Do you care that the sensor is exposed to the elements?

Achiron · Sep 28, 2016

I personally feel anxious every time I change lens, I try to do the Indiana Jones swap, and my cheap mount on my cheap lens "grind" the body mount makes me think some particle will break loose and land on the sensor protective screen (which is, de facto, the sensor). There's a picture on the front page right now that shows the new Fuji sensor. I can feel all the dust landing on that unit. I can only hope it was cleaned afterwards.

It's not that having the sensor exposed when the lens is removed is useful in anyway, so why do it? I suppose that there is an idea that you can't have the camera dependent on comm from the lens, or a sensor claiming there is or there is no lens, but it really irks me. I wonder what the community feels about it.

(p.s - I tried hard not to do some "e" word joke, but I'm tired of that so I gave up)

Gregm61 · Sep 28, 2016

I have a $5,000 digital rangefinder with a shutter in front of the sensor I've owned since February and have had to clean that sensor more times in 7 months than I have had to in almost 5 years with either Olympus or Panasonic micro four-thirds bodies.

Of all the things to be concerned about, dust on the sensor should be way down the list for owners of these bodies.

--
"There's shadows in life, baby.." Jack Horner- Boogie Nights

Bhima78 · Sep 28, 2016

I think Oly has the best dust-removal auto-shake cycle. Not sure if it is as good on Panny cameras, but I know Oly has it, and it has proven to be useful.

alcelc · Sep 28, 2016

I minded my sensor getting dirty: So I clean it regularly, specially after any major shooting event (together with the body and the lenses as well).

I can't resist to swap lenses all the time (otherwise go for a fixed lens camera): So 1) I do it with extra care (naked camera point down/lying on camera bag facing down, do it under protective condition (a wind shield corner, under roof, naked camera inside my jacket etc) avoiding direct exposure to moisture or particles... And 2) do it quick (I use a shoulder bag, a 2 pockets system: a lens pouch and my pant/jacket pocket, for quick and safe lens swapping within a few seconds max).

Also having the fantastic Ultra sound filtering system (fit on the surface of sensor), all of my 5 Pany M43 cameras since 2008 are basically free of any dust/dirt problem.

As long as we don't leave a naked camera unattended in risky (dusty/moist) environment for considerably period of time, it should be OK.

alcelc · Sep 28, 2016

Bhima78 said:
I think Oly has the best dust-removal auto-shake cycle. Not sure if it is as good on Panny cameras, but I know Oly has it, and it has proven to be useful.

Oly and Pany has the same Ultra Sound filter system.

Guy Parsons · Sep 28, 2016

Achiron said:
I personally feel anxious every time I change lens

See your doctor and get some anti-anxious pills.

In my case no worries, I change lenses a lot under all sorts of circumstances but if the wind is blowing and/or I'm near a beach then I take more care.

Camera body level or facing down when changing, never body facing up.

When turning the camera on, keep the body level (as the manual advises) as then the dust on the sensor falls down onto the sticky strips.

In over 10 years with 4/3 and M4/3 cameras (total of 8 bodies along the way) I have never seen dust that caused a problem or needed a sensor clean.

I bypassed the usual Nikon DSLRs because of their early dust problems despite having a ton of Nikon film gear and lenses and went to Olympus purely because of the dust removal system that really does work.

Regards...... Guy

Jacques Cornell · Sep 28, 2016

Achiron said:
I personally feel anxious every time I change lens, I try to do the Indiana Jones swap, and my cheap mount on my cheap lens "grind" the body mount makes me think some particle will break loose and land on the sensor protective screen (which is, de facto, the sensor). There's a picture on the front page right now that shows the new Fuji sensor. I can feel all the dust landing on that unit. I can only hope it was cleaned afterwards.
It's not that having the sensor exposed when the lens is removed is useful in anyway, so why do it? I suppose that there is an idea that you can't have the camera dependent on comm from the lens, or a sensor claiming there is or there is no lens, but it really irks me. I wonder what the community feels about it.
(p.s - I tried hard not to do some "e" word joke, but I'm tired of that so I gave up)

I just turn my camera when changing lenses so the front of the body is facing downwards. This way, debris can't fall into it while the sensor is exposed. FWIW, my MFT sensors have needed no cleaning in three years. I used to have to clean the sensors in my DSLRs every few months.

Achiron · Sep 28, 2016

I say those things because I had my EPL7 cleaned in a lab because of dust that made a spot on the picture. re: camera facing downwards -dust particles don't obey the rules of physics or logic. You can do it in a cpu factory clean room and some dust will still find it's way to the sensor I'm sure.

CheersUK · Sep 28, 2016

Haven't had to clean my Panny GX7 sensor in almost a year...mainly because the Oly 60mm Macro is permanently clamped to it. Prime lens + no lens changing = win

Martin.au · Sep 28, 2016

Not at all concerned. I change lenses all the time, in all conditions.

The only time I take a bit more care is in environments where there's lots of spray and particles floating around, eg: changing lenses on a boat, with sea spray.

