving the lens off the camera too long? I try to have the new lens in one hand while removing the lens with the other, so the switchover is one continuous movement. It works pretty well for minimizing dust entry.

I think the 30D has a freakin vacuum in it as I get dust all the time and I switch lenses quite quickly without having the camera wide open at any time. I don't get it. I'm actually thinking of getting a second body for my baseball assignment so that I can have 2 bodies with a different width lens on each. That way, I probably won't have to change lenses so much. The only problem is that I am thinking of getting the Pentax K200D so I can slowly back away from the Canon brand...

 

[DVC Jen]

Are you getting dust spots almost every time you change lenses? You should be able to change quite a few times without letting dust in... maybe you're leaving the lens off the camera too long? I try to have the new lens in one hand while removing the lens with the other, so the switchover is one continuous movement. It works pretty well for minimizing dust entry.

I changed lenses several times that day at the arboretum - and it was pretty windy. When I went to clean the sensor this last time there really was only one spot that was bothering me. Somehow when I started to clean it to get that one spot off - several more magically appeared. Maybe the pixie dust was getting an early start?

I haven't touched that darn camera since the other day - it is safely tucked in the camera case ready for me to get a photo tomorrow morning of my girls wearing their sleepy we must be nuts for being up this early faces - and the back of the SUV all loaded for the trip.

Hoping to be on our way by 7am. Hoping...

 

[DVC Jen]

I couldn't figure out what you were talking about. I saw two little specs and the tree branches and couldn't find the "blobs". I laughed so hard when you explained it. hahaha

I had a pretty good laugh too - when I realized what it was.

 

[DVC Jen]

I think the 30D has a freakin vacuum in it as I get dust all the time and I switch lenses quite quickly without having the camera wide open at any time. I don't get it. I'm actually thinking of getting a second body for my baseball assignment so that I can have 2 bodies with a different width lens on each. That way, I probably won't have to change lenses so much. The only problem is that I am thinking of getting the Pentax K200D so I can slowly back away from the Canon brand...

GASP! Andy!!

 

[AndrewWG]

GASP! Andy!!

I know, I know. Breathe deep. We'll get through this... Of course, if I win the lottery, I'll stick with Canon. What I really want is the new 5D whenever that comes out. The 5D is already 3 years old! Thats like 30 years in digicam years.