Boonie Hound Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Calling photographers An annoying black dot has appeared on my pics when I use my 70 to 300 lens. Looked at the lens and camera and had a bit of a wipe around but the bl *mad*dy thing is still there and I can't see what it could be. Not too keen on wraggling finger/ cloth in my digital SLR without having an idea what I'm trying to do. Any cleaning suggestions for lens etc or should I just take it down the camera shop and say fix it.... I know this is something simple but as I spent most of my bonus on this camera and lens I really don't want to hurt it by scratching something etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom_C Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Does it go away when you swap to the kit lens? That would be a good clue where to wipe BTW please give generously to Bundle's Big Charity Walk for Asthma research here Ta. Cheers Tom FH54WLX see here - UPDATED again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boonie Hound Posted August 29, 2007 Author Share Posted August 29, 2007 Tried that - seems it is the lens but cleaning it didn't seem to help and I was starting to re-examine the camera theory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibster. Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Boonie Do not stick your finger nor any sort of cloth inside your camera body It may be the lens or it still could be your camera sensor - different lenses can display different symptoms due to their differing focal lenghs etc I'll post more later Paul Supercheese R250 Caterham pictures here 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 It's quite easy to test and diagnose - if it's dust on the sensor... Take a lens, set the camera to Aperture-priority ('Av') mode, set the aperture as high (numerically) as you can (f/22 being common), point at a blank bit of sky/cloud or a bright but plain painted wall (etc.), take pic. Point somewhere else (similar) take pic. Now set the aperture as wide (lowest number) as possible - repeat above. Load them into the camera and zoom in to where the spot is. If it's always in the same place - and worse at f/22 than f3.5 (or whatever), then it's almost certainly dust on the sensor. You can triple-check this with another lens, but I suspect that's your problem. Do not poke anything in there - find the manual and work out how to get the camera into manual-cleaning mode (it flips the mirror up) - then use an approved blower thingy (not compressed 'air' in a can - use a Rocket Blower or similar). Give it all a good blast with the camera inverted - being careful not to trigger the mirror back down, trapping the blower. Now repeat the tests (you'll need to perform a sweep-scan of the image at high magnification) and repeat the cleaning if necessary until you're satisfied. The effect of sensor dust is greatest with small (i.e. high numerical number) apertures and shouldn't be *much* of a problem below f/8, say (esp. if it's not in an area commonly taken up with bits of sky). I've still got some dust that I can't get rid of in my £3k Canon 1d mk III body - despite it having an anti-dust feature. It's not an issue in normal use though (motorsport with little - if any - sky) If none of that works/tracks then let us know... 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 Alcester Racing 7s Equipe™ 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 I took mine to the shop round the corner and 20 quid later it was perfect again. Mine was clearly on all lenses so defo on the sensor... My ... Preciousss! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Just a quick question, Boonie - there isn't a fly in the room when you take the photos is there? .... 😬 😬 😬 My ... Preciousss! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boonie Hound Posted August 30, 2007 Author Share Posted August 30, 2007 😬 No flies on me Myles - thanks - sure enough a very clear black speck at f/22 on my 70lens and blurred spec at f/4. Bu *mad*er - better get the manual out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibster. Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 It is possible for non weather proof lenses to ingest dust i.e. they have dust size gaps betwixt the moving parts (zoom & focus) They can be cleaned by a suitable service centre - dunno about the cost though Supercheese R250 Caterham pictures here 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delbert Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 Take that finger away from the sensor now.... Step back even further take to professional and hope its dust on the sensor and not dead pixel thingy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 Dead/hot-pixel will be obvious - dust ain't a perfect rectangle. Canon will allegedly clean mine once for free - but then I'd have to post my monster to them with all the attendant risks. I think I'll wait until the 'off' season. I'm very wary of letting anyone other than Canon at it while it's still within warranty. Still, at least it's not the 1Ds mk III (22 MP full-frame anyone? By inference, the sensor must cost as much as my 1D mk III alone... ) 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 Alcester Racing 7s Equipe™ 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibster. Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 Just rinse it under the tap and put it in the airing cupboard overnight Supercheese R250 Caterham pictures here 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 Now I think about it, mine is weatherproof, so that should be fine. Or I could pop it in the dishwasher - modern tablets are streak-free, you know... 😬 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 Alcester Racing 7s Equipe™ 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibster. Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 Weatherproof but not waterproof Supercheese R250 Caterham pictures here 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 Presume you'll need the "delicates" cycle (that Paul does his lace scanties on) My ... Preciousss! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibster. Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 lace, lace ? as has been discussed before my pants are made of stout canvas with leather straps - I clean them out with a shovel each spring Supercheese R250 Caterham pictures here 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason liddell Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 It is possible for non weather proof lenses to ingest dust i.e. they have dust size gaps betwixt the moving parts (zoom & focus) Not quite true... it's also perfectly possible for 'weatherproof' lenses to ingest dust if a zoom. Both my 17-55 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 have a few dust specks in them. C'est la vie... as they say. Not a good advert for the anti-dust-vibrate-self-clean-itself thingy on dSLRs, Myles Personally, I find it's all about equipment management... ie. in 1.5 yrs use I still have had zero dust on sensor issue with my D200. That includes changes on windy beaches, up mountains, etc. I just give oral blow ( ) around the mount before lens-changing and always keep the body face-down. [of course... this posting has guaranteed I'll get dust on me sensor now! ] Edited by - jason liddell on 2 Sep 2007 11:32:42 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 Have you tried taking an f/22 pic of a clear sky recently, Jason? 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 Alcester Racing 7s Equipe™ 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibster. Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 Clear sky and Scotland Supercheese R250 Caterham pictures here 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Didn't you ever send an apprentice to the stores for a long weight? 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 Alcester Racing 7s Equipe™ 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delbert Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 he never came back after the 3" gaps with a long stand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason liddell Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Have you tried taking an f/22 pic of a clear sky recently, Jason? Heh heh - not since that last posting (Seriously, I have no dust. Careful when changing lenses and occasional Rocket Blower puffs on teh sensor). Boring bit warning... why does the aperture affect the reveal of sensor dust? If the dust is against the sensor then it's on the 'focal plane' of the sensor and focussing/aperture DOF etc aint gonna make any difference. Surely a wide open aperture reduces the chance of lens dust confusing the issue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason liddell Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I b*ll*cks... looks like I'm being sucked into the Sheds... Clear sky and Scotland Today it's clear. [puts special "sunny day" sticker on dissapointingly stickerless wall calendar] 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boonie Hound Posted September 5, 2007 Author Share Posted September 5, 2007 I know you probably have been all losing sleep over my dust dilemma but I can put your minds at rest. The speck was indeed on the sensor and together, with a very nice man in a camera shop, we solved the problme and it is now dust free. Thanks for all those who helped as always it was much appreciated and did indeed stop me from putting my finger in places that would have got me shouted at. However, I am now tempted to buy a doubler instead of thousands on a new big lens...ideas on a postcard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTD Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 stop me from putting my finger in places that would have got me shouted at >> They tried to make me go to Gatwick, I said No, No No Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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