Dust on sensor, DLUX 5. What to do?

[paullgj]

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I'm very careful with my equipment, am constantly using the rocket blower externally, but my DLUX 5 has developed a dust spot on the sensor. Look at the lower right of the river image. Did the white wall shot just to make sure, and there it is. What to do? I can only think of calling Leica USA and sending it in. I'm open to suggestions.

 

It is a good camera, I prefer the colors of my DLUX 5 to my LX7, not a Leica-Panasonic thing, but rather CCD sensor vs. CMOS.

 

Thanks.

 

Gene

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[dkCambridgeshire]

I bought a used D Lux 5 from a UK Leica dealer and had the same problem. The dealer sent it to Leica Solms and the sensor was cleaned under warranty. The camera then suffered minor impact damage to the shoulder resulting in the flash not popping up. I tried to find a third party repairer to remedy the damage but none would tackle it, " ... because it's a Leica ..." . Luckily I managed to push the ding out myself using a modelling knife blade. Before attempting this I had considered dismantling the camera and pushing the dent out. I sourced an online Panasonic LX-5 repair manual online but it was not much help.

 

As it is, your camera is not really usable because the 'blob' is likely to show up on most images. If it's still under warranty it should be repaired free of charge; if not under warranty you have to consider if the repair would be cost effective. Ask an authorised Leica repairer for an estimate. If not cost effective maybe you can find an independent repairer to tackle it?

 

Best wishes

 

dunk

[paullgj]

Durk, thanks for responding. Looks like I call Leica USA tomorrow morning. The camera is about 2 months out of warranty. The dust spot could not be more than a week old. Still trying to figure out how it got there; it may have been using the zoom feature while at the beach - lots of minute sand and mist in the air.

 

I agree, it's not useable with the blob showing in every image.

[dkCambridgeshire]

Durk, thanks for responding. Looks like I call Leica USA tomorrow morning. The camera is about 2 months out of warranty. The dust spot could not be more than a week old. Still trying to figure out how it got there; it may have been using the zoom feature while at the beach - lots of minute sand and mist in the air.

 

I agree, it's not useable with the blob showing in every image.

 

The contaminant could have originated from inside the camera - the sensor is tiny and so is the contaminant - it could be friction generated metal dust which has worn off the shutter blades or a drop of lube from the shutter mechanism - or a mixture of lube and metal dust from shutter wear. If only 2 months out of warranty maybe Leica will treat it as a warranty repair. Put it to Leica that it's unlikely to have originated from outside the camera.

 

Good luck.

 

dunk

[earleygallery]

Still trying to figure out how it got there; it may have been using the zoom feature while at the beach - lots of minute sand and mist in the air.

 

I agree, it's not useable with the blob showing in every image.

 

I had dust on my Clux sensor. I decided to try opening the camera myself (was pretty straightforward). The sensor on these types of camera is basically part of the lens assembly, attached to the rear of the lens by (in my case) a couple of screws.

 

There was a lot of dust/fluff inside the camera and obviously some had been drawn onto the sensor. I cleaned the camera internals and sensor, screwed it back on then put a little tape over the sensor panel/lens assembly join.

 

I used to think it was the retractable lens design which caused dust but it is probably just ingress though the camera body.

[paullgj]

So Leica repaired the DLUX 5, no charge, even though it's 5 months out of warranty. Received a note that it's on its way back via 2nd day air. Which is why I went with Leica instead of Panasonic LX5. Wish I would have followed my own advice, and purchased the DLUX6 instead of the LX7. Guess there's a reason for the premium price of the Leica.

[NZDavid]

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This is very common with all digital cameras, even compacts with non-interchangeable lenses. If you go outdoors anywhere remotely windy (which is all of New Zealand) dust spots on the sensor will occur.

 

They occurred on my X1 and I sent it back to Solms (a process that took three months). Same happened on the D-Lux 5, but they are only tiny spots and they seem to have subsequently moved. My brother's Ricoh (used extensively for hiking outdoors) is now virtually unusable because of dust.

 

There is a clear need for manufacturers -- including Panasonic and Leica -- to make more rugged cameras. Otherwise the solution is to go for a ruggedized outdoor camera for general use, but I am not sure if how they compare. Of course, the advantage of an interchangeable lens camera is that you can clean the sensor.

[paullgj]

This is very common with all digital cameras, even compacts with non-interchangeable lenses. If you go outdoors anywhere remotely windy (which is all of New Zealand) dust spots on the sensor will occur.

