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M10-R unbelievably fussy on trying to take a sensor cleaning check image


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I am trying to take a dust detection image with my M10-R, just like I have been doing for the last 20+ years on various digital cameras. I am using a 90/2.8 Elmarit-M lens, defocussed to the near focus limit, stopped down to f22, pointing at a solid blue sky and in addition, I am using an Expo-Disc, the ground glass and image diffusor screen used for grey scale adjustments, when you don't have a grey surface, which should produce a 100% homogeneous image across the whole sensor. 

However in spite of multiple attempts at various manual ISO settings, I continue to get the extremely irritating message: "Image inhomogeneous". Have others had this experience? I know my sensor needs cleaning and I thought I would try it myself but I am a bit concerned about how shaky my hands have become since I last did this a couple of years ago. If I don't get a good result, I have enough time to get it done by Park Cameras before my trip to Vienna on the 31st, where I will take either my 0.95 Noctilux or 1.4 Summilux IIISE for night shots and general use plus 21mm Biogon for wide panoramas. 

Wilson

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1 minute ago, darylgo said:

Multiple Leica cameras, multiple attempts with each yielded results similar to yours.  I gave up on this feature, non-feature.  

Funny old World, as always worked first time every time for me. Put camera on mule post of stairs, set camera as directed, point at plain emulsioned wall,  press shutter, and bingo, any bunnies are there for all to see.

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23 minutes ago, wlaidlaw said:

I am using an Expo-Disc

Why? At f22 exposure will be ok. Suggest try without diffuser which may be giving 'inhomogeneous' issue.

Also not sure how 'plain' a blue sky really is.

Edited by pedaes
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20 minutes ago, pedaes said:

Why? At f22 exposure will be ok. Suggest try without diffuser which may be giving 'inhomogeneous' issue.

Also not sure how 'plain' a blue sky really is.

I tried first without the Expo Disc and still got the same irritating message. The Expo Disc has always worked in the past. I have also tried with and without Expo Disc, pointing at a light grey painted wall - no luck. 

Wilson

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My M10P comes and goes with this feature.  Last time I just wound up defocusing and shooting the sky that particular day.  I kind of like the picture anyway so I can see if it is better/worse/orthesame.

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Wilson - I used to do it with a 35 FLE on my M10, no problems. Then on the M10-R it just never worked. I saw a comment somewhere to use a 'longer lens', so I tried my 75 APO-Summicron and it works every time. I see you are using a 90 so it 'should' be ok. From my experience it seems to be the vignetting which may be the culprit of the 'inhomogeneous'. Perhaps try a different lens and maybe also try f/16 or f/11 on your 90 - something might just work. I also have only ever aimed at a smooth white ceiling, lens set at infinity for blur - the white will use all of the RGB pixels, whereas a blue sky will use primarily only the blue pixels - could that maybe part of the problem?? I've never worked out if the exposure you set the camera to (esp. the ISO) have any bearing on this 'feature'?

Would love to hear if you increase your hit rate!

Edited by PCPix
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Works for me. I typically use my 135 or 90 at f16, but also can do it with a 50. Use a bit oversized white piece of paper, board or table under even light. Be careful not to project your shadow on it. Not sure why anyone would expect it to work with a sky or light gray wall etc. 

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I finally got it to work with a tip from another forum member. Use a blank document on a laptop with the brightness all the way up. It is still very fussy and I had to extend the built in hood on the 90 Elmarit before it would work. Having seen how filthy my sensor is, I then went to my cleaning kit, only to find the Visible Dust Smear Away fluid had turned to glue and I only have one full frame wand left. I have to go into Burgess Hill anyway tomorrow morning for an MOT test on my car, so I will take the mobility scooter out of my boot and drive in that to Park Cameras which is about 1/2 mile away from Mr. MOT. They offer a cleaning service for £40. By the time I had bought new wands and another bottle of the liquid platinum, masquerading as Smear Away, I would be well over £40. 

Wilson

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Leica US will clean the sensor at no charge, but it will take at least 12 weeks—so I’ve just been told. They do offer loaners (in principle).  
 

I sent my M10-D to my (authorized) dealer instead, because they will clean the sensor with quick turnaround.   Yet another reason to find a dealer you like and give them all or most of your business.

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True but his sensor cleaning frustration is not geographically limited.  In theory a Leica dealer anywhere should do this gratis on a walk-in basis—so Leica has proclaimed a few times. 
 

But with a stranger, some dealers will say, “Why should I?”  Not completely unreasonable, because cleaning a sensor is exacting, tedious and can go expensively wrong.

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One other thing (because I had to clean my sensor yesterday). Remember your zone system! Overexpose that white piece of paper by at least a stop or two or more. Don't let the camera use auto because it will gray it out to zone 5, and that will give a false reading that may not work. Use any iso you want. 

I had no issue getting it to work yesterday using a flat white board and my 135 under some LED track lighting. I use a Pentax sticky pen, and after the first go around it showed me one chunk left in the middle and which I wouldn't have seen with my bare eye. 

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Absolutely tipping with rain this morning, so my mobility scooter remained in the boot. At Park Cameras after getting my MOT test done, they said my M10-R could be ready after sensor cleaning  in an hour (good service - go local) but I opted to collect tomorrow morning. Apparently that is also cheaper. I have been very remiss on sensor cleaning and that might just be the first or maybe second sensor clean since new, some 2+ years ago, although due to health problems, I have not been taking a lot of photos, so 95% of the time my M10-R has sat with the 35mm APO attached. 

Wilson

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Success with M10R.    Tried everything for last week.  Cleaned front and back 50 2.8- used 11-16 aperture-  tried image on white computer screen - tried plastic cutting board bought for purpose.   Camera was defocused to the extreme.

Today I tried new computer paper right from package with full blue sky.  Same old non even subject message.  So I tried F4 and got a nice image like my M10 makes.  I was a hand length from paper just enough so there were no shadows.  

Also did a photo for backup.  It showed a clean sensor on the computer which is correct since I just cleaned it

 

Edited by tobey bilek
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Excellent cleaning job by Park Cameras on my M10-R. Not a spic of dust showing up on dust detection. Better than I have ever managed......and all for £40. Money well spent. 

Wilson

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  • 1 month later...

Had the same issue on my M10 with dust detection/nonhomogeneous message.  Discovered that if the sensor has too many specs, it will produce this message no matter what else you do!  The solution was to "blind" clean a couple of times and THEN do dust detection.  Worked immediately after that to show the remaining dust which could be then target cleaned.  Some stubborn specs required multiple passes to remove, but all clean now!  Remember the old radioactive negative dust brush?  I wonder if such a brush made smaller could work on removing dust from a sensor?  Not sure of the fine particle physics that make them attracted to and adhere so well to the sensor.  I have confirmed that the rocket blower seems to make matters worse, not better, even holding the camera upside down while using it.  Only a wet clean works for me.  I have not tried the sticky sticks.

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Sadly you cannot buy the radioactive brush any more as private ownership of Polonium is banned in many countries. I believe the thinking behind the ban was that if a a terrorist bought thousands of those devices and extracted the polonium, they could make a small dirty bomb. 

Wilson

 

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