Sensor Cleaning Saga continues - you won't believe what happened

[DVC Jen]

Last week I agreed to let the owner of the camera store try to get the sensor clean. So we dropped off the camera yesterday morning - he had it until this afternoon. He said he could clearly see the dust and it seemed like as soon as he got a few spots off, more showed up.

He finally called and said it was done this afternoon and he did the best he could, but there were still a few spots remaining. He was afraid to keep going because he feared scratching the sensor. He said he called canon and they said that any camera would show a few spots if photos were taken of the sky.

DH went to get the camera - brought it home and I checked it out. Now before we took it in the first time I had counted roughly 12 - 17 spots... this evening.. I about died. I sat here and cried. My sensor was covered with well over 100 dust spots. It was so incredibly bad I don't think I could clone them all out with photoshop.

My husband called them back demanding our money back and they refused... saying they had already paid the technician but they would send the camera to canon for us - free of charge (or in other words pay shipping). Well I am not going to so much as let them blink towards my camera again.

We are now contacting the better business bureau as well as the credit card company to disbute the charge.

We then called Wolf camera and talked to them - turns out that since I purchased an extended warranty with them they will clean the sensor for free. I didn't realize the extended warranty covered that or I would have sent it there to begin with. The catch - they have to send the camera to Arizona and it could take 4+ weeks to get it back.

Well with our oldest daughters ETO (elementary teaching intership) awards and contract ceremony this Thursday - then the 6th is our youngest DDs dance recital - the 9th is her b-day, the 12th she graduates from 8th grade and has her 8th grade dance and then on the 27th our oldest graduates from high school and 5 days later we leave for Disney I can't be without my camera for that long.... but what good is it if the sensor is so covered with dust it is practically unusable?

I just cried. I sat there and cried.

I had to take our youngest up to the dance studio for her ballet pics. I am there and DH calls me. Turns out he went out and got me a new camera so I am not without one (or one that is decently usable) while we send the XTi off.

I came home to find a brand new Canon 30D sitting on the bed waiting for me.

I am shocked. I am in tears again... but this time good tears.

I have the most amazing husband - I truly am a very very lucky woman.

BTW - the camera came as a kit... and the kit lens is a 28-135 IS lens... which now - I have 2 of.

 

[handicap18]

Wow Jennifer. What a pain. I will say that your DH is pretty cool for getting the 30D. That was great to read.

As for the dust and what they said about you'd find dust no matter what if you take a pic of the sky. I'd have to dispute that. I had a ton of dust on my sensor. I really wasn't in the mood to sit down and do a wet cleaning. So I ordered a rocket-blaster. I used it the other day. I didn't take a pre cleaning pic at f/22, but did take a post blowing pic at f/22. There are now only 2 dust spots and they are way off to the side so I'm not going to worry about them. I'll get around to doing a wet cleaning soon enough. But other than those 2 dust spots there is nothing else on my sensor. The spots you have on your sensor are nothing like I've seen, they look more like blob spots or oil type spots.

Anyway, good luck getting it cleaned. And have lots of fun with the 30D, you might not ever pick up the XTi again.

You can always sell that extra 28-135 on ebay and put that money towards a different lens.

 

[Furgus]

So what does the extended warranty cover? Does it cover say.....your camera falling off the back of a truck? Seriously some warranty places like that have a no questions asked policy and might give you a new camera if were to "break" Now I know it is not the most honest thing to do, but Wolf would not be out of money since they would just send it back to Canon and get reimbursed for their loss.

Very cool of you hubby to do that for you, even if it was a Canon J/K

 

[tinksdad]

Amazing!!! about the "camera" shop and



AMAZING!! about your DH getting you another!!! That is SOO cool!!


Now you be careful changing lenses this time.......

 

[boBQuincy]

Yep, us DHs may be trouble but usually, just when it counts, we come through! Yours came through big time, a 30D!!! It's gonna' be hard to go back to the Rebel, except for the size and weight.

As for the camera store, they should be ashamed. You might want to help make them ashamed, at resellerratings.com and other websites.

When I clean my sensor I usually accept one piece of dust when it's done, definitely no more than two. New cameras often come with dust, no extra charge, but not a lot of dust. I am surprised Wolf would take 4 weeks, cleaning is fairly simple.

Ah well, all's well that ends well and a new 30D is a really good fairytale ending!

 

[fitzperry]

What a sweet husband you must have!

Wasn't the repair shop a Canon authorized service provider? I would report them to Canon as well.

