Sensor Stain Question

Deiberson · 04-13-2012, 08:03 AM

What does this look like? I have been noticing some stains on my pictures themselves and there are a few "blueish" dots on the sensor. When I take my pocket blower to the camera, the blue dots do not move. I thought I had a clean copy for the last year but now I'm second guessing this. Any thoughts?

KyPainter · 04-13-2012, 08:29 AM

K-5 Sensor Stains | Pentax Support

eddie1960 · 04-13-2012, 08:31 AM

Please post an example. Odds are pretty good it's not a stain issue. AFAIK that was resolved well more than a year back. more like late January 2011 AFAIK

Without seeing it (with Exif attached) there is no way to tell. If you really want to diagnose it shoot a clear blue sky @ f22 or smaller. that will show all crud the sensor has on it

Deiberson · 04-19-2012, 06:24 AM

Here are a few examples of what I'm seeing, 2 different lenses. The first is the fa43 and the landscapes are from the Sigma 10-20. Same identical smudge. My rocket blower can't remove whatever is on it. By "it", I'm referring to the piece of glass that I see immediately in front on me when I remove the lens. I'm assuming that is the sensor? Also, there is no obvious "stain" on it, but rather a few blue-ish freckles that can only be seen when I turn the camera a certain way into the light.

FA 43
Stain in question to the right

Sig 10-20
Stain on top since the orientation of the camera is for landscape

FA43 again...but here I CAN'T see it and it wasn't cloned out

Cloned out, confused and frustrated

pxpaulx · 04-19-2012, 06:28 AM

That is dust - dust moves and randomly disappears, as you've noted in the one shot it wasn't there. Also, the stains looked literally like a bunch of tiny little drops of gunk in random patterns, and became more visible specifically by using a smaller F stop.

eddie1960 · 04-19-2012, 06:31 AM

Originally posted by pxpaulx

That is dust - dust moves and randomly disappears, as you've noted in the one shot it wasn't there. Also, the stains looked literally like a bunch of tiny little drops of gunk in random patterns, and became more visible specifically by using a smaller F stop.

exactly

also some dust is very persistent, the longer it is there the more likely you will need a wet clean because it will weld itself to the sensor

Deiberson · 04-19-2012, 06:46 AM

what should i use to wipe it off?

eddie1960 · 04-19-2012, 07:03 AM

there are a few levels
Personally i'm not a big fan of blowers (they just blow dust around)

Pentax makes a kit for cleaning that is good

Amazon.com: Pentax Image Sensor Cleaning Kit, O-ICK1: Camera & Photo

If you really need a wet cleaning then VisibleDust has an excellent kit

Sensor Cleaning

**PPPPPP42** · 04-19-2012, 06:19 PM

Originally posted by Deiberson

By "it", I'm referring to the piece of glass that I see immediately in front on me when I remove the lens.

Umm, just checking, but you aren't referring to the mirror are you?

I assume you know how the mirror lock up function for cleaning the sensor works. (its in the manual)

joe.penn · 04-19-2012, 06:27 PM

@Deiberson - not sure about the stain but I like the artwork #2 and #4, very nice!

Deiberson · 04-20-2012, 04:03 AM

Originally posted by PPPPPP42

Umm, just checking, but you aren't referring to the mirror are you?

glad i asked. i'll pull the manual out today. i had a feeling ever since i got into this hobby that the sensor couldn't be located behind the glass.

Deiberson · 04-20-2012, 06:00 AM

I lifted the mirror up and took the blower to it.....no avail. I guess I'm going to have to get a kit.

Deiberson · 05-05-2012, 05:58 AM

another question....
cleaning the sensor.....how hard is this to do? i placed an order from adorama for some flash equipment and was talking to a seemingly knowledgeable individual and he made it sound like i should just have someone do it for me. furthermore, he insinuated that i needed 200 bucks of equipment to do it correctly. he mentioned some type of scope, kit, etc....

thoughts?

**PPPPPP42** · 05-05-2012, 01:32 PM

I believe they get paid to clean sensors as a service, therefore their opinion is moot. There's threads on the details of doing it yourself if you search, also probably some youtube videos.

04-13-2012, 08:03 AM	#1
Deiberson Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 734	Sensor Stain Question What does this look like? I have been noticing some stains on my pictures themselves and there are a few "blueish" dots on the sensor. When I take my pocket blower to the camera, the blue dots do not move. I thought I had a clean copy for the last year but now I'm second guessing this. Any thoughts?

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04-13-2012, 08:29 AM	#2
KyPainter Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Owensboro, Kentucky Posts: 69	K-5 Sensor Stains \| Pentax Support

04-13-2012, 08:31 AM	#3
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,667	Please post an example. Odds are pretty good it's not a stain issue. AFAIK that was resolved well more than a year back. more like late January 2011 AFAIK Without seeing it (with Exif attached) there is no way to tell. If you really want to diagnose it shoot a clear blue sky @ f22 or smaller. that will show all crud the sensor has on it

04-19-2012, 06:24 AM	#4
Deiberson Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 734 Original Poster	Here are a few examples of what I'm seeing, 2 different lenses. The first is the fa43 and the landscapes are from the Sigma 10-20. Same identical smudge. My rocket blower can't remove whatever is on it. By "it", I'm referring to the piece of glass that I see immediately in front on me when I remove the lens. I'm assuming that is the sensor? Also, there is no obvious "stain" on it, but rather a few blue-ish freckles that can only be seen when I turn the camera a certain way into the light. FA 43 Stain in question to the right Sig 10-20 Stain on top since the orientation of the camera is for landscape FA43 again...but here I CAN'T see it and it wasn't cloned out Cloned out, confused and frustrated

04-19-2012, 06:28 AM	#5
pxpaulx Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 2,867	That is dust - dust moves and randomly disappears, as you've noted in the one shot it wasn't there. Also, the stains looked literally like a bunch of tiny little drops of gunk in random patterns, and became more visible specifically by using a smaller F stop.

04-19-2012, 06:31 AM	#6
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,667	Originally posted by pxpaulx That is dust - dust moves and randomly disappears, as you've noted in the one shot it wasn't there. Also, the stains looked literally like a bunch of tiny little drops of gunk in random patterns, and became more visible specifically by using a smaller F stop. exactly also some dust is very persistent, the longer it is there the more likely you will need a wet clean because it will weld itself to the sensor

04-19-2012, 06:46 AM	#7
Deiberson Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 734 Original Poster	what should i use to wipe it off?

04-19-2012, 07:03 AM	#8
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,667	there are a few levels Personally i'm not a big fan of blowers (they just blow dust around) Pentax makes a kit for cleaning that is good Amazon.com: Pentax Image Sensor Cleaning Kit, O-ICK1: Camera & Photo If you really need a wet cleaning then VisibleDust has an excellent kit Sensor Cleaning

04-19-2012, 06:19 PM	#9
PPPPPP42 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Albums Posts: 951	Originally posted by Deiberson By "it", I'm referring to the piece of glass that I see immediately in front on me when I remove the lens. Umm, just checking, but you aren't referring to the mirror are you? I assume you know how the mirror lock up function for cleaning the sensor works. (its in the manual)

04-19-2012, 06:27 PM	#10
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	@Deiberson - not sure about the stain but I like the artwork #2 and #4, very nice!

04-20-2012, 04:03 AM	#11
Deiberson Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 734 Original Poster	Originally posted by PPPPPP42 Umm, just checking, but you aren't referring to the mirror are you? glad i asked. i'll pull the manual out today. i had a feeling ever since i got into this hobby that the sensor couldn't be located behind the glass.

04-20-2012, 06:00 AM	#12
Deiberson Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 734 Original Poster	I lifted the mirror up and took the blower to it.....no avail. I guess I'm going to have to get a kit.

05-05-2012, 05:58 AM	#13
Deiberson Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 734 Original Poster	another question.... cleaning the sensor.....how hard is this to do? i placed an order from adorama for some flash equipment and was talking to a seemingly knowledgeable individual and he made it sound like i should just have someone do it for me. furthermore, he insinuated that i needed 200 bucks of equipment to do it correctly. he mentioned some type of scope, kit, etc.... thoughts?

05-05-2012, 01:32 PM	#14
PPPPPP42 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Albums Posts: 951	I believe they get paid to clean sensors as a service, therefore their opinion is moot. There's threads on the details of doing it yourself if you search, also probably some youtube videos.