Would you return this camera?

RedTele

RedTele

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Name
Kaz
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Hi guys, just got a secondhand 5D Mark I and I was wondering if I should return it to the seller. I could see a lot of crap through the VF so I thought I'll test if it's just on the VF or if it shows up in photos. I tried shooting the sky at low aperture (F/20) and this is what I got :(

IMG_1080.jpg


I bought this camera to do portraits and landscapes mainly so shooting at F/11-16 would be pretty common and this would be an issue. Am I overreacting or am I justified in thinking I should send it back? The camera takes fine photos otherwise.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6516389533_b384a5d35c_o.jpg - IMAGE BROKEN TO LINK AS IT'S MAHOOSIVE!!!
 
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Looks like it just needs a good clean, get a rocket blower and see if this will shift it, if not a sensor clean is in order, you can do this yourself with the right gear.

There person you bought it off, did they not mention the dust????

spike
 
what sort of crap? dust or something else? If is on the view finder it could mean the crap is on the mirror?

Maybe shoot against a white paper on f20 at out of focus and see what happen?
 
Just clean the sensor.
 
Surely if you can see it through the viewfinder it's a dusty lens problem, on mirror and you wouldn't photograph it, on sensor wouldn't see it through the VF.
 
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I think the VF is dusty AND the sensor is dusty. See lots of dust and fibre through the VF but it's not the same pattern as what shows up on images.
 
I have had this with my 50D the view finder was showing dust as well as the pictures so a good blow out and sensor clean and it is fine now.

spike
 
RedTele said:
I think the VF is dusty AND the sensor is dusty. See lots of dust and fibre through the VF but it's not the same pattern as what shows up on images.
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Yup. As has already been said... You have two issues here...

1. Crap in the viewfinder... you'll see this when you look through the viewfinder and it's a pain but it will not show up in images.

2. Crap on the sensor. You should buy a rocket blower and give that a try and if you still have some crap left you'll need to do a wet clean.

Crap in the viewfinder is a problem for DSLR's and other cameras with optical VF's. Crap on the sensor is a potential problem for all digital cameras especially those with removeable lenses.
 
When you get a rocket blower you can give the focus screen a blow, that might shift some of it. If you are confident you can remove the focus screen and give it a clean, you can even do more than that if even more confident.
 
markmullen said:
That's a technique I've not tried, it has got to be cheaper than vdust formula. :)
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...and, given other people's description of dust and dirt, may be appropriate. :shake:
 
I'm amazed at the suggestion of blowing the dust around with a rocket blower. I know lots of people do this but it seems counter intuitive to me.

I see no smudges, just what appears to be dust and hairs on the sensor and also, but less importantly, the viewfinder screen. I have 5 DSLRs and they have all needed the ocassional clean, especially the 5d mk1, and the Artic Butterfly which uses static electricity to pick up the dust has done the job very well indeed.

Can anyone else see this staff edit message below that has been appearing on my posts for months?
 
phototuition said:
I'm amazed at the suggestion of blowing the dust around with a rocket blower. I know lots of people do this but it seems counter intuitive to me.

I see no smudges, just what appears to be dust and hairs on the sensor and also, but less importantly, the viewfinder screen. I have 5 DSLRs and they have all needed the ocassional clean, especially the 5d mk1, and the Artic Butterfly which uses static electricity to pick up the dust has done the job very well indeed.

Can anyone else see this staff edit message below that has been appearing on my posts for months?
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yes, i can, I put it there, as you were adverting commercially, having been asked in the past to remove it. You can remove it yourself, and replace it through your control panel, just not with a link to a photo tuition website :)


Anyway, to answer your question about blowers...I use one very effectively, and the best way it to ensure the camera is on a tripod and face down [so the dust drops out] and do the body cavity/screens before doing the sensor. I also have an artic butterfly, also used successfully, but I do know people that have made things worse with them, smearing sensor crap rather then clearing it, so care it urged with both techniques. :thumbs:


to the OP - I woudlnt return it for dust/dirt issues, most are easily resolvable, though it could have been mentioned in the ad - well, the vf dirt certainly - the sensor muck might not have been noticed, especially if he/she was a 'wide open' fan ;)
 
Yv said:
yes, i can, I put it there, as you were adverting commercially, having been asked in the past to remove it. You can remove it yourself, and replace it through your control panel, just not with a link to a photo tuition website :)QUOTE]

I feel like a naughty schoolboy. perhaps a good spanking is in order!!

I'm much too old and stupid to even find my control panel and would be much obliged if you'd remove it for me. I'll also change my user name, or at least attempt to, to keep my business interest seperate.

Oops, I found it - edit signature.
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phototuition said:
Yv said:
yes, i can, I put it there, as you were adverting commercially, having been asked in the past to remove it. You can remove it yourself, and replace it through your control panel, just not with a link to a photo tuition website :)QUOTE]

I feel like a naughty schoolboy. perhaps a good spanking is in order!!

I'm much too old and stupid to even find my control panel and would be much obliged if you'd remove it for me. I'll also change my user name, or at least attempt to, to keep my business interest seperate.
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Don't mention spanking, you will have Matty running here! :eek:

I'll remove the sig for you, but dont worry about the name, its fine as it is, only admin can change it and it creates no end of problems. :)


Edit: saw your edit, thankyou :thumbs:
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Flash In The Pan said:
I'd hardly call that an "issue", it's like buying a secondhand car and then demanding your money back because the windscreen is dirty ;)
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That's why you want to inspect it and thoroughly test drive first

Now you are facing a daunting (not really) task of cleaning the sensor, and blowing the dust of the focusing screen. It is a sad reality with all dSLRs, just in your case the camera had a dirty previous owner.
You shouldn't be shooting much at f/22 anyway - everything is getting soft and all dust appearing. At f/16 things usually look much better, but if you can just use f/8 or wider.
 
If you don't feel like cleaning it yourself, get it sent to Canon/Fixation etc to have a clean and check over, at least that way you can be sure you've got a good camera.
 
the screens are removable arent they take it out and clean it.
 
Have a look to see if the mirror rework has been done, if not get it sent in to a Canon service centre and they will fix the mirror and clean the sensor for free.

This is what the re-worked mirror looks like:


Untitled by Gary Sutton, on Flickr
 
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