sensor cleaning

[Keith Baran]

Hi everyone,
I notice a small "hair" like particle in the lower right side of all my photos regardless of which lens I use. I have read many articles about cleaning the sensor on my camera. Reading them has created a great fear that I will screw something up and ruin my sensor.I have a Pentax K10. I would like to hear all suggestions. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Keith

 

[adamwilliamking]

1. Send it to Pentax ($100 or so)
2. Sensor Swabs + Sensor Cleaner
3. A blower
4. Visible Dust Artic Butterfly - VisibleDust - Digital Camera Sensor Cleaning Products

5. Find out how to do a mirror lock on your camera

 

[Big Mike]

5. Find out how to do a mirror lock on your camera

There should be a sensor cleaning mode.

Cleaning the sensor is just 'par for the course' when you own a DSLR. It's not hard to do and it's not as delicate as people seem to think. You are just cleaning a filter that sits on top of the sensor.

Search the forum or use Google...it's easy to find sensor cleaning products and techniques.

 

[ismael]

My K100D has a cleanup feature in the menu. It jolts the sensor on power up and it is very effective. I suppose the K10D should have that as well. Check the menu on "settings" "sensor cleaning" or something like that. (I don't have the camera with me here) There are 2 options: mirror lockup and clean at power up.
Hope this helps.

Thanks,

 

[JerryPH]

If sensor cleaning mode doesn't do it, remove the lens, raise the mirror and use a blower like a Giotto Rocket Blaster (the large sized one).

 

[Joves]

If sensor cleaning mode doesn't do it, remove the lens, raise the mirror and use a blower like a Giotto Rocket Blaster (the large sized one).

This is the best method. Also turn your camera down so the dust falls out. And never use canned air it is usually notoriously dirty.

 

[Garbz]

a) does raising the mirror mean opening the shutter or are you just blowing for blowing sake?

b) This is a very bad idea! Firstly the sensor is exposing. Expose it to too much light while it's open and you're likely to damage it. Also while you're taking the exposure (I assume that's what could be meant by raising the mirror so ignore this if it isn't) the sensor is statically charged. So don't even bother trying to clean it while holding the shutter open and the mirror up in bulb mode.

If automated sensor cleaning doesn't work all cameras have manual sensor cleaning options.

 

[tirediron]

a) does raising the mirror mean opening the shutter or are you just blowing for blowing sake?

b) This is a very bad idea! Firstly the sensor is exposing. Expose it to too much light while it's open and you're likely to damage it. Also while you're taking the exposure (I assume that's what could be meant by raising the mirror so ignore this if it isn't) the sensor is statically charged. So don't even bother trying to clean it while holding the shutter open and the mirror up in bulb mode.

If automated sensor cleaning doesn't work all cameras have manual sensor cleaning options.

I'm assuming Jerry was referring to the 'Raise mirror for sensor cleaning' mode on Nikons, which I assume has an equivalent on other bodies.

 

[Garbz]

Yeah just checking, because I have seen the "use bulb to raise mirror" suggested before.

 

[tirediron]

Ouch!