Sensor Dust - Self Cleaning?

Darren Joy · Jun 15, 2001

Ok, it's finally happened. I have sensor dust. I look at the sensor in cleaning mode, and I can see nothing, but I know it's there from test shots at small apertures. Small dust, but dust.

The method described in the manual, i.e. using a bulb blower, has only made it twice as bad.

I have contacted Canon, who tell me to send it back for cleaning, as it's covered by warranty. I have contacted my store, and they are all set to send it back. I just have to take it in.

I really don't want to lose my D30 for so long...but I will if I have to.

One day however, that warranty will expire. Then what do I do? Has anyone tried cleaning the sensor themselves? What was the outcome?

Which methods are available to us? The bulb blower technique doesn't work except maybe in very minor cases, so what other options are there?

I went out to an artists supply shop, and bought a 1/4" synthetic artists brush, the softest I could find. I have not convinced myself to try it, but I think this has to be the safest possible method for physical contact cleaning.

Non-contact? I thought maybe a tiny electrostatic charge on the brush, applied through some means ( comb? balloon? CRT screen? ), and waving the brush over the sensor might attract the particles. Obviously, this is slightly risky, static and electronics.....not good bedfellows. But if the charge was small enough, and the hand steady enough...maybe an option.

Although this is a subject that has come up before, I don't recall ever seeing a definitive answer, and I feel it's something that should be part of a FAQ and useful for new D30 owners. Also, it's something we are all going to have to face at some point, no warranty lasts forever, and some time in the future, you might need your D30 RIGHT NOW for something, and discover a dusty sensor, self cleaning might be the only option, so it pays to be informed.

Thoughts?

Duncan Campbell · Jun 15, 2001

I suppose this is one of the tradeoff of a removeable lens.

What is the minimum aperture that you notice the dust. If you use a wider aperture it may not be noticeable.

I think sending it off for cleaning every time you see a few specs of dust on the sensor is really not practical either in or out of warranty as the camera will be in the repair shop most of the time.

You could allways doe a spot of electronic retouching.

I think if everyone checked their sensor dust would be found.

Regards, Duncan

Darren Joy said:
Ok, it's finally happened. I have sensor dust. I look at the sensor
in cleaning mode, and I can see nothing, but I know it's there from
test shots at small apertures. Small dust, but dust.

The method described in the manual, i.e. using a bulb blower, has
only made it twice as bad.

I have contacted Canon, who tell me to send it back for cleaning,
as it's covered by warranty. I have contacted my store, and they
are all set to send it back. I just have to take it in.

I really don't want to lose my D30 for so long...but I will if I
have to.

One day however, that warranty will expire. Then what do I do? Has
anyone tried cleaning the sensor themselves? What was the outcome?

Which methods are available to us? The bulb blower technique
doesn't work except maybe in very minor cases, so what other
options are there?

I went out to an artists supply shop, and bought a 1/4" synthetic
artists brush, the softest I could find. I have not convinced
myself to try it, but I think this has to be the safest possible
method for physical contact cleaning.

Non-contact? I thought maybe a tiny electrostatic charge on the
brush, applied through some means ( comb? balloon? CRT screen? ),
and waving the brush over the sensor might attract the particles.
Obviously, this is slightly risky, static and electronics.....not
good bedfellows. But if the charge was small enough, and the hand
steady enough...maybe an option.

Although this is a subject that has come up before, I don't recall
ever seeing a definitive answer, and I feel it's something that
should be part of a FAQ and useful for new D30 owners. Also, it's
something we are all going to have to face at some point, no
warranty lasts forever, and some time in the future, you might need
your D30 RIGHT NOW for something, and discover a dusty sensor,
self cleaning might be the only option, so it pays to be informed.

Thoughts?

Edward48882 · Jun 15, 2001

I too am wating for the definitive answer - have Canon had the last word on this or are they actively investigating practical ways in which the sensor can be cleaned at home by a careful, reasonably competent owner? What about using swabs, as Fuji recommend?? In my view it is just not reasonable to expect you to send the camera off for cleaning.

