scratch on sensor filter.

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lensflair

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I cleaned the sensor on my D3 the other day as it was pretty filthy with dust that wouldn't shift with a blower. Turns out some oil must have deposited on it and it smeared when I brushed it. So I wet cleaned it and took some test shots of the sky at f22. I noticed a mark that wouldn't shift after multiple cleanings and I can see what look like very faint scratches when viewed with a loupe. On very careful inspection. It looks like damage to the coating on the edge and a few fine buff marks across the centre. The only thing showing up in test shots is the one near the edge which looks like the coating is a bit damaged. The mark is very small and feint and only shows up in light areas over f8.

Actually started wondering if I hadn't scratched it and looked back at shots taken weeks ago where I can see the same mark in a few shots where I happen to have used a smaller aperture. Thing is I never noticed it before being right near the edge and so difficult to see but know I know its there its bugging me. I bought this body as a factory return for less than half price, the only thing wrong with it was meant to be small mark on the body. I have been very happy with it and wish I didn't know the mark was there :p

Does anyone else have any defects like this? I spoke to a camera tech and he says that the marks that don't show at f22 in the test shots obviously won't be a problem. The small mark at the edge is so hard to see that you have to adjust the levels etc to make it visible and it seems I used it plenty of times without problem. I thinks its going to be such an expensive repair that there isn't much point fixing it.
 
i wouldn't worry about it myself. i've cleaned my D3 many times and i always manage to leave some dust here and there..

show us the photo where it is noticable? i'm just interested in seeing how severe it is.
 
I wouldn’t get too upset either, but I do understand, my sensors got a few marks but its really doesn’t make any difference to how good or bad my shots are.
Can I suggest its a bit like the first time a new motorcycle falls over, horrible damage, but a week later ones enjoying it again and riding it better then ever because its not immaculate anymore..

BTW, you are sure? Because I’ve had some real stubborn sort of scale/scratch marks that I’ve had to scrub at to remove … Like I thought Id scratched it, but it turned out to be a sort of rub mark.
 
Forbiddenbiker said:
I wouldn’t get too upset either, but I do understand, my sensors got a few marks but its really doesn’t make any difference to how good or bad my shots are.
Can I suggest its a bit like the first time a new motorcycle falls over, horrible damage, but a week later ones enjoying it again and riding it better then ever because its not immaculate anymore..

BTW, you are sure? Because I’ve had some real stubborn sort of scale/scratch marks that I’ve had to scrub at to remove … Like I thought Id scratched it, but it turned out to be a sort of rub mark.
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Yeah pretty sure, the only mark that shows up is the one that must have already been there all along as I can see it in a few pics from when I first got this body to replace a knackered one a while back.

It's so feint that I never noticed until I specifically looked for it and its right near the edge of the frame. I'll post a shot when I'm on the computer. Don't think ill worry about fixing it though, like I say I was happy with it and never noticed before.
 
How costly is that for a new filter cover do you know Andy?



lensflair said:
It's so feint that I never noticed until I specifically looked for it and its right near the edge of the frame. I'll post a shot when I'm on the computer. Don't think ill worry about fixing it though, like I say I was happy with it and never noticed before.
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:thumbs:

..if it works don't fix it! ...as someones old dad used to say

Do you know which part of your cleaning scratched it ..used a swab twice?
 
I wouldn't expect cheap. IR conversions are expensive (same job), and much more expensive for pro bodies. If it is only as bad as a dust mark I would definitely leave it, and only fix it there are major difficult to clone out marks.
 
Forbiddenbiker said:
How costly is that for a new filter cover do you know Andy?

:thumbs:

..if it works don't fix it! ...as someones old dad used to say

Do you know which part of your cleaning scratched it ..used a swab twice?
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Well I think I may have caused the fine marks (scratches?) but these marks don't show up in test shots at all, I can see them on the filter itself with a loupe and light. I did scrub a bit with a swab and may have caused those by pressing too hard. But as I can't get them to show up in test shots they don't appear to be a problem at all as far as images go.

The mark near the edge of the frame that does show up is visible in some shots taken at f11 that I took before I ever cleaned it. So it was already there. It is very close to the edge and on close inspection it looks like it may even be a defect in the coating on the filter or something.

Anyway it shows up as a very small very feint mark that is barely visible in most shots if at all. I don't think its worth getting repaired even if I could do it under my gear insurance. I would rather not have it pulled apart if I don't have to, as you say if it works don't fix it. It seems I've been using it with the mark for 6 months and never noticed it. It shows up right at the bottom of the frame so turns out its rarely in an area like sky where it can show up on close inspection. But I will definitely be much more careful in future when cleaning sensors, I must have been lucky up to now as I'm a bit heavy handed and havent had a problem before.
 
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daugirdas said:
I wouldn't expect cheap. IR conversions are expensive (same job), and much more expensive for pro bodies. If it is only as bad as a dust mark I would definitely leave it, and only fix it there are major difficult to clone out marks.
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Yeah life pixel do them, $445 USD plus shipping to the states and back. So about $700 USD total for me. Nikon charge about 1400 I hear but change the sensor too for some reason.
 
lensflair said:
Yeah life pixel do them, $445 USD plus shipping to the states and back. So about $700 USD total for me. Nikon charge about 1400 I hear but change the sensor too for some reason.
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It's one of those annoying things that you would never notice most times. Going back over heaps of shots since I got this body I would say its visible in less than 1% of my photos and only on very close inspection. As it only shows up in very light areas of continuous tone it is easily fixed in post. Think I'll be living with this until the D4 come out :D
 
TBH it sounds like a fuss about nothing ;) If you look hard enough, there is always some dust somewhere, but does it matter?

If you can't see it in pictures 90% of the time, and it doesn't matter even if you can, and you can always clone it out in PP, or use the automatic software dust-delete option to do it for you (Canon feature, doesn't Nikon have something similar?).

What's the problem?
 
You should see how much s repair would cost and weigh up that option
 
i am going to cleam my D300s this week as soon as the visible-dust EZ swabs arrive ! bit scared now as not ever cleaned the sensor before!!!
 
HoppyUK said:
TBH it sounds like a fuss about nothing ;) If you look hard enough, there is always some dust somewhere, but does it matter?

If you can't see it in pictures 90% of the time, and it doesn't matter even if you can, and you can always clone it out in PP, or use the automatic software dust-delete option to do it for you (Canon feature, doesn't Nikon have something similar?).

What's the problem?
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Oh yeah I agree. Just wondered if anyone else had something similar. I googled it and found some really nasty looking scratches on some but this doesn't seem to be anywhere near as bad. It won't stop me cleaning my sensors.

I remember the scratches and dust on negatives when using film and I would say this is inconsequential in comparison. I'm not the pixel peeping type anyway, I guess that's why I didn't even notice the mark for so long. LOL.
 
Think the sensor should b cleaned on a regular basis depending on usage
 
shane1980 said:
Think the sensor should b cleaned on a regular basis depending on usage
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That's a good point. I probably don't clean mine often enough given the use they get, so when I do they can be pretty filthy. If I kept up with them they probably would only need minimal effort each time.
 
shane1980 said:
Think the sensor should b cleaned on a regular basis depending on usage
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I would disagree. I would say they should be cleaned as little as possible. Only when they need it.

I have used the Butterfly on my pentax twice in over two years, and have not had to clean my 7D at all yet.
 
I've had my D5k a while now, loads of lens swapping, and never had to clean it. The DR really seems to work well.
 
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