Sensor dirt or something else? Please help

[sergiomarried]

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Dear friends,

Here's attached a sky picture at f16 on my M10M. Even though it's monochrom sensor I felt it doesn't matter in this case and thought I might get more replies and support here than our niche space on this community... I've never seen this level of dirt before on my sensor... What do you think about it? Dirt or something else? Should I contact Leica or my usual camera store for cleaning round and that should solve it?

It's pretty damn ugly...

Thanks a lot in advanced and sorry for the panic

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Are we seeing the whole frame or just a part of the image? Have you looked into the camera, with your eyes? An artefact of that size ought to be visible to the naked eye. Have you tried cleaning the sensor? How?

[sergiomarried]

I inspected the sensor visually and didn't see anything... I've also verified that it's sensor related and not the lens by testing an alternative one with same result. I haven't tried to do anything about cleaning the sensor yet...

[Herr Barnack]

@sergiomarried  What you are seeing is a foreign object on your sensor cover glass.  If you look closely, you will also see small dots that are dust particles (lower right and near the right edge at 3 o'clock.  You need to clean your sensor, that's what the issue is.

You do not have to send your camera off to Leica to have this done - it is easy to do it yourself.  Get the right cleaning fluid and sensor swabs (see below), follow the directions exactly and it's easily done.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/127525-REG/Photographic_Solutions_EC_Eclipse_Optic_Lens_Cleaning.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1165567-REG/photographic_solutions_us3box_ultra_swab_type_3.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/259157-REG/Giottos_AA1900_Rocket_Air_Blower.html

[a.noctilux]

For me it's dirt and if the image show here is full frame, the "bit" may had fallen out by itself already.

So when you inspect, you didn't see it.

Take other "sky" frames, by now, you will not see, or maybe at another location.

[jaapv]

Or, if you don't feel sure, use a sensor cleaning service

[sergiomarried]

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Thanks a lot for the replies and hopefully it’s indeed just some serious dirt… it’s also about time after years and years that I get my own cleaning done! Might consider learning once for all… 😅

[Dennis]

It looks like dirt. I've seen a few times something like this in my cameras (not Leica, but Dslr). You should try with an air blaster first, it's easy and painless. In my experience, bigger they are, better to remove. Then you repeat again the f/22 shot, with the same lens and another one, just in case.

Then, if it doesn't work, it's time to clean the sensor.

[sergiomarried]

Thanks a lot Dennis 🙂

[Dennis]

1 minute ago, sergiomarried said:

Thanks a lot for the replies and hopefully it’s indeed just some serious dirt… it’s also about time after years and years that I get my own cleaning done! Might consider learning once for all… 😅

There is a glass on the top on the sensor. If you are not rude, it's something very easy to accomplish. 

[jaapv]

From the M FAQ:

  

On 7/12/2010 at 1:29 PM, jaapv said:

Question: There are spots on my images, especially at small apertures.


This is sensor dirt. All digital cameras with interchangeable lenses have this problem, but an M is particularly prone, because there is no mirror as extra barrier and the lack of an AA filter makes the dirt more visible.

One should prevent dust from entering the camera as much as possible. There are a number of strategies.
1. Avoid changing lenses more than necessary.
2. Change lenses in as much of a dust-free environment as possible
3. Keep the rear end of the lens as clean as possible
4. Change the lens with the camera mouth facing downwards
5. (This may be a myth) Switch off the camera before changing lenses.

But dust will come on the sensor anyway.
Consult the manual to find the sensor cleaning item in the menu and use a FULLY charged battery. Before opening the shutter blow out the camera (using a bulb blower, not compressed air or your mouth!) to dislodge any loose dust.

If the dust on the sensor is loose one can blow off the sensor using a good bulb blower, (Rocket Blower by Giotto for instance) with the camera mouth facing downwards.

If that does not clear the problem there are sensor brushes like the Arctic Butterfly by Visible Dust that are quite effective or the little vacuum cleaner by Green Clean. At this stage the use of a Sensor Loupe can be very helpful.

If spots on the sensor persist you are dealing with stuck dirt like pollen or oil spots and need to revert to wet cleaning. There are numerous threads on the subject. The Visible Dust products are highly recommended or the Green Clean wet-and-dry method.
Use a proper solvent for grease if you think you are dealing with oil etc. (Visible Dust Smear Away or Dust-Aid Sensor Clean (my preference)

Open the shutter for cleaning and blow it once again with a bulb blower or vacuum clean it, to remove any loose particles which might be dragged across the sensor and cause scratches.

Although the M10 is full frame and there are size 1 sensor swabs on the market, I prefer using the swabs for 1.3 sensors (and APS-C swabs for the M8)
Take a clean swab, put on three small drops of Sensor Cleaning Fluid and in two sweeps, top and bottow go to one side - do not over-press!!- and sweep back again, using the other side of the swab automatically.
Or, using the wet-and-dry system, swab with the wet sponge and dry with a couple of sweeps with the dry swab. Don't let the fluid spill over the edge of the sensor too much - there are electronic connections there.

That is all - close the shutter and test the camera by taking an defocused image of an evenly lit surface at the smallest aperture.

In the unlikely case it is needed, repeat.
 

There is also the stamping system as used by Leica. This lifts the dust off the sensor by a sticky gel pad and transfers it to a piece of sticky paper. Basically this is the easiest and safest way for sensors that ar not grease-contaminated.

There are a few things to consider:

1. First blow the sensor clean with a bulb blower to remove scratchy loose dust.

2 Don't pull the stamp straight up, wobble it. Straight down, don't try to wipe, wobbly up.

3. Never touch the stamping part with your fingers. If it gets contaminated use the manufacturer-recommended cleaning fluid or Isopropyl alcohol (Eclipse, Smear-away).

 

Recommended systems are Eyelead Blue for Sony and Pentax. There have been  (rare) occasional negative reports of other brands.

 

Nevertheless even using dry systems wet cleaning will become unavoidable at a certain point.
There are also sensor cleaning services or Leica Customer Service, but those are expensive and will keep the camera for a while. They may also not be readily available if one is travelling. Sensor cleaning is something any owner should be able to do himself.

If you are fairly certain your spots are oil or grease, it may be wise to omit the step with the Arctic Butterfly or to use stamping , as the tool will get contaminated by grease. In case that happens it can be cleaned with the special fluid provided.

 

[Dennis]

I have this on my wishlist:  No tried yet personally, but I like the procedure. It's Amazon Mexico link, so you can read in spanish 🙂 I think is smarter than the classic swab and liquid. But this is me.

A sample in youtube 

 

 

[jaapv]

I always use it,  but you need to get the "for Sony" variant. One thing, don't pull it off, wobble it. Pulling is scary as it lifts the cover glass.
And use a blower bulb first, as that will remove potentially scratchy loose dirt.

[Tailwagger]

The little dot at the top makes me think its a hair. Should just be able to blow it out