 

[photo_chick]

Can I have your DH????

Sorry to hear about your sensor saga, glad your DH is so sweet! I'm with reporting the shop to Canon as well. Also I found when I had to have my Pioneer laserdisc player repaired, many small shops claim to be factory authorized but are not. I went through 4 in the area that actually were not authorized repair centers as they advertised and could not do my work. I was really annoyed. Glad you have the extended warranty to get it fixed right this time I hope.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

What a sweet husband you must have!

Wasn't the repair shop a Canon authorized service provider? I would report them to Canon as well.

I totally agree with both of the above -

Your DH is the greatest~!~ Reminds me of something my DH would do - We are very lucky wives!!!

And... I would report them to Canon as since they are a Canon authorized dealer. What you have gone through is just heartbreaking..

Karen

 

[garris3404]

What an ordeal you went through!

Definitely report them to Canon, BBB, credit card company, etc.

Husband gets a A+++!

Get the old one fixed under warranty. Sell it and the old lens.

Enjoy the new camera.

 

[DVC Jen]

He is a great guy and I do realize how lucky I am.

I like the idea of selling the lens on ebay. As for the XTi - when I do get it back from Arizona I am not selling it - it will be used as a backup or as my primary storm spotting camera... so I don't have to take the 30D out in nasty weather.

I am also hoping to teach DH how to use it and our youngest DD is showing an interest in it as well.

 

[Miss Kelly]

Wow, you have a great hubby. I am so jealous!

 

[Gdad]

Good for you- Im glad your DH took care if the situation.

(Tonight he tells you about the fishing boat he bought- )

 

[jann1033]

Last week I agreed to let the owner of the camera store try to get the sensor clean. So we dropped off the camera yesterday morning - he had it until this afternoon. He said he could clearly see the dust and it seemed like as soon as he got a few spots off, more showed up.

He finally called and said it was done this afternoon and he did the best he could, but there were still a few spots remaining. He was afraid to keep going because he feared scratching the sensor. He said he called canon and they said that any camera would show a few spots if photos were taken of the sky.

DH went to get the camera - brought it home and I checked it out. Now before we took it in the first time I had counted roughly 12 - 17 spots... this evening.. I about died. I sat here and cried. My sensor was covered with well over 100 dust spots. It was so incredibly bad I don't think I could clone them all out with photoshop.

My husband called them back demanding our money back and they refused... saying they had already paid the technician but they would send the camera to canon for us - free of charge (or in other words pay shipping). Well I am not going to so much as let them blink towards my camera again.

We are now contacting the better business bureau as well as the credit card company to disbute the charge.

We then called Wolf camera and talked to them - turns out that since I purchased an extended warranty with them they will clean the sensor for free. I didn't realize the extended warranty covered that or I would have sent it there to begin with. The catch - they have to send the camera to Arizonia and it could take 4+ weeks to get it back.

Well with our oldest daughters ETO (elementary teaching intership) awards and contract ceremony this Thursday - then the 6th is our youngest DDs dance recital - the 9th is her b-day, the 12th she graduates from 8th grade and has her 8th grade dance and then on the 27th our oldest graduates from high school and 5 days later we leave for Disney I can't be without my camera for that long.... but what good is it if the sensor is so covered with dust it is practically unusable?

I just cried. I sat there and cried.

I had to take our youngest up to the dance studio for her ballet pics. I am there and DH calls me. Turns out he went out and got me a new camera so I am not without one (or one that is decently usable) while we send the XTi off.

I came home to find a brand new Canon 30D sitting on the bed waiting for me.

I am shocked. I am in tears again... but this time good tears.

I have the most amazing husband - I truly am a very very lucky woman.

BTW - the camera came as a kit... and the kit lens is a 28-135 IS lens... which now - I have 2 of.

boo for camera place , yeah for hubby and hope that technician is looking for work in another field...a gently used 28-135 went for $379 on ebay the other day( been watching in case i decide to sell mine if and when it ever comes back working)

 

[Groucho]

There's something about a woman's tears that will inspire men to do anything to make the woman happy again. I remember a few years ago, my wife borrowed my maybe 1-year-old WRX to go visit her sister at her dorm at a nearby college... she came back very upset as she was accidentally backed it into a chunk of concrete, putting a small bend in the front of one of the rear wheelwells... I certainly didn't have the heart to yell at her and I actually gave her a birthday present early, I don't even remember exactly what it was but it was something she really wanted... I think it was probably her first digital camera.