I shoot a lot of macro with small aperture for depth of field and smooth, out of focus backgrounds which show off the dust to its maximum. I don't want to have to go in and use the clone tool to remove every time, and it is not always possible to do this anyway without losing the integrity of the picture.

I would recommend anyone who is thinking of getting a D30 to take this issue seriously - it really has me tearing my hair out. GRRRRRRR.........

Darren Joy said:
Ok, it's finally happened. I have sensor dust. I look at the sensor
in cleaning mode, and I can see nothing, but I know it's there from
test shots at small apertures. Small dust, but dust.

The method described in the manual, i.e. using a bulb blower, has
only made it twice as bad.

I have contacted Canon, who tell me to send it back for cleaning,
as it's covered by warranty. I have contacted my store, and they
are all set to send it back. I just have to take it in.

I really don't want to lose my D30 for so long...but I will if I
have to.

One day however, that warranty will expire. Then what do I do? Has
anyone tried cleaning the sensor themselves? What was the outcome?

Which methods are available to us? The bulb blower technique
doesn't work except maybe in very minor cases, so what other
options are there?

I went out to an artists supply shop, and bought a 1/4" synthetic
artists brush, the softest I could find. I have not convinced
myself to try it, but I think this has to be the safest possible
method for physical contact cleaning.

Non-contact? I thought maybe a tiny electrostatic charge on the
brush, applied through some means ( comb? balloon? CRT screen? ),
and waving the brush over the sensor might attract the particles.
Obviously, this is slightly risky, static and electronics.....not
good bedfellows. But if the charge was small enough, and the hand
steady enough...maybe an option.

Although this is a subject that has come up before, I don't recall
ever seeing a definitive answer, and I feel it's something that
should be part of a FAQ and useful for new D30 owners. Also, it's
something we are all going to have to face at some point, no
warranty lasts forever, and some time in the future, you might need
your D30 RIGHT NOW for something, and discover a dusty sensor,
self cleaning might be the only option, so it pays to be informed.

Thoughts?

nate32807 · Jun 15, 2001

If I buy a D30 and put a 28-135 USM IS lens on it and never take it off, will I still have to deal with the dust issue? The 28-135mm range well covers my needed focal lengths (portrait photography).

Thanks,
Nate

Edward said:
I shoot a lot of macro with small aperture for depth of field and
smooth, out of focus backgrounds which show off the dust to its
maximum. I don't want to have to go in and use the clone tool to
remove every time, and it is not always possible to do this anyway
without losing the integrity of the picture.

I would recommend anyone who is thinking of getting a D30 to take
this issue seriously - it really has me tearing my hair out.
GRRRRRRR.........

Darren Joy said:

Ok, it's finally happened. I have sensor dust. I look at the sensor
in cleaning mode, and I can see nothing, but I know it's there from
test shots at small apertures. Small dust, but dust.

The method described in the manual, i.e. using a bulb blower, has
only made it twice as bad.

I have contacted Canon, who tell me to send it back for cleaning,
as it's covered by warranty. I have contacted my store, and they
are all set to send it back. I just have to take it in.

I really don't want to lose my D30 for so long...but I will if I
have to.

One day however, that warranty will expire. Then what do I do? Has
anyone tried cleaning the sensor themselves? What was the outcome?

Which methods are available to us? The bulb blower technique
doesn't work except maybe in very minor cases, so what other
options are there?

I went out to an artists supply shop, and bought a 1/4" synthetic
artists brush, the softest I could find. I have not convinced
myself to try it, but I think this has to be the safest possible
method for physical contact cleaning.

Non-contact? I thought maybe a tiny electrostatic charge on the
brush, applied through some means ( comb? balloon? CRT screen? ),
and waving the brush over the sensor might attract the particles.
Obviously, this is slightly risky, static and electronics.....not
good bedfellows. But if the charge was small enough, and the hand
steady enough...maybe an option.

