Sensor cleaning

[Tommy]

Hi Martin

I am getting a small black spot in the bottom left of all my images
I can even see the spot when i look through the viewfinder.
I have put a different lens on the 10d , but the spot is still there

How do you clean the sensor?
Can i do it myself or would i have to have it professionally cleaned.

thanks
Tommy

[storm7]

Tommy,

If you can 'see' the spot it's not on your sensor, it's on the mirror or viewfinder, this will not affect your image - the spot you can see on your image looks like it is on your sensor.

I clean my sensors myself - but you have to be careful - to do this (follow the manual)

Remove the lens
Get a small blower brush and remove the 'brush ' so you are left with the rubber 'bulb' in your hand. Give the bulb a good couple of squirts to remove any dust inside the blower.
On your menu - set to Sensor clean
CAREFULLY insert the blower until it's *just* inside the camera - just past the lens mount
Give a couple of *gentle' squirts on the bulb /blower towards the sensor
Remove the blower / switch camera off - the mirror and shutter will go back into position
Re attach lens


Of course, the easiest method is to simply 'clone' out any dots with Photoshop...


You can of course send to a Canon Repairer and they'll do this for you...

[Stemmy]

I agree with Craig.

Your problem sound an odd one. If you can see the spot when you look through the eyepiece. Then the spot is either on the lense, on the mirror, or on the eyepiece itself not on the sensor.

If you are getting regular blemishes on your pictures then is could be a couple of things.

Hopefully it a bit of grime on the sensor in which case follow Craig's instructions.

The other problem is a more serious one. You can get what are called "Dead Pixels" or "Hot Pixels" on your sensor. This is where sections of the sensor have stopped working. Follow the link below for a website which has a little downloadable utility which will allow you to test an image for these problems.

Let us know how you get on.

http://www.starzen.com/imaging/deadpixeltest.htm

[Tommy]

Hi Martin and Storm

Thanks for your help

i will try the sensor cleaning technique that you suggested.
I am sure that i have a blower brush somewhere , if not i will
get one.

I ran the dead/hot pixel test at 1/30, 1/4,1", 2" and 3" shutter speeds
First four were all clear, but the 3" showed one hot pixel

type x y luminance
hot 2054 919 61

I have got a funny feeling that i will be using the clone tool quite often!

[Stemmy]

I dont think one dead pixel that is only visible at a 3 second exposure is your problem.

I think that a good clean of your sensor will do the trick.

[storm7]

Nah, that's not one dead pixel !!! It's defo dust on the sensor ...

[michaeljwhiston]

Hi

If it is any help, there is a new type of sensor cleaner available that remores 95% of all dots in its firs sweep, by means of an electrostatic charge. It is not cheap, but I shoot a lot of weddings and cannot afford the time to send the camera away to be cleaned.

http://www.fixationuk.com/news.htm

Michael

[Stemmy]

The link doesnt seem to work Michael.

I think its a problem at their end not your link.

[michaeljwhiston]

Hi Stemmy

That's strange, I just tried it again and it's working OK at this end. Why don't you try typing it in manually into your browser.

Michael

[storm7]

It's working now, but there was a problem at their end earlier today as I tried a couple of times ...

[petekelk]

Eclipse Optical cleaning pads from www.warehouseexpress.com ?

Basically it's a kit with a cleaning solution and sterile wipes which you use to clean the ccd chip.

It works absolute wonders.

Pete

[Stemmy]

They look the job. I was thinking of taking the plunge and cleaning all the sensors on my digi cameras 8 in total but didnt know what to use.

Im assuming its all pretty user friendly ie easy to do.

There are two product on the webpage which are you using and does a kit last long?

God I love this forum answers before I have asked the question.:D

Thanks Pete.

Nice to see you here by the way!

Keep posting.