Dust on sensor within two days! help!

LaurenceGough

LaurenceGough

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Laurence
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Hi guys,

My first post here, looks like a great place.

A few days ago I purchased a new Canon 550D. I've took about 800-900 pics, I've changed lens about 10 times but always tried my best to be quick and not to keep the body open for long...

With both of my lenses the following spots remain (took at f22 onto a white screen out of focus).


I have tried the built in cleaning option many times but it hasn't helped, it's also set to auto clean.

Looks like this is something I'm going to have to clean often, so I do not want to spend a lot.

I have ordered the full size rocket blower and a lenspen (for the lens).

If the rocket blower does not work I read it's best to try a wet clean.

After researching it seems I have these options:

  • Visible Dust Green Medium Format Sensor Swabs (do these need solution?)
  • Sensor Wand, pec pads and Eclipse Solution
  • Sensor Wipe, pec pads and Eclipse Solution
  • Flexible plastic such as credit card, with a soft edge (silicone tube I heard), and pec pads + Eclipse Solution


What do you think guys? Or should I order a brush or something?

Cheers,

Laurence
 
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Hi,

I hope that the Rocket cures your problem. Whenever a Rocket doesn't quite do it for me I use Eclipse fluid and home made swabs.

Anyway... whenever I'm checking for dust on the sensor I take a series of shots at different apertures and then decide if it's worth cleaning or not. You've got dust at f22 but I wonder what it's like at more realistic apertures? If you can't see the dust at the apertures that you actually use don't bother to clean it right now :D
 
First of all :welcome: to TP :wave: and secondly don't panic :nuts:

If the automatic sensor cleaning facility of your 550D hasn't shifted the dust a quick squirt from a rocket blower should do the trick :)
 
Don't shoot at f/22! Sharpness will be dramatically reduced through diffraction (peaks around f/5.6-8 on crop cameras) and frankly there's very rarely any need to go higher than f/11 for depth of field.
 
Did you turn off the camera before changing lenses ?
I believe it is considered good practice to do so as the sensor holds a small electrical charge which will attract dust..
Also, I try to change lenses in still air if possible, and keep the camera pointed downwards to avoid dust falling in to the body - I have yet to have any dust specks after over a year...
 
Thanks for the welcome guys :).

woof woof (haha), would you care to explain your method of cleaning a bit more? I too hope the rocket cleaner works!


To be honest I just hate the thought of there being dust on a sensor, even if it's out of focus it's in my head that it's going to effect a portion of the image. I did have a quick look after doing these tests and I think under a torch light I can see the specs, very tiny but there is a bit of dust there.

Oh! And the main reason why I did all this, a HD video I took of the sky had a massive mark at the top and side and kinda ruined the video, I'm not sure if this was on the lens or not as I gave them a clean too. I'll have to go and take a vid of the sky again I guess.


As for turning the camera off, I did on all minus I think two changes after reading online that it doesn't matter (they said no static hmmm)... To be honest I think from now I'm just going to turn off as it takes a split second to do anyway.
 
dust happens, even with the auto clean enabled. its just something you have to deal with every now and again. and as mentioned at "normal" apertures it shouldnt be noticable.

wouldnt necessarily worry about turning the camera off, the sensor is behind the mirror and shutter so not directly exposed to the elements with the lens off. however it would be wise to shelter from wind if outdoors and not leave the open body pointing up for long periods etc. just common sense really.
 
LaurenceGough said:
Thanks for the welcome guys :).

woof woof (haha), would you care to explain your method of cleaning a bit more? I too hope the rocket cleaner works!
Click to expand...

OK.

First I shoot a series out out of focus shots of either a white door or piece of A4 starting at the smallest aperture and ending at maybe f8. I then view the results and decide if it's worth cleaning the sensor or not. If it's worth it I try a Rocket first and then take another series of test shots...

