SLR-D Questions again! EVIL Dust

[TimAPNY]

Dust seems to really be the enemy here for SLR-D users!

I know some of you (to remain nameless) use compressed CO2 to clean off dust from the inside of your cameras. I was thinking of using this way but have read a lot of warnings about it. Then I looked at Sensor Swabs (BIG BUCKS).

I know at Geneseo I will be a lot more careful about changing lenses and all but what is the general consensus on what the best route is to take for cleaning.

[wls3]

Tim,

Like you, I have read the moisture in the compressed air can damage the sensor.
What I have been using is a small squeeze bulb that will blow the dust off the sensor.
I've got one used for cleaning lenses with a brush on the end that I take off.
I have yet to try the swabs.

Bill

[Robbo]

Tim, I use something similar to the tool described in this link: http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/index.html.

If you buy sensor swabs you'll spend a great deal more and end up with the same thing. The material on the end of a swab is the same as a pec-pad and they're both packed under clean-room conditions.

I've had a DSLR since April 2004 and this works for me. The first time you do it you'll be frightened to death, after that it becomes routine. It sometimes takes more than one go to get all the dust off, but it's a great deal cheaper using this method than using swabs at £2 a shot (in the UK).

Rob

[TimAPNY]

Rob
Thanks, That site is bookmarked.

[Robbo]

Tim, here's another page that's worth reading

http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning

Rob

[henning]

Has anyone seen, used, or have any opinions on the relatively new
Olympus D-slr called the Evolt E 300?

In talking with a camera store rep he was very big on this new feature
they built in that upon power up or push of a button, their is a self
cleaning feature via a high speed ultrasonic vibration that causes most
kinds of dust to fall away from the CCD - it vibrates at 350k / sec..
collects somewhere to be emptied later, its patented by olympus.

Seems pretty neat, and the camera looked very solid and seems to
be a great price for what you get.

Any opinions would be most welcome..

henning

[henning]

meant to include a link for this in case anyone wants to check it out..

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/E300/E30A13.HTM

or other good writeups as well.. I'm an old manual 35mm thats
thinking of going digital...

hh

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/oly-e/e300-rev.html
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse300/page29.asp

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/e300.html
http://reviews.cnet.com/Olympus_Evolt_E ... 29719.html
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/E300/E30A13.HTM

[TimAPNY]

I put a lot of faith in Steve’s Digicams and DC Resource page. They have very good reviews and have great base lines that each camera is based on.

I broke down and bought a bunch of cleaning stuff for my sensor, with some more practice I should b ok at it.

[Scott Rose]

Yeah, I broke down and bought stuff as well, I looked at my pictures from Geneseo and though they are salvagable they are really a mess. Dust everywhere.

[Robbo]

Tim/Scott, don't worry about cleaning the sensor. Once you've done it a few times and got the hang of it, you'll think nothing of doing it before each show. I'm afraid that dust is a fact of life with DSLR's and getting used to cleaning your sensor saves you a hell of a lot of time with the clone tool in photoshop.

It's bad enough when the dust is against an easily cloned sky, but when you find spots over detailed areas of planes or within prop blur it's a real pain in the rear. What I really hate is noticing a spot on a recently printed A3 enlargement that I never noticed before and will probably notice every time I look at it now.

Rob

[Mike]

Dust has really become a pain for me too recently. The big Canon 100-400 lens seems to act like a bellows, sucking up dust and blowing it at the sensor.

I now clean my sensor (using the same method as Rob) before each day's shooting, yet still my skies come out covered in dust spots by the end of the afternoon.