Canon 10D with sensor fungus

[PitaDaVespa]

Hi,

I managed to buy a very, very cheap Canon 10D with original grip, batery and charger. I knew it was not in it's best condition since the owner said all photos were black, but I always fancied one of these bodies (although I have a 5D and a 40D) and so I bought it.

Black photos were because the shutter was "stuck". As soon as I touched it, it just started to work fine (or so it seems, for the 100-200 actuations I made with it). But, also as soon as the shutter opened, I could see the sensor was full of fungus.
I managed to wet clean the filter that seats on top of the sensor (is it the low pass filter, IR filter?) and it seems to be fine now, but I clearly see the fungus are between it and the sensor itself.

I didn't try it with any of my lenses, because of the fungus. Yes, I know they are everywhere, but...

So, what can I do with it?

I believe it's not worth to send it for a professional cleaning.
I also believe I cannot do it myself (I've seen some tutorials and it's not that easy to do).
I could remove the IR filter, but I can't say I'm a fan of IR photography.
I could sell it or give it to someone who could take care of it and make it work fine again.
I could use it for decoration.

So, what would you guys do?


Thanks,
Luis

 

[minnnt]

Doorstop?
A blunt object to defend yourself with in case you ever get broken into?
Wheel chock?
Paperweight?

 

[gramps]

 

[minnnt]

 

[nc_killie]

If you are willing to risk it, you may want to google - vapour phase hydrogen peroxide. This has been used to decontaminate electrical items successfullyand you coudl try a DIY approach - keep camera and a small volume of peroxidein a sealed warm container. You do this at your own risk, I accept no responsibility. I do not know what it will do to the camera! If it fails suitable suggestions are above.

Good luck

 

[Nod]

If it was very, very cheap, keep the grip, battery and charger and flog the naked body on as spares or repair. If no takers, see post #3!

 

[BacktotheFuji]

If it was very, very cheap, keep the grip, battery and charger and flog the naked body on as spares or repair. If no takers, see post #3!

This is the answer.

Or...

Buy a very cheap lens and do some weird lomo like stuff with it

 

[Canon Bob]

The companies that do IR conversions are probably slinging hot mirrors into the bin on a daily basis.....drop an email to Kelvin at Protech and see if he'll pop one in the post to you.

Bob

 

[PitaDaVespa]

If you are willing to risk it, you may want to google - vapour phase hydrogen peroxide. This has been used to decontaminate electrical items successfullyand you coudl try a DIY approach - keep camera and a small volume of peroxidein a sealed warm container. You do this at your own risk, I accept no responsibility. I do not know what it will do to the camera! If it fails suitable suggestions are above.

Good luck

I won't even google what vapour phase hydrogen peroxide is.

Thanks

 

[PitaDaVespa]

If it was very, very cheap, keep the grip, battery and charger and flog the naked body on as spares or repair. If no takers, see post #3!

Yes, cheap enough for that (20€). It's one option to consider.
Thanks

 

[PitaDaVespa]

This is the answer.

Or...

Buy a very cheap lens and do some weird lomo like stuff with it

Good idea! But a very, very cheap lens would have to be a manual one (probably), non Canon EF mount, something reasonable fast (2.8) and reasonable wide (say between 24 and 50mm, tops).
Any sugestions?

 

[PitaDaVespa]

The companies that do IR conversions are probably slinging hot mirrors into the bin on a daily basis.....drop an email to Kelvin at Protech and see if he'll pop one in the post to you.

Bob

Hi Bob,

Sorry for my ignorance... What is a hot mirror? The filter on top of the sensor?
What is your suggestion? Replace the mirror with a good one or converter myself the camera to IR?


I checked a few videos on youtube about disassembling a camera to do that job and I'm not sure if I'm able to do it. :\


Thanks

 

[woof woof]

Good idea! But a very, very cheap lens would have to be a manual one (probably), non Canon EF mount, something reasonable fast (2.8) and reasonable wide (say between 24 and 50mm, tops).
Any sugestions?

