Originally posted by kiwi_jono Agree with Docrwm. I went to a K-5 from a K-x and so far I'm very happy with the dust removal. Sure over time I'm seeing 2 or 3 very small persistent spots, but no where near the build up I was getting with my K-x. Given than my usage patterns are very similar (if not heavier K-5 use) then I assume this is down to better dust removal on the K-5.
Either that, or there's better weather sealing and/or quality control on the K-5 as compared to your K-x. Perhaps the technicians have now finally caught up with the marketing hype!
All I know is that it the "dust removal system" simply doesn't work on
any of my DSLRs (K-100, K-10 and K-20). Oh, it shakes the sensor around all right, but the dust on the sensor absolutely doesn't budge unless and until I put the Butterfly to it. I know this for a fact because I also use a Visible Dust sensor loupe that helps me actually see all the dust clinging to my sensor. Simply shaking the sensor doesn't cut it...not when the dust is clinging to the sensor because it's statically charged.
My hunch is that, if you are using a zoom lens (particularly a long one) dust can't help but get sucked into the camera cavity from that action alone. If not, then I'll be darned if I know how I got dust on my K-20's sensor when I never (ever) swapped the lens! Only thing I can think of was that long zoom lens was sucking dust into the camera body every time I zoomed.
So, again, regardless of all the "sensor cleaning" and "weather sealing" hype the Pentax marketers like to talk about on these cameras, there's still going to be a great big, gaping hole where the lens goes. And because THAT hole isn't "weather sealed", dust and other crud (not to mention moisture) can still get into the innards of the camera.
Bottom line: Unless and until the techie types can figure out a way to get around
that pesky problem, dust
will continue to be an issue with these DSLRs.
Keith