Canon [50d] Sensor Self cleaning modes – What’s the difference?

[lostsoulal2]

I’ve always been puzzled even to the extent of thinking that the system does not work, as although I have my Canon 50D set on automatic sensor cleaning mode, when ever I check, sensor dust always seems to be present. ( my 50d appears to accumulate more dust than previous versions – 20D)

I was reading the manual a month or so ago and noticed that you could activate the self cleaning mode manually, when I tried this I noticed that there was the noise of the shutter moving up and other noises, but as it said in the manual, no picture was taken.

I also read that it is recommended that for best results the camera bottom is placed on a table or hard surface at a perpendicular angle whilst cleaning is taking place.

I have been doing this and noticed that the remaining dust on the sensor does appear to be clearing at the top of the sensor and dust is gradually migrating towards the bottom. Placing it on a hard surface makes more sense in that the vibrations will be more effective.

However in automatic mode there is no sound whatsoever…………… does anyone know what the differences are between the two modes, as one appears to be more physical than the other ?

Thanks

 

[Kerioak]

Is automatic when you use Canons software and it logs where the dust it and then removes it from images on import?

I rarely use Canon software so did not take much notice of this part of the manual

 

[lostsoulal2]

No, That's another part of the canon arsenal of products to combat sensor dust.

If you put the camera in "Automatic" Sensor cleaning mode using the LCD menu on the rear- the same one where you can change the LCD brightness and the date etc - then every time you switch the camera ON and or OFF, the self cleaning sensor unit operates to automatically shake off the dust in front of the sensor.

So typically, this would mean that the camera would clean itself every time switch it on/off or when you change a lens as they recommend turning off the camera before doing so.

 

[Byker28i]

Auto cleaning is just when you power on/off the camera.

Clean now is just a manual prompt for the autoclean

Clean manually locks up the mirror and allows you to clean the sensor yourself with swabs etc.

 

[Byker28i]

Is automatic when you use Canons software and it logs where the dust it and then removes it from images on import?

I rarely use Canon software so did not take much notice of this part of the manual

Thats the delete dust data option. (P149 in the manual), where you photograph a white piece of paper.

 

[lostsoulal2]

For Byker28i

Does your camera make the same sounds in both Automatic or clean now modes?

Thanks

 

[Dogfish_magnet]

For Byker28i

Does your camera make the same sounds in both Automatic or clean now modes?

Thanks

My 50D is silent when you switch on the camera but you can hear a noise when using the 'Clean now' function.

 

[lostsoulal2]

My 50D is silent when you switch on the camera but you can hear a noise when using the 'Clean now' function.

Thanks, so that's the same as mine (I did think my camera might be faulty) - but it must be doing something extra with all the noise you can hear in the "Clean Now" function - just wonder what its doing?

 

[Kerioak]

Shows I should read the manual again I have mine set to clean every time it switches off anyway

 

[Janice]

As said above... before this "auto sensor cleaning" which does it when you turn the camera on and off (silently) there was just a manual cleaning mode.

This means you will hear the mirror go up and lock up ready for you to remove the lens and clean the sensor with cleaning liquid and swabs for those hard to remove bits of sensor crud!

 

[Dogfish_magnet]

As said above... before this "auto sensor cleaning" which does it when you turn the camera on and off (silently) there was just a manual cleaning mode.

This means you will hear the mirror go up and lock up ready for you to remove the lens and clean the sensor with cleaning liquid and swabs for those hard to remove bits of sensor crud!

On the 50D there's actually 3 options

On the Canon site it says

'The screen will indicate that the sensor is being cleaned. Although there will be a shutter sound, a picture is not taken.' so its doing something different to a power on / off clean but I'm not sure what it is :shrug:

 

[lostsoulal2]

Thanks for the replies so far, the difference between the two modes is puzzling- with the Automatic Sensor Self-Cleaning being silent, it makes me wonder if its doing anything at all.....................

- if I get the time, I will go down to Canon at Elstree in the next couple of days and see if I can get an answer from one of the technicians.

 

[Janice]

Although there will be a shutter sound, a picture is not taken.[/COLOR]' so its doing something different to a power on / off clean but I'm not sure what it is :shrug:

as i just said... and someone else before me........:shrug:

the noise is the mirror going up and staying up ready for you to do a clean with a sensor swab.

the silent one of the turn on/off sensor clean is that the camera does micro vibrations to dislodge the crud... hence no noise.

 

[Dogfish_magnet]

as i just said... and someone else before me........:shrug:

the noise is the mirror going up and staying up ready for you to do a clean with a sensor swab.

the silent one of the turn on/off sensor clean is that the camera does micro vibrations to dislodge the crud... hence no noise.

No - to get that you would chose 'Clean manually' from the menu as per the menu shot i've posted the mirror will then flip and you need to turn off the camera to reset the mirror, we are discussing the 'Clean now ' function which is totally different. :rules:

 

[Anorakus]

The sensor cleaning feature on my 5D mk II seems to be doing something.. I have noticed the odd dust spot on a shot that disappears on successive shots..

A.

 

[lostsoulal2]

Instead of visiting Canon at Elstree, I phoned and managed to speak to one of the help desk technicians:

He was able to confirm that the two methods of sensor cleaning (set for automatic v clean Now) did produce different noises and that this was not a fault with the camera as he could reproduce this on a stock camera.

He did try to research if there had been any data published from Canon Japan but could not locate anything.

He went on to say that although there is a difference between the two methods the end result would be the same, but could not explain to me satisfactorily what it was actually doing in each method, so it was a rather inconclusive conversation and will remain a mystery unless someone else can put forward a solution.