Dirty sensor

[Matt172]

Question for the PH massive, whenever we take pictures at the moment, they always seem to be dirty, I got a rocket blower thingy from Jessops, but it doesn't seem to get the dirt off the sensor, anyone got any ideas what we can do?
Don't want to take loads of pics at Le Mans and find them all ruined

[Mr Noble]

Hi Matt,

I take it you're talking about your slr and not a compact.

you need one of these

But its always pretty dangerous touching the sensor. Some would sujjest getting it done at a local lab or dealer.

Greg

[Matt172]

Hi Greg,

yeah its our DSLR, might have to pop it into somewhere and get it cleaned then.
Would Jessops do something like that?

[mikef]

If you're in London, Fixation http://fixationuk.com/ is a good bet

[gregorio!]

I wouldn't recommend you ask jessops to clean it - i once saw a young guy use an orange duster to clean the innards of a dusty dslr.

I didn't notice if he sprayed a slug of Mr. Sheen in it first though.

[toastboy]

I used compressed air to clean the sensor in my Canon 300D but was left with an 'ice bloom' as I'd held the can too close. I really thought I'd buggered the camera so I got some cotton wool and gave it a very light wipe but the bloom was still there. Since then I've taken a lot of pictures and while the marks are evident on the sensor, they don't appear on the pictures. I guess I've had a lucky escape.

[DJ_AS]

toastboy said:

I used compressed air to clean the sensor in my Canon 300D but was left with an 'ice bloom' as I'd held the can too close. I really thought I'd buggered the camera so I got some cotton wool and gave it a very light wipe but the bloom was still there. Since then I've taken a lot of pictures and while the marks are evident on the sensor, they don't appear on the pictures. I guess I've had a lucky escape.

We have various optical systems and my work and we try and stay away from those compressed air canisters when it comes to the optical surfaces (lenses / mirrors etc) because they almost always leave a film of propellant on whatever you have sprayed onto.

I have found my rocket blower type thing useful although it can take a while to shift the dust. Now I always point the camera down when changing lenses to help prevent getting dust in the body in the first place.

[stigmundfreud]

have to say that buterfly looks quite good, the 5d is a bastard for dust spots

[Matt172]

DJ_AS said:

I have found my rocket blower type thing useful although it can take a while to shift the dust. Now I always point the camera down when changing lenses to help prevent getting dust in the body in the first place.

I got one of those, but I think all I managed to do was blow it around even more this time, just taken it to a camera repair guy who's going to clean it for me, says there are some lines on the sensor too, so he's going to do his best to get it back to normal.
Think the idea of holding the camera downwards when changing lenses is the way to go

[windandwave]

This site is very good:
http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/

If you're using a chemical cleaning solution, check beforehand that it won't damage the filter finish on your particular slr.