Canon Drebel sensor clean question

[schrackman]

I've noticed a slight drop in performance in my digital rebel in the past 6 months, and am wondering if it may be due to not having the sensor cleaned since I've purchased the camera (I've had it for nearly a year now). But I'm afraid to do it cuz I seem to remember some posts that warned against doing it. Can someone help clarify this function on my camera and whether or not I should have it done, and if so is there anything I need to keep in mind when doing it?

Thanks in advance.

[Peter_AUS]

Probably needs a service.

[DownByFive]

I don't think you'd notice a drop in performance due to dust. The only thing that happens when I have dust on my sensor is that there are tiny, round, semi-transparent, artifacts that mainly show up in blue sky areas. Ask 5 different people how to clean the sensor and you'll get 6 different opinions. Recommendations run from Scotch tape to specialized swab/fluid combos. But I think the most popular method is Pec Pads with Eclipse fluid. Basically wrapping a pad around some sort of stick (some people use plastic knives and even small spatulas...) and applying the fluid. There is also a brand name version called SensorSwipe, and maybe others...Of course, many just say to use a blower. I'm not to sure about the Rebel, but for the D70, there is a MLU function for cleaning the sensor that is enabled in the menu. You might have to put the Rebel in bulb mode to do this though....

[lidarman]

What specifically is happening in the reduction of your cameras performance? Like said already, dust on the sensor causes spots on the image.

The first rule of cleaning optics such as sensors, is don't get them dirty!

First, make sure your lens is clean.

Take a pic of a white wall, or a clear sky, blow it up and look for spots. If you find some, carefully look at your sensor if you can use bulb and flip up the mirror.

NOTE: A you should always try to hold the camera slightly down when the lens is off to minimize dust falling onto the sensor.

Sometimes you can see dust on the sensor chip and if you do, the best thing to do initially is blow it off with dry air! No, not the little puffer air, and not the aerosol canned air (which can get propellant on the sensor if you aren't careful)...The best air is the dry compressed clean cartridge air.

Puff air on it and see if that takes care of the dust. I have gotten dust off a D-70 sensor after 5 tries so don't give up.

If that doesn't work, I would consider taking it to a qualified camera shop. When you reach the point of having to stick solvents and implements in there, the risk of making it worse goes way up. It takes really special techniques to clean optics like that in a consistent manner. I'm sure many people do it sucessfully but unless you really know what you are doing, beware!

[paulnj]

I have NEVER cleaned my sensor on my 1D! If I get dust on the sensor(everyone does at some time) , I have a HUGE blower that works wonders.

I lock the mirror up(camera function, but bulb will work too) , turn the camera with the lens mount facing down and give it a few puffs. Most of the time the dust is gone the first time

my blower is very similiar to this but has the canon name on it(promo item)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=195065&is=REG

[another view]

Ask 5 different people how to clean the sensor and you'll get 6 different opinions.

Hey, that's my line!

I doubt an overall drop in performance is related to a dirty sensor, can you describe the problem in more detail? I follow Paul's approach - in a year and a half and several thousand exposures I've never cleaned mine other than occasionally using a blower bulb like what he's got. Make sure to put the camera in a "cleaning mode" if it shows how in the manual. When you just put it on "B" shutter speed, the sensor is energized and will attract all the dust back that you're trying to blow off of it. My S2 has a cleaning mode that locks the mirror up and opens the shutter, but doesn't energize the sensor.

In shots with a lot of white or open sky, I'll spend a minute or two cloning out dust - at the worst. I can live with that after reading some of the horror stories. Plus, I've heard of people cleaning sensors (or having them factory serviced) and having them come back worse than they started.

One recent find was a small accessory kit made by Oreck (the vacuum cleaner people). It's $20 and comes with tiny nozzles and brushes that fit on the end of the vacuum cleaner hose. Think about this - blowing the dust off the sensor doesn't really get it out of the camera. As soon as you press the shutter release, the mirror flips up and blows the dust inside the mirror box around again... I don't have one of these yet but plan to try it, can't hurt (that would be brushing the felt inside the mirror box, not the senor itself).

[schrackman]

Okay, here's the difference I see. The first six to eight months of using my camera my pictures seemed to me to have a "brightness" that they are now lacking on screen and on print. Now, I know what you're thinking, and no it's not my settings. I learned early on how to adjust my camera for different lighting situations to avoid under/over exposure in most cases. But now, when they come out of the camera, there is a dinginess to them and I seem to have to do a lot of correction lately in PS to get them to look decent. Shooting indoors is the worst (of course this is true with anyone but more so a bigger problem for me now), even with adjusting white balance. I cannot for the life of me get a decent indoor shot anymore. Some might not notice from looking at my photos, but I do notice it and it is bothering me. Suggestions? or do you think this is more "mental" (no jokes, Paul!!! LOL) on my part?

[paulnj]

Ray, this is just a suggestion

WHY is the problem the camera and not the lenses? Lens quality DOES fall off with use IMHO . They get dirty, dust inside, movements of internal parts get loose......... ;)

[another view]

I think Paul has a good suggestion with the lenses. Depends on the environments that you're shooting in and how, and how much you clean your lenses. I had a bad problem with flare with my 20-35 but it looked clean. I usually just blow on the lens and wipe it with a microfiber cloth, but decided to try Eclipse solution and their cleaning pads. I couldn't believe how dirty the pad was after I cleaned it! Took care of most of the flare problem too...

[paulnj]

I'm a fart smeller I guess huh

Oh sorry smart fellow