[Charlotte]

It had to happen, sooner or later ... I've got sensor dust

Thought it was my new Sigma 10-20 lens, but when I tested another lens, uh-oh, still there.

Gave it a very brief go with blower + brush, but the cheap brush left a bristle behind, + it didn't seem to help anyway, so not keen on that route. A bit scared to use solution, cloth, buds etc. as well.

What are others doing about sensor dust at the mo'? Send it in for cleaning?

[dabhand16]

Originally Posted by Charlotte

Thought it was my new Sigma 10-20 lens, but when I tested another lens, uh-oh, still there.

Hey, Charlotte! New sigma 10-20?? Have I missed something? Are you holding out on me? When did this bit of kit find it's way into your bag?

To get back on topic, Spxxxx had SD on his camera straight out of the box and had to clean the sensor as described here.

BTW, what do you think about the 10-20?

[Charlotte]

Yes, I've been busy, Graham

Got the Sigma 10-20 just last week It seemed to be throwing itself at me, so had to have one Taken a few shots ... it's gonna take some getting used to this focal length range, but ....... I like it so far

Thanks for the link to Simon's post re: sensor cleaning

[JMitchell]

Keeping us in the dark.... tsch...
Not even on the gear list...charlotte you shame us

[P-E]

I haven't cleaned my sensor......I'm happy being a 'dirty boy' .

I just Photoshop anything out that I see.

Congrats on the new lens

[Sparhawk]

Charlotte
Get round it the easy way "the canon EOS D400 has a built in dust sensor remover"
Come to think of it buy 2 and donate one to me for giving you this great tip
Regards
Sparhawk

[Charlotte]

Originally Posted by JMitchell

Keeping us in the dark.... tsch...
Not even on the gear list...charlotte you shame us

LOL Jack, it's not on my gear list 'cos I was going to do a "guess the lens" thread but now the cat's out of the bag, it'd take the fun out of guessing

Originally Posted by P-E

I haven't cleaned my sensor......I'm happy being a 'dirty boy' .

I just Photoshop anything out that I see.

Congrats on the new lens

Thanks P-E

I might not have bothered about it either, but it's all over the show ... really weird, 'cos there was none that I noticed until I processed the 1st shots from the Sigma, but now I know it's there, it's all I can see when I look at my images on screen

[P-E]

Is it really bad then?

Funny enough I just did a shot of the sky this afternoon @f32 to see how dirty my sensor was.

[Charlotte]

Originally Posted by Sparhawk

Charlotte
Get round it the easy way "the canon EOS D400 has a built in dust sensor remover"
Come to think of it buy 2 and donate one to me for giving you this great tip
Regards
Sparhawk

Now why didn't I think of that? Oh yes, that's right, 'cos ...

Nikon Rules, OK!

[Charlotte]

Originally Posted by P-E

Is it really bad then?

Funny enough I just did a shot of the sky this afternoon @f32 to see how dirty my sensor was.

Hold on, I'll show you ...

[Sparhawk]

LOL Charlotte
I was told "IF you dont ask, you dont get" so it was worth a try
Still I do hope you get it sorted out very soon
Regards
Sparhawk
PS; "Nikon Rules I think there will be a few Canon users that would not agree

[Charlotte]

I quickly converted the raw via PhotoPlus + it decided the grey sky looked better in pink but anyway you can see the dust spots - loads of them ...

[Charlotte]

Originally Posted by Sparhawk

"Nikon Rules I think there will be a few Canon users that would not agree

[P-E]

Doesn't look too bad at all to me Charlotte from that shot.

[Charlotte]

Originally Posted by P-E

Doesn't look too bad at all to me Charlotte from that shot.

That's 'cos you don't have your contacts anymore

I admit, you have to look pretty hard to see them, but if you stare at that square of pretty pink for long enough, you'll see them Mostly around or near the edges.

[P-E]

Mines dirtier

[Charlotte]

Is it

I thought it was freckles on the last portrait you uploaded

[P-E]

[JMitchell]

this is getting funnier by the post. But more seriously Charlotte, I wouldn't worry too much, mine is also dirtier, and I don't have a blower . The sensor actually has a small hair on it that I can see in real life...
Photoshop / whatever-you-use them out would be my advice, I do it, and most of the time I shoot at around f/4 - 5.6, so you can't see them anyway!

[emmettleffel]

Charlotte, they are not dust spots but alien life forms.

