Nikon D7000, warranty claim rejected by local dealer (Sensor Cleaning)

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Nikon D7000, warranty claim rejected by local dealer (Sensor Cleaning)

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D7000 spots sensor cleaning

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Ian Busuttil

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I am currently handling a warranty case on my D7000 and I would appreciate your opinion.

Last week I noted that on low aperture, wide angle shots of the sky a number of spots were appearing on my photos on the computer screen and I asked the local Nikon agent (that sold me my camera) for their opinion after reading the blog topic http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=3289
The spots were similar to the ones shown on this entry.

The agents immediately suggested that I take in (my 2 month old) camera for service and I did so on Monday.

In the course of the service yesterday afternoon I found out during a phone call with their service manager that the sensor was clean and that they were investigating the cause of the spots. They also alluded that such spots were acceptable for my camera which was the first time that I got alarmed.

In the evening when I got home I found an e-mail saying that the camera was ready for collection without any explanation. The camera was released from a secondary retail outlet and the salesman without a work / findings report. The agents just send a 4X6 test photo of the sky as “proof” that the camera was fine.

After collecting the camera I tested it and immediately was able to zoom on a spot of a RAW photo using the camera screen. I returned home and on my monitor without zooming I noted two obvious spots. Many other blotches appeared when I processed the image into negative (I counted at least 10 without zooming). I therefore sent a report back to the local Nikon agents stating that the camera must have a defect due to the findings after their cleaning and demanded a warranty replacement.

The local Nikon agency advised:

(1) They can only guarantee perfect cleaning on JPEG images not on the RAW format images (which does not make any technical sense to me).

(2) The agent claimed that Nikon stated that the camera does not have a problem. He claimed that Nikon suggested to use their NX2 capture software as a solution to the spots on the RAW images. He added that the spots are apparently originating from atmospheric contamination (which is strange as they appeared on a new camera , immaculately handled and were still present after cleaning at an authorised Nikon shop).

(3) The local agency thinks I am being over-demanding and fussy about my camera.

I am still of the opinion that my camera has a defect and that my claim stands - but I am seeking some advice before deciding what to do next.

Posted 2 years ago #
jerl

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Do you think you could post some of your problem images?

Without knowing any better, I think that you are actually dealing with sensor dust, and is not really a warranty issue, since it isn't really a defect in the camera itself. In this case, if it bothers you so much you should learn to clean the sensor on your own (or just learn to spot it out). This also explains Nikon's reactions- since dust is inevitable, their solution is to use software solutions to spot out the dust spots.

Posted 2 years ago #
adamz

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send it directly to Nikon service, also check either You have the spots in exactly the same place or randomly over the picture. do You see them only on Your screen or also on the camera monitor?

Posted 2 years ago #
Ian Busuttil

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@admaz I already took it in for servicing and just after collecting the spots were still there and yes some are in the same position and viewable on the camera screen (if zoomed on them)

@jerl These are the two versions of the test shot I took just after collecting the camera from servicing:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivb266/5638373788
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivb266/5637796907

Posted 2 years ago #
spraynpray

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Hey Ian, you didn't sneeze on your PC's screen did you? ;^/

I can't see anything on those images - can you give me a clue where the spots are?

Posted 2 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Ian Busuttil said:
The local agency thinks I am being over-demanding and fussy about my camera.

I agree with them. I don't see anything wrong with the sample shots you posted either. IF you want a completely dust free camera then you should have purchased a point & shoot. DSLRs are always going to have some kind of particles fall on the sensor. Even if you never switch lenses, dust will still get sucked into the camera as you zoom in and out with your kit lens.

Posted 2 years ago #
SkintBrit

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spraynpray said:
I can't see anything on those images - can you give me a clue where the spots are?

Nope, neither can I?

Posted 2 years ago #
Ian Busuttil

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@spraynpray I marked them on these versions:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivb266/5637879985
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivb266/5637879597

In a 24 inch quality monitor some spots stand out badly.

Posted 2 years ago #
SkintBrit

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Yes I can see them in the original links now (I looked carefully, but wouldn't have noticed unless you pointed them out). Looks like a dirty sensor to me? Not a fault with the camera.

Posted 2 years ago #
Ian Busuttil

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@SkinBrit this shot was done less than 5 minutes after collecting from the local Nikon agency (following professional workshop cleaning).........

Posted 2 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Thanks for circling them out but like I said a DSLR is going to inherently have foreign particles inside it. I still don't see this as something you should return a camera over. Sensor cleaning isn't going to get 100% of the particles off.

Posted 2 years ago #
SkintBrit

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NikoDoby said:
Thanks for circling them out but like I said a DSLR is going to inherently have foreign particles inside it. I still don't see this as something you should return a camera over. Sensor cleaning isn't going to get 100% of the particles off.

I agree, yes it is frustrating not to have a 100% spotless sensor, but I've never found Nikon service able to do it for me either. Does the D7000 have the dust mapping facility of the D700?

Posted 2 years ago #
bhoveyga

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If you want to see if it a faulty sensor as opposed to a dust spots, try taking several shots at various apertures... if it is dust, you will see the spots get smaller, darker, and sharper as you stop the lens down.

No sensor will remain dust free, even if you clean it often. Keeping one lens on the camera and never removing it is about the only surefire fix I can think of, and even that presumes that there may be some dust in the mirror box to begin with (unless you assemble the camera and mount the lens in a cleanroom). So if the spots are indeed dust, the best thing to do is just to learn to spot them out, and clean the camera occasionally when they become too numerous. Also, if your camera has an auto sensor cleaner, make sure it is turned on.

