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nanokevin · 07-04-2014, 01:05 PM

Dear All,

I am a K-5 user and I got it in 2012 from a user who bought it from Amazon.
Everytime when I take the pictures in national park, I can see a fixed position dot in the sky.
Originally, I thought that it's from the dust on the sensor or lens.
However, after I cleaned the sensor and lens with high purity Ar within chemical lab hood, I still can see it at the same place.
The attached pictures was taken by two different lens. (16-45 and 10-17)
If the dot is due to the dust on lens, it should show differently with different lens.

Then, my friends told me the contamination issue of K-5.
I checked the news and thought it should only happen for the first batch of K-5 produced in 2010. Since the last user got it from Amazon in 2012, I guess my K-5 should be out of this issue.

Could you help me to check my pictures?

If this is real the contamination issue, could I still ask the service from the company?
Does anyone has this experience?

Thanks

Kevin

Attached Images

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Na Horuk · 07-04-2014, 01:12 PM

Looks a lot like a dust spot. It might be stuck somewhere else, like on the backside of the lens or on behind the AA filter (as impossible as that may sound).
Some K-5 cameras did have the sensor stain issue, not sure how it was resolved. According to some internet posts, cameras with serial the number starting above 39xxxxx don't have this problem.

Adam · 07-04-2014, 01:15 PM

Nah, that's just dust

RonHendriks1966 · 07-04-2014, 01:16 PM

Doesn't look like stains, zo probably just a dustspot. My K-7 had a spot under the AA-filter, so not removable. It can happen, but should be on all images.

Bengan · 07-04-2014, 01:21 PM

I have had something similar on my K-5II. It was in fact a particle on the sensor. It could be seen with the mirror up and with a little effort it was removed with a blower. A particle that gives the spot in your pictures should be wisible, at least with some kind of magnifier. Particles can stick pretty hard to the sensor and in worst case you might have to use some kind of mechanical cleaning.

**jatrax** · 07-04-2014, 01:59 PM

Just dust. Set the aperture at f/22 and take a picture of an even blue sky, it will be easy to see. Air should remove dust in most cases though using a camera blower is much safer than canned air or compressed air of any sort (IMHO). However, if blowing it with air did not remove it you might need a wet cleaning with sensor cleaning swabs. Sometimes the 'dust' can be a pollen grain or something that is sticky and it just will not come off with air.

Also make sure the camera's dust removal system is turned on. I have mine set to run at startup.

fgaudet · 07-04-2014, 02:09 PM

You will probably need to use more than compressed gas to get rid of it though. Get some sensor swab and sensor cleaning fluid.

And I doubt it's a stain since it's shape (or sharpness) varies.

nanokevin · 07-04-2014, 03:50 PM

Thanks for all your replies!
Any recommendation for the sensor swab and sensor cleaning fluid?
I can find the Kimwipe and pure alcohol (water free) in lab, is it fine to use them for sensor cleaning?

panoguy · 07-04-2014, 03:57 PM

Originally posted by nanokevin

Thanks for all your replies!
Any recommendation for the sensor swab and sensor cleaning fluid?
I can find the Kimwipe and pure alcohol (water free) in lab, is it fine to use them for sensor cleaning?

Use the Pentax sensor cleaning kit, not just because it has the Pentax name on it, but because it's actually one of the better sensor swabs.

fgaudet · 07-04-2014, 04:13 PM

Originally posted by nanokevin

I can find the Kimwipe and pure alcohol (water free) in lab, is it fine to use them for sensor cleaning?

I'm not sure about pure alcohol, I'll let other members with more experience answer this one.

The fluid I'm using is called Eclipse and so far it's been good to all my camera. The bottles says it contains Methanol (no concentration or other chemical listed) if that can help.