Bobo Hodls · Sep 28, 2016

Even with a shutter closed any dust or other debris in the lens mount chamber will make it's way to the sensor area anyway.

EarthQuake · Sep 28, 2016

Gregm61 said:
I have a $5,000 digital rangefinder with a shutter in front of the sensor I've owned since February and have had to clean that sensor more times in 7 months than I have had to in almost 5 years with either Olympus or Panasonic micro four-thirds bodies.

Of all the things to be concerned about, dust on the sensor should be way down the list for owners of these bodies.

Najinsky · Sep 28, 2016

But that's because my first digital SLRs didn't have SSWF and even though the shutter was closed when changing lenses (by turning the camera off), dust still found its way to the sensor and regular cleaning became routine and a chore.

Since switching to M43, I can still get a fleeting touch of anxiety when I see the exposed sensor, but in reality never had a dust issue M43.

I was reminded of that after also using a Sony A7 with kit lens for a while I eventually got around around to buying the 55/1.8. Sure enough, after changing the lens I eventually began to see the tell tale signs of a dusty sensor.

Ive heard that the official line from Sony is users should not clean the sensor themself (other than using a blower) as it risks damage to the anti-reflective coatings on the sensor glass, instead it should be cleaned by a Sony approved facility.

Living out in the Thai wilderness (slight exaggeration) this is a problem for me as my nearest Sony shop is a 6 hour round trip, and that would only be a drop off, I don't know anywhere where it can be done same day, so I have to lose the camera for a week or two and then another 6 hour round trip to collect it again.

This indeed makes the SSWF feature of M43 cameras a truly awesome feature.

JakeJY · Sep 28, 2016

Achiron said:
Achiron wrote:
It's not that having the sensor exposed when the lens is removed is useful in anyway, so why do it? I suppose that there is an idea that you can't have the camera dependent on comm from the lens, or a sensor claiming there is or there is no lens, but it really irks me. I wonder what the community feels about it.
(p.s - I tried hard not to do some "e" word joke, but I'm tired of that so I gave up)

No one really addressed why it is this way. The reason why a mirrorless has the sensor exposed by default is because unlike a mirrored camera, that is the typical mode that it is used in (whether you are using the EVF, screen, or when it is taking the picture). So designing a shutter that is default open makes more sense than the other way around.

I don't think having the sensor exposed is as big a deal anyways, since if dust gets into the body, even if it was closed while you were changing the lens, the dust can still get into the sensor later.

Having ultrasonic sensor cleaning pretty much alleviates a lot of the concern in general about dust on the sensor.

biggles266 · Sep 28, 2016

Achiron said:
I say those things because I had my EPL7 cleaned in a lab because of dust that made a spot on the picture. re: camera facing downwards -dust particles don't obey the rules of physics or logic. You can do it in a cpu factory clean room and some dust will still find it's way to the sensor I'm sure.

biggles266 · Sep 28, 2016

Achiron said:
I personally feel anxious every time I change lens, I try to do the Indiana Jones swap, and my cheap mount on my cheap lens "grind" the body mount makes me think some particle will break loose and land on the sensor protective screen (which is, de facto, the sensor). There's a picture on the front page right now that shows the new Fuji sensor. I can feel all the dust landing on that unit. I can only hope it was cleaned afterwards.
It's not that having the sensor exposed when the lens is removed is useful in anyway, so why do it? I suppose that there is an idea that you can't have the camera dependent on comm from the lens, or a sensor claiming there is or there is no lens, but it really irks me. I wonder what the community feels about it.
(p.s - I tried hard not to do some "e" word joke, but I'm tired of that so I gave up)

I don't know why some company hasn't made the innovation of having a button to close a screen in front of the sensor when changing lenses, for those who want to use it. It seems really simple and obvious. There are many places in the world where the environment is very bad for changing lenses, I am surprised this issue hasn't been fixed by engineering.

zuikowesty · Sep 28, 2016

I've never had any issues with this, whether it was with 35mm film, 43 or m43. With film, there was far more chance of contamination or shutter damage when changing film than changing lenses. With digital, I've never had an issue with dust on the sensor in over 50k exposures and 3 Oly bodies. I nearly always carry two bodies, so lens changes are limited to a few times per outing, and if it's windy or dusty, I will use extra caution to shield the body, and make it quick.

CheersUK · Sep 28, 2016

I'm pretty sure the reason why a screen hasn't been developed is because it would require, yet another shutter mechanism to fit into an enclosed space that is already fighting for space.

I'm sure, the amount of space afforded to the flange distance in different systems is taken up with features that help the user take better photos, and it is deemed overkill when other systems are in place such as ultrasonic vibration.

Denjw · Sep 28, 2016

changing the lens often in all conditions with no issues of a dirty sensor.

That SSWF just keeps doing its job.

GodSpeaks · Sep 28, 2016

And if you do get dust on the sensor, just clean it. No biggie.

For cleaning I use the Visible Dust brushes.

Do you care that the sensor is exposed to the elements?

Do you care that the sensor is exposed to the elements?

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