Is this dust on the sensor? How do I remove?

jeztastic · 02-27-2011, 09:21 AM

These are two shots with two different lenses. I take it this must be a sensor issue. I have tried the dust removal on my K10D, no joy. Also blown and brushed the sensor with a bulb... Now what? I have also noticed that the marks seem more in focus on some pictures than others - particularly wide-angle shots.

BTW, photos are for demo purposes only, no artistic merit intended!

bymy141 · 02-27-2011, 09:54 AM - **1 Like**

Yes, it is clearly dust
Try a rocket blower before anything else.

Follow this link: Giottos Rocket Air Blower Review

They are not expensive and very effective against the type of dust (large particles) you have suffering from.
Read the camera manual how to lock up the mirror and open the shutter.
Keep the camera with its opening down (let gravity drop the removed dust out) and apply the blower.
Make sure not to touch the sensor with the blowers nozzle.

If you cannot remove this with a blower (what I doubt), you can either have it cleaned at your local camera shop or buy one of the many sensor swipe solutions.
Depending upon where you live, prices may differ. For instance my local camera shop does a cleaning job for less money than a good wet swipe set.

The K10D is a lot more sensitive to collecting dust than the models introduced after the K20D.
For what it is worth (it help somewhat), do you have the auto sensor cleaning done when the camera gets turned on?
If not, you should. See the camera's manual.

Good luck, Bert

Jasvox · 02-27-2011, 10:06 AM - **1 Like**

Looks like dust or a stray strand for sure. Berty gave great advice above. Follow that link and it's a suggestions and I bet it is an easy fix.

Nice photos by the way, gives me a mild winter afternoon at beach kind of feel.

Jason

jeztastic · 02-27-2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

The K10D is a lot more sensitive to collecting dust than the models introduced after the K20D.
For what it is worth (it help somewhat), do you have the auto sensor cleaning done when the camera gets turned on?
If not, you should. See the camera's manual.

Thanks for the advice, I will do so. I will get a proper rocket blower too...

Originally posted by Jasvox

Nice photos by the way, gives me a mild winter afternoon at beach kind of feel.

Jason

Heheh... That's cos it was a mild afternoon at the beach today! Thanks for the feedback and advice...

JeffJS · 02-27-2011, 12:28 PM

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-camera-articles/121739-those-...ml#post1259109

maciek_w · 03-03-2011, 12:34 PM

@jeztastic:

It may be more than just dust. So I'd recommend you take your camera to a service shop. That's what I did with mine, after showing some pictures here in the Forum and concluding about the spots being dust particles.

At the service shop they couldn't clean it, checked with Pentax and... I am to get a replacement body within 3 weeks. Their conclusion was that my K5 suffers from the infamous "stained sensor" syndrome.

Just in case.

bobmaxja · 03-03-2011, 01:38 PM

He havre a K10 not a k-5

RonakG · 03-03-2011, 01:51 PM

That definitely looks like a dust. I had one of those with my brand new K-x. It wouldn't go with the sensor shake option in the menu. My K-x has a dust alert function that displays the exact location of the dust on the sensor, I'm not sure if your camera has the same.

So this is what I did -

Go to Dust Alert function in the menu and shoot an image of a uniform plain white surface. It showed me one dust particle.
Then I removed the lens with camera facing down.
Go to Sensor Clean function in the menu, which flicks the mirror up and opens the shutter so that you see the sensor (make sure the batteries are fully charged otherwise this won't work).
Using the rocket blower puff 2-3 times to the area where dust was showing up on the sensor (camera still facing down).
Switch off the camera to close the shutter and get the mirror back in position.
Check again with dust alert function and voila, it is clean.

maciek_w · 03-03-2011, 02:45 PM

Originally posted by bobmaxja

He havre a K10 not a k-5

Right. My mistake.

jeztastic · 03-04-2011, 09:27 AM

Thanks all, some useful tips there.

calicojack · 03-06-2011, 06:53 AM

I have a K10D as well. Even though I can only see one of your photos now, I see what looks like sensor dust in it. This happens to me as well. Try 39357 Pentax Image Sensor Cleaning Kit, O-ICK1 to clean your sensor. I bought a very similar product (possibly the exact same thing) made by Dot Line a while back when the Pentax version wasn't available. All you do is dab dab dab etc until you've cleaned the entire sensor. It works for me. (in fact I need to do it now again)
Regards,
Brian T
PS read and follow the instructions. It is a bit more than I stated, but not really.

