Dust Removal at Start-up: On or Off?

rortiz · 08-12-2008, 11:14 PM

I'm just finishing up customising the settings on my K20D and am not sure if I set the dust removal feature to "On at Start-up" or not. It just seems that the cleaning action is quite violent - I guess if it weren't it wouldn't be effective. I would think that the sensor should be built to take the "abuse" but still....

Has anyone had a problem that stemmed from setting the dust removal system to "On at Start-up"?

Spex · 08-13-2008, 12:11 AM

Don't know if dust removal is upgraded from K10D but I do know that only Olympus system does make some difference with his dust removal. That is, Pentax and Canon systems are not so good like in Olympus. I set it to Off on my K10D, just to save some more battery power. Because, if you're not switching lenses everty time you turn off your camera, there is no other way for dust to get in, and it's always easy to apply it via menu when you change your lens...

**Ash** · 08-13-2008, 12:45 AM

Mine's on - no problems yet on my K10D.
I'm more anal about sensor dust - so if this has any effect at all, I'll use it...

troywhite · 08-13-2008, 01:03 AM

i haven't even worked out how to use it yet after 3 months with the camera :P

ftpaddict · 08-13-2008, 01:06 AM

If I had a K[something] camera with dust removal, I'd have it set to "off", and I'd manually enable it a couple of times whenever I change lenses.. or whenever I can remember.

philmorley · 08-13-2008, 02:01 AM

I have it turned for both the k10 and now the k20, that way I dont forget and very rarely have to do it manually

jthommo · 08-13-2008, 02:06 AM

so I leave it off. I use a rocket blower -which does usually work - when needed.

pop4 · 08-13-2008, 02:34 AM

I leave it off on my K10D. In fact, I rarely use the dust-removal feature at all; I usually see the option when randomly browsing the menu and think, "oh, haven't done this in a while" and then make it do it's little shake.

**Ash** · 08-13-2008, 02:38 AM

One way to know if it works or not is to compare a K100D and K100D super in the same conditions, the super having the auto clean on, and then seeing how much extra dust there is on the K100D.

My impression - probably does work, even if only a little. What makes the difference b/w the K100D and K10D is the dust resistant sensor on the K10D.

The dust that accumulates on the K100D compared to the K10D was like night and day for me...

Jasvox · 08-13-2008, 03:25 AM

Mine is always on and so far (1 year) I haven't noticed any significant problems with dust (living in Greece, thats a minor miracle). I attribute it to careful lens changing, and keeping my dust removal on start up engaged.

My rocket blower gets most use just keeping the outside clean and lenses dust free.

Something must be working.

Jason

rortiz · 08-13-2008, 04:05 AM

It looks like OFF is the way to go. From the replies the best way to NOT to get dust is to avoid it. Then if you do, use the Dust Removal System and go for a Giotti Rocket.

Thanks for all your responses.

**rogerstg** · 08-13-2008, 07:03 AM

Since there is no practical downside to leaving it on, it seems silly to turn it off.

Daryl · 08-13-2008, 07:04 AM

I leave it off on my K10D, and use it manually whenever I change a lens. Just in case! I must buy one of those rocket thingies... they sound like fun!

dsport · 08-13-2008, 08:56 AM

Mine is off.
My reasons:
- the Dust Removal system is not so effective as I think;
- to save power and to avoid any unnecessary malfunction as my K10d is already out of warranty;
- the sensor of K10D is not so dust attractive as compared to K100D and I don't encounter any dirt accumulation that I could see in pics so far.

Jasvox · 08-13-2008, 11:05 AM

Originally posted by dsport

Mine is off.
My reasons:
- the Dust Removal system is not so effective as I think;
- to save power and to avoid any unnecessary malfunction as my K10d is already out of warranty;
- the sensor of K10D is not so dust attractive as compared to K100D and I don't encounter any dirt accumulation that I could see in pics so far.

I am not trying to be contentious here, but just wonder why....

1, Even if it is only mildly effective, it's still effective
2, How much power from the battery exactly does the split second of sensor cleaning shake actually consume from the battery? I have had mine on since purchase and have never given battery life a second thought with my K10D.
3, With any DSLR, it is susceptible to dust or minute particles on the sensor, why not use a feature the K series has and keep the possibility of to a minimum?