Although this is a subject that has come up before, I don't recall
ever seeing a definitive answer, and I feel it's something that
should be part of a FAQ and useful for new D30 owners. Also, it's
something we are all going to have to face at some point, no
warranty lasts forever, and some time in the future, you might need
your D30 RIGHT NOW for something, and discover a dusty sensor,
self cleaning might be the only option, so it pays to be informed.

Thoughts?

Click to expand...

RichW · Jun 15, 2001

If you never take it off then you never have to worry. But how do you avoid the temptation of another lens. Once the bug bites there is no turning back!!

Rich

Nate said:
If I buy a D30 and put a 28-135 USM IS lens on it and never take it
off, will I still have to deal with the dust issue? The 28-135mm
range well covers my needed focal lengths (portrait photography).

Darren Joy · Jun 15, 2001

Duncan Campbell said:
I suppose this is one of the tradeoff of a removeable lens.

Yup, I guess so.

Duncan Campbell said:
What is the minimum aperture that you notice the dust. If you use a
wider aperture it may not be noticeable.

Consensus seems to be f8 and higher. However, I want to use those small apertures of f16 and f22 etc, if I didn't want that kind of use, I wouldn't have spent so much on a D30 SLR....I would have bought another digicam.

The whole point for me of spending that much, was to get a digital camera that had the functionality of an SLR, the same is true for most D30 owner I imagine, but as you say, this dust problem is our tradeoff. =/

Duncan Campbell said:
I think sending it off for cleaning every time you see a few specs
of dust on the sensor is really not practical either in or out of
warranty as the camera will be in the repair shop most of the time.

Agreed, this is why I think we need to formulate a best method for doing it ourselves, we are all going to have to do it sometime....

Duncan Campbell said:
You could allways doe a spot of electronic retouching.

Yes, for one or two, but not lots of spots, and certainly not on an ongoing basis for each image.

Duncan Campbell said:
I think if everyone checked their sensor dust would be found.

I think so too, it's when you notice that it becomes a problem =)

Darren Joy · Jun 15, 2001

Nate said:
If I buy a D30 and put a 28-135 USM IS lens on it and never take it
off, will I still have to deal with the dust issue? The 28-135mm
range well covers my needed focal lengths (portrait photography).

It would be nice to think so, however, I wouldn't mind betting that it will eventually get in there somehow.... =(

Darren Joy · Jun 15, 2001

RichW said:
But how do you avoid the temptation of another lens. Once the bug
bites there is no turning back!!

heh, aint that the truth.... =)

DonCohen · Jun 15, 2001

Hi Darren,

I feel your pain. I was just playing with some high mag macro shots using f/16 to f/32, and was astounded to find a lot of dust. Too much to have to edit in each shot. And it's clearly aperture related - really doesn't show up much if at f/11 or wider.

I agree that the recommended procedure for cleaning is not real effective - but I had a little more success by carefully holding the camera upside down, and then blowing in, so that gravity would be working for me, rather than against me, hoping the dust would head toward the ground, rather than settling back down in the sensor.

I hope you can some other posts here with alternatives - but I'm not sure if I've got the guts to try something mechanical on the sensor itself.

Don

http://www.dlcphotography.net

Darren Joy said:
Ok, it's finally happened. I have sensor dust. I look at the sensor
in cleaning mode, and I can see nothing, but I know it's there from
test shots at small apertures. Small dust, but dust.

nate32807 · Jun 15, 2001

My Olympus E10 (35-140 on 35mm equivalent camera) is teaching me that this is an adequate range (for me at least) for portrait photography. When I shoot medium format photograpgy, I only have 3 lenses at my disposal. (a 35mm equivalent, a 50mm equivalent, and a 90mm equivalent - 55mm, 80mm, and 150mm in respectively in that order) With the 28-135 I'll get 45mm on the wide end, but I can usually back up a little more when shooting groups or rearrange the group. So the temptation won't be that great to remove the lens. I just hope that dust won't be a problem if the lens isn't removed. I don't want to have to do that kind of editing on a lot of files very often.

