Sensor Dust?

[Tknob]

I've had my Canon D20 for about 2 months. Just started messing with flash and smaller apetures. Noticed marks on my pictures. They are there regardless of lens and sharper at Higher F stops. I have only taken 1,000 or so pictures total. Do I have sensor dust already? If so do you guys usually clean this yourself or have it professionaly done? Here is a picture with example. White page. No dust on the page.

[BMWJNKY]

In the 20D user manual it explains how to clean the sensor.

[Tknob]

I understand how the cleaning is done. Question is
1. Is that what I'm seeing
2. From personal experience do you guys chance messing it up and do it yourself or have it professionaly done.

[JSPhoto]

The 20D is not a sealed body such as pro units are so you'll get more dust issues. Yes, this is dust, not neccesarily on the FILTER but, on the mirror or filter. The IR filter covers the sensor, so you do not get dust on he sensor but the filter. Learn to change lenses with the body pointed down, that can save dust iisues.

DO NOT: use canned air, the chemicals WILL damage the film on the filter. Use a small bulb blower per the instructions in the manual.

Personally I let Canon clean my gear twice a year. I'd rather they mess it up.

JS

[mjs1973]

I clean my sensor myself, and have never had a problem. Just be carfull. Here is the blower I use. One of the best/most used pieces of equipment in my bag. I just set the camera to sensor clean, and give it a couple shots of air. I was able to see one chunk of dust on my sensor and it took a few extra puffs to get it off, but the rocket did the trick. This blowing of air inside your camera can cause the dust to relocate to another part of the camera, say the focusing screen. This can be a distraction since you will see it in the viewfinder, but a few shots of air there will take care of that too. I have gone as far as holding my camera body upside down while holding the vacuum cleaner hose under it while blowing the dust out of it to suck the dust down once it's off the sensor/focusing screen.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

[another view]

Yes, it is dust on the sensor. You'll have a greater chance of getting dust on it when changing lenses unless you're covering Iraq or some other really harsh environment like that. Be very careful when changing lenses: Keep the camera body pointed down (gravity on your side here), change lenses as quickly as possible and keep your back to the wind.

I use the same blower and never have touched the sensor itself. I've never needed to - a couple of dust spots may remain but they're usually easy to clone out in Photoshop.

[freygr]

Yes, it is dust on the sensor. You'll have a greater chance of getting dust on it when changing lenses unless you're covering Iraq or some other really harsh environment like that. Be very careful when changing lenses: Keep the camera body pointed down (gravity on your side here), change lenses as quickly as possible and keep your back to the wind.

I use the same blower and never have touched the sensor itself. I've never needed to - a couple of dust spots may remain but they're usually easy to clone out in Photoshop.

I must add, clean the inside lense area before installing the lense. That was how I ended up with a horse hair inside my camera......... and ON the sensor also......

[Ronnoco]

The absolute best answer is a little brush/blower with a very small piece of radium on the inside which attracts dust. Unfortunately they are currently hard to find because of fears regarding radium.

Ronnoco