Spot on D300S suddenly appeared - help?

Looks like a stubborn dust spot. Do a mirror lock up and blow it out with the rocket blower.
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wunaladreamin said:

Looks like a stubborn dust spot. Do a mirror lock up and blow it out with the rocket blower.

Click to expand...

If that doesn't work then Google Copperhill.

Tony Beach said:

wunaladreamin said:

Looks like a stubborn dust spot. Do a mirror lock up and blow it out with the rocket blower.

Click to expand...

If that doesn't work then Google Copperhill.

Click to expand...

...or send it to Nikon for sensor cleaning.

It is nothing to be seriously worried.

All the best,

Christopher, what you have there is a common or garden dust bunny i.e. a dust mote or piece of detritus on the sensor. Nothing to do with the lens.

I am not an advocate of puffing about inside the camera with blowers. Yes you may dislodge the item but where has it gone? Somewhere else on the sensor? Elsewhere in the mirror chamber? Up to the other side of the focusing screen?

I also don't advise running back to the shop or to Nikon every 5 minutes either. Real men wet-clean their sensors themselves using either methanol (Eclipse) or isopropanol + swabs which can be bought or home-made from half a Pec Pad.

Google Copperhill.

Here is a useful article about sensor cleaning:

http://www.bythom.com/cleaning.htm

Good luck

David

I use a Delkin Sensor Scope ($50) to examine sensor. You will need battery to be 70% or so to allow you to raise the mirror. Less than 1 minute.

Rocket blower ($10) to blow off sensor if dust is seen. Less than 1 minute.

Lenspen ($10-15) to carefully wipe off sensor if Rocket blower didn't work. I only use two pens on the sensor & for no other purpose. 1-2 minutes.

I have used these items since 2006-2007 with great results. That is probably the cost of one sensor cleaning. I have used in Africa, India, Brazil etc as entire kit is very small & takes up almost no space in camera bag.

We travel with 3 camera bodies & I can check all 3 in 3-5 minutes when we get back to room. Other travelers have used my eqpt after I have demo'ed on one of my cameras. I never put a Lenspen on a camera that does not belong to me but I have had no problem in 7-8 years. I certainly don't wish to have my first problem on another persons camera.

Yes, the newer cameras are good at self cleaning but not 100%.

I have another 2 lens pens I use on my lens with same great results.

Cheap, quick & easy but some people really knock this method. To each, his own.

Good luck with your decision.

Christopher Hayward said:

Hi, while on vacation in Spain a 'dot' suddenly appeared in my pictures, particularly visible in sky shots. It's in the top right area of the frame in the attached pictures. I've looked at the lens and cleaned it. Done the auto cleaning from the camera menu. Even taken off the lens and looked at the other end and it appears clean. Any ideas? is this a 'hot pixel' or something else? Many thanks for any ideas. Chris

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This is just plain dust on the sensor.

It is annoying but nothing to worry about. Take your time to document what you can do to clean it yourself. Be careful.

Since you are asking, I assume you never had to clean the sensor yourself. I am a man but the first time I did not take any chances. Take the camera to a good camera store if you have one in your area, and ask them to clean it. If not send it to Nikon, but that will be more expensive.

When the nervousness settles, you can clean it yourself. But right now, don't take any chances, other than the Rocket Blower. And even then, don't blast. Use the mirror up option in the menus, turn the camera face down (lens mount down) and gently blow up to try to dislodge the dust.


JC
Some cameras, some lenses, some computers

First off, thank you all very much for the excellent and fast replies. This is a terrific website and forum area. I succeeded in cleaning my sensor!

Here is what I did:

- I was too impatient to send it back to Nikon and was willing to take some risk in trying to clean it on my own.

- However, I was too scared to use any type of liquid.

- I followed the several recommendations to first try a dust blaster. Unfortunately, that didn't work. I could actually see the dust on the sensor by using a simple magnifying glass.

- I then used a lens pen's soft end to gently touch the sensor and try to 'move' or 'pick up' the dust. It was a little tough and took a few tries. I ended up 'wiping' the sensor a bit with the lens pen. I realize this may have been risky (and stupid) but it seemed to dislodge the dust particle and cleaned the sensor.

- I examined the sensor with the magnify glass carefully and didn't see any more particles.

- I reattached my lens, took some sample photos (attached) and it seemed to be clean!

- I know this was a bit risky and I hope I didn't damage my sensor.

Thank you all again for your great suggestions.

Best, Chris




No more dust!




No more dust!

Glad to hear you resolved your problem. For the record, it's best to blow the sensor and then use the wet cleaning method. Blowing the sensor will help remove anything that might scratch the low pass filter (we don't actually clean the sensor), and making sure your Pec Pad is adequately moistened with methanol (not water) also helps to prevent any scratching of that low pass filter.

Thank you. I didn't moisten the lens pen which sounds like was a mistake. I didn't see any scratches afterward, but I guess they could be there. Yikes. Will hope for the best.

thanks. Chris

Christopher Hayward said:

Thank you. I didn't moisten the lens pen which sounds like was a mistake. I didn't see any scratches afterward, but I guess they could be there. Yikes. Will hope for the best.

thanks. Chris

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Cool! Now go out and test that camera by taking a gazillion more pictures


JC
Some cameras, some lenses, some computers

Christopher Hayward said:

Here is what I did:

- I was too impatient to send it back to Nikon and was willing to take some risk in trying to clean it on my own.

- However, I was too scared to use any type of liquid.

Chris

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Perhaps I am just a scaredy cat but I'd never rub anything bone dry across the sensor [cover]. So, I'd call you brave (or less kindly, foolhardy) but it has all worked out OK for you which is great. Good idea to inspect the sensor with a magnifying glass - I use a jeweller's loupe which one can clench in one's eye socket thus leaving both hands free.

Get yourself some Eclipse!

David

I use blower - brush - wet clean (in that order) in case I have s spot on the sensor.

I hear you - the 'dry rub' was probably a mistake. I couldn't see any scratches but I suppose they could be there. Does the sensor have any type of protective coating like lenses often do?

Thanks. Chris

Christopher Hayward said:

I hear you - the 'dry rub' was probably a mistake. I couldn't see any scratches but I suppose they could be there. Does the sensor have any type of protective coating like lenses often do?

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I think it may well have some fancy coating but I think you can rest easy - glass is quite hard stuff and you'd have to have been most unfortunate to have had a bit of hard enough grit in there. I would not tempt providence by doing it again though