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pentax 100 · 01-04-2009, 12:58 PM

Hello all I’m new to this forum so I may of put my question in the wrong place. Please can someone give me some advice about my k100? I’ve been using my camera for about two years now and have noticed that when I view my photos now I seem to have a spot on the image. I’ve cleaned the lens front and back and have also changed then lens over with another lens. But I still get a small spot in the image. Have I got some dust on the sensor and how can I remove the dust. I've also posted a photo with the spot on the image.The spot is on the right hand side of the photo just above the jet stream.

Thanks Lee

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**k0og** · 01-04-2009, 01:09 PM

Welcome to the forum.

Yes, you have some dust on the sensor. That has happened to me several times, but a simple blower (like the "Rocket" brand blower) will remove it. Lock up the mirror (read the manual if you don't know how - there is a menu item to access which does this), then use your blower to blow off the sensor. Be extremely careful to not get too close to the sensor and touch it. Touching it would be bad news! Of course, you can try the sensor dust removal menu option to shake the dust off the sensor, which sometimes works too.

Be sure to NOT use the "canned air" because it might emit some compressed (liquid) air which can damage the sensor.

A couple of pointers: Before putting on a lens, check the mount and back end to make sure there is no dust or debris on it which can get inside the camera. Also, I found that if I change lenses quickly and keep the camera mount opening pointed horizontally or slightly downward when dismounting and mounting lenses, it keeps particles from getting on the sensor.

Let us know how it goes.

-Joe-

Ole · 01-04-2009, 01:12 PM

You're right, that's dust on the sensor.

Step one is to blow it away with for example a rocket blower (Giottos AA1900 Large Rocket Blaster - available from Amazon.com and photo stores) - do NOT use compressed air.

You will have to go into the menu and enter sensor cleaning mode. This flips the mirror up and opens the shutter.

If this doesn't do the trick you'll have to proceed to the next step: Wiping the sensor clean with dedicated fluid and wipes, or have a repair shop di this. You can search this forum for how-to, but chances are good that the rocket blower is all you'll need.

**Kerrowdown** · 01-04-2009, 02:01 PM

Good luck with the cleaning, just don't stick your fingers on anything in there.

pentax 100 · 01-20-2009, 01:58 PM

Hi all thank you for all the help. But I still can't remove the dust or object on the sensor. I've found a camera shop in Uckfield that can remove it and also clean the inside of the camera for £30.00. It seems the best thing to do. I don't want to damage the sensor by cleaning it my self.

Thanks

Gooshin · 01-20-2009, 02:07 PM

those image sensors are alot more durable than you THINK

just purchase a quality wet cleaning kit for digital SLR's and do it yourself.

then again, if you dont change lenses often, maybe it wont matter

personaly i change lenses so often that my sensor gets dirty atleast once a month, and i have to self clean.

**zplus** · 01-20-2009, 02:35 PM

Don't forget, the sensor isnt right out in the open. It has glass over it for protection and filtering purposes (IR). Just be careful not to press too hard, scratch the glass, or get even more dust in there.

jak442 · 01-21-2009, 12:42 AM

2 years??? I had dust on my sensor within a week and I had to toss a bunch of otherwise mediocre shots because of it....... come to think of it, it was on the same day I checked out a few used lenses at the shop. Hmm... anyway, 2 years???

bbpa103 · 01-21-2009, 12:59 PM

Lee. Try taking some shots of the sky at both your largest and smallest aperture and note the differences in the dust spot. Ken.

**LeoTaylor** · 01-21-2009, 02:11 PM

Originally posted by jak442

2 years??? I had dust on my sensor within a week and I had to toss a bunch of otherwise mediocre shots because of it....

A week is about how long it took me to notice dust on the sensor. I don't throw away the shots since usually dust shows up in the sky and can be easily fixed in software with a clone tool.

**rparmar** · 01-21-2009, 02:46 PM

Originally posted by pentax 100

I've found a camera shop in Uckfield that can remove it

I sure hope the store is called "Otography of Uckfield".

tibbitts · 01-23-2009, 10:55 PM

Originally posted by pentax 100

Hi all thank you for all the help. But I still can't remove the dust or object on the sensor. I've found a camera shop in Uckfield that can remove it and also clean the inside of the camera for £30.00. It seems the best thing to do. I don't want to damage the sensor by cleaning it my self.

Thanks

I don't know how much that is in my (US) currency, but if it's less than $50US and they get rid of all the spots, that's a good deal. For a year I was able to blast away all my spots, but then I got one that I still can't get rid of. I've tried practically soaking the camera in cleaning solution and really digging at it with a sensor swap. I think if it was possible to damage the sensor, I would have done that by now. All the other dirt at least moves around on the sensor, but that one huge blob just won't move.

It' s a pretty huge spot but I've learned to live with it. If somebody would clean it for $50, and not charge me if any spots remained (that would be the key), it'd be worth it.