If I'm going for a wet clean I take a slice of thin plastic cut from a (sort of) credit card and fold a Pec Pad around in and tape it in place. I place a drop or maybe two of Eclipse Fluid on the tip and clean the sensor quite quickly, applying very slight pressure, the plastic slice will bend and ensure that undue pressure is not transferred to the sensor.

Simples.

The reason for using the slice of plastic / Pec Pad / Fluid is that I'm very unlikely to run out whereas I could quickly use up a box of shop bought swabs.

Personally I believe in prevention rather than cure so I often check and clean my sensor before heading out for the day as I'm then starting with a clean sensor and therefore less likely to be sat cloning out dust on 200 shots later that night.
 
Has the 550D got something like dust delete data that maps the spots and processes them out

Could be talking rubbish, but got a feeling there is something like that you can use if a stubborn mark or two persists
 
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Thanks Alan, I think that is the method I'm going to use. I like the look of Lens Pen's sensor cleaner tool but as you're using the same head over and over I don't think that's a great idea.

I think I'll attach a soft tube to the end of my card and cut it to a narrow grip so it can flex very easy.


Rich, it does have that but it must be just for RAW files as it doesn't seem to work with jpegs.

Eclipse or Eclipse E2 for the 550D? Anyone know?
 
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Laurence

Just checked it out on the web and the dust delete should work on jpegs too, not a permanent solution, but handy in the short term

Cheers
Rich
 
LaurenceGough said:
Eclipse or Eclipse E2 for the 550D? Anyone know?
Click to expand...

I can tell you about Eclipse E2.

Its no longer called E2 its just called Eclipse. There was a distinction a few years ago when the original formula was used but with the introduction of tin-oxide coated sensors a new formula was introduced called E2.
Since then of course many sensors use tin-oxide coatings and original Eclipse fluid was replaced by the E2 - the old fluid is no longer sold, and the new formula is safe on all sensors and its just called Eclipse

I only know this since I recently asked the same question when I bought my cleaning kit from Digipad.co.uk and that was the response from them.
 
Hmm, it didn't seem to work Rich, I will take another look at it now :). You're right if I'm stuck somewhere out and I have a big dust spot it will be handy.

Peter, oh dear... I just read that twice and I finally got it, I'm always doing typos haha.... Nope, not planning on running it over just yet hahaha!


So this is safe for all sensors now? :)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Photographic-Solutions-ECDCS-Cleaning-Solution/dp/B0000AUR1I/ref=pd_cp_ce_2

How confusing, can't see it mentioned anywhere...
 
Just a couple of comments really... :)

I empathise, but things like this, and pixel peeping, usually end in either frustration, or huge expense, or both.

There is no such thing as a 100% spotless sensor, even after a full professional clean.

I don't use wet cleaning (which can sometimes make things worse) and have never found the need for it. I use a rocket blower 90% of the time, and very occasionally an Arctic Butterfly.

Also, avoiding very high f/numbers is almost always a complete cure. They are very rarely needed and are simply bad news for image quality anyway.

PS You are aware that dirt on, say, the top right of the image is on the bottom right of the sensor as you look at it? Image is inverted.
 
LaurenceGough said:
.... As for turning the camera off, I did on all minus I think two changes after reading online that it doesn't matter (they said no static hmmm)....
Click to expand...

I don't know about Canon but all the Nikon manuals I've seen have this warning (probably to avoid shorting out the lens contacts*): 'Be sure the camera is off when removing or exchanging lenses.'

(* Or VR going berserk).
 
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HoppyUK said:
There is no such thing as a 100% spotless sensor, even after a full professional clean.
Click to expand...

I beg to differ.

The first clean my 20D got was a pro clean that I paid Canon to do but all they did was move the dust about. Useless. Cleaning it myself is no problem and I can clean to f22 with no spots what so ever. It is perfectly possible to do.

