10D CCD Dust? - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

schef · 07-10-2003, 04:28 PM

Greetings everyone. I found this place on the recommendation of nichele, who said good things about it. So here I am

I noticed that there is a little talk about some digital cameras and I was looking for some advice. I currently own a Canon 10D and as stated in another topic, have gotten it quite dirty. So my question: What method do you use to clean your image sensor. I have heard many opinions ranging from sending it in to Canon everytime it gets dirty to wrapping a Pec-Pad around a cut up credit card and scraping the dust. I personally am considering going with a SpecGRABBER because scraping along the CCD filter is a bit scary to me and trying to blow the dust away obviously didn't work :confused: . So any ideas??

07-10-2003, 04:31 PM

O brother, the boyfriend is here.. crud! haha.. welcome hunny! :cool:

Shannon · 07-10-2003, 11:50 PM

I'm thanking my lucky stars so far, because I didn't have dust/grit on my D30 CCD and my D60 seems fine as well. The D30 has been sold, but both the D30 and D60 have been to the coast a couple times and our digital cameras obviously come with us on every outing...no matter how much dirt there might be.

I tend not to use compressed air on anything except the exterior of the camera... a little leery of blowing things deeper into the inner-workings of the camera.

Is the dust really noticable in the images, or is it something you primarily are noticing on visual inspection of the camera/CCD?

And, stupid question of the day... what in the world is a Pec-Pad? I have something entirely inappropriate in mind when I read that...

OutdoorPhoto.com · 07-11-2003, 09:32 AM

Schef,

Great to have you - thanks for posting!

In the two years I owned the D30, I was fortunate to never have dust inside the camera. This results in being super anal about keeping things clean. When i switch lenses, the camera is "exposed" to the elements for just a couple of seconds. The lens that's being put on is already checked for dust, etc. When a lens is NOT on the camera (which is practically NEVER), I put the lens mount cover on.

That said, I've managed to acquire a small speck of dust on my 10D. I don't see it in the pictures, so it's either on the mirror or on the viewfinder.

I will use compressed air - with can upright - and using very gentle shots - to try and get rid of anything that is visible on the mirror.

For anything more in-depth than that, I'm like you...scared of harming anything.

I've heard that the Spec-Grabbers are awesome, but actually touching/getting that close to the CMOS sensor makes me leery...

Bottom line : PREVENTION is your number one defense. If the dust is not prominent in your photos, than its not on the sensor and may be something as simple as your viewfinder.

Congrats on acquring the 10D - it's an awesome camera!

schef · 07-11-2003, 09:42 AM

I have also been afraid to use compressed air. I have heard that the air will leave a resedue on the ccd filter if used. It makes sense, and could you imagine trying to clean some sort of resedue off?? It would have to be sent to canon no question about it. And since they only recommend a bulb blower (which is what I was using) it wouldn't be covered by warranty and prolly cost $$$$$$$.

As for the dust, it is noticable on the images. Here is an example of the dust. Notice in the top right and general upper portion of the image, there are several specks visible. If you browse the site (still in the works by the way

) you will be able to find the same dust in nearly every image.

I wish it was only noticable on the CCD, but it is the opposite. I see it on the photos but cannot seem to find it on the CCD. I have seen cases where dust gets between the CCD and the filter protecting it, at which point only canon can help out. I suspect that is what the problem was with my camera. If that is the case then that is all the more reason not to use any sort of air to clean the CCD. It has always puzzled me as to what the dust is expected to do once it has been blown off the CCD. I feel that it would float around the chamber only to land on the CCD later or possible get somewhere else. The specgrabber is looking better and better every day!

