Beginner Retail cleaning

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Steve Arrand

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Steve
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Hi guys,

As my camera has been 'sat around' unused for a while do you think it is worth taking to the shop to be cleaned?
I am new to the world of DSLR and would not have a clue as to how to clean let alone where to start.
My local (chain) store offers a full cleaning service for around £60.....I dont know if this is good bad or indifferent.....just wanting to start the hobby on the right foot
 
Steve Arrand said:
Hi guys,

As my camera has been 'sat around' unused for a while do you think it is worth taking to the shop to be cleaned?
I am new to the world of DSLR and would not have a clue as to how to clean let alone where to start.
My local (chain) store offers a full cleaning service for around £60.....I dont know if this is good bad or indifferent.....just wanting to start the hobby on the right foot
Click to expand...
What type of cleaning ? Just the outside, the sensor, how old is the camera, have you been in the past changing the lens with others regularly.
If its the sensor I would say f16 to f22 and a shot at either a white wall or a blue sky (if you ever see any) :p load onto the PC and inspect the shot, if you see some dust bunnies then whip it into your local shop or buy the stuff yourself, its a easy enough job.
 
Graham said:
What type of cleaning ? Just the outside, the sensor, how old is the camera, have you been in the past changing the lens with others regularly.
If its the sensor I would say f16 to f22 and a shot at either a white wall or a blue sky (if you ever see any) :p load onto the PC and inspect the shot, if you see some dust bunnies then whip it into your local shop or buy the stuff yourself, its a easy enough job.
Click to expand...

the camera is around 3 years old, and has spent almost its whole life in a bag with a lens on. It has taken less than 900 photos. Wasn't sure if I should get it cleaned (inside and out) before I started using it
 
Steve Arrand said:
the camera is around 3 years old, and has spent almost its whole life in a bag with a lens on. It has taken less than 900 photos. Wasn't sure if I should get it cleaned (inside and out) before I started using it
Click to expand...
tbh I wouldn't bother taking it to a shop, sounds like the sensor will be as day 1 and the outside of the camera you can clean yourself, a little tlc and a soft cloth (microfiber) and some type of cleaning product sprayed onto the cloth not the camera. Save your time and money DIY it.
 
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Graham said:
tbh I wouldn't bother taking it to a shop, sounds like the sensor will be as day 1 and the outside of the camera you can clean yourself, a little tlc and a soft cloth (microfiber) and some type of cleaning product sprayed onto the cloth not the camera. Save your time and money DIY it.
Click to expand...
cheers mate
 
£60 seems pretty standard I had a dx40 that was in a dire need of a clean , I rang round the local places and they charged between £60 - 70.
but follow the advice from above and save yourself some cash. and if it wont clean up then take to the shop.

I cleaned my dx40 after being given the same advice as you have , and it cleaned up a treat. it's the thought of mucking it up that scared me but in reality it straight forward
 
The sensor won't have picked up any dust stored with a lens mounted on the body, but you can check if you want to. Just follow the advice above. You can clean the body with a slightly damp (not wet) microfibre cloth and Q tips if necessary. That should be sufficient unless it's very grubby.

Going forward, don't worry about the sensor unless there's evidence of dust in test images. If there is, take it to a dealer to clean if you're uncomfortable with doing it yourself, but it's quite easy to do it yourself. There's plenty of help on the forums, and you can find instructions online. You won't damage anything if you're careful.

A couple of points. Don't use canned compressed air inside the body, use a rocket blower. Invert the body so that any dust falls out. You don't want to blow it around inside.
 
MartynK said:
The sensor won't have picked up any dust stored with a lens mounted on the body, but you can check if you want to. Just follow the advice above. You can clean the body with a slightly damp (not wet) microfibre cloth and Q tips if necessary. That should be sufficient unless it's very grubby.

Going forward, don't worry about the sensor unless there's evidence of dust in test images. If there is, take it to a dealer to clean if you're uncomfortable with doing it yourself, but it's quite easy to do it yourself. There's plenty of help on the forums, and you can find instructions online. You won't damage anything if you're careful.

A couple of points. Don't use canned compressed air inside the body, use a rocket blower. Invert the body so that any dust falls out. You don't want to blow it around inside.
Click to expand...

Need to pluck up the courage and do it myself I think..........like everything else, always worried about the first time lol
 
Your in a no lose situation, Steve if all goes well you have got the experience and saved a few quid, if you totally muck it up , we all get a good laugh!!!!!
only joking mate just dont go at it like a bull in a china shop and you will surprise yourself:woot:
 
Absolute pleasure mate!!!:ty:
 
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