WARNING- Sensor on S1, S1R, etc.

[mrb375]

Point your camera to the sky or even a white wall at the smallest aperture (f16 or f22) and take two before photos, then take two AFTER photos. If using LR or Capture 1 move the contrast and dehaze sliders to make the dust spots easy to see.

These FF sensors seem prone to dust, and I was shooting in Colorado with the smoke/soot from the California wildfires contributing to airborne particulate, along with shooting in a Sand Dune. I also noticed a spot of oil/grease which smeared with my first swab. It took 5 swabs before dust and other spots were 95% cleaned. These dust spots are a pain to remove in post production- so make life easier on yourself.

I used https://alturaphoto.com/altura-phot...cleaning-swab-kit-full-frame-6-piece-set.html

Here's the before cleaning photo:







--

https://www.deminimusgallery.com

 

[sunnycal]

Point your camera to the sky or even a white wall at the smallest aperture (f16 or f22) and take two before photos, then take two AFTER photos. If using LR or Capture 1 move the contrast and dehaze sliders to make the dust spots easy to see.

These FF sensors seem prone to dust, and I was shooting in Colorado with the

Is there a digital ILC camera which is not prone to dust (except the few which close shutter to protect sensor)? Starting from my first FF Canon 5D to Sony A7r III/IV, all are dust magnates. Compared to Sony, I have fewer dust issues with S1R.

 

[stevevuoso]

One of the few areas where a mirror is helpful!

 

[mrb375]

Is there a digital ILC camera which is not prone to dust (except the few which close shutter to protect sensor)? Starting from my first FF Canon 5D to Sony A7r III/IV, all are dust magnates. Compared to Sony, I have fewer dust issues with S1R.

My experience with m4/3 and APS-C cameras has been they are less prone to dust than FF cameras. May simply be more area for the dust to adhere to- don't know.

Processing images of landscapes with dozens of dust spots is a pain and tedious.

 

[flbdig]

Poor handling on any camera is the root cause of dust

I have Never had a dust issue with my Panasonic FF or m43 camera. The only time I have cleaned the sensor is when sweat from my face fell into sensor while I was charging lenses.

I use an air blower on the lenses and sensor before each job and that's it.

Don't make a Problem out of No Problem.

 

[vigna]

It is common problem, I do clean the sensor after extended trips particularly when lenses swapped. You should consider PPE and face mask when you’re shooting in dust areas.

 

[Tom Caldwell]

Dust is everywhere.

All sensors are vulnerable to dust - that is why sensor shake systems were developed. That is why extending zooms are considered by some as “dust pumps”. In fact that is why swapping lenses in the field is considered not that great - besides the necessary learning of circus juggling skills.

Presumably this is also why zooms are now probably more popular than primes.

Dry dust can be blown off or shaken off by a jiggling sensor mechanism.

The worst thing that can be done with dust is to rub it. Grind it? - if it is sticky then wet cleaning might be the only way out, but wet cleaning leaves smeared residue that can take many re-cleans to remove completely. Wet cleaning in my book it the very last resort.

Happy is the professional with multiple bodies, each with a lens: no lens changes required in the field and the kit can be set up in a known dust reduced environment.

They all suffer from it even with compact fixed lens cameras where the lens extends and retracts. Surely a lint pump if it is “pocketed’. But of course nobody ever pockets a camera unless it is in a hermetically sealed mobile phone ….

 

[Tom Schum]

I think one of the biggest contributors to sensor dust is the mechanical shutter. It is very close to the sensor, and every time it operates it stirs up the air nearest the sensor. Add in microscopic oil splatters from the lubricated bearings in the shutter mechanism, and tiny particles of dust from shutter parts wearing out.

A flipping mirror in the SLR mechanism makes it worse, but the best way to keep dust off the sensor might be to use only electronic shutter.

I never used electronic shutter until I got a Fuji X-E4 recently. Now I use it all the time, except for once in a while when mechanical is absolutely needed. There were so few problems with electronic shutter in my Fuji that I recently bought a Sigma fp L, a camera with electronic shutter, no mechanical shutter at all.

As time goes on I might need to clean the sensor of my fp L, but for now it is fine.

 

[flbdig]

Dust is everywhere.

All sensors are vulnerable to dust - that is why sensor shake systems were developed. That is why extending zooms are considered by some as “dust pumps”. In fact that is why swapping lenses in the field is considered not that great - besides the necessary learning of circus juggling skills.

Presumably this is also why zooms are now probably more popular than primes.

Dry dust can be blown off or shaken off by a jiggling sensor mechanism.

The worst thing that can be done with dust is to rub it. Grind it? - if it is sticky then wet cleaning might be the only way out, but wet cleaning leaves smeared residue that can take many re-cleans to remove completely. Wet cleaning in my book it the very last resort.

Happy is the professional with multiple bodies, each with a lens: no lens changes required in the field and the kit can be set up in a known dust reduced environment.

That's my philosophy! Four bodies and select the 4 lenses that I think I will need for the event. And IF, I change lenses it's only on ONE camera.

They all suffer from it even with compact fixed lens cameras where the lens extends and retracts. Surely a lint pump if it is “pocketed’. But of course nobody ever pockets a camera unless it is in a hermetically sealed mobile phone ….

