Tidying up sensors, lenses and other photographic items from dust, fungus, liquids etc.
18
votes
1answer
521 views
How does automatic sensor cleaning work?
My Canon 5D MKIII DSLR often does sensor cleaning when powered off and occasionally I'll go through the menu and specifically run a sensor clean when I've been shooting in unusually hazardous ...
4
votes
4answers
243 views
Lens Cleaner Recommendations
What is, in your opinion, the best lens cleaner? Which do you think is the most effective/best value for your money/most easy to use, etc.
Please include advantages/disadvantages as well as price and ...
3
votes
1answer
58 views
Will cleaning up the reflect mirror under strong sunlight damage the sensor?
I was cleaning up the reflection mirror under the strong sunlight in an afternoon, after that I realized that could potentially damage my sensor, since I found the mirror is somewhat semi-translucent, ...
5
votes
1answer
289 views
Colored powder in a lens: will it need a cleaning?
I was taking photos of people playing Holi. Some of the powdered colour landed on the lens of my Canon Powershot S95, and in the groove of the flash housing. By lens, I mean the cylindrical part that ...
21
votes
4answers
11k views
Why does fungus form in lenses, and how to get rid of it?
Recently I was using an old Pentax 50mm f/2 that had a quite big green spot, and later I was informed that it was a fungus.
A couple of questions raised from this:
Why does fungus form inside the ...
24
votes
11answers
2k views
What is the best way to clean the sensor on a digital SLR?
I've got a couple of spots of dust on the sensor of my Canon 20D - a rocket blower isn't shifting them, and I'm ridiculously scared of some of the more direct methods for cleaning sensors -- what ...
7
votes
4answers
3k views
Why does my HTC cell phone lens appear so dirty, and how can I clean it?
My cell phone lens that looks dirty; or, I'm not even sure it qualifies as a lens — it's the transparent cover. See the photo below.
I'm not sure if the lens was always like this or it happened at ...
9
votes
3answers
180 views
How to clean 35mm negative film?
What is a proper way to clean a 35mm negative film stripe before scanning?
What chemicals can remove fingerprints, dust that does not come off by blowing, or strains of glue? What type of cloth does ...
2
votes
2answers
88 views
How to clean contacts on my canon 1100d DSLR?
I keep getting an error message on my canon 1100d, when taking photos on my 70-300mm tamron lens when the lens is on 300m it wont take the shot, it keeps showing an error message about the contacts ...
3
votes
3answers
130 views
What to do about persistent dust spots on my DSLR?
I need an advice
I have dust spots appearing systematically on pictures (with blue/white/grey skies & aperture > 9)
I understand this can happen, I understand how and why it happens, especially ...
3
votes
4answers
230 views
How should I clean my focusing screen?
While on holidays I managed to get hair and dust onto the focusing screen of my 550D. How should I clean this off.
I have already tried a normal lens cloth, but that only made it worse.
3
votes
2answers
179 views
How to clean the focusing system?
Yesterday I was photographing an event and had to change a lot between lenses (50mm and 18-55mm). Surprise, surprise, today when I looked on the viewfinder I saw a little piece of fabric and a little ...
7
votes
2answers
198 views
What exactly is a “circular motion” when using a lens cleaning pen?
The instructions for the Lenspen lens cleaning tool as well as those for similar knock-offs all say:
Wipe the lens surface with smooth circular motions.
"Circular" can be interpreted in several ...
6
votes
3answers
214 views
How to clean an actual CMOS sensor? (Not the IR low pass filter)
All of the "sensor cleaning" instructions I've found are actually for cleaning the IR low pass filter in front of it. Unfortunately, I've got a tiny bit of tape residue on the actual CMOS sensor of ...
10
votes
3answers
2k views
Should I clean my camera sensor, or take it to a professional?
Possible Duplicate:
Best way to clean the sensor on a digital SLR?
Can anyone offer me advice on how to clean my camera's sensor?
Should I do this myself, or take the camera to a ...
5
votes
2answers
206 views
100 year old hand painted backdrops - How to gently clean?
We have just taken possession of a group of hand painted back drops that are somewhere between 70 and 100 years old. They hung in a neighboring Masonic Lodge for all that time. Do I dare try to ...
3
votes
2answers
206 views
How to get rid of dustmites on the camera and accessories?
I usually store my camera inside the carrying case which I received with my camera. Sometimes the camera lays still for several weeks without any activity.
When I took out the camera recently, I ...
4
votes
1answer
121 views
24-105mm Lens Cleaning
I've recently come back from a caving trip where there was quite a bit of (surprise surprise) mud and dirt around me. While I did try and take care of the camera (I carry all my gear in Pelican Cases) ...
4
votes
5answers
279 views
How often should I clean my lens?
You may have read Lens Cleaner Recommendations, and now I would like to know how often to clean my lens. I have been using one lens for about a year without cleaning it yet and recently got a new zoom ...
2
votes
1answer
108 views
How can I avoid dust on my eyecup rubber?
The Nikon DK-21 rubber eyecup just collects so much dust and I have to wash it regularly to keep it clean.
Any suggestions on how to keep this clean in the camera bag and when handling the camera? or ...
17
votes
5answers
479 views
Is it ok to breathe the front glass element of a lens to fog it and clean it?
Nikon specifically recommends not breathing on the glass elements to clean them as harmful acids in the breath can damage the coatings on the glass.
However, I've read on many other websites that it ...
35
votes
9answers
2k views
What is the best way to clean lenses and filters?
After removing dust with an air pomp and a brush, what are you using to remove stains from the lens and filters?
So far I'm using the liquid from a Giotto's CL 1002 cleaning kit for the lens, but I'm ...
