Have I got oil on my sensor?

Marc Sabatella · 06-07-2009, 12:06 PM

It goes at f/40 at the long end - same physics that make the max aperture smaller at 55 than 18 also does that to the min.

Anyhow, those do look like drops of some sort of liquid, or residue from same. I'm gonna guess this might require wet cleaning.

Dom · 06-07-2009, 12:22 PM

Originally posted by Marc Sabatella

It goes at f/40 at the long end - same physics that make the max aperture smaller at 55 than 18 also does that to the min.

Anyhow, those do look like drops of some sort of liquid, or residue from same. I'm gonna guess this might require wet cleaning.

It's looking more and more like I'm going to have to do a wet clean (if only for my own satisfaction). I've only have the camera a couple of months from new, but it has done quite a bit of work over that time.

If I wanted oil on my sensor I would brought a Canon.

Stefan Carey · 06-08-2009, 02:45 AM

Have you spraying compressed air in there? I have just had to have mine cleaned after an oily residue appeared. (My inexperience.)

bymy141 · 06-08-2009, 08:27 AM

Originally posted by Dom

That's what I'm doing. The test shooting I'm doing is at f40 defocused on to a white card.

The original images was taken in quite extreme macro at f22.

Edit: Yep, the lens I'm using is nice and clean.

Then it is defenitly on the sensor, and it does not look like dust to me as well.
Get it cleaned or clean it yourself, oily stuff is pretty well removeable with a wet sweep.

I'd do it myself, if you've never cleaned your sensor before, you might want to take it to the shop.
(Have a look while they do the cleaning, that might save you money in future).

- Bert

Dom · 06-08-2009, 09:30 AM

I'm most confused by the fact that their is any thing on the sensor in the first place.

Originally posted by Stefan Carey

Have you spraying compressed air in there? I have just had to have mine cleaned after an oily residue appeared. (My inexperience.)

No, compressed air bad.

Originally posted by bymy141

Then it is defenitly on the sensor, and it does not look like dust to me as well.
Get it cleaned or clean it yourself, oily stuff is pretty well removeable with a wet sweep.

I'd do it myself, if you've never cleaned your sensor before, you might want to take it to the shop.
(Have a look while they do the cleaning, that might save you money in future).

- Bert

I've got no problem doing the cleaning my self. I've got some cleaning stuff coming and will let you all know how it comes out.

Thanks for all the help every body has given so far.

hinman · 06-09-2009, 03:25 PM

I have few blog posts gathered about sensor dust cleaning with blower and that with the wet method, you can refer to searching "sensor dust" in my blog for the related articles.

Hin's Tech Corner -- search on Sensor Dust

I have not seen sensor dust like yours. Please visually examine your lens rear as well as your sensor. There are sensor loupe, some are pretty expensive, that you can find in micro-tools.com or other places. But I think visual inspection will give you more clues to what has happened. It looks as if someone has sneezed directly onto your sensor while mirror is up.

Others also have mentioned success with the Pentax Sensor Cleaning kit.

Thanks,
Hin

Dom · 06-09-2009, 03:44 PM

If anybody has sneezed on my camera I'll kill them. Nothing has been near the sensor. I'm the only person using my camera, so I know for a fact I've not sneezed on it.

Who would sneeze on there sensor?

hinman · 06-09-2009, 03:59 PM

Originally posted by Dom

If anybody has sneezed on my camera I'll kill them. Nothing has been near the sensor. I'm the only person using my camera, so I know for a fact I've not sneezed on it.

Who would sneeze on there sensor?

Sorry to provoke such a reaction. It is meant as a humor. I apologize if that is too much to bear.

On the other hand, I have no clue what you have. I have seen sticky pollen and dust particles visible by looking directly into the sensor when mirror is up. But I have not seen anything like yours like oily deposits. I would suggest careful examination on your lens rear. See if any of your recent lens may have any mysterious droppings into the sensor.

Thanks,
Hin

K-9 · 06-11-2009, 05:38 AM

Originally posted by séamuis

what lens do you have that goes down to f40?!

I think he meant the focal length on the zoom was set to 40mm.

Dom · 06-11-2009, 10:03 AM

Originally posted by K-9

I think he meant the focal length on the zoom was set to 40mm.

Nope f40

emr · 06-11-2009, 10:34 AM

So did you get the dirt off? To me it looks like some stuff that's just not in focus and not necessary oil or something other taht's non-solid.

Dom · 06-11-2009, 12:12 PM

Originally posted by emr

So did you get the dirt off? To me it looks like some stuff that's just not in focus and not necessary oil or something other taht's non-solid.

I gave it a good going over with my new large hurricane blower and moved a lot of it.

I also think I've found the reason for them looking odd, it diffraction. I was using a 50mm lens on bellows with extension tubs to do some extreme macros (about 240mm extension).

I'm going to get some wet cleaning gear. I do a lot of macro work and I'm not a great fan of spending half an hour cloning blobs out.