5teve · 03-09-2011, 06:42 PM

Just be careful with the rocket blower...

I have a genuine one... that very happily blows talc all over everything it blows over. This doesnt do the sensor much good

the talc is a release agent for the rubber... i have even washed mine out twice with distilled water... i have now given up with it.. and have purchased another brand one. Maybe i was unlucky... but that kind of luck has cost me a very dirty focus screen and sensor! I have just wet cleaned it now so am back to a pristine sensor.

Steve

**Digitalis** · 03-09-2011, 11:45 PM

I personally use the Arctic butterfly from visible dust, it is simple quick and extremely effective. I do not use blowers because they can all too often spread dust around from elsewhere within your camera's mirror box. The Arctic butterfly isn't cheap but it is well designed, easy to use and it is very useful for cleaning even out in the field.

jeztastic · 03-10-2011, 10:49 AM

Originally posted by 5teve

Just be careful with the rocket blower...

I have a genuine one... that very happily blows talc all over everything it blows over. This doesnt do the sensor much good

the talc is a release agent for the rubber... i have even washed mine out twice with distilled water... i have now given up with it.. and have purchased another brand one. Maybe i was unlucky... but that kind of luck has cost me a very dirty focus screen and sensor! I have just wet cleaned it now so am back to a pristine sensor.

Steve

Bloody hell... I just dropped a tenner on one. I'll test it out carefully on a mirror or something first, thanks for the warning.

5teve · 03-10-2011, 04:13 PM

Originally posted by jeztastic

Bloody hell... I just dropped a tenner on one. I'll test it out carefully on a mirror or something first, thanks for the warning.

Hopefully yours will be good! Can't hurt to test thoroughly tho first. I was pretty surprised too given the rep these have.

Thanks

Steve

02-27-2011, 09:21 AM	#1
jeztastic Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Canterbury Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 596	Is this dust on the sensor? How do I remove? These are two shots with two different lenses. I take it this must be a sensor issue. I have tried the dust removal on my K10D, no joy. Also blown and brushed the sensor with a bulb... Now what? I have also noticed that the marks seem more in focus on some pictures than others - particularly wide-angle shots. BTW, photos are for demo purposes only, no artistic merit intended!

03-03-2011, 01:51 PM	#8
RonakG Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 603	That definitely looks like a dust. I had one of those with my brand new K-x. It wouldn't go with the sensor shake option in the menu. My K-x has a dust alert function that displays the exact location of the dust on the sensor, I'm not sure if your camera has the same. So this is what I did - Go to Dust Alert function in the menu and shoot an image of a uniform plain white surface. It showed me one dust particle. Then I removed the lens with camera facing down. Go to Sensor Clean function in the menu, which flicks the mirror up and opens the shutter so that you see the sensor (make sure the batteries are fully charged otherwise this won't work). Using the rocket blower puff 2-3 times to the area where dust was showing up on the sensor (camera still facing down). Switch off the camera to close the shutter and get the mirror back in position. Check again with dust alert function and voila, it is clean.

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02-27-2011, 09:54 AM - 1 Like	#2
bymy141 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,563	Yes, it is clearly dust Try a rocket blower before anything else. Follow this link: Giottos Rocket Air Blower Review They are not expensive and very effective against the type of dust (large particles) you have suffering from. Read the camera manual how to lock up the mirror and open the shutter. Keep the camera with its opening down (let gravity drop the removed dust out) and apply the blower. Make sure not to touch the sensor with the blowers nozzle. If you cannot remove this with a blower (what I doubt), you can either have it cleaned at your local camera shop or buy one of the many sensor swipe solutions. Depending upon where you live, prices may differ. For instance my local camera shop does a cleaning job for less money than a good wet swipe set. The K10D is a lot more sensitive to collecting dust than the models introduced after the K20D. For what it is worth (it help somewhat), do you have the auto sensor cleaning done when the camera gets turned on? If not, you should. See the camera's manual. Good luck, Bert

