Cleaning the image sensor

[Lego]

Hello. I'm new to the whole SLR show. I have been using this camera for a few months now. And I thought I would do an image sensor cleaning. Not knowing if I had to. I was just thinking of prevented maintenance.

My camera is a Canon EOS Digital Rebel (Silver Body if that makes a difference).

The problem is the camera takes FOREVER to clean the sensor. 2 full batteries right now and it still hasn't finished!! Is this a normal thing? Or is there a better way

I did read the manual and all it says is to make sure the battery is full and if the battery does run dead turn the camera off and then put the new battery in and start over... now I'm going onto the third battery...

 

[Lego]

Sorry I meant to post this in the Digital section... Sorry can someone move it?

 

[LiveWave]

Which rebel? There are a lot of silver rebel bodies. By chance this is a rebel XT that you are cleaning?

 

[Peanuts]

Uhh.. maybe I am misunderstanding your question but when you say 'clean sensor' you physically have to clean it yourself. It isn't an oven that self cleans. Can you clarify?

 

[Lego]

Which rebel? There are a lot of silver rebel bodies. By chance this is a rebel XT that you are cleaning?

The only other thing I can find on the body is Canon DS6041

Uhh.. maybe I am misunderstanding your question but when you say 'clean sensor' you physically have to clean it yourself. It isn't an oven that self cleans. Can you clarify?

Well it is an option on the camera. Please follow the link to the user manual ( http://finearts.uvic.ca/sim/equipment/manuals/_photography/canoneosrebel.PDF ) and go to page "34" you will find the process I have walked through already. I know very little about these cameras and I'm just trying to learn but it seems I'm learning through mistakes now. So I followed the instructions and that is why I posted the question.

 

[Peanuts]

Yes, so all that does is lift the mirror (that is the 'click' you hear), then you have use a blower (like [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Visible-Dust-Hurricane-Blower/dp/B0009VTA2Y]Amazon.com: Visible Dust Hurricane Blower: Camera & Photo[/ame]) or a fluid with a brush (must be specifically for sensor cleaning) like [ame=http://www.visibledust.com/]VisibleDust - DSLR Camera Sensor Cleaning[/ame]

 

[epp_b]

Don't all EOS digitals have a "sensor shake" cleaning system or is that just the newer ones?

 

[Peanuts]

Just thenewer ones

 

[Lego]

Oh bother... i feel silly. I was always trying to do the cleaning with the lens on.... :er::er::er: and I thought it was an auto cleaning system:blushing:.

Thats why it would just sit there and say clean on the LCD and kill my batterys:x.

Thank you very much for your help and speedy response.