Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

Fl_Gulfer · 09-15-2008, 04:42 PM

Is it worth sending a DA 18-55 lens in to be cleaned or should I just throw it away and try again, I purchased on from someone in the forum

and there are a bunch of spots inside and you can see them in the shots. Not sure if it's mildew or not. look in the right side of the sky just above the grass. There all over the sky but you can only see them on the original shot.

Click to Enlarge ignor the fat guy.

Thanks
Jack

**pentaxman** · 09-15-2008, 05:25 PM

That is most likely dust on your sensor.

Fl_Gulfer · 09-15-2008, 07:37 PM

I switched lenses and it's not there.

KungPOW · 09-15-2008, 10:52 PM

By the look of the photo, the lens was stopped down. That is the best way to make sensor dust show.

Try the other lens, stop it down and shoot a blank shot of the sky. Then have a look for dust.

If the spots do not show, and are just aparent with the 18-55, then have a look at the rear lens element. Dust there will often show.

Any other ideas anyone?

Frank Fletcher · 09-15-2008, 11:24 PM

I agree, it looks like sensor dust. Try another lens - not a telephoto - the wider the beter. Stop it down to f/19+ or so and shoot a clear blue sky. Let us know the results.

**pentaxman** · 09-16-2008, 04:21 PM

Try the lens on a different Pentax body and see if the dirt follows the lens. The dirt looks in too good of focus to be on the lens.

To clean your camera body, just put the camera in the sensor cleaning mode (it is in the menus), hold your camera so that the opening in the body is facing down, and take a photo blower and blow up on the sensor. You have to do this forcibly -don't worry it won't hurt the sensor. You may as well blow on your focusing screen while you are at it. I have done this with my camera and it always works.

Tom

Fl_Gulfer · 09-16-2008, 07:54 PM

Well it was on the K100D camera and I guess it is the sensor, I tryed my damnest to get it to blow off but it all dosen't come off. Is it ok to use that special brush that came with the blower to lightly dust off the sensor, just barely spin it over the sensor?

**pentaxman** · 09-16-2008, 11:33 PM

Originally posted by Fl_Gulfer

Well it was on the K100D camera and I guess it is the sensor, I tryed my damnest to get it to blow off but it all dosen't come off. Is it ok to use that special brush that came with the blower to lightly dust off the sensor, just barely spin it over the sensor?

I would avoid the use of the brush. The reason for this is that by brushing the sensor, you will make it accumulate static which will make the dust problem much worse.

There are special sensor cleaning kits made which use anti-static materials and techniques. I have heard that a product called Arctic butterfly is good, although I have not personally tried it.

juice · 09-17-2008, 02:01 AM

A friend of mine had the same problem (stubborn dust particle) and ended up sending in for professional service. They cleaned/aligned everything and it was better than new! Cost about $100 australian over here.

The sensor is a very delicate part of the camera indeed.

Frank Fletcher · 09-17-2008, 02:22 AM

see: SensorCleaning.com -- How?

09-15-2008, 04:42 PM	#1
Fl_Gulfer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Gulfer Photos: Albums Posts: 3,054	Lens Cleaning Is it worth sending a DA 18-55 lens in to be cleaned or should I just throw it away and try again, I purchased on from someone in the forum and there are a bunch of spots inside and you can see them in the shots. Not sure if it's mildew or not. look in the right side of the sky just above the grass. There all over the sky but you can only see them on the original shot. Click to Enlarge ignor the fat guy. Thanks Jack

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Cleaning fungus out of a lens.	John nich	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	9	07-28-2010 05:48 PM
Lens cleaning	oldphil	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	5	05-16-2010 03:58 PM
Lens cleaning - Help!	dycz	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	6	09-27-2009 09:38 PM
lens cleaning	enrod666	Photographic Technique	5	06-14-2008 02:14 AM
lens cleaning	Bob83	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	5	01-17-2008 08:50 AM

09-15-2008, 05:25 PM	#2
pentaxman Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Washington Photos: Gallery Posts: 250	That is most likely dust on your sensor.

09-15-2008, 07:37 PM	#3
Fl_Gulfer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Gulfer Photos: Albums Posts: 3,054 Original Poster	I switched lenses and it's not there.

09-15-2008, 10:52 PM	#4
KungPOW Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,699	By the look of the photo, the lens was stopped down. That is the best way to make sensor dust show. Try the other lens, stop it down and shoot a blank shot of the sky. Then have a look for dust. If the spots do not show, and are just aparent with the 18-55, then have a look at the rear lens element. Dust there will often show. Any other ideas anyone?

09-15-2008, 11:24 PM	#5
Frank Fletcher Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Photos: Albums Posts: 257	I agree, it looks like sensor dust. Try another lens - not a telephoto - the wider the beter. Stop it down to f/19+ or so and shoot a clear blue sky. Let us know the results.

09-16-2008, 04:21 PM	#6
pentaxman Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Washington Photos: Gallery Posts: 250	Try the lens on a different Pentax body and see if the dirt follows the lens. The dirt looks in too good of focus to be on the lens. To clean your camera body, just put the camera in the sensor cleaning mode (it is in the menus), hold your camera so that the opening in the body is facing down, and take a photo blower and blow up on the sensor. You have to do this forcibly -don't worry it won't hurt the sensor. You may as well blow on your focusing screen while you are at it. I have done this with my camera and it always works. Tom

09-16-2008, 07:54 PM	#7
Fl_Gulfer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Gulfer Photos: Albums Posts: 3,054 Original Poster	Well it was on the K100D camera and I guess it is the sensor, I tryed my damnest to get it to blow off but it all dosen't come off. Is it ok to use that special brush that came with the blower to lightly dust off the sensor, just barely spin it over the sensor?

09-16-2008, 11:33 PM	#8
pentaxman Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Washington Photos: Gallery Posts: 250	Originally posted by Fl_Gulfer Well it was on the K100D camera and I guess it is the sensor, I tryed my damnest to get it to blow off but it all dosen't come off. Is it ok to use that special brush that came with the blower to lightly dust off the sensor, just barely spin it over the sensor? I would avoid the use of the brush. The reason for this is that by brushing the sensor, you will make it accumulate static which will make the dust problem much worse. There are special sensor cleaning kits made which use anti-static materials and techniques. I have heard that a product called Arctic butterfly is good, although I have not personally tried it.

09-17-2008, 02:01 AM	#9
juice Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gold Coast, Australia Posts: 64	A friend of mine had the same problem (stubborn dust particle) and ended up sending in for professional service. They cleaned/aligned everything and it was better than new! Cost about $100 australian over here. The sensor is a very delicate part of the camera indeed.

09-17-2008, 02:22 AM	#10
Frank Fletcher Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Photos: Albums Posts: 257	see: SensorCleaning.com -- How?

Lens Cleaning

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!