Scratched Image Sensor

PhillipR34 · 02-20-2013, 12:59 PM

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Hi, I think I may have scratched my image sensor on my Pentax K30. I cleaned it using a glasses cleaning cloth. Yes, I know I know, stupid. I wish i had looked how to clean it properly. Anyhow I was wondering how much it would cost to replace, if it's even worth it.

Thanks

Phillip

PhillipR34 · 02-20-2013, 01:21 PM

A photo if this helps

mrNewt · 02-20-2013, 01:22 PM

I think it all depends where you are at and where you will be sending it... best bet is to call your local Pentax and have a chat with them over the phone as to what is involved and how much it might be...

PhillipR34 · 02-20-2013, 01:25 PM

Thanks. Silly mistake by me though. I'm new to DSLRs as you may have guessed. I'm in the UK in the north east.

bobpur · 02-20-2013, 01:51 PM

Does it show when you take a shot ? May be OK as is.
Just use a blower to remove dust, Sensors almost never need any physical cleaning.

PhillipR34 · 02-20-2013, 02:00 PM

Yeah it does on higher apertures. I was just looking through my photos from today and I don't think the sensor is scratched, I think it is just dust, phew. Going to get myself a cleaning kit, including a blower

**jatrax** · 02-20-2013, 02:11 PM

Originally posted by PhillipR34

Going to get myself a cleaning kit, including a blower

Dust removal procedure in order:

Use the camera dust removal system (shaker) There is a menu setting to turn on/off. If you have dust run this several times. I leave mine on "run on startup" and think that is best so you don't have to worry about it.
Use a 'rocket blower' or equivalent to blow off anything the shaker will not get rid of. Do not use compressed air or canned air. Some folks report it is OK to use canned air if you are careful, personally I'm not taking any chances.
Use a wet cleaning kit. This is the last resort, and on two cameras with over 25,000 actuations in all kinds of environments I've never had to use one yet. Get this if all else fails but don't go there unless you are sure you need it.
Send in for professional cleaning. Pentax extended warranty (in the US) includes one 'free' cleaning. Not sure about UK.

Bramela · 02-20-2013, 02:50 PM - **1 Like**

Get one of these : Rocket-air
They are readily available at most photographic outlets and definitely one of the best.

**Ex Finn.** · 02-20-2013, 05:03 PM

Looking at that gallery image, a wet cleaning is in order. You might have to do it several times to get rid of all those smudges.

Cheers.

kh1234567890 · 02-20-2013, 05:11 PM

In the UK, Calumet do a good job, if you aren't up to it yourself.

VisualDarkness · 02-20-2013, 05:15 PM

It looks like some of that sticky thing around the sensor that is supposed to catch dust removed by the dust removal system has been smudged to the glass on the the sensor when you cleaned it. Get it professionally cleaned and don't touch the sensor like that again.

GibbyTheMole · 02-21-2013, 07:16 AM

For what it's worth, here's my sensor cleaning method. The link in that post for the brushes is now dead, but the rest of the info is there.

Here's where you can get the brushes now. These do a great job on sensor dust & I swear by 'em. They're also nice & cheap.

MPrince · 02-21-2013, 01:31 PM

The good news is that the sensor is covered by glass, so if you did scratch it, you scratched the glass, not the sensor itself. What impact this might have on cost to repair, though, I have no idea.

Gimbal · 02-23-2013, 02:14 AM

I doubt you have scratched it. It really isn't that easy to scratch glass.

PhillipR34 · 03-12-2013, 11:28 AM

Yeah, thanks for the advice guys. I took it to be cleaned at a local camera shop and luckily it was just dirt, phew! Thanks again

02-20-2013, 12:59 PM	#1
PhillipR34 New Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 5	Scratched Image Sensor Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. Hi, I think I may have scratched my image sensor on my Pentax K30. I cleaned it using a glasses cleaning cloth. Yes, I know I know, stupid. I wish i had looked how to clean it properly. Anyhow I was wondering how much it would cost to replace, if it's even worth it. Thanks Phillip

02-20-2013, 02:11 PM	#7
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by PhillipR34 Going to get myself a cleaning kit, including a blower Dust removal procedure in order: Use the camera dust removal system (shaker) There is a menu setting to turn on/off. If you have dust run this several times. I leave mine on "run on startup" and think that is best so you don't have to worry about it. Use a 'rocket blower' or equivalent to blow off anything the shaker will not get rid of. Do not use compressed air or canned air. Some folks report it is OK to use canned air if you are careful, personally I'm not taking any chances. Use a wet cleaning kit. This is the last resort, and on two cameras with over 25,000 actuations in all kinds of environments I've never had to use one yet. Get this if all else fails but don't go there unless you are sure you need it. Send in for professional cleaning. Pentax extended warranty (in the US) includes one 'free' cleaning. Not sure about UK.

02-20-2013, 05:11 PM	#10
kh1234567890 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Manchester, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,653	In the UK, Calumet do a good job, if you aren't up to it yourself. Last edited by kh1234567890; 02-20-2013 at 05:17 PM.

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02-20-2013, 01:21 PM	#2
PhillipR34 New Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 5 Original Poster	A photo if this helps

02-20-2013, 01:22 PM	#3
mrNewt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ON, RH Posts: 2,181	I think it all depends where you are at and where you will be sending it... best bet is to call your local Pentax and have a chat with them over the phone as to what is involved and how much it might be...

02-20-2013, 01:25 PM	#4
PhillipR34 New Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 5 Original Poster	Thanks. Silly mistake by me though. I'm new to DSLRs as you may have guessed. I'm in the UK in the north east.

02-20-2013, 01:51 PM	#5
bobpur Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 328	Does it show when you take a shot ? May be OK as is. Just use a blower to remove dust, Sensors almost never need any physical cleaning.

02-20-2013, 02:00 PM	#6
PhillipR34 New Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 5 Original Poster	Yeah it does on higher apertures. I was just looking through my photos from today and I don't think the sensor is scratched, I think it is just dust, phew. Going to get myself a cleaning kit, including a blower

02-20-2013, 02:50 PM - 1 Like	#8
Bramela Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Newcastle Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,284	Get one of these : Rocket-air They are readily available at most photographic outlets and definitely one of the best.

02-20-2013, 05:03 PM	#9
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	Looking at that gallery image, a wet cleaning is in order. You might have to do it several times to get rid of all those smudges. Cheers.

02-20-2013, 05:15 PM	#11
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	It looks like some of that sticky thing around the sensor that is supposed to catch dust removed by the dust removal system has been smudged to the glass on the the sensor when you cleaned it. Get it professionally cleaned and don't touch the sensor like that again.

02-21-2013, 07:16 AM	#12
GibbyTheMole Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Iowa Photos: Albums Posts: 2,275	For what it's worth, here's my sensor cleaning method. The link in that post for the brushes is now dead, but the rest of the info is there. Here's where you can get the brushes now. These do a great job on sensor dust & I swear by 'em. They're also nice & cheap.

02-21-2013, 01:31 PM	#13
MPrince Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: WV Posts: 1,495	The good news is that the sensor is covered by glass, so if you did scratch it, you scratched the glass, not the sensor itself. What impact this might have on cost to repair, though, I have no idea.

02-23-2013, 02:14 AM	#14
Gimbal Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,106	I doubt you have scratched it. It really isn't that easy to scratch glass.

03-12-2013, 11:28 AM	#15
PhillipR34 New Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 5 Original Poster	Yeah, thanks for the advice guys. I took it to be cleaned at a local camera shop and luckily it was just dirt, phew! Thanks again