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Just found the "Dust detection" option


Echo63

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I feel like an idiot.

 

I have had my M240 2 yrs now, and have only just found the dust detection feature.

for those of you who don't know, you stop the lens down (f16 or 22) and point the camera at a homogenous out of focus surface (sky, white paper etc, i used a white document in photoshop) and take a picture, it analyses it, then shows you where the dust is, as through you were looking through the lens mount.

whoever thought of this is a genius !

 

here is a pair of iPhone pics of the LCD of my M240, showing before and after i blew the dust off the sensor with the low pressure compressed air line at work (setup in the studio, specifically for blowing dust off sensors)

still some dust stuck, but much much cleaner than it was beforehand.

 

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I was never able to get that feature to work right, but I never thought to use my monitor! I happened to be working in Illustrator at the moment so I just opened a new artboard and wouldn't you know it. Worked first try! My sensor is only a little dirty as I use my rocket blower every other week or so, but it's also not terribly dusty here on the coast of California.

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I think the value of this is in knowing exactly where the dust is. If I am manually detecting dust by looking at the picture taken at small aperture then I have to remember that image forms upside down on the sensor. Therefore dust showing up on top right is actually at bottom left. This feature gets rid off the complexity and simply tells you where the dust it. Very helpful. Although I won't call it a hidden feature.... maybe it is hidden because most M users don't get into menu at all. I only go into menu once in a while to adjust time zone when I am travelling.

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Only hidden to guys who don't read manuals... or maps.   :)  

 

I know the feature is there, but have never needed it.....easy to see when there's a problem (on screen and in print), and a loupe shows where the problem is.   The detection system will likely have you cleaning far more than needed.  My M240 has never needed more than an occasional dust blowing since new....and my M8.2 has only needed a few wet cleanings over 7 years.....consistent with other user reports in a very recent thread on the topic.

 

Jeff

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I do it like jaapv. But before I start cleaning the sensor, I use dust detection to learn about the state of affairs -- and after the cleaning as well. Which may mean that I have to do it again (and again)...

Best regards, Herd

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I rather like this feature, although I must say that for some reason I don't find as much dust on my 240 as I do on our Nikons.  With no other explanation I suspect that it has to do with using primarily zooms on the Nikons vs primes on the 240.

 

And when I do it generally blows off with a bulb where the Nikons can be relied upon to need a wet cleaning.

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Same function is in Photoshop and /or LR.   

 

I clean once a year whether it needs it or not.   As required if I detect defects on images.    Leaving things there too long can make them very hard to clean.

 

Dust is easy, little curly strands.   My nemesis  are little tan colored dots which I think are pollen.

 

Effective prevention includes blowing out the camera infant of the shutter before dust migrates behind.  After each shoot is ok.  

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I dont dig too far into camera menus, this is one of those things i should have found, but didnt.

I typically set the camera up once, and leave it alone (i struggle to remember to change the AF settings on my 1DX for different sports)

Also the first time i have cleaned my M in 2 yrs and 30,000 pics (it needed doing, i was seeing the occasional spot in my pictures, when stopped down past f8)

I really like the way it shows you where the dust is and where you need to concentrate your cleaning efforts.

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  • 2 years later...

I just used the dust detection function on my 4 month old M10 after noticing a few spots on sky areas of images shot at f16. The dust persisted after bulb blowing so I used my VisibleDust brush to dry clean the sensors. After two passes, all is good.

 

I hope that the next M will include ultrasonic sensor cleaning like my Fuji X cameras.

 

Regards,

Bud James
 
www.budjames.photography
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Where does the Fuji X camera put the dust it has removed from the sensor?

On a sticky strip same as all the other dust removal shaking sensors.

The most effective system is Olympus. The rest are a distant second.

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I just found it today, but that's because I got my first m240 in the mail today and low and behold, a few specks are present. Ordered some large frame sensor swabs to give it a cleaning. This is a superb little camera in hand and a very large step up from a past M8 I let go awhile back.

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I just used the dust detection function on my 4 month old M10 after noticing a few spots on sky areas of images shot at f16. The dust persisted after bulb blowing so I used my VisibleDust brush to dry clean the sensors. After two passes, all is good.

 

I hope that the next M will include ultrasonic sensor cleaning like my Fuji X cameras.

 

Regards,

Bud James

 

www.budjames.photography

Unlikely. Leica does not like movable parts in their sensors for precision reasons.
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I just found it today, but that's because I got my first m240 in the mail today and low and behold, a few specks are present. Ordered some large frame sensor swabs to give it a cleaning. This is a superb little camera in hand and a very large step up from a past M8 I let go awhile back.

Before you start swabbing the decks, try a few puffs with a rubber puffer. In my M240’s 4 year life no sensor dust had resisted a puff of air. Other owners have had different experiences so you may need to touch the sensor but blow first and recheck.

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Where does the Fuji X camera put the dust it has removed from the sensor?

Not sure, but I have not had to clean my Fuji sensors in three years other than an occasional bulb blowing. Over 20k images shot in four continents.

 

Regards,

Bud James

 

www.budjames.photography

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