where there’s smoke there’s forum fire
Has anyone else encountered a dirty sensor from new? There was an issue with D7000s which Nikon never acknowledged whereby use catapulted greasey black spots onto the sensor (not dust). Now I have heard from a D600 owner that theirs arrived with a dirty sensor brand new?
Are Nikon and their quality control slipping?
Mine had many dust spots in the lower left corner of the photo. I blew it out three times before I got it fully clean. Hang up a piece of white paper. Set your camera to +1 or +2 exposure compensation. Turn off the autofocus. Fill the viewfinder with the white paper and take a photo. The reason you use +1 or +2 exposure compensation is to produce a white, not gray, image. The reason you turn off your auto focus is because the camera will not be able to focus on just white. Examine your photo and look for black spots which will be dust on the sensor. Take the lens off, set the mirror up for cleaning. Run the sensor clean function. Blow out the sensor. Hold the camera face down so gravity pulls the dust particles out of the camera body. Repeat these steps as many times as necessary until your photo of the white sheet shows no spots. Also, check our lens to make sure it is clean.
YES - D600 Dirty Sensors Verified today.
NOTE: I tried all the recommended cleaning methods before today
1. I bought a 600 from Best Buy, it developed spots on an originally clean sensor. Returned it.
2. Second body also developed spots on originally clean sensor. Returned it today.
3. Opened new camera in store - 2 shots revealed spots.
4. Opened second camera in store, sensor clean - no spots - made 25 rapid exposures and oil drops appeared across sensor. Got a refund!!!
From looking at other posted images and from what I saw today, there is a consistent pattern of sensor spots originating in lower left quadrant and spreading diagonally across to upper center areas of sensor. Apparently the shutter or mirror actuation sprays oil onto the sensor.
This seems to be similar to the D7000 issue that Nikon never acknowledged. I spoke today with the owner of a sensor kit cleaning company and he agreed that Nikon has a mess on its hands with the D600. He has been flooded with orders for cleaning kits.
Last night I called Nikon and was told to send a sample photo and then send the camera in for evaluation and repair (2-3 weeks for a brand new camera) - Not Acceptable.
WAIT to buy the D600 if you can. I loved the camera but I'll keep my D700 till this is fixed.
My experience - yours may be different - hopefully!
Hi, everyone. I'm very disappointed with Nikon's D600 release. I had almost the exact same experience as HATCH with respect to purchasing a new D600 from Best Buy. Looks good on the way out of the store but after shooting a few shots at home...the 'spots' begin to show. I shoot for HDR images so I get these 'spots' to really show after processing. I'm returning my second camera tomorrow. Today I returned and exchanged my first D600 and showed the retail associate what was happening. Now here is my question for everyone. What do I do? I want a full frame camera. I'm very disappointed that Nikon would have let all of this go on. What kind of quality control do they have? Apparently, they had the same issues with the D7000 and interestingly, they have similar bodies if not the same. I upgraded from a D300 so I also went out and purchased a 16-35mm wide and a grip. Nikon needs to hear from everyone if they have issues with their new D600 or other cameras (D7000). I don't think it is acceptable to spend over $3,000 (a lot of money for some) on a new system and then have to go and clean the sensor, have it serviced, or change cameras. I'm certainly not going to clean the sensor as this would enable Nikon to continue with their practice of releasing poor equipment. So, I'm going to return all of my equipment while still under the 30 day return policy and try to figure out what I'm going to do. I need equipment for a business/hobby that I've just started, but I don't want to compromise my own standards and allow this great injustice to happen. It is an injustice.
I had the d7000 before and sold it to get the d800E, now I purchased the d600 to carry around but I have the dust,oil spot problem. It has been cleaned twice at the shop where I bought it but this third time I asked it to be looked at by Nikon Canada. I would advise to save the money get a d800 or d800E for full frame however, the d800/E live view is simply too slow and there are delays a lot .... Nikon's quality assurance is way down ....
Do not get me wrong I enjoy Nikon but this d600 has a serious issue.
