Help, Emergency

[Debsie]

Hi, I'm really hoping someone can help me. I went out yesterday to make the most of my day off and the sun. Had a wonderful day trying to get a shot of a common Tern in the air. When I down loaded the shots I was flabbergasted to see lots of spots on the picture. I checked and cleaned the lens took a shot and they're still there. So I cleaned the camera very carefully and they're still there although I can't actually see anything!! I'm off next week on holiday and need my camera, can anyone suggest anything. I thought about taking it to Jessops, but not sure if they do it, or even if I will get it back in time.. Hopefully you can see what I'm taking about on the picture. I'm so carefull when changing lenses outdoors that I could !!!! swear, but I won't

[ijwilki]

What camera do you have?

[PeterB]

It's a nightmare! I have a Nikon D3 and am constantly cleaning the sensor. I've never got it totally clean and have to remove spots with photoshop all the time.

I brought one of these cleaning kits

DELKIN DEVICES Digital Duster DSLR Sensor Cleaning KIT on eBay (end time 24-Jun-10 13:19:44 BST)

which was not cheap as you can see and I still need a blower can to get rid of the dust but I get by with it.

These guys look good:-

Professional Sensor Cleaning service centre for Digital SLR Cameras in Midland UK

Never tried them as they are too far away, so I stick with the kit. Maybe there is someone a little more professional than a Jessops near you.

[simon624]

Hi Debsie,
I've had this problem several times with my camera, and it's normally just dust on the sensor. I usually manage to resolve it by using one of those circular puffers that come with a small brush on the end. Remove the brush part and whilst holding the camera upside down puff air into the body of the camera. Be careful not to put anything physically near the sensor.
Depending on your camera, you may also have a cleaning program that you access from the settings menu.

Simon.

[PeterB]

Good point, just try simple dry dusting with a blower first, although those marks look like water marks as opposed to dust.

[Debsie]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I will go and get a puffer today Simon and try that, fingers crossed. I do have a cleaning mode on the Sony 550 but it hasn't made any difference.
I will definately go for the Delkin cleaner Peter, if it doesn't solve this problem it will certainly come in useful in the future.
Simon, you say I shouldn't get anything near the sensor!! but if it is water marks like Peter thinks it might be, how do I clean the sensor, or should I leave it up to the pro's and in the meantime stick to removing them with photoshop like Peter does. Thanks for all the help.

[PeterB]

This web site is very useful. Dispells some myths.

Introduction - Cleaning Digital Cameras - D-SLR Sensor Cleaning.

On reflection, as far as that kit goes, the vacuum works but now I have compared, a tin of blower is better. The fluid that comes with it is water based and the Eclipse fluid is very much better and approved/recommended by Sony themselves. The swabs in the kit are excellent and worth the money just for that.

[simon624]

Hi Debsie,
although you could possibly have water marks on the sensor, I would think that it's unlikely unless you've tried to blow into the camera yourself. Remember, in the SLR camera the mirror is in front of the sensor until you take the shot, so any water droplets that find their way in when you change the lens should hit the mirror first. If the mirror looks ok then it's unlikely to be that.

If, however, you do have marks on the sensor rather than dust I would be very wary about trying to clean it yourself (unless you are confident in what you are doing) as you may end up making it worse. I would suggest contacting Sony, especially if the camera is not very old. I was in a similar position with my Canon not long after I bought it and they took it back and cleaned it for free.

Simon.