Beginner Clean or Not and How?

Craig1969

Craig1969

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Craig
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Hi all I was out yesterday near the Humber Bridge and noticed a rainbow overhead I stopped the car and took a couple of snaps
I uploaded at home and noticed some marks in the sky area I shot the pics on A Canon 50mm f22 so today I shot a few tests with different fstops when the fstop is low no marks
I am looking for some guidence I am thinking the sensor or Mirror is dirty
Lots of different ways online to clean them so guys whats the best way to do it or should I take it somewhere to have it done
Regards Craig
 
Most likely dust spots on the sensor, Rocket Blower may shift it otherwise it will need a wet clean or gel stick (get a genuine 'eyelead') ... you can probably find a video 'how-to' on youtube. :)
 
gramps said:
Most likely dust spots on the sensor, Rocket Blower may shift it otherwise it will need a wet clean or gel stick (get a genuine 'eyelead') ... you can probably find a video 'how-to' on youtube. :)
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I have tried the Blower and clean auto and manual on the 550D
 
gramps said:
Most likely dust spots on the sensor, Rocket Blower may shift it otherwise it will need a wet clean or gel stick (get a genuine 'eyelead') ... you can probably find a video 'how-to' on youtube. :)
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Thanks Just ordered a genuine one :)
 
Craig1969 said:
Thanks Just ordered a genuine one :)
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Just be sure to read how to use it, dust has to be 'picked off' with the gel head ... never, never wipe it across the sensor! :)
 
gramps said:
Just be sure to read how to use it, dust has to be 'picked off' with the gel head ... never, never wipe it across the sensor! :)
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Indeed I have had a look on you tube and a guy cleaned a 5d mk2 he just dabbed the sensor and then used the sticky to remove the dust from the Eyelead I feel a littlemore positve doing this than going forward and back across the sensor
 
f22 is quite a small aperture, is there any reason why you were using it? For landscapes I often use apertures around f11/f13 and very rarely go smaller (higher aperture number) due to defraction at smaller apertures. What apertures did the marks disappear? As Gramps has said its likely to be dust on the sensor.You can clone out the marks in lightroom if there only a few of them.
 
rob-nikon said:
f22 is quite a small aperture, is there any reason why you were using it? For landscapes I often use apertures around f11/f13 and very rarely go smaller (higher aperture number) due to defraction at smaller apertures. What apertures did the marks disappear? As Gramps has said its likely to be dust on the sensor.You can clone out the marks in lightroom if there only a few of them.
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it was just on Av when i took the snaps of the Humber Bridge however when i have used my extension tubes with my 50mm on f22 to f14 I have the same marks I am amazed really how dirty the sensor is
 
I use a mirror brush to clean the mirror and a rocket blower for the sensor. Works everytime. One thing to note is sometimes there's dust in a third spot. Leave the mirror down and look into the camera. Then look above the mirror and you'll see a plastic type window. Sometimes there's dust on that. Again I use the rocket blower or mirror brush for that part too. Never had any issues doing it this way but just as a disclaimer it's not my fault if you break your camera copying me haha.
 
Craig1969 said:
I am looking for some guidence I am thinking the sensor or Mirror is dirty.
Click to expand...

Dont worry about the mirror, any marks on it wont effect the image, just the view through the viewfinder as the mirror moves out of the way to take the photo. You need to be very careful if you do clean the mirror, as it marks very easily, a blower is normally enough anyway.
 
Thanks for the help everyone especially Gramps The kit came on Saturday went to watch the once mighty whites today and plucked up the courage after watching you tube again all done test shot done Very pleased
Regards Craig
 
Steve B said:
Dont worry about the mirror, any marks on it wont effect the image, just the view through the viewfinder as the mirror moves out of the way to take the photo. You need to be very careful if you do clean the mirror, as it marks very easily, a blower is normally enough anyway.
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I don't entirely agree with this. Yeah it doesn't affect the image but you still want to be cleaning it because the dust could move onto the sensor or the window for the pentaprism meaning you'll see dust through the viewfinder or in photos when it goes onto the sensor. A more extreme case of this is you using a camera at a beach and it's sand on the mirror. Would you still not want to clean it? Scratchy, scratchy on the sensor is a no, no haha. It's good practice to keep the whole of the sensor area clear of dust to prevent deeper cleaning being required at a later date.
 
I would definitely start with a rocket blower before doing a wet sensor clean. 9 times out of 10, that's all that's needed and far quicker and easier to do.
 
I have just followed the 2nd video instuctions on this thread and my nikon is not working!!! guess it's still a bit damp. So do you think 10 minutes in the microwave will dry it enough, so I can use it, as this was'nt shown in the video do the canon camera's have a built in drying motor???
 
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teddyt said:
I have just followed the 2nd video instuctions on this thread and my nikon is not working!!! guess it's still a bit damp. So do you think 10 minutes in the microwave will dry it enough, so I can use it, as this was'nt shown in the video do the canon camera's have a built in drying motor???
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If it's got moisture inside it, the trick is to put it in rice. Add a little salt and simmer for 10 mins.

Disclaimer warning. Salt is bad for you.
 
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Its ok my mate has a cement mixer we stuck it in that with about 5kg of rice and a bit of treacle. job done!!! not sure why but my camera always focuses on the sweet spot now:banana::nikon:
 
It had a lion on the tin....A Lion b****r!!!!!:D
 
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