Dust, from the lens or from the body?

Matt Taylor

Matt Taylor

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Matthew
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I've been having increasing issues in recent months with dust on the sensor of my 30D. The following are two shots from December taken with a Canon 100-400L, the first was at 300mm and the second was a mere four seconds later at 150mm.


IMG_4784 by Solent Photography, on Flickr



IMG_4785 by Solent Photography, on Flickr


I'm on the verge of upgrading the body (and getting a new lens) but would like to keep the 30D as a spare, but I don't want to transfer the dust issue to a new camera, is there any way of telling if the dust is coming from the lens or from the camera?
 
It's almost certainly on the sensor. Just clean it and it will be gone.

Dust on the front element of a lens doesn't show up. Some One posted a link earlier on another thread showing just what you can do or put on a front element before it impacts photos, but I'm on my iPad and can't find it very easily at the moment.
 
Of all the canon DSLRs we have in the house, the 30d is the worst for getting dust on the sensor, I have always blamed the wife :) (it is hers), since changing hers to a 7D she has not had the same problem. We both use 100 - 400 often and had no issues with any of the other cameras (d60,20d,40d and 7d's). A quick clean normally clears the 30d.
 
I've read else where that the 30d is prone to dust. No idea why.
 
A lot of the modern bodies have the fancy sensor shaker. I have a 5D and that is renound for sensor dust but I haven't noticed it.
 
its 'from' the lens, which moves about large amounts of air.

it's 'in' the body, which has no self cleaning.

Theres no exif data for the images but Id guess that the visible dustis on a shot with a small aperture.
 
Just a tip, make sure the power is off when changing lenses as when its powered up the sensor acts as a dust magnet (not sure if this is on all models) I've never had a dust issue yet, when I change lenses the power is always off and all the lenses are ready to slip straight on!.............. it may help try it :)
 
Both were taken at F7.1. It just annoys me that I make a point of cleaning the sensor and then after shooting less than 50 frames I get that big spot which seems to have appeared from nowhere. I guess i am more concerned with not transferring the issue to a new camera, although the lens could do with a service anyway.
 
Stand by for the shock of my next statement........ I clean my DSLR with a dry clean system (Dust Aid) and when I do it, I do it in conjunction with my vacuum cleaner :eek:. I remove the lens and keeping the nozzle a safe distance from the lens mount, introduce a gentle suction to the front of the camera while engaging the self clean mode. I then use the Dust Aid to remove the more stubborn spots and then a final gentle use of the vacuum, job done. I have only cleaned my sensor 3 times this way and I use the camera in all kinds of conditions, changing lens regularly. If in the future I find I have welded dust then I would put it in for a shop clean.

I of course would not suggest that anyone follows my example :cuckoo::cuckoo::lol:
 
The vacuum sounds a decent idea but the problem will be the outflow will disturb dust in your room even if the flow was perfectly filtered.
You might get round this with a long hose and the machine in a separate air space.

While you have it out the camera bag wants doing inside and out.
 
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