Lens Trouble: Dust, debris, dirt on DSLR sensor; help needed!

[Alex Furbush]

Hopefully this is the right forum to put this in!

Alright, while searching around this site I figured I might as well see if I can get any info on my little lens problem I have. When my D40 is set to any of its 12 modes, and I take a shot of a solid/1 color object, a little 'line' appear in the image taken. In shots taken in the P, S, A, and M modes (especially M) this line is quite clear, in the others it is a bit blurry but still visible. This is a fairly recent occurrence, and I have tried numerous times to clean the lens (both sides) with cotton swabs. Minutes ago I used a strong light to look into the camera itself without the lens attached, but saw nothing unusual. This is getting to be quite a pain, just knowing it is there but can't find where or if it is the lens or camera 'mirrors'. Any advice is much appreciated.

Also, here is a sample picture displaying the 'line'.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Hi Alex,

Could you provide more details in terms of f stop? Do you get it equally at f2.8 and f 16? Also is it a straight line, in which case I haven't as yet noticed it or else the little curly strand of fiber? If it's a straight line, draw a mark by it, so we can see it.

Asher

 

[Alex Furbush]

As for f-stop, I don't think I can tell because it isn't appearing through the viewfinder at all, not in any focus value, etc., just in the image. Here is a shot taken against a greenish/white wall, which shows the spots a lot better than the last. And yes the one I am talking about is the large curved one.

Red = definite spots

Blue = possible spots

 

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

Here is a shot taken against a greenish/white wall, which shows the spots a lot better than the last. And yes the one I am talking about is the large curved one.

Hi Alex, the spots are sensor dust, and the 'line' is lint. It's more or less stuck to the IR / low-pass filter stack in front of your sensor. The lint may come off with a bulb blower, the dust particles may need more rigorous cleaning. The debris becomes more visible at narrower aperture settings, because it casts a smaller shadow.

Bart

 

[Alex Furbush]

Ooh okay that makes sense now, about the narrower aperture. When you say "more rigorous cleaning", what do you have in mind? Hopefully I can get a bulb blower in Ritz..

 

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

Ooh okay that makes sense now, about the narrower aperture. When you say "more rigorous cleaning", what do you have in mind? Hopefully I can get a bulb blower in Ritz..

I always start with the blower. If that doesn't help, I'll use a dedicated brush (from Visible Dust or Copperhill). If that doesn't help, a spatula with a 'Pec.Pad' and 2 drops of 'Eclipse' fluid.

Companies with a range of solutions for cleaning sensors are "Copperhill", "Photographic Solutions", and "VisibleDust". There are others as well (I just didn't use their products, so I can't judge).

Bart

 

[Alex Furbush]

Alright great, so if the blower doesn't fix it I have some back up solutions - thanks Bart!

 

[Asher Kelman]

Alex,

These are called "Dust Bunnies, LOL and part of the game! Tell you the truth, with the small modern sensel widths, one gets degradation of the image as one stops down. So I usually shoot from wide open to f 5.6 or if pushed, to f8. Well I do admit occasionally seeing f11 but that's unusual for me, except with LF. This way the dust is hardly ever visible. Shoot at f 4.0 and see how much dirt shows up?

Asher

 

[Alex Furbush]

Hm, when I first got into photography back in 2007, I had no clue I'd ever be dealing with rabbits made of dust Hehe, anyway I'll certainly be heading to Ritz in a few days to pick up/look for a bulb blower; I found one on their website and it says they carry it in stores, so here's hoping that's true. Asher I tried the f 4.0 as you said yet I could only get close as 5.6...is there some kind of 'f-cap/limit' on my camera? I've tried the different modes that permit f value manipulation and it still caps down at 5.6 (though yes the mark is just about non-visible at this level).

 

[Asher Kelman]

DSLR Sensor everyday dust hygiene and cleaning schedules!

Hm, when I first got into photography back in 2007, I had no clue I'd ever be dealing with rabbits made of dust Hehe, anyway I'll certainly be heading to Ritz in a few days to pick up/look for a bulb blower; I found one on their website and it says they carry it in stores, so here's hoping that's true. Asher I tried the f 4.0 as you said yet I could only get close as 5.6...is there some kind of 'f-cap/limit' on my camera? I've tried the different modes that permit f value manipulation and it still caps down at 5.6 (though yes the mark is just about non-visible at this level).

Alex,

So you can shoot at f4.0 and get clean images? Well that's great! F 5.6 should still be fine too! One needs to use higher f numbers (tinier apertures) to exclude much of the light on very bright day or to increase depth of field with long focal length lenses. A 50 mm lens at f 4.0 has sufficient DOF for most work but it might be too bright and you'll have to use a faster shutter speed during the mid day even at ISO 160.

I only rarely clean my sensor. I do it every 3-6 months or so when for some reason I had to use f16 and have dirt that makes me have to spend time in photoshop cleaning up.

In general lens hygiene is as follows:

Every day precautions:

1. Never change a lens in a dirty environment.

2. Keep the bare rear lens facing down as much as you can till you are ready to mate it with the camera and be fast when changing the lens.

3. Giive a quick puff if you suspect suspect any dust. Otherwise work fast. Puff on the lens removed before putting on the lens cap or when you get home.

4. Don't have the lens mount "mouth" of your camera open to the ceiling or the sky! You are inviting dust!

5. Don't use anything above f 8.0 unless you have a real need. That way you will see less on your recorded image.

Every 3 months or so clean the sensor: Puff with your rocket blower then use a brush that is activated by blowing air on it to lightly sweep the sensor of movable debris that can stick to the brush. This is what I use but, at $34.00, it's rather expensive. However it will last a long time!

