Sensor dust & changing lenses
Discussion
How often do most 'keen amateurs' end up changing lenses whilst out and about?
I seem to be constantly swapping between my kit 18-55 and my 55-200... and also use my 35 1.8 quite a lot too. As a result (presumably) I have a number (3) of dust spots showing on photos.
Which leads to the 2nd question - what do people recommend for clearing dust? My Nikon has an auto clean function which obviously hasn't worked on the 3 dust spots. I've ordered a rocket blower but I hear a lot of people use Visible Dust Arctic Brush. Any recommendations?
I seem to be constantly swapping between my kit 18-55 and my 55-200... and also use my 35 1.8 quite a lot too. As a result (presumably) I have a number (3) of dust spots showing on photos.
Which leads to the 2nd question - what do people recommend for clearing dust? My Nikon has an auto clean function which obviously hasn't worked on the 3 dust spots. I've ordered a rocket blower but I hear a lot of people use Visible Dust Arctic Brush. Any recommendations?
I try and avoid changing lenses in places I know are going to be mucky and dusty to the point I use two bodies when I am at Le Mans and out rallying. For sensor cleaning I use a combination, most frequently a rocketblower, then occasionally an arctic butterfly and more infrequently Visible Dust green swabs with vdust formula liquid. If you're going down the wet cleaning route I really recommend the loupe, it makes the job a whole heap easier.
I change lenses wherever and whenever I feel the need to and not worry about dust.
I dont shoot stopped down to the max very often when it is most obvious a problem.
I do check every few months and clean with a blower.
This is a 7D with sensor cleaning which seems to work. If it is a problem out on a shoot I can map the dust out using a feature of the camera , but I havnt used this yet in ~3 years.
I dont shoot stopped down to the max very often when it is most obvious a problem.
I do check every few months and clean with a blower.
This is a 7D with sensor cleaning which seems to work. If it is a problem out on a shoot I can map the dust out using a feature of the camera , but I havnt used this yet in ~3 years.
Just bought a rocket blower after jogging across a field dislodged a load of dust from the innards of my 400D - in the 4 years I've had the camera this is the first time the auto cleaning mode hasn't been able to resolve dust problems, despite numerous lens changes in not always ideal conditions. A few blasts from the rocket and the sensor looks as good as new, so buying one is definitely a good start (and hopefully the end too) to solving your dust issue.
The before...
...and after
The before...
...and after
Edited by twister on Tuesday 3rd April 21:10
Chebs said:
Might have something to do with it....!
Ahhhh... Well spotted, I'd forgotten it was bright enough to have stopped down that far on the day the dust came. Checking a few new test shots at f45 show that, whilst some of the dust has lingered on the sensor, a lot of it (including all of the obnoxiously large flecks) was successfully removed.So although claiming the rocket returned my sensor to its original condition may, alas, have overstated its effectiveness just a tad, it is fair to say that it's done a damn good job considering how easy and risk-free it is to use.
twister said:
Just bought a rocket blower after jogging across a field dislodged a load of dust from the innards of my 400D - in the 4 years I've had the camera this is the first time the auto cleaning mode hasn't been able to resolve dust problems, despite numerous lens changes in not always ideal conditions. A few blasts from the rocket and the sensor looks as good as new, so buying one is definitely a good start (and hopefully the end too) to solving your dust issue.
The before...
...and after
Well the plane's gone but you have left a bit of a smear.The before...
...and after
Edited by twister on Tuesday 3rd April 21:10
GetCarter said:
Top tip... turn camera off and hold face down when changing lenses.
Yep.. I do this. I have no idea if it helps but one would presume that gravity would assist in keeping spots of dirt/dust falling away from the sensor rather than the other way round.
I don't change lenses that often, but when I do, it is usually in as cleaner wind free conditions as I have nearby, quickly and with the camera always face down.
CommanderJameson said:
Stoopid question: when my 550d does its sensor cleaning thing, where does the dust go?
I had a vision of a little tray, like you get in a toaster, that you have to periodically empty...
Apparently, there's an adhesive strip below the sensor. That's why it best to hold the camera upright in "landscape" format then the sensor cleaning is in operation. Just Googled it 'cos I'd never thought about that!I had a vision of a little tray, like you get in a toaster, that you have to periodically empty...
Well, I got there in the end but the Rocket Blower actually made things 10 times worse. It didn't shift the 3 spots of dust that were already there, but it did add several more! It also put some horrible dust spots on the mirror which no amount of blowing would shift.
In the end I got some PhotographicSolutions swabs and some Eclipse. Stoopidly expensive - but perfect results - all dust removed : well chuffed.
In the end I got some PhotographicSolutions swabs and some Eclipse. Stoopidly expensive - but perfect results - all dust removed : well chuffed.
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