I take the point about it not really being necessary, f22 being a once in a lifetime option, but to an anal engineer type like me cleaning to f22 is perfectly possible and I've done it :thumbs: although I usually just clean to the min aperture of the lens I'm going to use as my main lens.
 
Well guys, the rocket blower removed a few specs but 3 specs will not come off, they are visible when taking pictures of the sky also at f22.

I'm not happy with having spots there so I am going to be ordering pec-pads and eclipse and going to be cleaning it myself (using a credit card and soft tube on the end).
 
LaurenceGough said:
Well guys, the rocket blower removed a few specs but 3 specs will not come off, they are visible when taking pictures of the sky also at f22.
Click to expand...

Really, stop taking pictures of the sky at f/22 then...

I went through this phase too and eventually realised that I was just driving myself mad. It started when I bought the 100mm macro which has a f/32 min aperture.

I rarely shoot above f/11 in practice and at the minute I have no dust bunnies visible at this aperture. I now know the sensor will never be truly clean but really, if it isn't causing you an issue in normal use, it isn't an issue.

Just chill out and take some photo's....
 
Be warned the first few times you clean it will get worse. I never shoot at f22 unless doing macro, then the dof is so narrow its still not a problem. I am in the same camp as happy there days and just use a rocket blower.
 
Well it's just dirt appeared while taking a video and kind of ruined the look. You can see the vid here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obE3_Qv5vkk only visible in HD but look at the top area..

I'm planning to record this kind of stuff a lot throughout the years and dust on my point and shot's sensor was one of the reasons why I got my DSLR, but instead of years the same has happened again in a matter of days! :(
 
LaurenceGough said:
Well it's just dirt appeared while taking a video and kind of ruined the look. You can see the vid here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obE3_Qv5vkk only visible in HD but look at the top area..

I'm planning to record this kind of stuff a lot throughout the years and dust on my point and shot's sensor was one of the reasons why I got my DSLR, but instead of years the same has happened again in a matter of days! :(
Click to expand...

A point and shoot is effectively a sealed unit, while s dslr isn't. Dust is one if those things with dslrs. My best advice is you really font need to shoot at f22 you will be losing sharpness due to deflation, try f8 or f11, this will still give you excellent dof without the issues ogre dust showing up.
 
Ok, at the time the video was just on auto mode, to be honest video is my main worry, and focusing is hard with most subjects I video, so I tend to just leave it on auto for them kind of videos.

Tomorrow I will take a video outside and see if the dirt spots have gone, hopefully it isn't bloody raining haha...

If they haven't I'll be ordering wet cleaning supplies as I don't want 100's of videos ruined in the future by them :(.
 
The dust is never literally on the sensor, there is some kind of glass filter on the sensor. So, cleaning it with fluid is not as drastic as it may sound.

You can use lens cleaning fluid, and a clean swab.

I would also use a dry, and clean (ideally new), brush first. Gently dab at the sensor, with the brush, to loosen and remove any larger particles before wet cleaning. You may not have to wet clean it at all.
 
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Do you have to shoot at F22 with a video... i'm like you, if I know the sensor is dirty it drives me mad.
 
Miss Moo!! said:
Do you have to shoot at F22 with a video... i'm like you, if I know the sensor is dirty it drives me mad.
Click to expand...

It used to drive me mad too, as did dust bunnies in the viewfinder. After must stressing and mucking about cleaning it myself and then getting it professionally done I learned to take the attitude that if it isn't visible in photo's at the apertures I'm using, it isn't there.

To be honest, even if I do get a few spots in the sky at higher apertures I just clone them out now. I only clean it when it gets unmanageable, first I try with a nylon sensor cleaning brush (which has had a few puffs of air from the rocket) and then if that fails a wet clean with Eclipse and Pec-Pads on a paddle.
 
It's still just as bad in video...
 
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I dont see any need to be shooting video above F11 get a Vari ND and stay around 5.6/8.


