is it the glass or is it the sensor ..

techmulla · 10-24-2010, 11:14 AM

a couple of days back, i posted that my focusing screen is dirty. people advised me to check if i am sure if it is the focusing screen, i did. turned out it was the focusing screen.

now i have a new problem, everytime an image comes out of the camera, it has marks on it. sensor dust alert gives no marks.

This is shot on manual focus, the open sky, to tell you my pain. any ideas ?

Attached Images

keyser · 10-24-2010, 11:29 AM

Is it the same pattern with different lenses? That'll tell you if it's the glass.

Stratman · 10-24-2010, 11:34 AM

Looks like sensor dust to me.

Raylon · 10-24-2010, 11:40 AM

Definitely sensor dust. Get a rocket blower and get it outta there.

Adam · 10-24-2010, 12:46 PM

Dust isn't usually visible on photos because it would be outside of the DOF. This looks like sensor dust to me- gogo dust removal!

JeffJS · 10-25-2010, 03:33 AM

This may help

techmulla · 10-25-2010, 11:39 AM

after cleaning, this is what i am left with. a dark spot at the top left (which means the bottom left of the sensor).

i have only gone with rocket blower.

do the expert believe to be polen or something like that which is stuck or is it some droplet?

should i go with the syntetic brush?

Attached Images

JeffJS · 10-25-2010, 11:47 AM

I see several spots but only one very offensive one. If it's pollen, a brush isn't likely to remove it but it's worth a try. I suspect you're going to have to do a wet clean on this one.

techmulla · 10-25-2010, 12:18 PM

Pakistan and wet clean ... hmmmph ..

seems like my next pay check is going towards importing a sensor cleaning from US

or is there a DIY kit, that you can make from cheap ready made items?

and yes, i have a k-x, and i use it on my farms. dusty dust every where

JeffJS · 10-25-2010, 01:00 PM

There are two usable touch the sensor cleaning options (In my opinion) that work correctly and reliably. The first is a stamp pad such as Pentax's O-ICK1 cleaning kit.

Google

The other is a wet clean. Many threads about this and the net is full of information about it. Here's a source for trying to produce your own kit.

Introduction - Cleaning Digital Cameras - D-SLR Sensor Cleaning.

Bobe416 · 10-25-2010, 02:25 PM

Keep trying with the rocket blower. I have sometimes had to go through the procedure 3 or 4 times to get the dust off. Be aggressive with the blower, but don't touch anything on the inside.

Jodokast96 · 10-25-2010, 02:48 PM

This is a case where you may want to give the "unrecommended" a shot, canned air.

**Lowell Goudge** · 10-25-2010, 02:55 PM

I had a few offensive and sticky spots on my sensor, that would not come off with a blower brush or the artic butterfly (static generating brush)

I took some soft tissue paper and without touching the paper wrapped it onto the end of a q-tip.

I then went over the entire sensor with this arrangement and blew off the residule bits from the tissue paper,

That seemed to do the trick.

Note that what ever you do, do not touch anything you are going to use on the sensor with your fingers, or you will have a smear of skin iol that not only could interfere with the image but also attracts dust.

I have never used a compressed air can on my sensor, and you need to be careful not to allow any of the liquid propellant to get on the sensor/filter or it will leave a stain

10-24-2010, 11:14 AM	#1
techmulla Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 107	is it the glass or is it the sensor .. a couple of days back, i posted that my focusing screen is dirty. people advised me to check if i am sure if it is the focusing screen, i did. turned out it was the focusing screen. now i have a new problem, everytime an image comes out of the camera, it has marks on it. sensor dust alert gives no marks. This is shot on manual focus, the open sky, to tell you my pain. any ideas ? Attached Images

10-24-2010, 12:46 PM	#5
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	Dust isn't usually visible on photos because it would be outside of the DOF. This looks like sensor dust to me- gogo dust removal! 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:

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10-24-2010, 11:29 AM	#2
keyser Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tsawwassen, BC Posts: 376	Is it the same pattern with different lenses? That'll tell you if it's the glass.

10-24-2010, 11:34 AM	#3
Stratman Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St Louis, Missouri U S A Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,464	Looks like sensor dust to me.

10-24-2010, 11:40 AM	#4
Raylon Guest	Definitely sensor dust. Get a rocket blower and get it outta there.

10-25-2010, 03:33 AM	#6
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	This may help

10-25-2010, 11:39 AM	#7
techmulla Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 107 Original Poster	after cleaning, this is what i am left with. a dark spot at the top left (which means the bottom left of the sensor). i have only gone with rocket blower. do the expert believe to be polen or something like that which is stuck or is it some droplet? should i go with the syntetic brush? Attached Images

10-25-2010, 11:47 AM	#8
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	I see several spots but only one very offensive one. If it's pollen, a brush isn't likely to remove it but it's worth a try. I suspect you're going to have to do a wet clean on this one.

10-25-2010, 12:18 PM	#9
techmulla Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 107 Original Poster	Pakistan and wet clean ... hmmmph .. seems like my next pay check is going towards importing a sensor cleaning from US or is there a DIY kit, that you can make from cheap ready made items? and yes, i have a k-x, and i use it on my farms. dusty dust every where

10-25-2010, 01:00 PM	#10
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	There are two usable touch the sensor cleaning options (In my opinion) that work correctly and reliably. The first is a stamp pad such as Pentax's O-ICK1 cleaning kit. Google The other is a wet clean. Many threads about this and the net is full of information about it. Here's a source for trying to produce your own kit. Introduction - Cleaning Digital Cameras - D-SLR Sensor Cleaning.

10-25-2010, 02:25 PM	#11
Bobe416 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 57	Keep trying with the rocket blower. I have sometimes had to go through the procedure 3 or 4 times to get the dust off. Be aggressive with the blower, but don't touch anything on the inside.

10-25-2010, 02:48 PM	#12
Jodokast96 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Erial, NJ USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,134	This is a case where you may want to give the "unrecommended" a shot, canned air.

10-25-2010, 02:55 PM	#13
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891	I had a few offensive and sticky spots on my sensor, that would not come off with a blower brush or the artic butterfly (static generating brush) I took some soft tissue paper and without touching the paper wrapped it onto the end of a q-tip. I then went over the entire sensor with this arrangement and blew off the residule bits from the tissue paper, That seemed to do the trick. Note that what ever you do, do not touch anything you are going to use on the sensor with your fingers, or you will have a smear of skin iol that not only could interfere with the image but also attracts dust. I have never used a compressed air can on my sensor, and you need to be careful not to allow any of the liquid propellant to get on the sensor/filter or it will leave a stain