I get them on my lens all the time, they must be everywhere LOL

[dabhand16]

It is a terrible admission to have to make.

I can see people going into camera shops, shifting uneasily from foot to foot, 'browsing' at stuff they have no interest in, just waiting for the shop to empty out before sidling up to the counter and in hushed tones blurting out that awful confession - 'I've got sensor dust'.

It's a bit like finding nits in your kids hair, or

After several visits, the staff get to know you. 'Something for the weekend?' is the cheery, coded sentence. The cleaning kit is placed unobtrusively into a plain bag, and you turn to leave the shop looking everyone in the eye.

They don't know you have got sensor dust.

[Boofers]

You guy's have got me scared, I cleaned my sensor yesterday and noticed that my pictures arn't as sharp as they always are ,,,only kinding, when cleaning though the wife walked in and asked me to clean hers, I can clean a senor in five minutes ,,I have to because all the dust in the world follows me from spot to spot. I do have a big foot bellows that I keep in a plastic bag that I can blow the sensor off with, and then wipe it with cleaner, that takes about 7 minutes with the blow out.

SENSOR SPOTS ARE LIKE A LEAKY MUFFLER ON YOUR CAR, GET IT FIXED.

[emmettleffel]

Green Clean Traveller Kit Speed Graphic online sales

This kit looks good

[Boofers]

I use a senor swab with a pec*pad and eclipse refined methanol with a specification of 5 "ppm" parts per million or less of contaminants, quite a bit different then medical methanol. I don't wait anymore to clean, just do it when five or more dust spots show up. Dust can become stuck to your sensor and harder to get off if you leave it. So I blow with my foot blower to remove any dust and then wipe once with two drops, Only had to go back once and redo out of twenty cleanings in 54 months. I just change lenses in bad places...

[Charlotte]

Cheers Jack, emmettleffel + Boofers for your advice, serious + otherwise

And LOL at Graham .........

Originally Posted by Dabhand16

It is a terrible admission to have to make.

I can see people going into camera shops, shifting uneasily from foot to foot, 'browsing' at stuff they have no interest in, just waiting for the shop to empty out before sidling up to the counter and in hushed tones blurting out that awful confession - 'I've got sensor dust'.

It's a bit like finding nits in your kids hair, or

After several visits, the staff get to know you. 'Something for the weekend?' is the cheery, coded sentence. The cleaning kit is placed unobtrusively into a plain bag, and you turn to leave the shop looking everyone in the eye.

They don't know you have got sensor dust.

[Dave Canon]

The way to check is to take a shot of a clean white sheet of paper at f11. Transfer to PhotoShop or Elements and apply Auto- Levels. Any dust will clearly show up.

Do NOT use a brush. You can use a Blower such as the Giotto Rocket Air which does not suck the dust in and put it back as some do. I found that this was OK for a while but some dust is harder to remove (which is bcause it is pollen and rather sticky). I have used Digi Pads and Eclipse fluid similar to Boofers and this should remove any remaining contamination though you may have to clean it more than once.

Be careful if you have a Canon EOS 5D as the surface of the sensor is different and the normal eclipse fluid is not suitable. Dust need not be a big problem as it takes only a few minutes to clean the sensor.

[Charlotte]

Thanks for that Dave

How about a burst with a hairdryer? (I'm quite serious.)

[dabhand16]

Originally Posted by Charlotte

Thanks for that Dave

How about a burst with a hairdryer? (I'm quite serious.)

Don't forget the hoover!

I seem to remember a thread started by you some time ago when you were singing the praises of the universal cleaning power of baby wipes........ c
BTW - I don't recommend them!

Seriously, the rocket blowers are good as they have long thin nozzles that can blast air at high speed in quite small controlled areas and directions. Also the air will be at ambient temperature too, unlike the 'canned air' aerosols. Most people seem to use a combination of a blower and either pads or fluids with successful results.

Another point against the hair dryer is that I've seen the full sized image of your avtar.

That means I've seen your hair.........

[P-E]

Originally Posted by Dabhand16

Don't forget the hoover!

I seem to remember a thread started by you some time ago when you were singing the praises of the universal cleaning power of baby wipes........ c
BTW - I don't recommend them!

I had typed then deleted a reply quoting Charlottes baby wipes.

[gsgary]

Get some of these Intemos - the home of digital camera cleaning work a treat use wet or dry