P.S NEVER use a dry brush on the sensor... ever, scratches dont come out.
 
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I was very fearful of wiping the surface above the sensor in my camera, but it's quite easy. Much easier than I thought it would be. I though it was actually cleaning and touchting the sensor, but just swiping the surface thing above it, but obviously still have to take care.

I just used the pecpad things, a swab stick and that special fluid and did it a couple of times and brilliant job. Any remaining spots I just remove in Lightroom.

I think, understandably, there can be fear in damaging the equipment, but I think everyone who uses a camera needs to learn and not be fearful of cleaning their own equipment. I'd do it anytime now and it's not an issue other than having to actually buy the cleaning gear.
 
LaurenceGough said:
Thanks Alan, I think that is the method I'm going to use. I like the look of Lens Pen's sensor cleaner tool but as you're using the same head over and over I don't think that's a great idea.

I think I'll attach a soft tube to the end of my card and cut it to a narrow grip so it can flex very easy.

Rich, it does have that but it must be just for RAW files as it doesn't seem to work with jpegs.

Eclipse or Eclipse E2 for the 550D? Anyone know?
Click to expand...

Don't use a lens pen. I did and it has left smudge marks on the sensor.
 
Diadem said:
I dont see any need to be shooting video above F11 get a Vari ND and stay around 5.6/8.


P.S NEVER use a dry brush on the sensor... ever, scratches dont come out.
Click to expand...

Alistair,
That simply isn't true. The brush I use, and many of my friends use, is this one Sensor Cleaning Brush.

You are far more likely to scratch the filter over the sensor (for that is what you are really cleaning) by using one of the lenspen type methods as these could easily trap something abrasive. With the brush, you blow the crap out of the bristles before use.

The brush certainly isn't EVER going to physically scratch the filter. It may smear stubborn contaminants around though and that is when to resort to a wet clean.
 
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I did both my bodies today as I was not working ...its been strange not doing anything on a Saturday... however when I looked into both bodies I could not see anything untowards and I wasn't really aware of any problems from the recent 5000 images I have taken using both bodies... I wacked the aperture down to F16 and took a few images of the sky... I was shocked at the amout of crap on the sensors... It wasn't until I looked at the sensor with the Butterfly scope that I saw the debris.... A few wipes with an home made swab and a splash of E2 and all was clear....

I used to be quite worried about cleaning the sensor on my 1D's but now its just part of the job...

Advice is do not dry clean the sensor...and do not use too much cleaning fluid...Two drops maximum on the swab...

I always alway try and fit lenses under cover and if I have to change one outside I try and keep the body facing downwards and only take the rear lens cap off at the very last moment.
 
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dan-marsh said:
The dust is never literally on the sensor, there is some kind of glass filter on the sensor. So, cleaning it with fluid is not as drastic as it may sound.

You can use lens cleaning fluid, and a clean swab.

I would also use a dry, and clean (ideally new), brush first. Gently dab at the sensor, with the brush, to loosen and remove any larger particles before wet cleaning. You may not have to wet clean it at all.
Click to expand...

Dan mate, with all the respect, that really is poor advice :thumbsdown:

OP, seriously, DON'T DO THIS.
I have seen for myself what damage a brush can do. The only brush that is suitable is an Artic Butterfly.

Stop worrying about a few bits of dust!
Don't shoot at F22, that is absolutely pointless. Your images will look soft.
Learn how to use the clone tool in Photoshop (if of course you have it).

I was obsessed by dust for sometime. I spent a FORTUNE on products, and only ever made the problem worse.
Wet cleaning I always left smears behind.
I can't think of any reason to ever shoot higher than F11.
If you do need to stop more light coming in, get a 9 or 10 stop filter.
There are other filters that will help.

Don't become obsessed by sensor dust, it will cost you big time!

And if it bothers you that much, get it done by the pro's.
London Camera Exchange charge about £40.
Allot cheaper in the long run!
 
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