DSLR users: how do you clean your sensor?

[Hans Deventer]

I've been using http://www.thompsonphoto.com/photosol.htm but I'm not really happy with it. Eventually, I get it clean but it takes a several attempts. I'm very interested in hearing your experiences.

[Dave McClung]

So far, I have just used a can of dry, compressed air to blow the dust off. I have not had any other need to clean it.

[Jill Mickelson]

You guys are teaching me about my camera....cleaning sensors? Good grief,
I need to go back and read my book some more! Thanks for the lessons! I just point and shoot and hope for the best! Not really....but there's lots of little buttons on my camera that I am clueless about....until I read my book again! What's our lesson for tomorrow? jill

[Hans Deventer]

Jill,

It's only a problem with digital SLR camera's. And so far, only Olympus has build an internal cleaning system in their DSLR's. But it really is an issue, even if you never change lenses, sooner or later, dust will appear on the sensor.

If you're not sure if you might have it, there is a simple test. Take a picture at F32 (or the highest aperture possible) of a clean white sheet of paper. Study that picture and if there are no specs of dust, you're fine.

A friend of mine just came back from Barcelona and on some of his pictures, I could see specs of dust. If you look closely on the following picture, you'll see three of them.

BTW, these are the towers of the "Sacrada Familia", the Gaudi cathedral they are still building over there

[Jill Mickelson]

Thanks Hans! I have a Nikon D70.... What a disappointment to come home with a great picture like that! I'm going to have to keep a file of photo tips now!

[Hans Deventer]

You're welcome! And congratulations on the D70. I like it a lot, but there is also a lot to learn!
There are a few owners here, I know Dave has one, as does his daughter Pammy, Carolyn Franklin has one and I have one too. So if you need any assistance, I'm sure you can find some help here.

Still, many issue relate to all kinds of digital SLR's, as does this issue.

[Jill Mickelson]

Hans,
I first had a Nikon 3.3 pixel Coolpix 995 and LOVED IT! But my memory card "door" latch broke. I can still use the camera. Anyhow I decided to hunt around and see what was available and asked the LORD to show me which camera to buy. I saw the Nikon D70 at the Nikon Website. And really wanted that camera. Waited and prayed and talked to people. I have been lurking on NazNet for about 3 years? and saw that you purchased the Nikon D70. So that and talking with other people clinched it for me! I need to get a good program for editing pictures. (Plus get rid of pictures from my computer because I am constantly low on memory! hahaha!) Thanks for the info. jill

[Dave McClung]

Hans,
I need to get a good program for editing pictures. (Plus get rid of pictures from my computer because I am constantly low on memory! hahaha!) Thanks for the info. jill

Here are tips for solving both issues:

1. Tranfer your old photos to CD's. Be sure to burn 2 copies before you delete them from your hard drive. There isn't much more disappointing than to lose an enitre CD of photos.

I have a fire resistant safe where I keep one set of the photo cd's. Treat them like you would a scrap book with your baby pictures.

2. There are a lot of "good" photo editing programs. Many people still consider Adobe Photo Shop to be the best. I have it, but use it only in unusual circumstances. It seems to have the most features.

My current favorite is the Picasa2 software available from Google. It is still free and does almost anything I ever want to do with a picture. It also keeps the photos on your hard drive organized.

For simple adjustements, I still like the HP program that comes with HP Printers. Even if you don't have an HP Printer, you can download it from HP's web site. I still prefer it over Picasa2 to print pictures.

Another old standby is MGI Photosuite. It was my favorite for years.

The final program I will mention is Ezthumbs which can be downloaded. It is the program to use when all you want to do is reduce the size of your picture. If you are taking high resolution photos with your D70, they will be too large to upload to NazNet. Ezthumbs will reduce them to the correct size.

Dave:fav18

[Jill Mickelson]

Thanks Dave for all the GREAT info!
After I started running out of room on my c drive, I started putting my pics on CD's....I'm still working on that.....and I have been putting them on 2 CDs.
I am also storing my CD's in a fire proof safe.

I use my pictures over and over in many ways so I would "prefer" them on my computer.... I have thought of using an external hard drive?

ALSO thanks for the info on the photo programs. I did get one with my camera but I've never installed it. I am using Jasc Paint Shop but I really don't like it. So I'll have to check out the programs that you are suggesting!

I downsize my photos to 800X600.....people really like that size when I send pics via email. Is that too big to share on NazNet?

I am in AWE of all that I am being taught about my Camera by so many people! THANKS SO MUCH! TO GOD BE THE GLORY! jill

[Dave McClung]

"Is 800X600 to big too post on NazNet?"

Try it and see. I think photos that large will sometimes exceed the limit allowed by vBulletin, but I don't know for sure. Go ahead and try it.

Dave

[Hans Deventer]

Dave,

When you want to upload a picture, clicking the button "manage attachments", it says exactly what the limits are. For a jpg file, these are 800x800 and 195.3 KB

[Cindi Hammons]

I'm pretty sure the photos must be 700X700.

Cindi H.

[Hans Deventer]

My dearest sister, it says:

jpg 195.3 KB 800 800

and it should, for I made that setting myself :basic03

[Hans Deventer]

Yesterday I got a new device to clean the sensor, Giotto's Rocket Air. Tried it yesterday and it seems to work quite well. The CCD isn't totally clean yet, but I suspect some of it is left over from a bad cleaning job last time. I need to work on that.

[Jonathan Long]

Hans,

The bulb cleaners are the safe way to go. Dave uses compressed air, but you have to be really carefully when using it. With compressed air you have two things to worry about, first would be the pressure from the blast is enough to damage sensitive internal parts. The second would be the possibility of spraying the propellant instead of air.... the propellant could freeze anything it contacts, plus it usually has some type of oil... so you could do more damage instead of cleaning!

The bulb cleaner is the safe way to go. If it cannot remove the dust I suggest that you send the camera in for a CLA (clean, lube, adjust). I have this done every year to insure my camera's are working properly. It's a small price to pay to insure that you get that once in a lifetime shot!

Jon

[Hans Deventer]

The bulb cleaner is the safe way to go. If it cannot remove the dust I suggest that you send the camera in for a CLA (clean, lube, adjust). I have this done every year to insure my camera's are working properly. It's a small price to pay to insure that you get that once in a lifetime shot!

Jon

I was indeed considering that. It is something like 35 euro's, if you bring it in. They are an hour from my place so it is doable.