 

 

Otherwise the solution is to go for a ruggedized outdoor camera for general use, but I am not sure if how they compare. Of course, the advantage of an interchangeable lens camera is that you can clean the sensor.

 

This is a real bummer and I agree with you 100%. Now I'm wondering what to use for a travel camera for an extended trip to Central America. Sony's new RF10 is supposedly weather sealed/dustproof. Don't know if that means anything in the real world or not.

[dorman]

Is it possible that your Rocket Blower has actual blown dust INTO the camera body?

[bill k]

If you manage to open the body (as I did)....you won't believe the amount of dust inside....I think most of it entered through the seams and maybe around the lens opening....I carried my camera everywhere and it spent a great deal of time in my jacket and trouser pocket.....the lint present inside the camera resembled "pocket lint"very fine cotton lint...the camera interior looked like a snow storm ....probably caused by blowing lint deeper into the camera....choices are to send it to proper repair station or toss it into the trash....mine sits on a shelf to remind me there are no "pocket cameras".....my solution was to buy a new Panasonic LX-7 and to gaffer tape all seams possible.....oh and not to put it into my pocket...my former camera DLUX 5 looked as if it went through a war zone....my present Pana Leica seems to fare better with the addition of gaffers tape........just my experience with what was once a great camera........kind regards,Bill

[justicepot]

I have D-Lux 4. May I know how to open it up to clean the sensor? There are spots on the photos.

 

Can I find any such instructions? Thanks

[dkCambridgeshire]

I have D-Lux 4. May I know how to open it up to clean the sensor? There are spots on the photos.

 

Can I find any such instructions? Thanks

 

Unlikely you will find any instructions for the D Lux 4 ref sensor cleaning. However, as the D Lux 4 is essentially a modified Panasonic LX 3 you might find a YouTube video detailing LX 3 sensor cleaning … but it's likely to be a fiddly job and not straightforward.

 

dunk

[jaapv]

Is it possible that your Rocket Blower has actual blown dust INTO the camera body?

 

Yes. The outside of a camera is best cleaned by a soft paint brush.

[justicepot]

i opened up my D-LUX4 after some struggles.

But I could not open the 3 screws to get into the sensor. Not sure what they are, neither + nor - screw head.

[xalo]

Am curious because my D-Lux 5 looks pretty battered and has developed some arbitrary behaviour... no dust spots yet, but the thumb wheel contacts seem to work only one out of ten turns (that was a gradual process, actually, starting quite early).

 

Justicepot, could you post a picture of the screw heads in question? Do they have recesses in form of a star? They could be tiny torx screws, perhaps.

 

Alexander

[justicepot]

xalo, the photo as attached. i really could not see it with my naked eyes.

I used a scanner to get it.

 

i also noticed there is a tiny vertical line in my photos. more troubles

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[xalo]

Thanks for the pic, looks like a form of tiny torx screws indeed.

Electronic hardware stores carry the proper tools.

For the line, this will not help, however. Check perhaps with Leica first for a repair estimate.

Best,

Alexander

[xalo]

Well, yes, a dustspot as well. Once you start looking...

Doesn't ruin most pictures though and is easy enough to clean in post.

Still, has anyone got an estimate from Leica?

 

Alexander

[NZDavid]

All in all an argument for interchangeable lenses. At least you can get at the sensor to clean with a blower brush.

 

Dust will move around and a little bit shouldn't be took bad. But it can get a lot worse. My brother's Ricoh has become almost unusable after extended trips into wilderness areas.

 

What is really required is a rugged weatherproof camera with the best optics. Suggestions?

 

I do wish Leica would come up with something practical and tough rather than another "special edition" style exercise!

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica Lux

[xalo]

Can't say I'm unhappy about the D-Lux 5' resistance, given the time it has spent in my pockets and bags and the pics it continues to give me. At one point I must have adjusted my expectations to what it is and from then on, no more disappointment. Anything with an interchangeable lens with comparable range doesn't fit my trouser pocket. So it remains valuable to me and may well have deserved a pit stop.

 

As for relatively small, rugged, weatherproof and brillinat, I'd look into the Olympus OM-D (E-M1 or E-M5) line-up. Too many buttons for me, plus a cyborg finder, but the image quality is there and if they got the seals as well done as on the SLRs, you're good to go through quite some rain and dust without trouble.

 

Alexander