Nate

RichW said:
Rich

Nate said:

If I buy a D30 and put a 28-135 USM IS lens on it and never take it
off, will I still have to deal with the dust issue? The 28-135mm
range well covers my needed focal lengths (portrait photography).

Click to expand...

John Foote · Jun 15, 2001

I've had two episodes of dust, and after using this upside down blower technique, got rid of it both times. Totally gone. I also take care to install my lenses face down, and quickly. Except for brief seconds, something is always on my camera.

As far as I'm concerned, dust is a non-issue. Just exercise reasonable care.

DonCohen said:
Hi Darren,

I feel your pain. I was just playing with some high mag macro
shots using f/16 to f/32, and was astounded to find a lot of dust.
Too much to have to edit in each shot. And it's clearly aperture
related - really doesn't show up much if at f/11 or wider.

I agree that the recommended procedure for cleaning is not real
effective - but I had a little more success by carefully holding
the camera upside down, and then blowing in, so that gravity would
be working for me, rather than against me, hoping the dust would
head toward the ground, rather than settling back down in the
sensor.

I hope you can some other posts here with alternatives - but I'm
not sure if I've got the guts to try something mechanical on the
sensor itself.

Don

CH · Jun 15, 2001

I have had my D30 for only 3 months and tomorrow will be the second time I send it for CMOS cleaning. I don't know what to say. I'll be grateful if anyone could tell me how to clean the sensor well without sending it to Canon.

CH Lin

Darren Joy said:
Ok, it's finally happened. I have sensor dust. I look at the sensor
in cleaning mode, and I can see nothing, but I know it's there from
test shots at small apertures. Small dust, but dust.

The method described in the manual, i.e. using a bulb blower, has
only made it twice as bad.

I have contacted Canon, who tell me to send it back for cleaning,
as it's covered by warranty. I have contacted my store, and they
are all set to send it back. I just have to take it in.

I really don't want to lose my D30 for so long...but I will if I
have to.

One day however, that warranty will expire. Then what do I do? Has
anyone tried cleaning the sensor themselves? What was the outcome?

Which methods are available to us? The bulb blower technique
doesn't work except maybe in very minor cases, so what other
options are there?

I went out to an artists supply shop, and bought a 1/4" synthetic
artists brush, the softest I could find. I have not convinced
myself to try it, but I think this has to be the safest possible
method for physical contact cleaning.

Non-contact? I thought maybe a tiny electrostatic charge on the
brush, applied through some means ( comb? balloon? CRT screen? ),
and waving the brush over the sensor might attract the particles.
Obviously, this is slightly risky, static and electronics.....not
good bedfellows. But if the charge was small enough, and the hand
steady enough...maybe an option.

Although this is a subject that has come up before, I don't recall
ever seeing a definitive answer, and I feel it's something that
should be part of a FAQ and useful for new D30 owners. Also, it's
something we are all going to have to face at some point, no
warranty lasts forever, and some time in the future, you might need
your D30 RIGHT NOW for something, and discover a dusty sensor,
self cleaning might be the only option, so it pays to be informed.

Thoughts?

nigel burtney · Jun 15, 2001

I was told that if you buy one of these cheap ionisers,turn it on, leave the camera upside down beside it and it the morning the dust has disappeared..

Darren Joy said:
Ok, it's finally happened. I have sensor dust. I look at the sensor
in cleaning mode, and I can see nothing, but I know it's there from
test shots at small apertures. Small dust, but dust.

The method described in the manual, i.e. using a bulb blower, has
only made it twice as bad.

I have contacted Canon, who tell me to send it back for cleaning,
as it's covered by warranty. I have contacted my store, and they
are all set to send it back. I just have to take it in.

I really don't want to lose my D30 for so long...but I will if I
have to.

One day however, that warranty will expire. Then what do I do? Has
anyone tried cleaning the sensor themselves? What was the outcome?

Which methods are available to us? The bulb blower technique
doesn't work except maybe in very minor cases, so what other
options are there?

I went out to an artists supply shop, and bought a 1/4" synthetic
artists brush, the softest I could find. I have not convinced
myself to try it, but I think this has to be the safest possible
method for physical contact cleaning.

