Dust on sensor
 

This might be a naive question but where does the dust come from?

Is it airborne and consequently when you change lenses, it winds up on the sensors? Are you better off not changing your lenses that often or is there some way to insure a relatively dust free atmosphere when changing lenses?

KC welcome to the world of sensor cleaning.

Try not to wear woolly jumpers they are the worst. Yes changing the lens often does not help. Point the camera downwards when changing lens helps reduce the problem. Never leave a lens off for any great length of time. Turn the camera off before you change the lens. The warm sensor will attract the dust.

Zoom lenses often pull in air and blow it back into the mirror chamber when focal length is moved. To reduce this problem move the lens slowly and carefully and remember to clean the rear lens element everytime a lens is removed from the camera.

I find I have to clean my sensor every few months. One of the worst things you can do is blow into the chamber with your mouth. Tiny droplets of moisture stick to the sensor. I normally use the vacuum cleaner with pipe only to suck out dust as the first line of attack. Make sure the vacuum cleaner body is in another room stirring up the dust from it's exhaust. I also wear those medical rubber gloves, a cotton tee shirt and a cap on the head to prevent bits coming from me adding to the problem.

This is all sounding scarey guys ;) I suppose after I've done it once, it won't be so bad.:confused:

Cleaning a cameras' sensor is really easy. Depending upon make and model an external power supply may be required. The external psu will keep the mirror locked up exposing the sensor. Using a pec-pad and a dab of eclipse fluid simply wipe using both sides of pec-pad sweaping the same direction.

Sounds daunting but its as easy as falling off a log, winnie the pooh once said!

I have over 8,000 exposures on my camera and its been cleaned once.

Do it in a dust free environment would be my most appropriate advice. Any sucking and blowing in a domestic environment involves a risk of just moving dust around and introducing dust from elsewhere.

I cleaned my sensor using a blower, but I did it in the bathroom. Tiled floor, no carpet, cleaned the room first, ran a cold shower for 15 minutes first to damp down any dust that was floating in the air. No problem.

Best advice on general guidance I've seen is:
http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/

Duncan

LOL, I will bet the wife was extremely happy. Got a bathroom cleaned w/o even asking ;)

I have just saved that link to favorites Duncan.

Thank you all for your suggestions. Might have to have a drink to steady the nerves before I first try this ;) Jussssst kidding.

She works away from home during the week, I have to clean it before she comes home on Friday night otherwise I get moaned at. :(

Having spent the entire weekend fitting a new shower unit, she cleaned up after me. I was too pooped to lift a cloth, that was my excuse anyway.

I saw an interesting tip in the March issue of Digital Photo. This helps in dealing with any bits of dust which remain static. Photograph a clean sheet of white paper and put the image on screen. The dust particles will been seen clearly. Draw a small selection round every one. Click select and save the selection; call it dirt or something like that.

When processing a new image, clicl select, recall the saved selection and the positions of the dust particles will be revealed enableing them to be dealt with quickly using the healing brush.:cool: