[GeneV]

I'm having the experience of far more stubborn dirt as well. It has taken two eclipse wet cleanings to get the dirt not to be obvious at F8. Even then, the spots are there in the same places, just not obvious until F/16. The only other Pentax camera sensor I have had like this was the Kx, which also went through expensive swabs like tissues. I have never wet cleaned a K3 or K5 series sensor, through four bodies.

Sony E mount sensors are also somewhat dirt prone, but then the sensor is far closer to the mount with no mirror. Fortunately, the dirt seems to blow away as easily as it lands. I would agree with the earlier poster that the K1 seems to get dirtier than even the A7R, which has a very similar sensor.

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Last edited by GeneV; 11-30-2016 at 06:39 PM.

[KDD]

Maybe by zoom lenses!!??!!

[GeneV]

Maybe by zoom lenses!!??!!

This particularly stubborn dirt got there somewhere between the 28-105 and the 70-200.

The small Giottos blower is a necessary accessory, though I'm thinking these little spots have an oily component. Each pass of the swab seems to dissolve a little more, but the Eclipse solution may not be formulated for oily stains, like another I have used on the Kx in the past.

[monochrome]

I've had large, sticky, visible blobs twice now in just 8 months and 8,500 shots. Both times I used an LED flashlight, a loupe and the Pentax sticky stick, which worked perfectly. The LED light and loupe really isolated the blob well.

Blower was sufficient for all my other cameras before K-1

[niceshot]

this is bad news, guess Isopropal alcohol and q-tip would do it . But this is not good.

[GeneV]

Part of the problem may be that the strip of felt around the AF sensor below the mirror is (necessarily) much longer and is also broader and looks thicker than that on the K3. It may even be a different material. When I have cleaned the sensor, I have noticed this felt seems to have retained more dust and fibers than I have seen before down at the bottom of the mirror box.

[wpt]

Is it just me or does the K-1's sensor need cleaning more than other Pentax DSLRs? I rarely need to clean the sensors on my K-3, K20D, or K10D. Seems like I'm cleaning the K-1's sensor just about every week. Yes, the dust removal is set for both startup and shutdown.

Very true - my sensor is always dirty. My K3 by comparison never needs cleaning. I checked the d800 reviews and there is a connection. They both are dust magnets.

[paolo11]

Is it just me or does the K-1's sensor need cleaning more than other Pentax DSLRs? I rarely need to clean the sensors on my K-3, K20D, or K10D. Seems like I'm cleaning the K-1's sensor just about every week. Yes, the dust removal is set for both startup and shutdown.

i have a K1, 224 shots, saw artifacts on shots. cleaned sensor per instructions. Okay.

One thing I notice, no mirror shaking like the older cameras. I clean my mirror using lens cleaner and wiping.

---------- Post added 02-05-17 at 01:41 PM ----------

Correction, I meant dust removal on/off. On my K50, I can feel the dust removal working, on K1, I don't feel anything. Is this normal?

[lithedreamer]

i have a K1, 224 shots, saw artifacts on shots. cleaned sensor per instructions. Okay.

One thing I notice, no mirror shaking like the older cameras. I clean my mirror using lens cleaner and wiping.

---------- Post added 02-05-17 at 01:41 PM ----------

Correction, I meant dust removal on/off. On my K50, I can feel the dust removal working, on K1, I don't feel anything. Is this normal?

Dust removal on the K-1 uses the flagship style which is both more effective and quieter.

[joergens.mi]

K1: 26000 Pictures now, often changing optics, no problems, as I'm used with pentax cameras.

[paolo11]

Thanks for the reply. I can hear a little something (have to really listen), as I have both boxes checked for power on/off dust removal. I also used a rocket blower with mirror up. Artifacts are now gone on my images.

[GeneV]

I haven't been noticing dirt as much lately. My suspicion is that I encountered one particularly dirty change on a Thanksgiving trip to Florida, and it was a gift that kept on giving.

[paolo11]

I've noticed that they sell large sensor cleaning swabs that will cover the K1 sensor. They are of the dry type. Has anyone ever used done this? And is it advisable to do so?

[wtlwdwgn]

I noticed a lot of dust bunnies on an image the other day. Fortunately I only had to use my rocket blower to get rid of it. If I can't get the dust off with a blower I take it to my local shop to have it wet swabbed.

[paolo11]

The guy who repaired my K50 advised not to have it wet swab as it could leave a film. But they do sell them, so not sure. Fortunately, I've never had to go this route. But if all else fails, guess it's the only option.