Sensor cleaning

[superpippo]

I have been reading this thread with interest and some good advice from 'realspeed' - http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=496265

On Wednesday of last week I was at a local nature reserve and this was one of the shots - D7000, 70-300mm at f/6.3. As can be seen it seems clear of dust


DSC_4333 by Superpippo0547, on Flickr



Two days later I took this shot (as a test following some shots of steelwork against a blue sky on which I had seen dust spots) - D7000, 70-300mm at f/29.

The lens had not been removed from the body in the intervening time.
Looks like it needs a clean - which bemused me.

But from my reading of the other topic and some of the links in it am I to conclude that the f. stop can be a determining factor as to whether the dust shows up on the shot? So that if I shoot near to wide open the spots will not show (or be less likely to show)?


DSC_4458 by Superpippo0547, on Flickr

 

[cymruchris]

It's because of your apertures - dust is always more visible at the f22+ end than at the f2.8 end...

 

[superpippo]

It's because of your apertures - dust is always more visible at the f22+ end than at the f2.8 end...

Thanks for the confirmation Chris.

 

[markmullen]

As Chris says, the small aperture makes them more visible, I know portrait photographers who've never cleaned their sensors as they're never over about f8 so it isn't an issue.

As a landscape photographer I'm usually stopped well down so sensor dust is my nemesis. Luckily cleaning the sensor on a medium format digital back is tonnes easier than it used to be on my SLRs.

 

[superpippo]

As Chris says, the small aperture makes them more visible, I know portrait photographers who've never cleaned their sensors as they're never over about f8 so it isn't an issue.

As a landscape photographer I'm usually stopped well down so sensor dust is my nemesis. Luckily cleaning the sensor on a medium format digital back is tonnes easier than it used to be on my SLRs.

Thanks Mark

Looks like I will need to research the best way of cleaning - commercially seems v. expensive so I will have to go for the self-clean, altho a bit apprehensive as I fear making it worse.

PS tried the 'clean sensor' in camera menu but didn't shift anything and I have it set to clean on switch on/off as well. So nil points there!

 

[cymruchris]

A wet clean using reputable products is very easy really... Plenty of threads on how to do it...

 

[markmullen]

I use green visible dust swabs and vdust formula to clean my SLRs, it isn't as difficult as you might imagine.

The best thing is to get the LED loupe, it makes the jobs loads easier as you can check how well you've done before you remount the lens, it speeds things up no end.

 

[redhed17]

I went for many years just using the Rocket Air Blower to clean my sensor. It sometimes took a bit of blowing, but much easier than a wet clean.

It was only when there was some liquid on the sensor (looked like a doughnut shaped spots) of a new camera :bang: that no amount of blowing would have removed that, that I had to resort to doing a wet clean myself.

 

[topcat07]

Anyone used this off eBay?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ULTRA-POWER-HURRICANE-AIR-BLOWER-SENSOR-LENS-CLEANER-Cameras-/330789503398

Looks a cheap alternative to rocket blower with same valve system..

 

[redhed17]

Anyone used this off eBay?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ULTRA-POWER-HURRICANE-AIR-BLOWER-SENSOR-LENS-CLEANER-Cameras-/330789503398

Looks a cheap alternative to rocket blower with same valve system..

That may be very cheap, but it doesn't look that big. The Rocket Air Blower has a lot of blow in it. And there have been times when I've had someone else hold the camera and I'm using two hands to get as much air coming out of the blower, to shift the dirt, so as I don't have to do a wet clean. The bigger the better. And it's not that expensive imho. Save money on the expensive things.