Lens changing - have I just been lucky?

Mike Jackson

Mike Jackson

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I keep reading threads on here where people mention the extreme care with which they change lenses. Pointing camera down, turn camera off to reduce electrostatic charge etc.

Since I've had my 50D I've changed lenses in all sorts of orientations and, within reason, in all sorts of conditions. I've probably jinxed myself now, but in over two years I've not had a single dust bunny on the sensor. The one time I noticed a speck of dust it was on the rear element of a lens. I've never used a rocket blower on the inside of the camera and the only cleaning I do is the front element of the lens with a lens cloth if it needs it. Most of my lens changes are done out in the woods with the camera hanging from the R strap or sitting face up on the rucksack.

I wonder whether paranoia over getting camera gear dirty is lessening peoples enjoyment and holding them back from getting some of the shots. Since I've become less precious about my gear the shots I manage to get are a lot better.
 
I agree. Never had issues with dust spots on the pictures. Just one in my pentaprism lol
 
One view is you do have them you just haven't noticed them yet. Shooting at narrow aperture would show them up under inspection. Also combining shots as I do in HDR processing shows them up, when you wouldn't notice them from a single exposure
 
I must admit it does put me off changing lens a little. But I have had a DSLR for several years now. But untill I joined Photo forums I had never heard of dust gettin on the sensor. So up untill now " ignorance is bliss". I just do my best to reduce the risk of dust getting on the sensor. As to how real the risk is I have no idea.
 
ShrubMonkey said:
One view is you do have them you just haven't noticed them yet. Shooting at narrow aperture would show them up under inspection. Also combining shots as I do in HDR processing shows them up, when you wouldn't notice them from a single exposure
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I regularly shoot at f/22 when doing macro work so I think I would ahve noticed them.
 
Changing a lens carefully takes very little time if you are prepared and well practiced. I've had problems with dust and the rocket blower so far has done the job.
 
My 30D used to be horrendous for them..thankfully clone tools helped.

The 5DMkII dosen't appear to have the same issue so the sensor cleaner must work:thumbs:
 
Remember the 50D has sensor cleaning, I change lens without too much concern (I'm careful but not over precious of my cameras, they are tools to be used after all) but I have noticed the 5D (mk1) and 1D (mk2) both seem to suffer a lot more than my 50D ever did.

Matt
 
I was thinking this very thing the other day as I was changing a lens on my building site, not the best dust free enviroment, and when I looked through the view finder yes there it was dust, not in the pic just in the view finder.
I bought a rocket blower and it has cleared it, happy again.

I try to change my lens when in the pick up, again not the cleanest place as it gets used for work, with no problems.

spike
 
neil_g said:
people worry too much about getting their kit dirty, a camera and lens is a tool designed to be used.
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fully agreed but also very expensive

i would also ask if location has any effect on dust etc, where i live my car will get covered in dust in under a day or 2 but where a friend lives, 10 miles away his hardly gets any.

I always hold my camera facing down, but very rarely turn it off while changing lenses, I tend to just forget lol
 
Sensors can be cleaned.

The quickest way of changing lenses is rarely the cleanest. Since I usually want to change lens because I can anticipate something is about to happen where I need the other lens then I always opt for the quickest.

Last time I was out with camera and a selection of lenses I left the cap off in the bag. I could dump the bag, pull a lens out, change and have the other one away in very short order.

Always been this way. If I do get dust on the sensor, it cleans off.
 
I never realised that people take such care :O
I just changed my mates lens all wrong then HAHA
 
neil_g said:
people worry too much about getting their kit dirty, a camera and lens is a tool designed to be used.
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Congratulations - that is the funniest thing I have heard all week.
smilielol.gif


(Note to self - do not buy from this person.)
 
I often get commented on by people with less espensive gear for the way I treat mine, but it is supposed to be waterproof so why not use it in the rain and yes I change lenses as required, so far very little muck on the sensor and always just blows off anyway.
People spoend far too much time worrying about theuir gear then taking pictures in view
 
Oggy said:
Congratulations - that is the funniest thing I have heard all week.
smilielol.gif


(Note to self - do not buy from this person.)
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I think he has a fair point to be honest. People do worry far too much about dusty sensors scratches etc. Of course no-one wants dust or scratches on their gear, but until it starts affecting your work... who gives a smeg? :shrug:

When you're in the middle of a job, and you need to change the lens, you change it. Dust is a secondary concern to 'getting the shot' imo.