Well . . . . it looks like there will be a lot of returned D600s being sold as Nikon reconditioned cameras! I had dust spots and have not seen those oil spots appear. Yet, at least. I will be watching for it. Meanwhile, I purchased a bath of sensor cleaners because I always try to fix things myself, if possible, rather than send them back.
My D600 had 2 dust spots when brand new, but those blew off easily. Haven't seen oil spots (yet), but I'll keep an eye open for them.
yes this is a problem for more recent dslrs, my d800 has had grease spots and i think i've even heard that other cameras have had it, the d7000 for example. from what people said, after 10k activations or so, the grease spots stop showing up on the sensor. i cleaned my sensor and i don't have any more spots(for now)
Just get yourselves some sensor cleaning kits. Getting dust (and oil at times) on your sensor is a very common thing. Buying and returning is not the solution. Google Peter Gregg and go to his store. Problem solved.
Golf, in a sense you are right, problem is when you buy new and at that price you do not expect to have such maintenance so soon !!! I am at 1000 actuations now and past the refund period therefore time for me to get into sensor cleaning kits and a strong blower !!! Thanks for the tip, I will sure look !
@Onyx: I understand your point; more so, if you are new to the DSLR world. But, if you are about to step up to a FF body, like the D600, I would like to believe that your are past the "novice" stage...you should be able to address such an issue as having obstruction on your sensor. I personally check/cleaned my sensor before I go out shooting. There have been plenty of times, while changing lenses in the field with some wind blowing, I find dust on my lenses at the end of the day. Knowing how to clean your sensor is a must...and easy.
@Golf you have a point!
Maybe the issue is in our "expectations". Certainly, in a D4, one does not anticipate the sensor being oil covered, but it is really like purchasing a Ferrari or Porsche. Then racing with it. The camera will perform, but some maintenance may be required. As in cleaning the 70 oil spots off the sensor after about 10,000 clicks, maybe 1/3 to 1/2 at 10 FPS.
While my D90 has never been cleaned, nor any of the other crop sensor bodies I have had, I recognize back into the full frame this is the land of the "big dogs." There may be reasons which I do not understand as to why the problem exists, but the real issue for me is to grab the solution and simply clean the sensor...just like "golf007sd" instructed me to do. Thanks!
If directions are followed, cleaning the sensor is done without incidence.
Borrowing the car analogy ... Golf, if you buy a Ferrari and thus have left the "novice" stage of cars, you should be capable of changing that leaking gear box on your brand new toy all by yourself instead of having it fixed under warranty, is that what you're saying?
I'm a DIY kinda guy, and have repaired stuck shutters and broken power switches on my old Minoltas. Love to get the tools out. And one probably should know how to clean the sensor of one's DSLR, agreed. BUT, one shouldn't *have* to have to do it after that short amount of time and at that price, is all I'm saying.
Dear GOLF and MSMOTO...your responses indicate to me that you both would be the type of people who would go out and buy a defective product and try to fix it instead of returning it while under warranty. Let me state this another way...if you go and buy a car with defective airbags or breaks or spark plugs, or an oven or TV, are you going to get in there and try to fix the problem yourself and possibly not fix the entire problem while just covering up the symptoms. You both need to realize that out of the box Nikon sent a defective product. I had oil spots (symmetrical circles) and not small lines (indicating dust particles) after three actuations (bracketing shot). I noticed that the number of spots did in fact increase after the first shot and after bursting out 50 to 100 shots. And you both want me to clean my sensor. I'm a professional photographer and expect after spending a good deal of money for a camera that is supposed to be the first of its kind, that it performs 'out of the box'... and it didn't. Ok, after a year or some number of actuations I would need to clean the sensor...that is understood. In comparison, I owned a D300 for more than 5 years and only needed to clean the sensor after I decided to sell it...it turned out that there were only three dust particles present, not oil.
Sorry, I'm just mad at Nikon...
When my D3 was new, I had the same issue. Oil flinging onto the sensor from the start to around 1 month old. A pain to clean off but the source does dry up with time. I guess it will continue unless Nikon start bedding in the mechanisms and cleaning sensors afterwards.
