Nikon D750 continuous dust spots and dirt on CCD

In the past I have had some bodies that seemed more prone to dirt, but my newer bodies (D7000, D300s, D800, D800e) seemed to have shed that annoying "feature".

First suggestion (sorry if it sounds patronizing) is to ensure the 750 is set to clean sensor each time it is turned on and off. (see setup menu)

Second suggestion or rather question is how often you manually set the camera to clean the sensor. This operation seems more complete than the simpler clean at turn on/off.

And finally a perhaps more helpful suggestion. For the last ten years or so I have been quickly, easily, and effectively cleaning my cameras' sensors. The first time I did this the camera body did not have a mirror lock up setting so I had to set the camera to 30 seconds and make sure the swab was outside the body before the mirror closed. I was scared to death about damaging the sensor. But quickly learned it is a breeze to do with little danger. The difficulty and risks of cleaning your own sensors is highly overrated.

Delkin sells cleaning fluid and swabs separately, as do several other companies. However, for about $90 from b&h Delkin has a kit including a visual scope to [literally] visually examine the sensor directly and see if there is any dust and where on the sensor the dust is located. I have been using this device for years, even before it was available in a complete kit.

First, the battery needs to be fully charged or close to it to be able to lock the mirror up. Cameras cannot be set to lock up mirror with low battery. In Setup there is the setting to lock it up; but again the battery must be full for this to work.

The swabs are special for sensor cleaning and made not to damage or scratch the sensors when they are damp with the special cleaning fluid. Once you have the scope and supplies in front of you it should take less than ten minutes to check the sensor (with the scope) and clean it if necessary. Often when I check my sensors I find no dust and therefore don't bother with swabbing.

When I travel I take my cleaning kit with me and check the sensors every few days, just in case.

I assume that repair places make a fortune cleaning sensors, which I now view as an unnecessary expense given how easy it is.

As already mentioned cleaning a sensor is not difficult.

A piece of double tide tape on the inside of the body cap and each lens cap should reduce dust on sensor issues.

What lens do you use? I've been told some are prone to pulling in particulates when zooming, this could be part of your issue. Is it dirt or oil, can you tell?

You should always blow off the front of the body and the lens itself before removing lenses. Otherwise removing a lens will suck dirt from the outside of the camera into the body. Also, blow off the other lens and it's mount before placing it on the camera.

I've been doing this for years, and even with many, many lens changes, only have to clean a sensor once every year or two.

I've had a few F750 bodies and no issues whatsoever with dust / sensor.

As an afterthought to my previous, when changing lenses try to remember to point front of camera down since loose dust can't fall up into camera. Does not get rid of electrostatic issues, but it does get gravity to assist in dust prevention.

sussie said:

Hi,

I am a wedding photographer using two Nikons D700 and d750. I am a bit frustrated an the number of times I need to keep getting the CCd cleaned on the 750. I am pretty much on the go non stop from April through to September so need to have my cameras cleaned all the time. The 700 mabye twice a year but the 750 I need to get it done mabye every two months. I am strict about keeping one lens on it and try never to chop and change to keep it clean. I cant figure out why it seems to attract so much dirt in comparison to the 700. I ues them pretty much both the same. I need to travel to a nikon dealer in Rome and wait mabye three hours for the cleaning. It is very time consuming but am a bit nervous about cleaning it myself. Anyone else find this a problem or any tips on how to avoid the spots! Thanks a mill. siobhan

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My D750 was terrible with dirt on the sensor, more so than any other camera I've ever had.

It looked like oil spots and was mostly concentrated towards the top right of the image. I wet-cleaned the sensor regularly, but the situation did not improve.

Eventually the camera had to go for service (the infamous 'Err' issue, and some other issues) which resulted in a shutter and sensor replacement. However, after the service the sensor dirt issue vanished and I had no more trouble. Dirt still appear, but it is now A LOT LESS and much more in line with what one can expect.

From this I concluded that the original shutter caused oil splatter.

Cleaning the sensor is very easy and quite safe provided you use a good cleaning kit. I've used Green Clean with good results.

Very few posts about Nikon D750 dirty sensor issue, so I don't believe it's endemic. Certainly never an issue with mine after 3 years. Now, the D600 was another story altogether. It's an easy clean, check YouTube, or if not in your comfort level, try your local camera store.