Jen, hopefully you'll have a completely happy ending to this story and will get your XTi back with a completely clean sensor.

You also have no more excuse about cleaning your own sensor, you can practice on the XTi before taking a crack at the 30D sensor!

 

[ktulu]

I told my wife if this happened to me to get the new Mark III

Congrats!

 

[jann1033]

Last week I agreed to let the owner of the camera store try to get the sensor clean. So we dropped off the camera yesterday morning - he had it until this afternoon. He said he could clearly see the dust and it seemed like as soon as he got a few spots off, more showed up.

slightly ot( of Jen's good news/bad news)
just wondering Jen , did he give any explanation whatsoever for the bold part here? he must have been right since so many are there now but wondering what caused this.any sensor cleaning pros...wouldn't it seem like he had to be using a dirty cleaner or something? just wondering if there is any other way for something like that to happen( deleted the rest to save space)

 

[Anewman]

Last week I agreed to let the owner of the camera store try to get the sensor clean. So we dropped off the camera yesterday morning - he had it until this afternoon. He said he could clearly see the dust and it seemed like as soon as he got a few spots off, more showed up.

slightly ot( of Jen's good news/bad news)
just wondering Jen , did he give any explanation whatsoever for the bold part here? he must have been right since so many are there now but wondering what caused this.any sensor cleaning pros...wouldn't it seem like he had to be using a dirty cleaner or something? just wondering if there is any other way for something like that to happen( deleted the rest to save space)

IMO he is not dusting the sensor, just moving the dust around.

Static charged brush is the way to go, no need to even touch the sensor sometimes(if dust was loosened with a blower). Brushing the sensor too much may give the sensor a bit of static to it and hence attracting any dust in the chamber.

I dont typically use a wet cleaning for dust, I do use it about once a year. There is a difference between dusting and cleaning.

 

[photo_chick]

I told my wife if this happened to me to get the new Mark III

Congrats!

Hmmm.... perhaps the camera should "accidentaly" fall into the pond at the park?????

 

[DVC Jen]

Last week I agreed to let the owner of the camera store try to get the sensor clean. So we dropped off the camera yesterday morning - he had it until this afternoon. He said he could clearly see the dust and it seemed like as soon as he got a few spots off, more showed up.

slightly ot( of Jen's good news/bad news)
just wondering Jen , did he give any explanation whatsoever for the bold part here? he must have been right since so many are there now but wondering what caused this.any sensor cleaning pros...wouldn't it seem like he had to be using a dirty cleaner or something? just wondering if there is any other way for something like that to happen( deleted the rest to save space)

Jann he didn't give any excuses at all and made it sound like he got most of the dust off when he left a message saying the camera was ready.

Not sure if I mentioned this before but he did write me a "nice" note criticizing my choice of shooting formats. He told me shooting in raw was not the best choice and I should be shooting in jpeg fine.

To me it seems like whenever they couldn't do something they found something with me to fault. One of the previous times I was in there one of them knocked over my 28-135mm IS lens that he had sat on the counter (they wanted to see the lens I was shooting with at the time) and tried to blame it on me because it has the lens hood on.

My gut feeling is they know what they are doing when it comes to film cameras, but the whole digital thing blows them away.

I was talking to one of the ladies that works there and they were setting up for a class. I asked what the class was on and she said "digital". I tried to elaborate by asking "digital cameras right" (they were having a discussion on camcorders). She said "no - not real cameras - digital." So I replied.. "camcorders?". She sighed and said "no like what you have - digital".



I never realized that I wasn't using a real camera simply because it is a digital camera.



Oh well - one way or another we will either get our money back or do everything we can to warn others to NOT use them. I happen to LOVE to talk and know quite a few people who do also.

At the very least we learned a lesson AND because of my awesome hubby I got a 30D out of it... which I will officially break in tonight when our oldest daughter is "celebrated" at her ETI (elementary teaching internship) ceremony tonight.

I did take the camera into work yesterday to show my aide (her hubby is also kinda into photography and she has been so supportive of me and my ventures). It was funny I was walking through the hall with it on my way to my classroom and the photographer that is doing our class pictures was going the other way. He saw the camera and turned to look as I walked by. I had to smirk and hold my head a bit higher. I now officially look like I might know what I am doing - even if I really don't.

 

[PhotobearSam]

He saw the camera and turned to look as I walked by. I had to smirk and hold my head a bit higher. I now officially look like I might know what I am doing - even if I really don't.

I love this... It feels good doesn't it?