Learner Posted November 17, 2015 Share #1 Posted November 17, 2015 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Upsetting yesterday to see a few spots in my T pictures. Don't know whether they're dust, pollen, or factory oil. I have three T lenses but I'm not swapping all the time. I change the lens at home and only go out with camera and one lens ... I leave the others at home. I wrecked an M sensor when cleaning it and so am loathe to attempt cleaning the T sensor. Will likely send the camera to the dealer. Is there anything special about cleaning the T's sensor? Is is safe as a first step to use a Rocket blower into an an inverted T? Any thoughts / advice for me and others? Would like the T2 to have built-in cleaning. How difficult / pricey is it to incorporate self-cleaning into a camera the size of the T? Just wondering if "undesirables" can only enter the T through the lens opening... How about via an empty battery chamber? Edited November 17, 2015 by Learner Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 17, 2015 Posted November 17, 2015 Hi Learner, Take a look here Cleaning the T sensor. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Learner Posted November 17, 2015 Author Share #2 Posted November 17, 2015 (edited) Now that I've calmed down, here's what I'm going to do: -- Be more accepting of some blemishing... Realize that it's almost impossible to avoid blemishes if one changes lenses. -- Edit out blemishes visible on "keepers", as against blue sky... Most of the pix I take are not worth hanging on to. -- When the sensor gets really dirty, send it to the dealer... Once a year?? -- Be judicious as to when / where I'm changing lenses. Is that a sensible plan? Edited November 17, 2015 by Learner Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christoph13 Posted November 17, 2015 Share #3 Posted November 17, 2015 Sensible, if a little conservative. It can't hurt to inspect the sensor visually against a moderately bright and uniformly lit surface to see what the cause of the specks on your images actually is. The course of action would depend on what you find but I would imagine that most likely you can avoid sending the camera out (and not having it around for a while). 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learner Posted November 17, 2015 Author Share #4 Posted November 17, 2015 (edited) Thank you Christoph... Just took a gander at the sensor... Can see no blemishes with the naked eye. Are you a believer in the Rocket blower? I have heard that the blower, especially an old one, can expel dust from its own innards. Edited November 17, 2015 by Learner Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
berkinet Posted November 17, 2015 Share #5 Posted November 17, 2015 (edited) I have found this cleaner to be effective: http://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B00JPD0UQW or http://www.amazon.com/Sensor-Gel-Stick/dp/B00JPD0UQW Edited November 17, 2015 by berkinet Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belle123 Posted November 17, 2015 Share #6 Posted November 17, 2015 I would use the rocket blower. Hold the camera with sensor pointed down and blow away, of course taking care not to touch the sensor. May I ask, what cleaning method did you use that wrecked the M sensor? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunebed Posted November 17, 2015 Share #7 Posted November 17, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Indeed. A careful puf ones in a while helps me out. I would not trust myself yet to touch the sensor. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted November 17, 2015 Share #8 Posted November 17, 2015 I use a rocket blower as well. I have cleaned many a sensor and the only ones I won't touch are the IBIS equipped cameras. It's generally pretty easy with care and the proper time allotted. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest VVJ Posted November 18, 2015 Share #9 Posted November 18, 2015 The rocket blower as well, $10 at B&H: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/259157-REG/Giottos_AA1900_Rocket_Air_Blower.html 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr10Percent Posted November 18, 2015 Share #10 Posted November 18, 2015 Remember to stop down to F16. The reduced light will expose where the sensor blemish/dust is and you can then focus the rocket blower to the right spot on the sensor. Finally, take an F16 snap against a plain background (white wall, blue sky etc..) to see if it is properly clear. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHobbit Posted November 18, 2015 Share #11 Posted November 18, 2015 Remember to stop down to F16. The reduced light will expose where the sensor blemish/dust is and you can then focus the rocket blower to the right spot on the sensor. Finally, take an F16 snap against a plain background (white wall, blue sky etc..) to see if it is properly clear. Is there a need to set down to f16? Always thought what you see with the lens removed is the full sensor. Learn something new everyday. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted November 18, 2015 Share #12 Posted November 18, 2015 Stopping down will narrow the beam of light leaving the lens. It will produce sharper shadows of any particles of lint or dust sitting on the sensor. When using a background which is far away (the sky, e.g.), focus the lens to a short distance as possible. When using a background which is quite close (a wall or door), set your lens to infinity, This will make it easier to tell dust on the sensor from any anything in front of the lens such as birds in the sky or nails in the wall. When in doubt take several shots, varying the position or orientation of the camera. Anything which moves between shots is in front of the camera. Anything which remains stationary with respect to the frame is on the sensor. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grillo Posted November 19, 2015 Share #13 Posted November 19, 2015 Is there a need to set down to f16? Always thought what you see with the lens removed is the full sensor. Learn something new everyday. He is talking about taking a picture that shows clearly where the dust is. You do that with the lens on the camera. With a small aperture (f16), pointed to an out of focus flat surface, you will see the dust more clearly. Then you remove the lens to clean the sensor. After that you mount the lens again and take a new picture to check if your cleaning worked. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted November 19, 2015 Share #14 Posted November 19, 2015 Is there a need to set down to f16? Always thought what you see with the lens removed is the full sensor. Learn something new everyday. You see the full sensor with the lens attached as well. Remember.........If you see a dust spot on the top of a picture it is actually on the bottom of the sensor. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHobbit Posted November 19, 2015 Share #15 Posted November 19, 2015 He is talking about taking a picture that shows clearly where the dust is. You do that with the lens on the camera. With a small aperture (f16), pointed to an out of focus flat surface, you will see the dust more clearly. Then you remove the lens to clean the sensor. After that you mount the lens again and take a new picture to check if your cleaning worked. Ah... I understand better now. Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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