**rbefly** · 07-04-2014, 05:43 PM

Hello Kevin, welcome to the Forum!
Yes, the sensor has dust on it. This is a fact of life with interchangeable-lens digital cameras, happens quite often. The occasional speck will be stubborn (looks like you have one!) but usually they come off with a blast from the Rocket Blower.
Here's what I use, pre-wrapped and moistened, a four-pack for $14.00.
Photographic Solutions Sensor Swab Plus with Eclipse PE2C B&H
That should do it!
Ron

07-04-2014, 01:15 PM	#3
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,609	Nah, that's just dust Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

07-04-2014, 01:21 PM	#5
Bengan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Stockholm Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,767	Probably dust or particle I have had something similar on my K-5II. It was in fact a particle on the sensor. It could be seen with the mirror up and with a little effort it was removed with a blower. A particle that gives the spot in your pictures should be wisible, at least with some kind of magnifier. Particles can stick pretty hard to the sensor and in worst case you might have to use some kind of mechanical cleaning.

07-04-2014, 05:43 PM	#11
rbefly Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Denver, Colorado Photos: Albums Posts: 2,030	Cleaner? Hello Kevin, welcome to the Forum! Yes, the sensor has dust on it. This is a fact of life with interchangeable-lens digital cameras, happens quite often. The occasional speck will be stubborn (looks like you have one!) but usually they come off with a blast from the Rocket Blower. Here's what I use, pre-wrapped and moistened, a four-pack for $14.00. Photographic Solutions Sensor Swab Plus with Eclipse PE2C B&H That should do it! Ron

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07-04-2014, 01:12 PM	#2
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Looks a lot like a dust spot. It might be stuck somewhere else, like on the backside of the lens or on behind the AA filter (as impossible as that may sound). Some K-5 cameras did have the sensor stain issue, not sure how it was resolved. According to some internet posts, cameras with serial the number starting above 39xxxxx don't have this problem.

07-04-2014, 01:16 PM	#4
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Doesn't look like stains, zo probably just a dustspot. My K-7 had a spot under the AA-filter, so not removable. It can happen, but should be on all images.

07-04-2014, 01:59 PM	#6
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,992	Just dust. Set the aperture at f/22 and take a picture of an even blue sky, it will be easy to see. Air should remove dust in most cases though using a camera blower is much safer than canned air or compressed air of any sort (IMHO). However, if blowing it with air did not remove it you might need a wet cleaning with sensor cleaning swabs. Sometimes the 'dust' can be a pollen grain or something that is sticky and it just will not come off with air. Also make sure the camera's dust removal system is turned on. I have mine set to run at startup.

07-04-2014, 02:09 PM	#7
fgaudet Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 726	You will probably need to use more than compressed gas to get rid of it though. Get some sensor swab and sensor cleaning fluid. And I doubt it's a stain since it's shape (or sharpness) varies.

07-04-2014, 03:50 PM	#8
nanokevin New Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 10 Original Poster	Thanks for all your replies! Any recommendation for the sensor swab and sensor cleaning fluid? I can find the Kimwipe and pure alcohol (water free) in lab, is it fine to use them for sensor cleaning?

07-04-2014, 03:57 PM	#9
panoguy Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Washington, D.C. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,327	Originally posted by nanokevin Thanks for all your replies! Any recommendation for the sensor swab and sensor cleaning fluid? I can find the Kimwipe and pure alcohol (water free) in lab, is it fine to use them for sensor cleaning? Use the Pentax sensor cleaning kit, not just because it has the Pentax name on it, but because it's actually one of the better sensor swabs.

07-04-2014, 04:13 PM	#10
fgaudet Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 726	Originally posted by nanokevin I can find the Kimwipe and pure alcohol (water free) in lab, is it fine to use them for sensor cleaning? I'm not sure about pure alcohol, I'll let other members with more experience answer this one. The fluid I'm using is called Eclipse and so far it's been good to all my camera. The bottles says it contains Methanol (no concentration or other chemical listed) if that can help.

Is this due to COMS contamination? (K-5)

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