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06-07-2009, 12:06 PM	#16
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	It goes at f/40 at the long end - same physics that make the max aperture smaller at 55 than 18 also does that to the min. Anyhow, those do look like drops of some sort of liquid, or residue from same. I'm gonna guess this might require wet cleaning.

06-07-2009, 12:22 PM	#17
Dom Guest	Originally posted by Marc Sabatella It goes at f/40 at the long end - same physics that make the max aperture smaller at 55 than 18 also does that to the min. Anyhow, those do look like drops of some sort of liquid, or residue from same. I'm gonna guess this might require wet cleaning. It's looking more and more like I'm going to have to do a wet clean (if only for my own satisfaction). I've only have the camera a couple of months from new, but it has done quite a bit of work over that time. If I wanted oil on my sensor I would brought a Canon.

06-08-2009, 02:45 AM	#18
Stefan Carey Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 190	Have you spraying compressed air in there? I have just had to have mine cleaned after an oily residue appeared. (My inexperience.)

06-08-2009, 08:27 AM	#19
bymy141 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,563	Originally posted by Dom That's what I'm doing. The test shooting I'm doing is at f40 defocused on to a white card. The original images was taken in quite extreme macro at f22. Edit: Yep, the lens I'm using is nice and clean. Then it is defenitly on the sensor, and it does not look like dust to me as well. Get it cleaned or clean it yourself, oily stuff is pretty well removeable with a wet sweep. I'd do it myself, if you've never cleaned your sensor before, you might want to take it to the shop. (Have a look while they do the cleaning, that might save you money in future). - Bert

06-08-2009, 09:30 AM	#20
Dom Guest	I'm most confused by the fact that their is any thing on the sensor in the first place. Originally posted by Stefan Carey Have you spraying compressed air in there? I have just had to have mine cleaned after an oily residue appeared. (My inexperience.) No, compressed air bad. Originally posted by bymy141 Then it is defenitly on the sensor, and it does not look like dust to me as well. Get it cleaned or clean it yourself, oily stuff is pretty well removeable with a wet sweep. I'd do it myself, if you've never cleaned your sensor before, you might want to take it to the shop. (Have a look while they do the cleaning, that might save you money in future). - Bert I've got no problem doing the cleaning my self. I've got some cleaning stuff coming and will let you all know how it comes out. Thanks for all the help every body has given so far.

06-09-2009, 03:25 PM	#21
hinman Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fremont, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,473	I have few blog posts gathered about sensor dust cleaning with blower and that with the wet method, you can refer to searching "sensor dust" in my blog for the related articles. Hin's Tech Corner -- search on Sensor Dust I have not seen sensor dust like yours. Please visually examine your lens rear as well as your sensor. There are sensor loupe, some are pretty expensive, that you can find in micro-tools.com or other places. But I think visual inspection will give you more clues to what has happened. It looks as if someone has sneezed directly onto your sensor while mirror is up. Others also have mentioned success with the Pentax Sensor Cleaning kit. Thanks, Hin

06-09-2009, 03:44 PM	#22
Dom Guest	If anybody has sneezed on my camera I'll kill them. Nothing has been near the sensor. I'm the only person using my camera, so I know for a fact I've not sneezed on it. Who would sneeze on there sensor?

06-09-2009, 03:59 PM	#23
hinman Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fremont, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,473	Originally posted by Dom If anybody has sneezed on my camera I'll kill them. Nothing has been near the sensor. I'm the only person using my camera, so I know for a fact I've not sneezed on it. Who would sneeze on there sensor? Sorry to provoke such a reaction. It is meant as a humor. I apologize if that is too much to bear. On the other hand, I have no clue what you have. I have seen sticky pollen and dust particles visible by looking directly into the sensor when mirror is up. But I have not seen anything like yours like oily deposits. I would suggest careful examination on your lens rear. See if any of your recent lens may have any mysterious droppings into the sensor. Thanks, Hin

06-11-2009, 05:38 AM	#24
K-9 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,971	Originally posted by séamuis what lens do you have that goes down to f40?! I think he meant the focal length on the zoom was set to 40mm.

06-11-2009, 10:03 AM	#25
Dom Guest	Originally posted by K-9 I think he meant the focal length on the zoom was set to 40mm. Nope f40

06-11-2009, 10:34 AM	#26
emr Guest	So did you get the dirt off? To me it looks like some stuff that's just not in focus and not necessary oil or something other taht's non-solid.

06-11-2009, 12:12 PM	#27
Dom Guest	Originally posted by emr So did you get the dirt off? To me it looks like some stuff that's just not in focus and not necessary oil or something other taht's non-solid. I gave it a good going over with my new large hurricane blower and moved a lot of it. I also think I've found the reason for them looking odd, it diffraction. I was using a 50mm lens on bellows with extension tubs to do some extreme macros (about 240mm extension). I'm going to get some wet cleaning gear. I do a lot of macro work and I'm not a great fan of spending half an hour cloning blobs out.