Okay - to clarify.
My D700 has a dirty sensor and I will clean it myself, no problem, regular maintenance.
The D600's are spraying oil on the sensor so cleaning it will only get you a few clean shots.
"After 10,000 actuations - it stops" - What do you do with 10,000 bad images?
I spent three days camping in the field unable to check my images on a computer and returned with 900 wasted shots, 500 miles of travel and $250 pissed away.
These cameras are defective and Nikon is responsible for finding a solution.
In the last two years I have bought 3 D7000's (1good, 2bad), 2 D700's (both good), 1 D800 Bad, tried 4 D600's All Bad. That is 3 out of 10 good products. I have wasted weeks of my time taking test shots, sending cameras back and forth to Nikon, paying postage and insurance. Nikon did fix one bad lens but refused responsibility for anything else and did not fix any of the now well documented problems. I am seriously considering a different system.
If anyone is seriously interested in acquiring my camera and 6 lenses contact me by private message.
16-35 F4, 24-85 VR, 70-200 VRII, 50, 105, 300 primes, filters for all, 1.4 and 1.7 teleconverters, D700, RRS brackets for D700 and D7000, RRS BH-55, Gitzo 3541 XLS, Lowepro Flipside 400 AW,
And a Copperhill Sensor Cleaning Kit
About $10,000 invested in a system that is going downhill. I am very disappointed.
Some of the experiences indicate that too much oil is being placed on some of the mirror mechanisms in some of the D600s, similar to the left focus issue in some of the D800s. Some are clearly defective while many are not which suggests an assembly error. Perhaps just one technician at the plant which assembles the mirror mechanism is putting too much oil on those moving parts. Eventually Nikon will find the source of the error and fix it. But it must be hard to identify which technician has made that error. I suggest those who have had this issue with multiple bodies perhaps bought from a retailer whose stock consisted of many bodies containing mirror mechanisms handled by the same technician. Meanwhile, it is extremely frustrating to those who happen to have purchased one of the bad bodies. Sort of reminds me of the advice Consumer Reports used to give about buying an American car. They said: don't buy the first year it comes out because they have too many bugs which the company doesn't learn of or fix until they adjust the assembly line and order parts for the second year run!
However, sensor cleaning in general is really not about fixing a defect. It is about knowing how to perform routine maintenance on your DSLR. If we are going to shoot an interchangeable lens camera out in the field, often in abnormal weather conditions to get unusual light, and if we are going to change lenses anyplace other then in a "clean room" we have to expect some dust will get on the sensor. If we want shutters (and associated flipping mirrors) which are going to last over 100,000 shots we will have to expect some lubrication of the moving mirror parts will be necessary. Maybe,in past days, Nikon didn't have to oil a mirror which wasn't expected to perform so long as we expect of them today or they could use a different lubricant. I must admit cleaning a DSLR sensor is really a matter of routine maintenance today and we all should obtain the tools (like Peter Gregg's Sensor Sweeps) and learn how to do it. The last time I visited a camera repair shop I notice a stack of sensor cleaning supplies prominently displayed for sale. That repair shop also expects customers to learn how to do this task themselves.
That said, my D600 had maybe 20 to 40 dust spots on the sensor when I noticed it and checked it. I had shot outside only once but I did change lenses outside about 5 times during that shoot. It was not particularly windy and I was shooting from my back patio over my grassy back yard, not in a dusty environment. So my conclusion was that much of the dust on the sensor was there from the start and was a product of assembly conditions in Thailand. As I mentioned on other posts, I just cleaned it. No real problem. I do expect there will be some "birthing" problems with the D600 as there has been with the D800.
There is no doubt that one would expect the oil problem to be something which is a defect in the process of lubrication of the mechanics in the bodies. No question, and it really is something which can... create a bit of anger about the fact we spend a lot of money for these things and then have to work on them to get them correct or even acceptable for use.
I have no idea if Canon has a similar problem, but am seeking out some consultation on this issue...
