Sensor clean - Canon 550D

D

davemk

Messages
60
Name
Dave
Edit My Images
Yes
I may be taking the "Absolutely no question is too silly or basic for us in here" forum description to the limit with this one but here goes anyway!

My Canon 550D has an in-built sensor cleaner. I'm assuming that it's best to just leave it on "auto", rather than cleaning manually? :$


Dave.
 
Yes leave it on auto, although you will still likely need to manualy clean it at some point, as the inbuilt cleaners only have limited functionality.
 
Thanks. I know it's probably a stupid question; it's just that the sound of it operating sounds quite harsh.
 
Really? That doesn't sound right. It shouldnt really make any noise. My 550d doesn't, neither has any other camera I've owned with sensor cleaning.
 
So it shouldn't make any noise? Hmm, I think I'll have a trip to a camera shop tomorrow to see what noise they make. Hope I've not bought a faulty unit.
 
I use the 500D and it makes no noise at all apart from the sound of the mirror flipping up.. thats how it should be.
 
It's A small screen infront of the sensor and the sensor itself I think vibrate ultrasonicly.

Normal operation should be totaly silent.
 
Hmm interesting..my 1dmk3 makes a little bit of noise when it has the automatic sensor clean when you turn it on..sounds like a really faint squeeking sound is the only way to put it!
 
On a few of the cameras we've had through there a very slight humm or buzz for a second or so but you would only hear it in a quiet room.
 
Some say it works slightly better if you put it on a hard surface like a table, you can usually hear a gentle hum or buzz then.
 
The mirror shouldn't lift for auto cleaning, only manual cleaning.
It would sound the same as a photo being taken, except shorter.
 
I meant when it flips as you say like a shot being taken, but placing it on a hard surface would amplify any noise or vibration, when mine auto cleans its in my hands so I just hear the mirror flip/shutter.
 
Just payed with my 550D as I hadnt really messed with this before. I didnt think it made any noise at all.

If you have it set to auto cleaning, it doesnt make any noise. This cleans the sensor when you first swtich on and when you switch off and can be seen by the LCD screen showing the cleaning animation.

If you choose "clean now" from the menu, then at the end of the cleaning, the mirror will flip up and down like a photo being taken.

If you choose clean manually, the mirror will flip up and stay there until you turn the camera off.
There shouldnt be any other noise apart from the mirror on those two settings.
 
The clean manually option is only there if you fancy cleaning the sensor yourself using a blower or swabs. Luckily I have never had the need to do a wet clean, but several times I have had to get a blower in there to shift larger particles that the ultrasonic cleaning doesn't want to shift.
I have never noticed any sound using the auto cleaning on my 550d, and I have had the auto option set on since owning the camera.
 
My 550D is totally silent on auto-clean as well. Just tried it on clean now and it was silent untill it finished when it made the sound of the mirror flipping. I think auto is the default setting as I don't recall selecting it.

Alan
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top