Cleaning Sensor

[colin C]

Re: Cleaning Sensor

Take away the fear by understanding that although it is called cleaning the sensor, you are actually just cleaning a piece of glass above the sensor. Only marginally more complicated than cleaning your spectacles, but far more satisfying.

[BartonAlan]

Re: Cleaning Sensor

Be very careful with the sensor swabs and cleaning fluid. I have a 5D mark I which does not have the vibrating "self cleaning" sensor, and the sensor acts like a magnet for dust. I used the swabs and fluid, following the instructions faithfully, but the coating on the high pass filter started to come off, resulting in a replacement at a cost of over £300. This issue was the main reason I bought a 5D II, the sensor of which I haven't cleaned fully in the 4 years of ownership (it gets the odd obstinate dust spec but they can usually be removed by bulb blowing or with the Arctic Butterfly thing, if not then in Photoshop). I have to say that other than this issue I still like the 5D I, it was my first DSLR, and is silky smooth, much quieter than the II.
Just as an aside, the last time I took the 5D I out, its mirror came adrift in an exposure and disintegrated inside, I now have another repair bill approaching. It's the only camera I've ever had to have repaired at all, I've had 7 different EOS models now (5 film). But was the mirror affected during the sensor filter replacement? Unfortunately more than a year has passed since that....

[AndyA]

Re: Cleaning Sensor

I've recently noticed a black speck when I look through the viewfinder on my 600D. I've removed the lens, looked at the mirror, used my air blower thing around the inside if the body, but I can't shift it. I've cleaned the outside if the viewfinder too, but it's still there. It doesn't show on my images though, maybe it's on the inside of the viewfinder?

[Columbarius]

Re: Cleaning Sensor

Andy,
It must be catching, I have one too. But I've decided it is actually on the focusing screen, which seems impossible to clean. It's etched glass, and if you touch it with a brush it seems to create more problems than you started with.

Apparently you can replace it yourself, £15-20 from Amazon, but I'm not brave enough for that, so I'm planning to put mine in for cleaning & a replacement screen. Haven't worked out where though.

[AndyA]

Re: Cleaning Sensor

Russell, you might be right. It's times like this, you wish Jessops was still on the high street. I can put up with the speck, but it's just annoying to see it and I'm puzzled as to how it got there in the first place. Hey ho!

[colin C]

Re: Cleaning Sensor

Andy, if you can see the dust when looking through the viewfinder, then it is normally in the mirror housing, not on the sensor. The likely candidates in order of priority are:

• Mirror.
• Sub Mirror - just lift up the mirror a little and you will see the sub mirror under the mirror.
• Focussing screen - look up into the mirror housing and see the opaque lined plastic.

All of the above are easily accessible and not too difficult to remove dust. The only other possibility is in the pentaprism housing - most unlikely, because they are well sealed, but would need a professional clean if that was the culprit.

[AndyA]

Re: Cleaning Sensor

Colin, thanks very much for the info. I'll take another look soon.

[Jeffo40d]

Re: Cleaning Sensor

Calumet are having their spring open days, with the promise of a free sensor clean. I think the days are all in April.
Handy if your near a branch.

[Columbarius]

Re: Cleaning Sensor

so I'm planning to put mine in for cleaning & a replacement screen.

I eventually put it in to a small firm in Cranleigh on Wednesday, got it back today. First impressions are very good, no specks of crud when I look through the viewfinder, and the red focusing points are crystal clear again. I'm pleased with the outcome.

[NickM]

Re: Cleaning Sensor

Calumet are having their spring open days, with the promise of a free sensor clean. I think the days are all in April.
Handy if your near a branch.

There was one in Edinburgh on the 3rd April 2013.
Next ones are at Drummond Street, London - Wed 4 September 2013 and Fri 13 December 2013

http://www.calumetseminars.co.uk/all-locations.html

I think this is who Russell used: http://www.camerarepairdirect.co.uk/ccd-cleaning.html
£35+VAT for same-day sensor cleaning

[Columbarius]

Re: Cleaning Sensor

Yes that's the one Nick. Only one man and a secretary/admin officer, but both very friendly.

[NickM]

Re: Cleaning Sensor

Cheers Russell. I've bookmarked them for if I ever need repairs.