Does my sensor need cleaning

[MugabesDeadCat]

Took the 400D out the other day, and whilst changing lenses in the breezy conditions I noticed a fibre of sorts on the focus screen. When I got home, in somewhat of a panic, and having no cleaning equipment being a novice I tried blowing the fibre out with my breath to no avail. I then, foolishly tried a cotton bud, which only served to put more fibres on there So I ordered a rocket blower from Ebay.

Whilst waiting for the rocket blower I played around with the camera in the park, trying different settings as i want to get some photos of some gnarly looking trees near me against the setting sun. I was using an aperture of f20 and noticed on most pics, in the same places is three black specs. Is this dust on the sensor? If so, how do I clean it? Swab it? If so what are the best swabs? Looked at one set which were £35, is this the going rate for cleaning swabs? :shrug:

 

[odd jim]

A few things here! Never blow into the body with your own breath, you'll get moisture into the body, never good. Cotton buds on the focusing screen is also a bad idea and you can cause a lot if harm that way, a rocket blower is all that's needed 9 times out of 10.

And why are you shooting at f20? On a crop such as the 400d you don't need to go above f11, that'll give you more than enough depth of field and narrowing the aperture further will cause diffraction which will end upright the image softer.

Use a rocket blower to clean the sensor using the 400d's mirror lock up and gently blow air in. I wouldn't do a wet swab unless all else fails as youll most likely make it worse and smear it if you don't know what you are doing!

 

[TTK]

Be carefull with the rocket blower inside the camera, make sure it does not mark the screen and don't go mad with it or you can blow the bits into the view finder, (and seeing them all the time will drive you knuts).
IMO..Rocket blowers do more harm than good use a swab or take it to a shop..

If your down my way anytime soon I'll do it for you..

 

[MugabesDeadCat]

A few things here! Never blow into the body with your own breath, you'll get moisture into the body, never good. Cotton buds on the focusing screen is also a bad idea and you can cause a lot if harm that way, a rocket blower is all that's needed 9 times out of 10.

And why are you shooting at f20? On a crop such as the 400d you don't need to go above f11, that'll give you more than enough depth of field and narrowing the aperture further will cause diffraction which will end upright the image softer.

Yeah the rocket blower got rid of the particles on the focus screen.

As for the aperture, I was experimenting. :shrug: I'm a novice to dslr's so don't really fully understand what I was doing. Will you forgive me?? What I was trying to do at that point was see if the setting sun behind the trees could be given a star effect. :bonk:

 

[odd jim]

Yeah the rocket blower got rid of the particles on the focus screen.

As for the aperture, I was experimenting. :shrug: I'm a novice to dslr's so don't really fully understand what I was doing. Will you forgive me?? What I was trying to do at that point was see if the setting sun behind the trees could be given a star effect. :bonk:

Lol ok I'll forgive you!! I did the same until I noticed my shots looked better at lower f numbers before I discovered the confusing phenomenon that is diffraction!

So you have two conflicting bits of advice now, I hope we havnt confused you too much but I really wouldn't try a wet swab unless you are really comfortable doing so... But you also have to be careful with the rocket blower, or anything when poking around in the body, but IMO using a rocket blower is the easiest method and in my experience usually works just fine!

 

[PSILVERMAN]

Or you could buy an arctic butterfly brush. Works every time for me.
Phil.