You could get one or two film era Olympus Zuiko lenses. A 50mm f1.8 might cost you under £20 and a 28mm f2.8 might cost the same or a little more. 24mm lenses tend to be more expensive. Third party lenses in OM mount may be cheaper and an adapter can be found on evil bay for about £5. I briefly used OM lenses on my 20D and 5D but these things aren't built for manual focus. Actually that reminds me, you can get an adapter with focus confirmation and they don't cost a lot more. Dunno how accurate they are though.

Anyway, £25-£35 would get you a lens and an adapter.

 

[BacktotheFuji]

Good idea! But a very, very cheap lens would have to be a manual one (probably), non Canon EF mount, something reasonable fast (2.8) and reasonable wide (say between 24 and 50mm, tops).
Any sugestions?

Grab a cheap Pentacon 50/1.8 in m42 mount for a tenner, or even cheaper, a Domiplan 50/2.8 (which will probably have stuck aperture blades) or even a Helios 44 for swirly bokeh. Mate with a cheapie M42->EF adapter and you'll have something for under £20, possibly even £15 The first two will be a bit soft wide open too for giggles. Lenses will be cheapest if they have fungus, of course

 

[PitaDaVespa]

You could get one or two film era Olympus Zuiko lenses. A 50mm f1.8 might cost you under £20 and a 28mm f2.8 might cost the same or a little more. 24mm lenses tend to be more expensive. Third party lenses in OM mount may be cheaper and an adapter can be found on evil bay for about £5. I briefly used OM lenses on my 20D and 5D but these things aren't built for manual focus. Actually that reminds me, you can get an adapter with focus confirmation and they don't cost a lot more. Dunno how accurate they are though.

Anyway, £25-£35 would get you a lens and an adapter.

Hi Alan,

Yes, 50 1.8 and 28 2.8 would be my first choices. I have a few M42, Ai and OM to Canon EOS adapters, with and without focus chip. A few years ago I had several manual lenses and enjoyed them very much.
Now I have only a mint Helios 44-M4 but, since it is really in mint condition, I'm a bit reluctant to put it in a camera full of fungus (yes, I know fungus's spores are everywhere, but...)
Am I being overzealous?

 

[PitaDaVespa]

Grab a cheap Pentacon 50/1.8 in m42 mount for a tenner, or even cheaper, a Domiplan 50/2.8 (which will probably have stuck aperture blades) or even a Helios 44 for swirly bokeh. Mate with a cheapie M42->EF adapter and you'll have something for under £20, possibly even £15 The first two will be a bit soft wide open too for giggles. Lenses will be cheapest if they have fungus, of course

Yeah a lens with fungus would complement well with a sensor full of fungus, I guess, and make a better "lomo effect"

 

[woof woof]

Am I being overzealous?

Personally I wouldn't bother with it but as I hate actually chucking anything out I'd make sure no one else wanted it. Maybe take off any ancillaries you want to keep and ask your local school or college or the disabled photographers society if they have any use for it. You never know it may make a talking point or project for the students/someone. If not put an add somewhere saying free to collect or just charge for postage.

 

[PitaDaVespa]

Personally I wouldn't bother with it but as I hate actually chucking anything out I'd make sure no one else wanted it. Maybe take off any ancillaries you want to keep and ask your local school or college or the disabled photographers society if they have any use for it. You never know it may make a talking point or project for the students/someone. If not put an add somewhere saying free to collect or just charge for postage.

That's an idea, give it to someone, yes.

 

[Canon Bob]

Hi Bob,

Sorry for my ignorance... What is a hot mirror? The filter on top of the sensor?
What is your suggestion? Replace the mirror with a good one or converter myself the camera to IR?

It's the IR blocking filter that's removed from the front of the sensor during conversion to capture the IR spectrum. I was suggestng that the conversion companies probably have loads of these and you could cadge one for the fix.

Bob

 

[PitaDaVespa]

It's the IR blocking filter that's removed from the front of the sensor during conversion to capture the IR spectrum. I was suggestng that the conversion companies probably have loads of these and you could cadge one for the fix.

Bob

Thanks, I'll consider that.