02-27-2011, 10:06 AM - 1 Like	#3
Jasvox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3,107	Looks like dust or a stray strand for sure. Berty gave great advice above. Follow that link and it's a suggestions and I bet it is an easy fix. Nice photos by the way, gives me a mild winter afternoon at beach kind of feel. Jason

02-27-2011, 10:10 AM	#4
jeztastic Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Canterbury Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 596 Original Poster	Quote: The K10D is a lot more sensitive to collecting dust than the models introduced after the K20D. For what it is worth (it help somewhat), do you have the auto sensor cleaning done when the camera gets turned on? If not, you should. See the camera's manual. Thanks for the advice, I will do so. I will get a proper rocket blower too... Originally posted by Jasvox Nice photos by the way, gives me a mild winter afternoon at beach kind of feel. Jason Heheh... That's cos it was a mild afternoon at the beach today! Thanks for the feedback and advice...

02-27-2011, 12:28 PM	#5
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-camera-articles/121739-those-...ml#post1259109

03-03-2011, 12:34 PM	#6
maciek_w Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Warsaw Photos: Albums Posts: 93	@jeztastic: It may be more than just dust. So I'd recommend you take your camera to a service shop. That's what I did with mine, after showing some pictures here in the Forum and concluding about the spots being dust particles. At the service shop they couldn't clean it, checked with Pentax and... I am to get a replacement body within 3 weeks. Their conclusion was that my K5 suffers from the infamous "stained sensor" syndrome. Just in case.

03-03-2011, 01:38 PM	#7
bobmaxja Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Laval, Quebec Canada Posts: 2,171	He havre a K10 not a k-5

03-03-2011, 02:45 PM	#9
maciek_w Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Warsaw Photos: Albums Posts: 93	Originally posted by bobmaxja He havre a K10 not a k-5 Right. My mistake.

03-04-2011, 09:27 AM	#10
jeztastic Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Canterbury Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 596 Original Poster	Thanks all, some useful tips there.

03-06-2011, 06:53 AM	#11
calicojack Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Long Island, N.Y. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,124	I have a K10D as well. Even though I can only see one of your photos now, I see what looks like sensor dust in it. This happens to me as well. Try 39357 Pentax Image Sensor Cleaning Kit, O-ICK1 to clean your sensor. I bought a very similar product (possibly the exact same thing) made by Dot Line a while back when the Pentax version wasn't available. All you do is dab dab dab etc until you've cleaned the entire sensor. It works for me. (in fact I need to do it now again) Regards, Brian T PS read and follow the instructions. It is a bit more than I stated, but not really.

03-09-2011, 06:42 PM	#12
5teve Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Perth - Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 226	Just be careful with the rocket blower... I have a genuine one... that very happily blows talc all over everything it blows over. This doesnt do the sensor much good the talc is a release agent for the rubber... i have even washed mine out twice with distilled water... i have now given up with it.. and have purchased another brand one. Maybe i was unlucky... but that kind of luck has cost me a very dirty focus screen and sensor! I have just wet cleaned it now so am back to a pristine sensor. Steve

03-09-2011, 11:45 PM	#13
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	I personally use the Arctic butterfly from visible dust, it is simple quick and extremely effective. I do not use blowers because they can all too often spread dust around from elsewhere within your camera's mirror box. The Arctic butterfly isn't cheap but it is well designed, easy to use and it is very useful for cleaning even out in the field.

03-10-2011, 10:49 AM	#14
jeztastic Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Canterbury Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 596 Original Poster	Originally posted by 5teve Just be careful with the rocket blower... I have a genuine one... that very happily blows talc all over everything it blows over. This doesnt do the sensor much good the talc is a release agent for the rubber... i have even washed mine out twice with distilled water... i have now given up with it.. and have purchased another brand one. Maybe i was unlucky... but that kind of luck has cost me a very dirty focus screen and sensor! I have just wet cleaned it now so am back to a pristine sensor. Steve Bloody hell... I just dropped a tenner on one. I'll test it out carefully on a mirror or something first, thanks for the warning.

03-10-2011, 04:13 PM	#15
5teve Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Perth - Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 226	Originally posted by jeztastic Bloody hell... I just dropped a tenner on one. I'll test it out carefully on a mirror or something first, thanks for the warning. Hopefully yours will be good! Can't hurt to test thoroughly tho first. I was pretty surprised too given the rep these have. Thanks Steve