For some of us, the problem has only developed after rugged use of the camera. And, i respect those who shoot less frames. If I were to suggest anything, it would be a careful cleaning and do this after the spots have become such a problem you simply cannot stand it.
The Peter Gregg swabs recommended by golf007sd and donaldejose, worked well for me, however, please follow the instructions, watch the video, and do this very carefully..
i suppose i have read has the expectation that you will clean the sensor with cleaning materials as golf and don have mentioned. where i read also seemed to make the assertion that when you send a camera for sensor cleaning, even at nikon service center, the same process you would do, is done in the same way.
naturally not an answer to the fact that recent dslrs have more spots recently than older dslrs, (d600, d800, d7000 vs d300, d90, d700) if, however, you're the type that would fix a defective product rather than send in under warranty then cleaning is an answer.
My final post on this subject:
A little occasional dust is a routine maintenance issue and I have no problems with that. Knowing how to maintain your equipment in the field is routine. I have been a photographer for over forty years and I understand all of these exceptions.
Careful cleaning is a must.
The sensor was not designed or intended to be cleaned continuously. It is extremely delicate and repeatedly wiping oil and cleaning solution across it will simply ruin it eventually. Research that and understand what you are doing to the sensor every time you clean it. This is a product defect, plain and simple.
I must add that the local Best Buy was extremely helpful to me in dealing with this issue. Exemplary customer service and attention from the camera department manager.
Good luck.
jhatch: Yes, you are correct. Senor cleaning should not be done (or have to be done) frequently. Your experience has been unacceptable. Clearly you received defective products from Nikon and you have a right to be upset. Fortunately, not everyone purchasing a D600 has had your experience. Thus, I suspect the error is something or someone on the assembly line rather than an actual defect in the part. If my D600 continuously spits out oil on the sensor, I will be angry also. Perhaps this thread will remain alive to collect the experience of many others and we will be able to get some "read" on the percentage of D600s with this problem.
I am going to check mine again right now by photographing a white piece of paper and looking for oil spots.
* * *
Nothing found. 458 shutter actuations and no oil spots (yet?). I will keep checking.
@kenadams: Do you have a D600 as well and having the same issue? I did not see a post from you indicating as such. Never the less, I too am a DIY (a.k.a do-it-yourself) kind of man...it feels real good when one knows how to fix his or her personal assets. In fact, I do work on my car. If I have the tools and the knowledge in doing so, you can bet I would be working on my Ferrari...that would be fun!
But I digress.
If anyone of you is having this type of issue and you do not want to address it personally, moreover, feel your product in not as it should be then by all means exercise your right to return the equipment for a refund or exchange. With that said, you would be doing yourself a favor in knowing how to address, cleaning your sensor, specially if you classify yourself as a "professional."
@tbonehaj you are wrong in your perception. If I feel a product is not working as it should, I will return it, however, I like to do my due diligence in knowing how to address/fix the issue myself before I take it to the next level. Lastly, do not use cap's in addressing me. It indicated that you are yelling. There is no need for that, moreover, I don't take such a tone kindly.
@jhatch The product I use in cleaning my sensor ( Peter Gregg swabs) do not have any chemical on them. All it uses is your hot breath. Have a look at his video and you will see. If however, you are totally frustrated and want to part with your gear, you are the perfect candidate for Craigslist List. Start posting and give those looking for a good deal, a deal. Good luck.
Yes, my D600 had a little dust on the sensor. Could have been me. Just cleaned it. No drama.
Have to say it's one of the best SLR's I've used.
Bought d600 a week ago and after few tests at home found dirty sensor cover with oil spots,not dust but oil. Went to my trusted camera supplier hoping to exchange for a better one.
Guess what, after testing two more bodies right in the store, found the same if not even worse oil and dust all over the sensor. Well I thought since d600 is made in Thailand so it must be a quality control issue there. I decided to pay extra and get d800. Checked in store for AF issues and it was perfect, what a relief…until again I checked the sensor and here we are, oil spots.
I don’t know what would you do but I decided never again rush and buy brand new Nikon.
When I bought d300 it was already on the market second year.
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