Non-contact? I thought maybe a tiny electrostatic charge on the
brush, applied through some means ( comb? balloon? CRT screen? ),
and waving the brush over the sensor might attract the particles.
Obviously, this is slightly risky, static and electronics.....not
good bedfellows. But if the charge was small enough, and the hand
steady enough...maybe an option.

Although this is a subject that has come up before, I don't recall
ever seeing a definitive answer, and I feel it's something that
should be part of a FAQ and useful for new D30 owners. Also, it's
something we are all going to have to face at some point, no
warranty lasts forever, and some time in the future, you might need
your D30 RIGHT NOW for something, and discover a dusty sensor,
self cleaning might be the only option, so it pays to be informed.

Thoughts?

Darren Joy · Jun 15, 2001

John Foote said:
I've had two episodes of dust, and after using this upside down
blower technique, got rid of it both times. Totally gone. I also
take care to install my lenses face down, and quickly. Except for
brief seconds, something is always on my camera.

As far as I'm concerned, dust is a non-issue. Just exercise
reasonable care.

I thought just the same way. Being ultra-paranoid about getting dust in there, following the same sort of procedures you describe here, only brief seconds where there was no protection on either body or lens.

I didn't even think I had the dust, until I tried using small apertures.

Try this test, you may surprise yourself. Take a shot of a blank white(ish) wall, at something like f16-f22.

MikeA · Jun 15, 2001

Darren Joy said:
I didn't even think I had the dust, until I tried using small
apertures.

How does the dust problem manifest itself? Sharp-edged white specks (like dust specks of the sort that have to be Spot-toned away in prints made from conventional negatives?). Out-of-focus specks? Smears?

The recently proposed idea about using an ionizer is interesting, but I wonder if one doesn't have to be careful about how close it is placed to the camera lest some of the components be damaged. (If memory serves, the anti-static "guns" that were devised to clean records -- say...remember "records"? -- were risky little toys if you got them too close to certain electronic components.)

DonCohen · Jun 15, 2001

Hi Mike,

They show up as small black specks - completely black, of variable size. I was completely oblivious of any until I was taking those macro shots at f/16 to f/22, and was astonished at how many there were.

And I do remember records - in fact, I still have a "ZeroStat" ion-gun that I used to use to reduce static/pops from my lp's (used to be a bit of an 'audiophile'). Hmmmm....that really makes me wonder if that would harm the CMOS sensor at all? Maybe I'll try a post over at Rob Galbraith's, where Chuck Westfall of Canon often responds to messages.

Interesting....

Don

http://www.dlcphotography.net

MikeA said:
How does the dust problem manifest itself? Sharp-edged white specks
(like dust specks of the sort that have to be Spot-toned away in
prints made from conventional negatives?). Out-of-focus specks?
Smears?

The recently proposed idea about using an ionizer is interesting,
but I wonder if one doesn't have to be careful about how close it
is placed to the camera lest some of the components be damaged. (If
memory serves, the anti-static "guns" that were devised to clean
records -- say...remember "records"? -- were risky little toys if
you got them too close to certain electronic components.)

MikeA · Jun 15, 2001

DonCohen said:
to be a bit of an 'audiophile'). Hmmmm....that really makes me
wonder if that would harm the CMOS sensor at all? Maybe I'll try a
post over at Rob Galbraith's, where Chuck Westfall of Canon often
responds to messages.

I will be very interested to hear what Westfall has to say about that. Or, for that matter, about the idea of using one of those "passive" ionizers in the vicinity of the camera. If the anti-static "gun" didn't harm the sensor itself, would it not (maybe) pose a danger to nearby circuitry?

The engineering involved in creating baffles (or whatever) to prevent dust from getting onto the sensor must be tricky and expensive. Otherwise, I would think, such mechanisms would be an integral part of all the higher-end digital SLRs--and a good selling point (not that I know anything about the $5K-$8K digital SLRs; do they have mechanisms to minimize or eliminate dust getting onto the sensors?)

