Auto-sensor cleaning?
Discussion
Just sat reading this blog about auto-sensor cleaning but not sure whether to bother paying any attention to it. I for one tend to shoot maybe 10 shots or so then turn the camera off so it's probably only in use for a few minutes. It then gets swtiched back on a few minutes later and the process repeats.
Any thoughts on whether or not this is a good/bad idea?
Any thoughts on whether or not this is a good/bad idea?
Blog said:
Automatic sensor cleaning. Good or bad?
Are you the owner of a modern DSLR camera that has an automatic sensor cleaning function? Do you have it set to ON? If so, have you thought of the consequences?
My Canon EOS 5D MkII is the first DSLR I have owned that has this relatively new function. At first this sounded like a great idea. When you switch the camera off, it automatically vibrates the sensor at high speed to shake off any dust particles that may have attached themselves. Sounds good, but does it work?
The first few weeks with my new camera were fine. Images were outstanding and not a single speck of dust was to be seen. However, after one shoot, I was inspecting my RAW files on the computer and on the latter half of a series of images was a dirty great splodge of muck. This splodge was present in exactly the same position across approximately 40 images. What made this even more annoying was that I had used the same lens for the entire shoot. If you are going to contaminate your sensor with dust, it will usually happen during lens changes when the shutter chamber is exposed to the elements. As the lens had not left my camera, how did this massive cow pat appear on the sensor?
The reason for this dust invasion was almost certainly the "Auto Sensor Clean" function. Like most DSLRs, my camera is set to switch itself off automatically after a short period (1 minute in my case). To awaken the camera I just need to lightly press the shutter button. What I didn't realise is that each time the camera goes into sleep mode, it operates the auto sensor cleaning function. So, in between taking photographs, my camera had been furiously cleaning itself to death every time it went to sleep. This could have happened 15 or 20 times during the afternoon. Logic dictates that you can't shake something vigorously all afteroon without disturbing something. My camera had shaken itself so much that it had thrown up a rogue particle which had managed to glue itself to the sensor.
This theory came to me as I was browsing my images on the computer. I grabbed my camera, removed the lens, opened the shutter and there she was... a great big chunk of debris staring at me from the surface of the sensor. I switched the camera on and off about 10 times so that the auto cleaning function operated continuously. This eventually shifted the particle and the sensor was now clean again.
Since that day, the auto cleaning function has been set permanently off on my camera.
What's the point of cleaning a sensor that is already clean? If you jump in the shower in the morning do you get out, dry yourself, get dressed and then jump straight back in the shower again? Of course not... you wait until you start to smell a bit and then have a shower. It's logical.
So, do yourself a favour... turn off the auto sensor cleaning function on your camera. You'll save battery power and you run less risk of contaminating an already clean sensor. If you notice a speck of dust, turn it back on again until the dust disappears.
Are you the owner of a modern DSLR camera that has an automatic sensor cleaning function? Do you have it set to ON? If so, have you thought of the consequences?
My Canon EOS 5D MkII is the first DSLR I have owned that has this relatively new function. At first this sounded like a great idea. When you switch the camera off, it automatically vibrates the sensor at high speed to shake off any dust particles that may have attached themselves. Sounds good, but does it work?
The first few weeks with my new camera were fine. Images were outstanding and not a single speck of dust was to be seen. However, after one shoot, I was inspecting my RAW files on the computer and on the latter half of a series of images was a dirty great splodge of muck. This splodge was present in exactly the same position across approximately 40 images. What made this even more annoying was that I had used the same lens for the entire shoot. If you are going to contaminate your sensor with dust, it will usually happen during lens changes when the shutter chamber is exposed to the elements. As the lens had not left my camera, how did this massive cow pat appear on the sensor?
The reason for this dust invasion was almost certainly the "Auto Sensor Clean" function. Like most DSLRs, my camera is set to switch itself off automatically after a short period (1 minute in my case). To awaken the camera I just need to lightly press the shutter button. What I didn't realise is that each time the camera goes into sleep mode, it operates the auto sensor cleaning function. So, in between taking photographs, my camera had been furiously cleaning itself to death every time it went to sleep. This could have happened 15 or 20 times during the afternoon. Logic dictates that you can't shake something vigorously all afteroon without disturbing something. My camera had shaken itself so much that it had thrown up a rogue particle which had managed to glue itself to the sensor.
This theory came to me as I was browsing my images on the computer. I grabbed my camera, removed the lens, opened the shutter and there she was... a great big chunk of debris staring at me from the surface of the sensor. I switched the camera on and off about 10 times so that the auto cleaning function operated continuously. This eventually shifted the particle and the sensor was now clean again.
Since that day, the auto cleaning function has been set permanently off on my camera.
What's the point of cleaning a sensor that is already clean? If you jump in the shower in the morning do you get out, dry yourself, get dressed and then jump straight back in the shower again? Of course not... you wait until you start to smell a bit and then have a shower. It's logical.
So, do yourself a favour... turn off the auto sensor cleaning function on your camera. You'll save battery power and you run less risk of contaminating an already clean sensor. If you notice a speck of dust, turn it back on again until the dust disappears.
I think the fact it's some random blog says it all. I'm sure canon, nikon etc wouldn't invest money in putting it on the cameras if it didn't help more than it hindered.
All it does is vibrate the sensor, not "manically shake it around", he hasn't stopped to think just putting the camera down on a table gives the sensor (and any dust) a bigger knock.
All it does is vibrate the sensor, not "manically shake it around", he hasn't stopped to think just putting the camera down on a table gives the sensor (and any dust) a bigger knock.
14-7 said:
Just sat reading this blog about auto-sensor cleaning but not sure whether to bother paying any attention to it. I for one tend to shoot maybe 10 shots or so then turn the camera off so it's probably only in use for a few minutes. It then gets swtiched back on a few minutes later and the process repeats.
Any thoughts on whether or not this is a good/bad idea?
so ignore it! The manufacturers have tested it exhaustively it does work but its not a miracle cure so a camera will stil eventually or randomly need a professional clean. Any thoughts on whether or not this is a good/bad idea?
Blog said:
said nothing of any technical merit
I've left it switched on on my camera as it's never caused any problems. Just certain things made me curious like the battery life issue. Surely it doesn't make that bigger difference to the overall life of one charge cycle? I still get about 1000 takes off one charge (if not more)!
I was just surprised as it was on a fairly good website (which is cheap for certain products that I have ordered) that I thought was OK.
I was just surprised as it was on a fairly good website (which is cheap for certain products that I have ordered) that I thought was OK.
Well that's what happens when marketing departments try to solve problems that don't really exist - you just introduce new problems. Unfortunately many people buy cameras on the length of the features list, even if Feature 258 is 'automatic fruitbat'.
Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 21st December 10:13
Can't believe that the random numpty was contradicting his own b
ks :
So it does exactly what it says on the tin, but also as probably stated in the manual, its no replacement for proper manual cleaning.
ks :internet land oxygen thief said:
The reason for this dust invasion was almost certainly the "Auto Sensor Clean" function.
I switched the camera on and off about 10 times so that the auto cleaning function operated continuously. This eventually shifted the particle and the sensor was now clean again.
So he (she?) says that its almost certainly the auto clean (that tries to vibrate the dirt off the sensor) thats somehow caused some dust/particles to stick to the sensor. And then after using the function several times its cleaned it.I switched the camera on and off about 10 times so that the auto cleaning function operated continuously. This eventually shifted the particle and the sensor was now clean again.
So it does exactly what it says on the tin, but also as probably stated in the manual, its no replacement for proper manual cleaning.
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