HELP HAIR/DUST on my sensor

Wilson_Kx · 04-26-2010, 07:08 AM

Hi i just found out that i have dust and two pieces of small hair on my sensor. one piece is visible at f8 and the other larger one is visible at f5.6. what can i do? i tried using the sensor shake to clean function built into the camera however it didn't help or solve the problem. can i get one of those blowers to get rid of the hair or do i sent it into Pentax and how much will that cost?

wildlifephotog · 04-26-2010, 07:13 AM

You can try a rocket blower. If that doesn't work. Get a cleaning kit and learn to use it. You'll be seeing dust often.

Marc Sabatella · 04-26-2010, 07:19 AM

I'm moving this thread to the Beginner's forum, as it is a very common question among newcomers. Do search the forum to see the very many many previous threads on the subejct and the excellent suggestions that have been given in them.

Wilson_Kx · 04-26-2010, 07:40 AM

Originally posted by Marc Sabatella

I'm moving this thread to the Beginner's forum, as it is a very common question among newcomers. Do search the forum to see the very many many previous threads on the subejct and the excellent suggestions that have been given in them.

thank you for the suggestion.

**dcmsox2004** · 04-26-2010, 07:54 AM

invest a small amount of $$ in a giotto's rocket blower..... really inexpensive.... the follow the instructions in the manual in cleaning the sensor...
pages 287 and 288... i was apprehensive at first, but with a few quick, strong bursts from the rocket blower.... cleaned even the most stubborn dust off the sensor...
remember to try and change lenses in a draft free, closed room if possible.... also... if in the car, make sure the windows are closed and no air is circulating....
hope this helps.... dave m

clmonk · 04-26-2010, 09:17 AM

OK...the fact that there are even !!287 or 288 pages!! in a Rocket Blower instruction kit ought to be daunting in and of itself!!! Good NIGHT!!!

Wilson_Kx · 04-26-2010, 07:15 PM

Originally posted by clmonk

OK...the fact that there are even !!287 or 288 pages!! in a Rocket Blower instruction kit ought to be daunting in and of itself!!! Good NIGHT!!!

i think he mean the k-x manual not the rocket blower

Wilson_Kx · 04-26-2010, 07:15 PM

Will the large rocket blower do the job?
Giottos Rocket Air Blower - Large
do i need to raise the mirror and blow air into it?

JeffJS · 04-26-2010, 07:25 PM

Originally posted by Wilson_Kx

Will the large rocket blower do the job?
Giottos Rocket Air Blower - Large
do i need to raise the mirror and blow air into it?

Yes, and Yes. There is a Clean mode that raises the mirror and opens the shutter. Make sure your batteries are charged, you don't want the mirror flopping down when you have the blower nozzle in there. The Clean mode is usually found in the Settings Menu (Sensor Cleaning).

Good luck..

wlachan · 04-26-2010, 07:46 PM

I would try my Giottos blower 1st. If that didn't work, I would use a fresh piece of FABER CASTEL TACK-IT to stick them out. Other similar products may not work however as they might leave behind some residual, like Blue-Tack.

Wilson_Kx · 04-27-2010, 01:22 AM

Originally posted by JeffJS

Yes, and Yes. There is a Clean mode that raises the mirror and opens the shutter. Make sure your batteries are charged, you don't want the mirror flopping down when you have the blower nozzle in there. The Clean mode is usually found in the Settings Menu (Sensor Cleaning).

Good luck..

oh and should i have the camera sitting on the table or pointed downwards so any dust can be blown and fal out rather than just moved to another location?

thanks everyone for their reply. you guys have been much help.

JeffJS · 04-27-2010, 05:34 AM

Originally posted by Wilson_Kx

oh and should i have the camera sitting on the table or pointed downwards so any dust can be blown and fal out rather than just moved to another location?

thanks everyone for their reply. you guys have been much help.

That's the generally preferred method. Based on the notion of letting gravity do it's job and getting the dust completely out of there..

This is a pretty good guide that I used when I first got brave enough to do a wet clean...including how to make some of your own tools for the job.

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

Wilson_Kx · 04-29-2010, 04:46 AM

Originally posted by JeffJS

That's the generally preferred method. Based on the notion of letting gravity do it's job and getting the dust completely out of there..

This is a pretty good guide that I used when I first got brave enough to do a wet clean...including how to make some of your own tools for the job.

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

i just got my rocket blower and used the air to push the hair and dust off my sensor (i only can see 2 speck of dust at f22 which im not too fussy about). thanks everyone for helping out. oh and one more thing, is it normal for the camera to beep while the mirror is up and for the red LED/infrared light built into the hand grip to light up? thanks everyone.