1. Take a picture of the blue sky at f22 and then you will see on the rear LCD if the sensor is clean or not. If any, give a few puffs with your "Rocket" blower.

2. Resistant dust bunnies/debris can be removed with pec pads with a drop of cleaning fluid.

3. Repeat step #1.

4. if it's still dirty and if it bothers your work, pay the small fee for professional cleaning at a good camera store or Camera service for your brand.

Asher

Bonus tip: If it's cold outside, use ziplock baggies to protect your lens and camera from condensation before you enter in a nice cozy room where it's humid! dust + humidity= fungus!

 

[Alex Furbush]

So you can shoot at f4.0 and get clean images? Well that's great!

Actually Asher, I should rephrase myself: I tried to attain f4.0 but my camera wouldn't let me, I got as far as 5.6.

Those everyday precautions you listed, I realize that some of them I don't do very well, mainly just being quick to change/attach/detach the lens, so I can easily see how the lint and 'dust bunnies' came to pollute my image sensor. For a cleaner, I am going to go to Ritz soon and buy one of these, and will try to pick up some liquid solutions as well. If that can't handle the dirt, I'll look into getting the blower you have or invest in the professional cleaning. Thanks for the precautions, etc.; I"ll be following them to a tee.

 

[Asher Kelman]

or a cleaner, I am going to go to Ritz soon and buy one of these, and will try to pick up some liquid solutions as well. If that can't handle the dirt, I'll look into getting the blower you have or invest in the professional cleaning.

I really wouldn't go for that brush, unless there's a thorough reivew or recommendation that it holds all the bristles, doesn't shed, doesn't scratch etc. Likely it's fine. I don't work with "likelies" with my sensor. I'd rather not clean it! what lens are you using that only goes to f 5.6?

Get the rocket blower. Forget about the brush until you can get a good one that's well reported on. You don't want to damage anything. I really don't think the glass is that fragile, but it can be broken or scratched. Use one of the better know and review products.

Asher

 

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

I really wouldn't go for that brush, unless there's a thorough reivew or recommendation that it holds all the bristles, doesn't shed, doesn't scratch etc. Likely it's fine. I don't work with "likelies" with my sensor. I'd rather not clean it! what lens are you using that only goes to f 5.6?

Get the rocket blower. Forget about the brush until you can get a good one that's well reported on. You don't want to damage anything. I really don't think the glass is that fragile, but it can be broken or scratched. Use one of the better know and review products.

I agree with Asher, don't risk damaging the delicate coatings of the sensor filters. I'd rather go for this Copperhill kit. The "Rocket blower" produces much more air flow, and as far as I know it doesn't contain talcum powder or such. The filaments of that brush are carefully selected for their properties, and are less likely to scratch the more delicate coatings (outer lens coatings are hardened, the sensor filter coatings are not).

While more expensive, they'll also last a long time.

Bart

 

[Mike Bailey]

A bulb blower, even the excellent "Rocket" that's recommended, is very unlikely to get rid of the dust on the sensor filter. More likely, it will get rid of some and put more on. For years I've been using a single VisibleDust brush - even washed it with soap and water a couple of times - before they started making the battery-powered models. That VisibleDust brush and a rocket blower to charge it have done the job, and I usually shoot in the f/8 to f/13 range for landscape photography.

What gets me is why any of these manufacturers still insist on making the ferrule out of metal, which could scratch the sensor filter if the person using it happened to push too hard and bring it into contact with the filter!

That said, when using the brush, you have to be careful not to touch the sides of the chamber while doing the cleaning because this might pick up oil and transfer it to the sensor filter. Then you would need to use a liquid cleaning solution to clean that up.

Mike

 

[Alex Furbush]

what lens are you using that only goes to f 5.6?

The 55mm kit lens that the D40 comes with..until I can afford a better one.

I won't get that brush then, not in the mood to risk scratching the sensor. I'm not sure I can afford that Rocket blower yet though, as I'm working off a parent's budget still; I may op for the professional cleaning for now.

What gets me is why any of these manufacturers still insist on making the ferrule out of metal, which could scratch the sensor filter if the person using it happened to push too hard and bring it into contact with the filter!

The ferrules are made of metal on the brushes? Wow, that's not safe..

Thanks for all the suggestions, etc. - I now have quite a few options at my disposal

 

[Asher Kelman]

Alex,

The Copperhill unit mentioned by Bart, seems the very best to start with. That's what I'd get as it's a bargain. Then you can graduate to Pec pads or the like if need be.

Asher

 

[Alex Furbush]

Okay then, as my birthday is coming up, I can ask for this as a gift This kit looks pretty solid, I can't wait to get that dirt out of my sensor filter LOL.

 

[Alex Furbush]

Update!

I just wanted to say I went to Ritz earlier this afternoon, and picked up a bulb blower, and a +10 Close-Up Filter, both made by Quantaray - pictured below...

Spending what very limited money I had this week ($30), I am quite pleased as the bulb blower worked out with my 'dust-bunny' problem excellently, as well as the new lens filter; reviewing some test shots with it, I was impressed. I look forward to showing you all my future shots with this filter Again, thanks you all for the suggestions and recommendations, and keep in mind I will still be purchasing one of the mentioned cleaning kits or two in the future.

 

[Alain Briot]

Alex,

This blower brush is designed to clean dust off lenses, not to clean sensors.

The fact it says "digital" on the package doesn't make it magically become a sensor cleaning brush. It's just a word, not a fact!

While it may seem to work initially, the risk of damaging your sensor is very real. It's up to you of course to use whatever tool you see fit to clean your sensor (it's a free country ;-) ), but personally, if I had little money, my goal would be to protect my sensor, not use the cheapest brush I can find. Damaging your sensor will cost you more than getting the appropriate brush!

Alain