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Recently I noticed an enormous amount of dust on my sensor recently, and when I tried to blow it out it seemed like I got a lot more on there. There was so much that I wasn't going to be able to take any pictures. So I went out and bought an artists brush like the article that was posted here said (the one that exposes Visibledust). I did the test on the filter to see if there was any glue on it and it seemed that there was none. I proceeded to charge it with compressed air and sweep the sensor. I noticed afterwards that it left streaks that weren't coming off. So brushed it again and the streaks weren't coming off so I let it sit, and shot my sister in laws wedding at wide apetures.

When I got back, I bought some fluid and pec pads at the camera store and cleaned it off. Took a couple of test shots and noticed some streaks. Wiped it again with another pec pad and again the same streaks. 4 or 5 times and the same streaks, so I'm left to summarize that my filter is now scratched. this is more than a little depressing.

I've been taking a lot of pictures at the beach lately, and I think some sand may have gotten in there (no, I'd never change lens at the beach). I think that the sand was dragged across the sensor with the brush, or possibly the pec pad after the fact, in any case, I'm going to have to take the damn thing in. Anyone know how much that costs?

I'll post pics later. Any suggestions?

I have used the brush method and find it hard to believe it could scratch the sensor.


I also use pure alcohol and tissue as recommended in the copper-hill method and as shown to me by my camera repair person.


Sensor cleans run to about $85

no real suggestions except if it is scratched you have nothing to lose by trying to clean it again it is not going to get worse and may get better.

(Just my thoughts)

Dug wrote: I have used the brush method and find it hard to believe it could scratch the sensor.

It could be scratched with any materials as brush, pec pad etc..., no doubt about it, cos dust bunnies might be a hard bit to drag over the surface of the CCD same as sand paper when you do the cleaning without using the proper air to blow the hard bit of the CCD, canned air can caused the danger coz it may not used properly. Prefer something as the Giotto Air Rocket 190ml size.

Sensor cleans run to about $85

We're doing free for members on each Saturday mini meet, should we charge a fees in doing this? No and never will

Sounds like it might be the same sort of streaks that I had.

Get yourself a Giotto, pecpads and a sensor spatula from Copperhill. Blow out any dust with the camera upside down. Then use eclipse and the spatula with a pecpad attached. Apply reasonable pressure and wipe, it will disappear. If it looks like a streak, it will be a streak.

Kipper, I used the pec pad and fluid and it just isn't coming off, it's black, and it's staying on there. In any case there is a Nikon repair center about 15 mins from my place, and I apparently have a free cleaning, so I'm going to take it there and see what they come up with. I've got a really bad feeling it's a scratch, but hey, I'll stay optimistic. Thanks everyone.

dooda

i had the same problems, the streaks appear when too much fluid is used. its so difficult to judge how little fluid is needed

cheers

If you don't feel confident, take it in.

If it was a scratch I'm sure you would tell, it's glass after all.

I had to apply a fairbit of pressure to get some of the streaks off when I was doing my clean.

Don't get mad and pour methanol over the CCD

Dooda, the scratches may actually be streaks (then again they may not be). The first time I did a clean, I must have thought I was washing a car , I used so much (about 4 drops). Try be very sparing, 1/2 to 1 drop, you may find that does the job. Did I mention be very sparing?

Try neat vodka,

pour a large glass,

skol it,

and then clean the sensor by approved methods.

cheers doug

Very droll Dug very droll

Here's f22 I think after one pass.


Here's after the next pass.


This one is after another pass, f16 to see how much the apeture affected it's visibility.



Again, another swipe




I hope that isn't too big, but you can see that the major marks in the center are the exact same after every single shot. Perhaps I should have made the sizes smaller, but I wanted you to see it well. I was carefull to only add 2 drops max on the pec pad. So what do you think, are these scratches or streaks?

I would guess streaks. Reread my post, 1/2 to 1 drop, you are presently washing the sensor not wiping it, you will need a chamois to dry it next!

They look like streaks to me Dave, but I'm wonmdering whether thee are on top of the filter, which is where you're trying to clean, or perhaps between the filter and the sensor, which you have no direct access to.

If the latter, that would explain why your attempts to clean this are not having any real affect.

Gary, I wonder how anything could have gotten in there. You guys suddenly have my hopes up, though I still remember thinking distinctly that there should have been atleast some movement with the streaks after 3 or 4 swipes. The middle stuff just stayed exactly the same. Really scary. In any case, I have one free cleaning with Nikon, so i''m taking her in, and if I get it back and it looks like this I'm going to raise hell and demand a new camera.

where can i get the Copperhill thing from?

http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning

Cheers

After close examination, the streaks look to me like they are caused by the brush. I suspect your brush wasn't clean. If I were to use a brush on, or even near my sensor (low-pass filter), I would first be cleaning the brush in eclipse fluid or something.
I suspect a residue from the brush has left a deposit on your low-pass filter and it just needs a good clean to get rid of it.
As your attempts to clean have been unsuccessful, I would recommend taking it to an experienced member who is willing to help (minimeet?) or use your free clean, though in hindsight I would be saving my free clean until almost one year from purchase...
Have used the copperhill method before? The 1st time I cleaned my filter, I took an hour and used about 10 pec pads before I got it right. Now it's easy. As you have a problem to start with (not your usual dust bunny), it may be compounded if you are not experienced in cleaning with pec pads - how much pressure to use, what angle, how much fluid...
Good luck, and don't panic!

tasadam,
It's a long way for dooda heading South for a mini meet
And no mini meet in his area as yet!

Birddog114 wrote:tasadam,
It's a long way for dooda heading South for a mini meet
And no mini meet in his area as yet!

Bit like me...
Still waiting for the Inaugural Tasmanian mini meet...

tasadam wrote:Still waiting for the Inaugural Tasmanian mini meet...

Tasadam, why don't we run a Tasmanian mini meet? Not sure where you are in Tassie, but I'm in Hobart and there are 2 other d70 users members where I work. I'm sure there must be a few more Hobart based members that I don't know about. Not sure what we'd do at an innaugral Tas mini meet, but it's an idea worth thinking about.

My sensor is clean, thank goodness. *breathes in deep* "this house is clean"

I was so happy to get it back I went out shooting for 6 hours last night and got some great shots. I'll post a few later on.

dooda wrote:My sensor is clean, thank goodness. *breathes in deep* "this house is clean"

I was so happy to get it back I went out shooting for 6 hours last night and got some great shots. I'll post a few later on.

dooda,
Glad to hear no more stresses from you!!! Yes there's a lesson to learn
So, you're doing the "night hawk" duty now? while the wife away in other continents.

Yup. Was out till midnight last night. I think I had one of the best photo walks ever. Stay tuned I'll post a couple in a minute.