where there’s smoke there’s forum fire
When the self cleaning is set, should you feel any vibration or hear anything?
On my old Pentax K20d there was a very distinct vibration when the cleaner was self cleaning.
I have it set to clean on turn on and shutdown but there is nothing to indicate it is working?
How about letting us know which camera body and posting to that thread? Maybe more folks familiar with the model will respond. On a D4, there is a faint whirring sound in two phases upon start up, and this is absent if the cleaning is turned off. But, one must hold the ear up to the side of the camera to hear this.
I've never heard or felt anything on either of my cameras. They are both set to clean on start up and shut down.
@SkintBrit.... press your ear to the side of the camera and see if you do not hear the two phase whirring when you fire up.
@msmoto - I posted in the d800 thread cos its a d800 ;0 however you are right I should have mentioned its a d800.
If I press my ear to the body I hear and feel nothing, if I select to clean and press OK the LCD message states it is cleaning but I still hear nothing.
Newer Nikon bodies don't make noise when sensor cleaning, thats normal. I know my D300 made a audible noise when the sensor cleaning was taking place (a very high pitched wine). If I listen very carefully, while pressing my ear against the camera, my D700 makes a very quiet click.
I wonder if there is a difference between the cleaning in the D4 and the D800 or D800E? Because, on my D4, when I press my ear up against the side and press "clean now" I hear the whirring sound. Lasts about one second at best.
Of course, maybe something is wrong...:) ha, ha, ha....
I have the same setting at you SkintBrit on my D7000 and get the same result....not a peep to question its functionality :P
And should we really believe it is being cleaned when it is on :-) ? If that glass/filter in front of the sensor is anything like my notebook's screen , I doubt shaking/blowing so little air will move any dust from that surface. Even if it does, the only place those dust particles will eventually land is the same charged surface.
I will occasionally hold the camera without lens, opening down, blow air in from a can of "clean air". Hopefully, this cleans some of the dust away. Maybe the dust gets stuck in the puddle of oil on the bottom of the camera interior, ha, ha, ha.
That's a perfect way to blow all the dust onto your viewfinder. Not critical for the pics, but overall unpleasant to see all the dust.
Yes, that is correct. I use a very minimal air flow, simply to stir up the dust and allow gravity to move it out of the body. And the dust I saw in the viewfinder disappeared as well.
before dust gets on the sensor it is probably in the mirror box, the flang or the lens barrel, so keeping the mirror etc box clean, is a very good idea
The number of spots on my sensor is getting beyond a joke now, auto clean and Giotto rocket has no effect so I suppose it is the dreaded oil spots.
I have ordered some cleaning pads so hope I manage to clean it without making it any worse.
Paperman said:
And should we really believe it is being cleaned when it is on :-) ? If that glass/filter in front of the sensor is anything like my notebook's screen , I doubt shaking/blowing so little air will move any dust from that surface. Even if it does, the only place those dust particles will eventually land is the same charged surface.
Yes you're right Paperman, it could all be an elaborate hoax! One of the guys at NPS, made a suggestion that I have since followed...... He puts a square of double sided sticky tape in each lens/body cap, as he feels it can't do any harm, and might catch some of the dust or dirt within the system. Might be worth trying the cleaning program whilst the sticky tape equiped body cap is on?
OnTheRopes said:
The number of spots on my sensor is getting beyond a joke now, auto clean and Giotto rocket has no effect so I suppose it is the dreaded oil spots.
I have ordered some cleaning pads so hope I manage to clean it without making it any worse.
Go very carefull! It's not a job for the faint hearted (or ham fisted).
I use, Sensor Swap ( check you get the right size for your sensor ) and Eclipse optic cleaning fluid. (They do an instruction vidio)
You also need some sort illuminated magnifier, such as the Lightcraft Flexible Magnifier
Before you start, careful clean the work area, have a nice cup of tea, lock the door to the room you are working in, make sure you are sitting comfortably, , and don't do it in a hurry
Having never attempted to clean a sensor, would it make sense (No Pun Intended) to mount the camera body on a tripod so as to have a stable work area and not have to hold the body and the swab?
Sensor cleaning is not a big hard task to accomplish dear friends. There are just a few easy step to follow: 1) make sure your battery is fully charged to luck up the mirror. 2) Fine a location in the has very little air flow, thus preventing from anything getting on the glass and sensor while cleaning 3) use the right cleaner for your sensor (I have been using Peter Gregg SensorSweep's). All in all the whole processes takes less than 3 minutes.
Cheers
Alternatively keep your eyes peeled in the photographic press for events where companies are offering free sensor cleaning. I've had the sensors professionally cleaned in my cameras several times, and never paid a penny. Does that make me a tight ***, or a shrewd operator? :-)
Cheers all
@ sevencrossing - LOL
@ golf007 - Thanks I think I will probably give this a go.
@ skintbrit - good idea I'll check this out but they're never around when you need them most.
I think this option is essentially useless on the bodies. It might get rid of lint or fuzz, (maybe) but I always have spots that are noticeable on skies in landscape images especially. I need a wet clean badly for my sensor and usually require one every month. It must be from all the lens changing that occurs constantly. Also, I cannot hear anything on my D800e as far as any noise.
kanuck said:
I think this option is essentially useless on the bodies. It might get rid of lint or fuzz, (maybe) but I always have spots that are noticeable on skies in landscape images especially. I need a wet clean badly for my sensor and usually require one every month. It must be from all the lens changing that occurs constantly. Also, I cannot hear anything on my D800e as far as any noise.
Without question changing lenses is the #1 culprit for dust gets on our sensors. That is why having two bodies such an advantage. Hence, keep your old body when you upgrade to your next DSLR :P
Also it is important to note that even if you do have dust on your sensor, you will not see it in photo's until you start shooting @ f/8 or lower (ie. f/11, f/16..etc...etc.).
Cheers
golf007sd, I wish I could have kept my D700 and had a second body, but $4 grand had to come from somewhere for the D800e :( Your right though there is nothing like having two bodies especially for avoiding crap collecting on your sensor. When I finish my graduate studies I will have a D700 again as my second body. The D700 is still the best camera I have ever used even after nearly four months and nearly 20,000 captures on the D800e now..
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