If the sensor gets dusty, you get it cleaned. If it doesn't warrant a clean, clone it out.
 
neil_g said:
:clap:

at least someone got it.

shoot first, clean camera later :lol:
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Totally agree, I don't cap front or back of any lenses when I'm working, they go straight in the bag, I don't have time for messing around. It takes about 3 seconds to change a lens.

I don't use 'protective' filters, and even shoot without a hood a lot of the time. I shoot in rain and put my gear on the ground at times. I work with about $25k worth of kit and I'm never precious about my tools. So glad to hear others who get it for a change.
 
Oggy said:
Congratulations - that is the funniest thing I have heard all week.

(Note to self - do not buy from this person.)
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Well I agree with him too. There's not being careless and then there's being overly precious. This stuff is meant to be used, and a big part if the point of buying nice gear is it can take it.
 
Oggy said:
Congratulations - that is the funniest thing I have heard all week.

(Note to self - do not buy from this person.)
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What exactly wouldn't you want to buy from him? The images wouldn't make any difference and if you are talking about second hand gear I think you'll find most pros don't buy gear with a thought to selling it on at a later date.
 
I understand the laws of gravity but does pointing a camera down make any difference? Small dust just floats so is just as likely to get drawn in to the camera body, isn't it?
 
justin44 said:
I understand the laws of gravity but does pointing a camera down make any difference? Small dust just floats so is just as likely to get drawn in to the camera body, isn't it?
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How often do you dust the underside of your shelves?
 
just change them without a concern. Of course be sensible about it, but it's not something to lose sleep over.

If you have few dust specs, just clone them out in your pictures. If you get so many that it takes you few minutes to clone them all out, give your sensor a nice clean and start over :D
 
There is a way to change lenses?!!!:thinking:

My kit is there to do a job and as long as I don't have massive hunk of cr@p on the sensor, I really couldn't care how I do things. My kit is looked after but not mollycoddled; it's there to be used. I've had dog poop on my body, wet sand all over camera and lens and it's been dropped in mud and snow, and it's all still getting me good shots and more importantly, it all works flawlessly. But then again, it is Nikon..... ;)
 
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My old 300D never had a sensor clean, and my sister has been using it for the last 3 years since I bought my 30D, and it still hasn't needed one. My 30D hasn't either. I am careful to clean lenses of any dust after use, and keep the bags and compartments free of dust too. If I leave the camera out, I'll dust it down before putting it back in the bag too.

I suppose luck comes into it too as I was out yesterday morning in wind and rain and I didn't get any dust in the camera, even when I left it for a minute to chase a bag blowing down the road :D
 
grum said:
Well I agree with him too. There's not being careless and then there's being overly precious. This stuff is meant to be used, and a big part if the point of buying nice gear is it can take it.
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indeed.

and notice how i never said i do not clean my kit after it has been used ;)

yeah my kit might get dirty while out shooting but everything gets wiped down, lenses checked for smudges etc before being packed away. sure the 1D has some marks on the body (mostly by the previous owner i'd add) and the sigmas have some of their rubberised coatings peeling (seems common anyway) but everything i own is optically perfect and the lenses go in for services every couple of years.

i suspect that is more than an "amature" does.. :p
 
I thought I was carefull when changing lenses..
The the other week got a SWA lens and started shotting at apetures greater than f11.
and I noticed a few bits of dust, so read up a bit, went outside set the lens to f22 and shot a clear blue sky.. :eek:



Click for a larger view and try and count how much there is...
This is a 2 month old camera

Needless to say the camera is now with Nikon as I also had a few focus issues.
I may not see it back untill the end of May.. :shake:

After being told it may take a while I did a bit of searching on the net, and seems that some D7000's are prone to dust/oil..

:)
 
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