Comments on: How to Avoid a Dirty DSLR Image Sensor http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:12:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Dave C http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-250399 Dave C Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:15:50 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-250399 Will there always be visible spots when shooting at f/22? I have a brand new D700, shot it at f/22 to get the sun flare and there are dust spots in the clear blue sky. Could it be a lens issue as well or does it mean it is the sensor for sure? Will there always be visible spots when shooting at f/22? I have a brand new D700, shot it at f/22 to get the sun flare and there are dust spots in the clear blue sky. Could it be a lens issue as well or does it mean it is the sensor for sure?

]]> By: Charlotte Wedding Photographer http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-211948 Charlotte Wedding Photographer Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:29:20 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-211948 Great tips, I try to shoot with multiple cameras so I don’t have to change lenses at weddings. After shooting a wedding there is nothing more painful than deleting a photo because the sensor is dirty and it ruins the shot. Great tips, I try to shoot with multiple cameras so I don’t have to change lenses at weddings. After shooting a wedding there is nothing more painful than deleting a photo because the sensor is dirty and it ruins the shot.

]]> By: Paul http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-149065 Paul Thu, 30 Dec 2010 23:50:11 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-149065 Not to over state the obvious, I now keep all my lenses, lens caps, macro extensions clean using canned air, (be careful not to freeze them when using the air), and in fresh static free plastic bags which I switch out lenses with when changing. The lens is either in the bag or on the camera at all times. I have found this significantly reduces the frequency that I have to clean the sensor. Not to over state the obvious, I now keep all my lenses, lens caps, macro extensions clean using canned air, (be careful not to freeze them when using the air), and in fresh static free plastic bags which I switch out lenses with when changing. The lens is either in the bag or on the camera at all times. I have found this significantly reduces the frequency that I have to clean the sensor.

]]> By: boyd http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-103210 boyd Sun, 18 Apr 2010 23:36:01 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-103210 I personally don't think sensors are as fragile as we think they are. Granted its in the camera companies interest to make them fragile so we have to buy a new camera more often. None the less I've cleaned my sensor with less than optimal equipment and I haven't noticed any damage to the sensor. I personally don’t think sensors are as fragile as we think they are. Granted its in the camera companies interest to make them fragile so we have to buy a new camera more often. None the less I’ve cleaned my sensor with less than optimal equipment and I haven’t noticed any damage to the sensor.

]]> By: Ryan Parent - Ottawa Wedding Photographers http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-85719 Ryan Parent - Ottawa Wedding Photographers Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:17:54 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-85719 I have always been terrified to touch my sensor. Im not sure why. It feels like an area Im not qualified to touch. I haven't had to clean one yet. For now I just use a blower to blow dust away. It works great for light dust. I have always been terrified to touch my sensor. Im not sure why. It feels like an area Im not qualified to touch. I haven’t had to clean one yet. For now I just use a blower to blow dust away. It works great for light dust.

]]> By: Karen Stuebing http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-84924 Karen Stuebing Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:33:52 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-84924 I am not convinced that the automatic sensor cleaners work. I have a "sensor shake" on power up on my K10D and I have sensor dust. I am extremely careful when changing lenses and don't do it very much. So now I will have to learn how to clean the sensor. Good tips. Now need to check out the links on cleaning. I am not convinced that the automatic sensor cleaners work. I have a “sensor shake” on power up on my K10D and I have sensor dust. I am extremely careful when changing lenses and don’t do it very much. So now I will have to learn how to clean the sensor. Good tips. Now need to check out the links on cleaning.

]]> By: AlienBee4Ever http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-82810 AlienBee4Ever Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:55:56 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-82810 I'm one of those who never change the lens. I rather have 1 body for 1 lens. If i need a super zoom i will try to get a dedicated body for that zoom. I know some people find this very silly to have a DSLR and not changing lens. But who are they to say that DSLR are meant for lens changes. If you are very happy with the lens you have and you can do everything with that lens, there is no need to switch lens unless you need a fisheye or a super zoom. (which i never need) for the type of photography that i do. By changing lens, i once damaged the viewfield glass in a 5D Mark II which cost me 150.00 to repair. Cleaning the sensor is easy, but cleaning the viewfield glass can be a pain if you don't have the propar environment and equipments. Sometime dust get inside the viewfield section. It does not affect the picture but its damn annoying to look at. By not changing the lens, you will hardly get dust anymore and hardly need to clean anything. Also the good thing about dedicated lens for dedicated body is that you can quickly switch camera when time is a factor. Having multiple camera with different lens around your neck is very useful for wedding shooting where you do not have to the time to play around the settings... Ofcourse, this is if money isn't an issue. On my Nikon D300s i never changed its lens (17-55) f2.8 DX. And nearly 12000 shots later there is absolutly no dust inside. I’m one of those who never change the lens. I rather have 1 body for 1 lens. If i need a super zoom i will try to get a dedicated body for that zoom.