And to note, a pec pad is almost like lens cleaner material, but designed for more delicate work

I have also heard rumors of some sort of cleaning method which really caught my eye. There is some way to poor a liquid on the CCD filter, have it dry, then simply peel the film off leaving a spotless lens with no resedue and all the dust specs are held in the now dried liquid solution. I have heard this is the way that very high end shops in England clean their CCD's... but I am yet to find out more.

schef · 07-11-2003, 09:54 AM

Here is another very interesting method, but the brushes concern me: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...essage=5454300

OutdoorPhoto.com · 07-11-2003, 09:54 AM

The danger is definitely there with compressed air. The propellent can exit the can if you don't keep the can level (shooting at an angle will almost always lead to something exiting the can!!).

In the case of the D30, I found that by holding the D30 with the opening facing slightly downward and keeping the compressed air can level - I could dislodge dust and let gravity help ensure that things didn't end up deeper in the camera.

That said, I haven't even considered that for my 10D!!

The specs in your photos are the same kind I've encountered.

I'm about to try and get rid of a spec I have - I'll be your guinea pig! I'll let you know how it goes...

09-02-2003, 09:47 AM

There is so much misinformation on ccd cleaning out there.
A CCD is a delicate device so any contact risks scratching or oil smear.
I use Electrolube EAD400D Airduster in a pressure pak for my Nikon D100 and it works fine.
Just blow the dust away but give it somewhere useful to fall to , like down and out. Double check that the can you are buying is only pure gas, not the lubrication type!!!
jm@null.net

schef · 09-02-2003, 07:05 PM

I found a solution to my problem after I last posted in this topic. As I said before, I was considering a swab method to clean it as well as compressed air. I since then came up with another alternative.

I sent my 10D off to Canon a couple months back to clean the sensor for me because I was frankly scared to touch the thing. I waited about 2 weeks and it finally returned back to me. I quickly opened the box, put a card and battery in, slapped on a lens and was poised to see how the geniuses at Canon spiffed up my camera. What I saw when I looked at the images was not nearly what I had expected. The dust specs that I had seen prior to sending the camera off had only been placed into different spots on the sensor. Luckily I had partially expected this after talking to numerous individuals who have sent their cams off to Canon for cleaning. I had in turn purchased a SpecGrabber (mentioned above). After 10 minutes with the specgrabber, I did what Canon was not able to do in 4 days. I would highly recommend the grabber to anyone interested in a fast and nearly foolproof way of sensor cleaning.

I did not go with the compressed air method because I personally believe that the dust only finds its way into crevices rather than the sensor filter. This suspicion was confirmed after speaking to people who have been bitten by compressed air. The most common issue with compressed air is that it can blow specs behind the AA filter at which point the only way to remove it is to remove the filter and clean the surface of the CMOS sensor by hand. Needless to say, NOT a job for an end user.

While oil smear is a possibility with the specgrabber, I take every precaution to not have this happen. I use resin-ess latez gloves when cleaning the sensor in addition to never letting the grabber touch anything but the AA filter as well as doing the cleaning in only a dustless environment.

09-18-2003, 08:54 PM

I'm new here and saw the post on CCD's and dust. I shoot a Nikon D1X and due to doing most of my shooting outside, I have experienced the unfortunate 'dust on the CCD' syndrone. It's nearly impossible to prevent the occurrence.

A friend of mine suggested a place in Houston that they had taken their Nikon D100 to with the same problem. The individual running the business is an authorized Nikon service provider. He cleaned my CCD, only took him about 15 minutes, then charged me $35. I think it was worth it considering the dust is only visible in shots that include a portion of the sky or if the image does not have a great deal in the way of 'busy'. He suggested that when I change my lens, I place the camera and lens inside a change bag. I happen to have one since my husband develops black and white when I shoot my Mamiya.

I plan to take my camera back in every 6 months or so to have it cleaned, more often when needed.

I don't know much about Canon products but I'm sure there must be authorized/qualifed individuals out there that can clean your CCD for you. I know I would be lost if I had to send my camera off somewhere to have it cleaned or serviced so finding the Nikon service rep in Houston has been a big relief.

Gwenna