Jason

08-12-2008, 11:14 PM	#1
rortiz Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 66	Dust Removal at Start-up: On or Off? I'm just finishing up customising the settings on my K20D and am not sure if I set the dust removal feature to "On at Start-up" or not. It just seems that the cleaning action is quite violent - I guess if it weren't it wouldn't be effective. I would think that the sensor should be built to take the "abuse" but still.... Has anyone had a problem that stemmed from setting the dust removal system to "On at Start-up"?

08-13-2008, 02:06 AM	#7
jthommo Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canberra, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 338	It doesn't work so I leave it off. I use a rocket blower -which does usually work - when needed.

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08-13-2008, 12:11 AM	#2
Spex Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Dubrovnik, Croatia Posts: 216	Don't know if dust removal is upgraded from K10D but I do know that only Olympus system does make some difference with his dust removal. That is, Pentax and Canon systems are not so good like in Olympus. I set it to Off on my K10D, just to save some more battery power. Because, if you're not switching lenses everty time you turn off your camera, there is no other way for dust to get in, and it's always easy to apply it via menu when you change your lens...

08-13-2008, 12:45 AM	#3
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Mine's on - no problems yet on my K10D. I'm more anal about sensor dust - so if this has any effect at all, I'll use it...

08-13-2008, 01:03 AM	#4
troywhite Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canberra, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 170	i haven't even worked out how to use it yet after 3 months with the camera :P

08-13-2008, 01:06 AM	#5
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666	If I had a K[something] camera with dust removal, I'd have it set to "off", and I'd manually enable it a couple of times whenever I change lenses.. or whenever I can remember.

08-13-2008, 02:01 AM	#6
philmorley Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: in a house in Armidale, Australia Posts: 472	I have it turned for both the k10 and now the k20, that way I dont forget and very rarely have to do it manually

08-13-2008, 02:34 AM	#8
pop4 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: YMML Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,879	I leave it off on my K10D. In fact, I rarely use the dust-removal feature at all; I usually see the option when randomly browsing the menu and think, "oh, haven't done this in a while" and then make it do it's little shake.

08-13-2008, 02:38 AM	#9
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	One way to know if it works or not is to compare a K100D and K100D super in the same conditions, the super having the auto clean on, and then seeing how much extra dust there is on the K100D. My impression - probably does work, even if only a little. What makes the difference b/w the K100D and K10D is the dust resistant sensor on the K10D. The dust that accumulates on the K100D compared to the K10D was like night and day for me...

08-13-2008, 03:25 AM	#10
Jasvox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3,107	Mine is always on and so far (1 year) I haven't noticed any significant problems with dust (living in Greece, thats a minor miracle). I attribute it to careful lens changing, and keeping my dust removal on start up engaged. My rocket blower gets most use just keeping the outside clean and lenses dust free. Something must be working. Jason

08-13-2008, 04:05 AM	#11
rortiz Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 66 Original Poster	It looks like OFF is the way to go. From the replies the best way to NOT to get dust is to avoid it. Then if you do, use the Dust Removal System and go for a Giotti Rocket. Thanks for all your responses.

08-13-2008, 07:03 AM	#12
rogerstg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 1,168	Since there is no practical downside to leaving it on, it seems silly to turn it off.

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08-13-2008, 07:04 AM	#13
Daryl Inactive Account Join Date: May 2008 Location: Victoria, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 25	I leave it off on my K10D, and use it manually whenever I change a lens. Just in case! I must buy one of those rocket thingies... they sound like fun!

08-13-2008, 08:56 AM	#14
dsport Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hong Kong Photos: Gallery Posts: 431	Mine is off. My reasons: - the Dust Removal system is not so effective as I think; - to save power and to avoid any unnecessary malfunction as my K10d is already out of warranty; - the sensor of K10D is not so dust attractive as compared to K100D and I don't encounter any dirt accumulation that I could see in pics so far.

08-13-2008, 11:05 AM	#15
Jasvox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3,107	Originally posted by dsport Mine is off. My reasons: - the Dust Removal system is not so effective as I think; - to save power and to avoid any unnecessary malfunction as my K10d is already out of warranty; - the sensor of K10D is not so dust attractive as compared to K100D and I don't encounter any dirt accumulation that I could see in pics so far. I am not trying to be contentious here, but just wonder why.... 1, Even if it is only mildly effective, it's still effective 2, How much power from the battery exactly does the split second of sensor cleaning shake actually consume from the battery? I have had mine on since purchase and have never given battery life a second thought with my K10D. 3, With any DSLR, it is susceptible to dust or minute particles on the sensor, why not use a feature the K series has and keep the possibility of to a minimum? Jason