Yes me too, I need to clean it even more regularly than you.

So I learned it myself. Sometimes just a wind blower is doing the job. Otherwise I use the Kit VSGO, it is the best I found so far and you can find tutorial on youtube.

Dont worry about the sensor there is a filter that protects it so to break it ones has to do it intentionnally or being a maniac.

It's not hard to use, just at the beginning you need to be patient cause it wont be clean after the first try, then you will find your technic.

Just Today in the middle of a real estate shooting I got some dust who fell on my ccd and I cannot do nothing about it cause I have to send the raw files.

This is a big issue on the D750 I dont know if it is for all the body cameras cause I dont find so many people complaining about it on the web.

I had to replace two times the shutters. So maybe the ones with bad shutters are more vulnerable to dust.

Take and as long you get a lot of works its ok

Hi sorry,

although my english is good, it s hard for me to visualize your description.

can you send a pic please on my email it would be great.

[email protected]

My D750 stays pretty clean. Since 2015 I have only needed to clean it a hand full of times. When I do pick up some dust, I can usually get it with a sensor brush which resembles a paint brush, but comes in a dust free container. When the dust brush no longer works, I wet clean with individually packaged FX swabs and Eclipse fluid.

If my sensor is really dirty, it will take 2 swabs to get the sensor entirely clean.

Make sure the sub mount portion of your lenses are clean. This can introduce dust to your camera very easily. Also clean your camera and lens mounts.

Leonard Shepherd said:

A piece of double tide tape on the inside of the body cap and each lens cap should reduce dust on sensor issues.

Click to expand...

I'd be scared that the tape might release solvents which do harm to the camera's internals. But maybe I'm just unnecessarily over-cautious.

m+k

"Live every life as if it was your last."

How many are you planning on having? .....I take it this is your first?....... ;-)

--
Dave's clichés

FWIW, the D750 has a CMOS sensor, not a CCD. . .

DAVID MANZE said:

"Live every life as if it was your last."

How many are you planning on having? .....I take it this is your first?....... ;-)

Click to expand...

Yes, my first. Who knows how many more there are to come. ;-)

m+k

sandy b said:

Very few posts about Nikon D750 dirty sensor issue, so I don't believe it's endemic. Certainly never an issue with mine after 3 years.

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Agree. Excessive dust has never been an issue with both of my D750s.

I did have a couple of days with dust problems.......I wet cleaned the sensor and within the day there was dust again.........

......it was accumulated in around the mirror box which got stirred up from the mirror while shooting.......

.........the cure was to use a toothpick with brand new selotape wrapped round the toothpick leaving two small corners of uncovered sticky side.........a magnifying glass showed up the many dust specs the were floating around inside....when you look, you'll find quite a bit.....the dust sticks nicely with just the lightest touch.....

.........I then wet cleaned the sensor and that cured that.....

I have also used that method when having a stubborn dust spec on the viewfinder screen.......the lightest touch and it's gone..............

....no doubt this post will bring horror to some.........you mustn't this, mustn't that.......

.....but that's five years or so that I've using this method..........no issues!

You may also want to check out the sensor gel stick - info and reviews here:


It's very easy to use and worked pretty well for me.

I am also having issues with my D750. I bought it in December 2018 and by January I was noticing visible spots. I eventually took it to my local Jessops to be cleaned. I checked the cleaning by taking a photo of the sky at f/22 and it was indeed clean.

A month later and I am having to clone out over 40 spots from my landscape shots. I have never had an issue like this before despite owing a D5200 since 2013 and changing lenses regularly. I am always careful when I change lenses and do so in clean areas with the camera off and pointing downwards.

I sent it back to Wex photovideo which was the shop I bought it from and they sent it to Nikon to be checked. It came back saying there was nothing wrong with it and that they had cleaned the sensor. The very first shot I took upon getting it back was at F/22 of the sky and there were more than 40 visible spots.

I saved up long and hard for that camera and I am now pulling my hair out trying to get them to understand that this is not acceptable.

Hopefully i got rid this problematic camera and bought one more D700!
D750 is the most unreliable nikon camera ever!!