Edward A. Platkin · Jun 15, 2001

Look @ http://www.photosol.com , under products they have "Sensor Swabs".

Noldar · Jun 15, 2001

I noticed dust on the mirror the very first time I removed the lens mount cap on my brand new D30! And looking at the packaging, it appears that the box has never been opened! Of course dust from the mirror will find their way into the sensor :-(

Test your D30 by shooting some clear sky at f/22, f/32 and you'd see something like this:

When DESATURATEd and Contrast adjusted:

Hey, and I thought my sensor was very clean :-( And I've only changed lens twice!!

-Arnold

Nate said:
My Olympus E10 (35-140 on 35mm equivalent camera) is teaching me
that this is an adequate range (for me at least) for portrait
photography. When I shoot medium format photograpgy, I only have 3
lenses at my disposal. (a 35mm equivalent, a 50mm equivalent, and a
90mm equivalent - 55mm, 80mm, and 150mm in respectively in that
order) With the 28-135 I'll get 45mm on the wide end, but I can
usually back up a little more when shooting groups or rearrange the
group. So the temptation won't be that great to remove the lens.
I just hope that dust won't be a problem if the lens isn't removed.
I don't want to have to do that kind of editing on a lot of files
very often.

Nate

RichW wrote:

mattpeyton · Jun 16, 2001

Folks.

I had sensor dust. Manifested itself as small circular discolorations in the sky against shots that had sky in them. I tried the "blower" method, and made it worse... Also got some dust on my focus screen. Now the blower brush is a cat toy...

I sent my D30 into Canon, and they did a great job. I would love to know what they did, as my A2E is in for repairs, and out of warrantee there is a blanket 176 dollar charge to "check the meter" and clean the camera body (it was underexposing a half stop).

I have seen various CMOS cleaning solutions, etc. Me? I would NEVER want to touch the CMOS, as I picture myself sitting there at 3am, sweat pouring from every surface of my body, as I try to figure out if I scratched the imaging surface PERMANENTLY.

The most promising gizmo I have heard about was someone a while back said that they made a little vacuum out of a household unit and a straw. Now that's thinking. I bet that would work fine. Anyone got more info on this?

Can someone from Canon comment on what they boys in factory service DO to clean the CMOS? I think I will be going the annual send it in for service route, as I use this cam for alot of gigs right now.

Peace......

Darren Joy said:
Ok, it's finally happened. I have sensor dust. I look at the sensor
in cleaning mode, and I can see nothing, but I know it's there from
test shots at small apertures. Small dust, but dust.

The method described in the manual, i.e. using a bulb blower, has
only made it twice as bad.

I have contacted Canon, who tell me to send it back for cleaning,
as it's covered by warranty. I have contacted my store, and they
are all set to send it back. I just have to take it in.

I really don't want to lose my D30 for so long...but I will if I
have to.

One day however, that warranty will expire. Then what do I do? Has
anyone tried cleaning the sensor themselves? What was the outcome?

Which methods are available to us? The bulb blower technique
doesn't work except maybe in very minor cases, so what other
options are there?

I went out to an artists supply shop, and bought a 1/4" synthetic
artists brush, the softest I could find. I have not convinced
myself to try it, but I think this has to be the safest possible
method for physical contact cleaning.

Non-contact? I thought maybe a tiny electrostatic charge on the
brush, applied through some means ( comb? balloon? CRT screen? ),
and waving the brush over the sensor might attract the particles.
Obviously, this is slightly risky, static and electronics.....not
good bedfellows. But if the charge was small enough, and the hand
steady enough...maybe an option.

Although this is a subject that has come up before, I don't recall
ever seeing a definitive answer, and I feel it's something that
should be part of a FAQ and useful for new D30 owners. Also, it's
something we are all going to have to face at some point, no
warranty lasts forever, and some time in the future, you might need
your D30 RIGHT NOW for something, and discover a dusty sensor,
self cleaning might be the only option, so it pays to be informed.

Thoughts?

Sensor Dust - Self Cleaning?

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