 

[mrb375]

Poor handling on any camera is the root cause of dust

You are wrong.

I take extraordinary care of my gear, yet my S1R had quite a bit of dust and debris. I’m NOT a wedding photographer like you, shooting an entire gig with a 24-70 zoom- I change out prime lenses often as I shoot in sometimes inclement weather and harsh conditions.

Just relating the need for maintaining your gear. YMMV

 

[mrb375]

Dust is everywhere.

All sensors are vulnerable to dust - that is why sensor shake systems were developed. That is why extending zooms are considered by some as “dust pumps”. In fact that is why swapping lenses in the field is considered not that great - besides the necessary learning of circus juggling skills.

Thats exactly how I feel with a 25mm, a 35mm, a 50mm, an 85mm, and a 135mm! It is a skill.

 

[JDLaing50]

Poor handling on any camera is the root cause of dust

I have Never had a dust issue with my Panasonic FF or m43 camera. The only time I have cleaned the sensor is when sweat from my face fell into sensor while I was charging lenses.

I use an air blower on the lenses and sensor before each job and that's it.

Don't make a Problem out of No Problem.

The root cause is static electricity.

 

[David Kieltyka]

I think one of the biggest contributors to sensor dust is the mechanical shutter. It is very close to the sensor, and every time it operates it stirs up the air nearest the sensor. Add in microscopic oil splatters from the lubricated bearings in the shutter mechanism, and tiny particles of dust from shutter parts wearing out.

I've noticed with the last two new ILC cameras I've bought that schmutz on the sensor was an issue early on, but then pretty much went away as the particle shedding and lube splattering tailed off.

Maybe camera companies should break in shutters by firing off 1000 or so exposures with the sensors protected by a shield before they box up their cameras. :-D

-Dave-

 

[mrb375]

I think one of the biggest contributors to sensor dust is the mechanical shutter. It is very close to the sensor, and every time it operates it stirs up the air nearest the sensor. Add in microscopic oil splatters from the lubricated bearings in the shutter mechanism, and tiny particles of dust from shutter parts wearing out.

I've noticed with the last two new ILC cameras I've bought that schmutz on the sensor was an issue early on, but then pretty much went away as the particle shedding and lube splattering tailed off.

Maybe camera companies should break in shutters by firing off 1000 or so exposures with the sensors protected by a shield before they box up their cameras. :-D

-Dave-

I agree 100%

 

[rick in vegas]

Not just Panasonic. My Nikon Z6 was even worse.

 

[Off The Mark]

Just try shooting with a Sony for a while. Then you won't hardly notice the dust on a Panasonic sensor at all...

 

[Tom Caldwell]

Dust is everywhere.

All sensors are vulnerable to dust - that is why sensor shake systems were developed. That is why extending zooms are considered by some as “dust pumps”. In fact that is why swapping lenses in the field is considered not that great - besides the necessary learning of circus juggling skills.

Thats exactly how I feel with a 25mm, a 35mm, a 50mm, an 85mm, and a 135mm! It is a skill.

Been there done that. When I bought my dslr kit and fancy lenses near 20 years ago as a dream in a lifetime kit I found that out and about with even one alternate lens - sometimes two - where were all the places needed to safely swap lenses when I ran out of hands?

Wet ground or alternating swirling Australian dry dust?

If i was on a mission where I worked indoors - no problem. I soon came to value smaller kit for “walking about” with optimistic photographic intent and no specific purpose.

Strangely just a little bit smaller than dslr size seem to have become normal for advanced amateur whereas the professional still might need all their gear then surely the advanced amateur should need to be comfortable with a more compact kit.

I found my Nirvana with three GM5 cameras each with an individual lens attached - hot swappable and interface-identical - and carried in a shoulder bag that might fit just one S5 and decent sized zoom.

Hardly surprising that the zoom lens becomes the standard ….

But where I still use large camera kit is for indoor work at a known location. Here my S1 physical size is no issue and I can supplement it with M4/3 gear and my newly acquired Canon 5Ds - all can use the EF lenses I bought so many years ago and which luckily I have kept.

But my thee GM5 cameras in a single bag operate with M4/3 mounted lenses.

Different strokes for different purposes.

 

[aiphoto1980]

Just try shooting with a Sony for a while. Then you won't hardly notice the dust on a Panasonic sensor at all...

 

[LuxShots]

I literally have to clean my sensor before every shoot on my S1 and S1H! The sensor gets so dirty, so quickly, and the electronic sensor cleaner is useless for all but the loosest dust that it's laughable.

 

[Off The Mark]

Just try shooting with a Sony for a while. Then you won't hardly notice the dust on a Panasonic sensor at all...

Why?

Actually they behave quite similar and have the sensor as exposed.

This is not a sony or Panasonic issue, it's a mirrorles issue.

Actually the new sonys cover the sensor when exposed and suffer much less from this issue.

Thanks for asking.

Sony said their sensors (meaning the ones they use in Sony cameras) have a special anti-dust coating.

This seems to actually get MORE dust. My sony cameras always have more dust than my two panasonic bodies and my Olympus E M1 II.

Although it COULD be that the LENSES I use on my Sony cameras are less resistant to dust than the lenses I use on my Oly or on my S1 / S5 (the 24-105 f/4 and a Canon EF 16-35 f/4 L)