As a reality check and a skip down memory lane, let's recall the days of film when even fanatical cleanliness still resulted in dust on negatives that made it onto the print. We should be grateful that we now live in the digital age, because back then we had to laboriously spot EVERY PRINT... now, we only have to do one image.

Posted 2 years ago #
NikoDoby

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bhoveyga his sample photos are at f22 and you can barely see the spots. A faulty sensor wouldn't show up as dust spots. You would see hot/dead pixels instead.

Posted 2 years ago #
rbid

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The technique I use to see the dust before/after sensor cleaning is:
- Put the camera in aperture mode ("A").
- If it is a zoom lens, use the largest focal length (usually it has the smallest F number)
- Close the diaphragm to the largest F number. (f/39?)
- Use manual focus to infinite.
- Set to a fixed ISO (100)
- Use a white smooth wall with the camera located at 1 feet (30cm),
- No flash, no shadows on the wall

I guess it will take longer than 1sec for the exposure time, during that time, move the camera (to blur any detail on the wall).

Then download the photo to your computer, open your beloved post-processing tool and do
an Auto-levels operation.. and walla, you will see all the dots accentuated.

Remember, these dots will be visible only using a large F-Number (Above f/16).. or if you have elephants on your sensor, they may be visible at f/8 already.

Posted 2 years ago #
adamz

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IMHO, Ian You are way to picky. If You wouldn't mark most of the stops I wouldn't seen them. Actually only the top one is visible but as Niko wrote it's f22 - have You tries with another lens?

Posted 2 years ago #
TaoTeJared

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I would think it is your lens not the sensor. The spots are too soft for me to believe it is a bad sensor or even a dirty one. Dirty sensor (particles) in my experience are usually much darker not lighter.

Posted 2 years ago #
Ian Busuttil

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Many thanks for all your comments. I am sleeping over the matter and this evening I also raised a direct warranty request to Nikon Corp. I hope to receive Nikon's comments too. I am being objective and if there is no reason for getting my camera replaced I will not keep on insisting.

Posted 2 years ago #
rpps

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Like you I have had problems with a local dealer with my D7000, it had a faulty "Multi Selector" it was sent back to Nikon Australia for repair. When the camera returned I started noticing spots on my photos especially if shot against plain backgrounds, I took 2 photos one at f4.8 you can't see the marks but at f18 and a little bit of editing you can see marks quiet well. At f4.8 http://www.flickr.com/photos/61036875@N06/5638595013/in/photostream.
At f18 http://www.flickr.com/photos/61036875@N06/5638592685/in/photostream
I'm not that worried as I'm going though the local "Consumer Affairs Dept" for the dealer to refund my money as the camera should have been replaced or money refunded when I first took it back, with the faulty Selector.
But it is worrying when you get dust on sensor, on my old D90 it was clean as a whistle even after 2 years of use, mind you I never once removed the 16-85mm zoom lens from the body.
If I get another D7000 I will be treating that the same, I just hope the D7000 isn't prone to dust as I have read many reports on the Web about this issue

Posted 2 years ago #
Rx4Photo

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My sensor collected a few dust specs with multiple lens changes on a recent vacation. Looked similar to pics referred to by the OP. Got a Giottos AA1903 Rocket air blaster, locked the mirror up and pumped like there's no tomorrow. Sensor clean. Problem solved.

Posted 2 years ago #
Super Shooter

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You guys never shot film before have you? Rpps, I don't see anything at f4 in your photo. The second shot you boosted the hell out of in post. I doubt under normal viewing you would have been able to see anything. I think you and Ian must have OCD ;) THE SKY IS FALLING! AHHHH!

Posted 2 years ago #
rpps

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Yeah you right I did boost the hell out of second shot at f20 you can see it, but with normal shooting f4-f11 with various backgrounds I think it will not be noticeable so I'm not worried. It's just that I know Nikon serviced my camera and it went away clean but returned violated LOL.
Here's a shot at f20 http://www.flickr.com/photos/61036875@N06/5639431794/in/photostream

Posted 2 years ago #
jerl

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Ok, now that you posted the images, I have to say that I agree with everyone else. There really isn't anything wrong with your camera, and even if Nikon replaced everything, it would only be a week or less before you get more dust spots.

As you can tell from your image, and from others' reaction to your image, the dust is barely noticeable, and you could probably ignore it. The test situation is in the worst possible scenario- stopped down extremely far at a blank sky- how many of your real images are shot like that? In addition, you can always spot out the dust in post- some programs can even automatically spot them out for you.

If it really bugs you, I'd suggest learning how to clean the sensor yourself- the automatic sensor cleaning does a reasonable job for a lot of dust, although sometimes you might need a swab. Barring that, you can take it to a store or someplace that does sensor cleaning- depending on where you live, you could expect to pay around $50 or more.

Posted 2 years ago #
Rx4Photo

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@jerl - I'm still fairly new with DSLRs so I do a lot of reading. I've read that self cleaning the sensor with a swab is extremely risky. Do you think it's OK to suggest that? I'm just asking. Thanks

Posted 2 years ago #
rpps

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I too would like to know is it a risky thing do to try and clean your sensor with things like Eclipse Swabs, I was under the impression that it was easy to do as long as you don't make the swab too wet with the fluid which could leave traces behind.
I don't fancy sending my camera back to Nikon Australia as it would take 3 weeks

Posted 2 years ago #