Paul

roentarre · 01-24-2009, 12:32 AM

I am guilty of not cleaning my sensor as frequent as I should have.

01-21-2009, 02:11 PM	#10
LeoTaylor Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Connecticut Photos: Gallery Posts: 679	Originally posted by jak442 2 years??? I had dust on my sensor within a week and I had to toss a bunch of otherwise mediocre shots because of it.... A week is about how long it took me to notice dust on the sensor. I don't throw away the shots since usually dust shows up in the sky and can be easily fixed in software with a clone tool. Last edited by LeoTaylor; 01-21-2009 at 02:12 PM. Reason: Fixed Typo

01-23-2009, 10:55 PM	#12
tibbitts Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Oklahoma USA Posts: 2,196	my experience Originally posted by pentax 100 Hi all thank you for all the help. But I still can't remove the dust or object on the sensor. I've found a camera shop in Uckfield that can remove it and also clean the inside of the camera for £30.00. It seems the best thing to do. I don't want to damage the sensor by cleaning it my self. Thanks I don't know how much that is in my (US) currency, but if it's less than $50US and they get rid of all the spots, that's a good deal. For a year I was able to blast away all my spots, but then I got one that I still can't get rid of. I've tried practically soaking the camera in cleaning solution and really digging at it with a sensor swap. I think if it was possible to damage the sensor, I would have done that by now. All the other dirt at least moves around on the sensor, but that one huge blob just won't move. It' s a pretty huge spot but I've learned to live with it. If somebody would clean it for $50, and not charge me if any spots remained (that would be the key), it'd be worth it. Paul

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01-04-2009, 01:09 PM	#2
k0og Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Rolla, Missouri Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 699	Welcome to the forum. Yes, you have some dust on the sensor. That has happened to me several times, but a simple blower (like the "Rocket" brand blower) will remove it. Lock up the mirror (read the manual if you don't know how - there is a menu item to access which does this), then use your blower to blow off the sensor. Be extremely careful to not get too close to the sensor and touch it. Touching it would be bad news! Of course, you can try the sensor dust removal menu option to shake the dust off the sensor, which sometimes works too. Be sure to NOT use the "canned air" because it might emit some compressed (liquid) air which can damage the sensor. A couple of pointers: Before putting on a lens, check the mount and back end to make sure there is no dust or debris on it which can get inside the camera. Also, I found that if I change lenses quickly and keep the camera mount opening pointed horizontally or slightly downward when dismounting and mounting lenses, it keeps particles from getting on the sensor. Let us know how it goes. -Joe-

01-04-2009, 01:12 PM	#3
Ole Administrator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,409	You're right, that's dust on the sensor. Step one is to blow it away with for example a rocket blower (Giottos AA1900 Large Rocket Blaster - available from Amazon.com and photo stores) - do NOT use compressed air. You will have to go into the menu and enter sensor cleaning mode. This flips the mirror up and opens the shutter. If this doesn't do the trick you'll have to proceed to the next step: Wiping the sensor clean with dedicated fluid and wipes, or have a repair shop di this. You can search this forum for how-to, but chances are good that the rocket blower is all you'll need.

01-04-2009, 02:01 PM	#4
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,867	Good luck with the cleaning, just don't stick your fingers on anything in there.

01-20-2009, 01:58 PM	#5
pentax 100 Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Hampshire Posts: 4 Original Poster	Hi all thank you for all the help. But I still can't remove the dust or object on the sensor. I've found a camera shop in Uckfield that can remove it and also clean the inside of the camera for £30.00. It seems the best thing to do. I don't want to damage the sensor by cleaning it my self. Thanks

01-20-2009, 02:07 PM	#6
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	those image sensors are alot more durable than you THINK just purchase a quality wet cleaning kit for digital SLR's and do it yourself. then again, if you dont change lenses often, maybe it wont matter personaly i change lenses so often that my sensor gets dirty atleast once a month, and i have to self clean.

01-20-2009, 02:35 PM	#7
zplus Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Posts: 166	Don't forget, the sensor isnt right out in the open. It has glass over it for protection and filtering purposes (IR). Just be careful not to press too hard, scratch the glass, or get even more dust in there.

01-21-2009, 12:42 AM	#8
jak442 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 54	2 years??? I had dust on my sensor within a week and I had to toss a bunch of otherwise mediocre shots because of it....... come to think of it, it was on the same day I checked out a few used lenses at the shop. Hmm... anyway, 2 years???

01-21-2009, 12:59 PM	#9
bbpa103 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 169	Lee. Try taking some shots of the sky at both your largest and smallest aperture and note the differences in the dust spot. Ken.

01-21-2009, 02:46 PM	#11
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,823	Originally posted by pentax 100 I've found a camera shop in Uckfield that can remove it I sure hope the store is called "Otography of Uckfield".

01-24-2009, 12:32 AM	#13
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	I am guilty of not cleaning my sensor as frequent as I should have.

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