I know some people find this very silly to have a DSLR and not changing lens. But who are they to say that DSLR are meant for lens changes. If you are very happy with the lens you have and you can do everything with that lens, there is no need to switch lens unless you need a fisheye or a super zoom. (which i never need) for the type of photography that i do.

By changing lens, i once damaged the viewfield glass in a 5D Mark II which cost me 150.00 to repair. Cleaning the sensor is easy, but cleaning the viewfield glass can be a pain if you don’t have the propar environment and equipments.

Sometime dust get inside the viewfield section. It does not affect the picture but its damn annoying to look at. By not changing the lens, you will hardly get dust anymore and hardly need to clean anything.

Also the good thing about dedicated lens for dedicated body is that you can quickly switch camera when time is a factor. Having multiple camera with different lens around your neck is very useful for wedding shooting where you do not have to the time to play around the settings…

Ofcourse, this is if money isn’t an issue.

On my Nikon D300s i never changed its lens (17-55) f2.8 DX. And nearly 12000 shots later there is absolutly no dust inside.

]]> By: Alex - Suffolk Wedding Photographer http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-71538 Alex - Suffolk Wedding Photographer Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:07:46 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-71538 Some good tips there - just also be aware that there isn't too much need to be totally anal about having a 100% spot free sensor. If you check your sensor at f22 and you see a few bunnies - don't sweat too much, as you wont see them at wider apertures (unless you routinely shoot at f16/f22). Unless they are seriously effecting your images (say a speck gets stuck somewhere where it's often noticed - I shoot most things portraiture and so faces occupy certain parts of my sensor regularly), I'd say leave well alone and have it cleaned properly when you get your cameras serviced every year. Newer cameras of course have 'self cleaning' and the like to lessen the effects of dust. Some good tips there – just also be aware that there isn’t too much need to be totally anal about having a 100% spot free sensor.

If you check your sensor at f22 and you see a few bunnies – don’t sweat too much, as you wont see them at wider apertures (unless you routinely shoot at f16/f22).

Unless they are seriously effecting your images (say a speck gets stuck somewhere where it’s often noticed – I shoot most things portraiture and so faces occupy certain parts of my sensor regularly), I’d say leave well alone and have it cleaned properly when you get your cameras serviced every year.

Newer cameras of course have ‘self cleaning’ and the like to lessen the effects of dust.

]]> By: denzil http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-62115 denzil Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:32:41 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-62115 have you guys not tried using "dust delete data"? refer to your canon book that came with the camera. Download your shots to your computer using the canon software, and any dust spots will not show, need to update dust delete data regulary, in case you have picked up any more, regards denzil have you guys not tried using “dust delete data”? refer to your canon book that came with the camera. Download your shots to your computer using the canon software, and any dust spots will not show, need to update dust delete data regulary, in case you have picked up any more,

regards
denzil

]]> By: Lew http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-avoid-a-dirty-dslr-image-sensor/comment-page-1#comment-62068 Lew Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:17:32 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/?p=178#comment-62068 My 5D II sensor definitely stays cleaner than my 30D's. I used to clean the 30D sensor at least once a month or so. I haven't had to clean the sensor in my 5D II since I purchased it about 4 months ago. My preferred method of cleaning was to blow compressed air across a sensor cleaning brush and then brush the sensor gently which attracts any dust that has landed on the sensor. My 5D II sensor definitely stays cleaner than my 30D’s. I used to clean the 30D sensor at least once a month or so. I haven’t had to clean the sensor in my 5D II since I purchased it about 4 months ago. My preferred method of cleaning was to blow compressed air across a sensor cleaning brush and then brush the sensor gently which attracts any dust that has landed on the sensor.

]]>