04-26-2010, 07:08 AM	#1
Wilson_Kx Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SYDNEY Posts: 106	HELP HAIR/DUST on my sensor Hi i just found out that i have dust and two pieces of small hair on my sensor. one piece is visible at f8 and the other larger one is visible at f5.6. what can i do? i tried using the sensor shake to clean function built into the camera however it didn't help or solve the problem. can i get one of those blowers to get rid of the hair or do i sent it into Pentax and how much will that cost?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Sensor dust	Pablom	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	24	04-10-2010 05:57 AM
dust on sensor or dust on lens	41ants	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	10	10-08-2009 10:28 AM
Hair and Other Particle on Back of Focusing Sensor	68wSteve	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	3	04-11-2009 07:36 AM
Sensor Dust or what???	NT-Tim	Pentax DSLR Discussion	10	03-25-2009 08:01 PM
sensor dust(?), again	tibbitts	Pentax DSLR Discussion	1	10-02-2008 04:12 PM

04-26-2010, 07:13 AM	#2
wildlifephotog Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: USA Posts: 924	You can try a rocket blower. If that doesn't work. Get a cleaning kit and learn to use it. You'll be seeing dust often.

04-26-2010, 07:19 AM	#3
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	I'm moving this thread to the Beginner's forum, as it is a very common question among newcomers. Do search the forum to see the very many many previous threads on the subejct and the excellent suggestions that have been given in them.

04-26-2010, 07:40 AM	#4
Wilson_Kx Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SYDNEY Posts: 106 Original Poster	Originally posted by Marc Sabatella I'm moving this thread to the Beginner's forum, as it is a very common question among newcomers. Do search the forum to see the very many many previous threads on the subejct and the excellent suggestions that have been given in them. thank you for the suggestion.

04-26-2010, 07:54 AM	#5
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522	invest a small amount of $$ in a giotto's rocket blower..... really inexpensive.... the follow the instructions in the manual in cleaning the sensor... pages 287 and 288... i was apprehensive at first, but with a few quick, strong bursts from the rocket blower.... cleaned even the most stubborn dust off the sensor... remember to try and change lenses in a draft free, closed room if possible.... also... if in the car, make sure the windows are closed and no air is circulating.... hope this helps.... dave m

04-26-2010, 09:17 AM	#6
clmonk Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Eastern TN Posts: 269	OK...the fact that there are even !!287 or 288 pages!! in a Rocket Blower instruction kit ought to be daunting in and of itself!!! Good NIGHT!!!

04-26-2010, 07:15 PM	#7
Wilson_Kx Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SYDNEY Posts: 106 Original Poster	Originally posted by clmonk OK...the fact that there are even !!287 or 288 pages!! in a Rocket Blower instruction kit ought to be daunting in and of itself!!! Good NIGHT!!! i think he mean the k-x manual not the rocket blower

04-26-2010, 07:25 PM	#9
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by Wilson_Kx Will the large rocket blower do the job? Giottos Rocket Air Blower - Large do i need to raise the mirror and blow air into it? Yes, and Yes. There is a Clean mode that raises the mirror and opens the shutter. Make sure your batteries are charged, you don't want the mirror flopping down when you have the blower nozzle in there. The Clean mode is usually found in the Settings Menu (Sensor Cleaning). Good luck..

04-26-2010, 07:46 PM	#10
wlachan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 2,625	I would try my Giottos blower 1st. If that didn't work, I would use a fresh piece of FABER CASTEL TACK-IT to stick them out. Other similar products may not work however as they might leave behind some residual, like Blue-Tack.

04-27-2010, 01:22 AM	#11
Wilson_Kx Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SYDNEY Posts: 106 Original Poster	Originally posted by JeffJS Yes, and Yes. There is a Clean mode that raises the mirror and opens the shutter. Make sure your batteries are charged, you don't want the mirror flopping down when you have the blower nozzle in there. The Clean mode is usually found in the Settings Menu (Sensor Cleaning). Good luck.. oh and should i have the camera sitting on the table or pointed downwards so any dust can be blown and fal out rather than just moved to another location? thanks everyone for their reply. you guys have been much help.

04-27-2010, 05:34 AM	#12
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by Wilson_Kx oh and should i have the camera sitting on the table or pointed downwards so any dust can be blown and fal out rather than just moved to another location? thanks everyone for their reply. you guys have been much help. That's the generally preferred method. Based on the notion of letting gravity do it's job and getting the dust completely out of there.. This is a pretty good guide that I used when I first got brave enough to do a wet clean...including how to make some of your own tools for the job. Introduction - Cleaning Digital Cameras - D-SLR Sensor Cleaning.

04-29-2010, 04:46 AM	#13
Wilson_Kx Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SYDNEY Posts: 106 Original Poster	Originally posted by JeffJS That's the generally preferred method. Based on the notion of letting gravity do it's job and getting the dust completely out of there.. This is a pretty good guide that I used when I first got brave enough to do a wet clean...including how to make some of your own tools for the job. Introduction - Cleaning Digital Cameras - D-SLR Sensor Cleaning. i just got my rocket blower and used the air to push the hair and dust off my sensor (i only can see 2 speck of dust at f22 which im not too fussy about). thanks everyone for helping out. oh and one more thing, is it normal for the camera to beep while the mirror is up and for the red LED/infrared light built into the hand grip to light up? thanks everyone.