3
votes
4answers
715 views
Can I use spectacle cleaning wipes to clean camera lenses?
Can I use spectacle cleaning wipes (alcohol based) to clean camera lenses? I know it shouldn't be used on plastic (like LCD), but is it OK for lens?
0
votes
1answer
273 views
Lens not attached message on nikon d5000 with nikon 24-70mm
I recently bought a Nikon 24-70mm for my D5000, but I soon had the "lens not attached" message on my screen. The message disappears when I slightly rotate the lens a bit more.
I've searched online ...
3
votes
1answer
189 views
Is it possible to get an eye infection using a camera's viewfinder?
Is there any chance of eye infection from using a viewfinder?
If so how can we get rid of that? How can we clean a viewfinder?
7
votes
2answers
776 views
Is it safe to use alcohol to clean DSLR cameras?
I'm going to photograph a surgery in an operating room, and although I'll be using an special sterile cover for my camera, I've been asked to disinfect my equipment too.
I wonder if it is ok to use ...
6
votes
2answers
412 views
Why does my sensor require frequent cleaning?
I have a Nikon D300 and in the past couple years I've found that it seems to require sensor cleaning very frequently, something like once a week or more. I've been dry cleaning with a combination of ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
How do I clean dust in a Sony A55 SLT?
I am pretty sure I have dust inside of my Sony a55 SLT (Single Lens Translucent). However I'm not sure how to get rid of it or where exactly it is. I think it could be either on the translucent mirror ...
3
votes
3answers
395 views
What is the safest way to clean a greasy camera body?
My skin gets oily very rapidly, and as a result everything from my keyboard through to the (already very glossy) body of my NX100 has a thin sheen of oil building up on the most handled parts after ...
0
votes
1answer
130 views
How to take care of a new lens?
I'm planning on purchasing a new lens for my camera for macro photography, specifically this one:
Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8
I've heard that it is a good idea to put a "UV filter" on front on the lens. Is ...
5
votes
4answers
300 views
Can smudges and grease marks add to the problem of lens flare?
I want to know if smudges (finger prints etc) and grease marks in specific have any effect in increasing the lens flare. As those who wear glasses may already know about the problem of flares caused ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Lens in salt water - now what?
My lens was flooded by a salt water wave. It is a 55-200 lens and now there are little water drops on the inside of the front element and some salt around the body. Is there anything I can do to ...
4
votes
3answers
517 views
How to clean a camera after being exposed to sea spray?
I went camping on the beach over the weekend. One of the scenic areas I went to was very windy and had waves crashing hard against some rocks. So there was a lot if sea spray in the air which ...
1
vote
2answers
121 views
How to take good care for camera bags or pouch?
How do we maintain the camera bags or pouch so that when we put our camera inside, we feel that our camera are safe and sound?
11
votes
5answers
258 views
Does it matter which way the camera is orientated for the sensor cleaning to work?
With the advent of sensor cleaning in newer bodies - does it matter which way up you hold the camera whilst it is cleaning? I understand that the sensor cleaning works by vibrating the sensor to knock ...
4
votes
1answer
197 views
What are the right cleaning tools for an APS-C sensor?
I have got my gear ready for a long holiday in next month, but I'm pretty much confused when it comes to having the right tools for cleaning a sensor.
The typical procedure I have experienced from ...
10
votes
4answers
1k views
Is it risky or difficult to wet clean an image sensor?
I've discovered spots on the image sensor of my DSLR camera that cannot be cleaned using a blower bulb, so I would like to know the risk of problems, such as further image deterioration or damage to ...
12
votes
6answers
2k views
What type of cloth is safe to clean lenses?
Usually, we purchase a camera cleaning kit that comprise a cleaning solution, cleaning brush, cleaning cloth and a air blower.
So, I was wondering if we can use other cleaning cloth (such as ...
5
votes
2answers
228 views
Is there a good way to physically clean prints if they get gunk on them?
Cry for Help
I have just mounted a large (24" x 16") print onto mounting board using a spray adhesive. This is for an exhibition in 3 days' time.
Some of the adhesive got on the front of the ...
1
vote
3answers
170 views
Does shooting my photos in RAW and converting them help to correct small spots of dust on the lens?
I have found a statement on one of Russian sites:
They (photographs) often shoot in RAW, and it, in turn, removes
various small spots in the form of dust on the lens when converting.
Is it ...
3
votes
1answer
128 views
What settings should be used for self-cleaning sensors?
This question mentioned a self cleaning sensor. I have a few questions in reference to self cleaning sensors.
Is there a reason to clean the sensor at startup, shutdown, (or both) automatically?
Can ...
6
votes
4answers
696 views
Is a self-cleaning sensor necessary when using only one lens?
The Canon 1100d lacks a self-cleaning sensor.
If I use this camera without ever exchanging the lens, is the absence of a self-cleaning sensor a bad 'feature'?
Are the bodies of modern DLRS cameras ...
3
votes
2answers
224 views
How to clean a lens filter?
What's the best way to clean a lens filter?
I bought a used lens that came with a filter. The lens is in great shape but the filter clearly has smudges and streaks across the front.
Am I better ...
3
votes
2answers
460 views
How to clean a circular polarizing filter filter?
Having some problems here guys. I have a 67mm Marumi CPL, which I have used for quite a long time. I keep it clean with a blower and some microfiber.
However, until yesterday, I didn't notice some ...
14
votes
1answer
682 views
How do I to clean prime lenses' internals? Or should I even try?
I have some very old primes (grandfather's 1950s Exakta Varex lenses, ranging from 28mm to 85mm) that I've been really enjoying on my Sony NEX with an adapter. It's partially sentimental, but I've ...
1
vote
3answers
361 views
How can I clean a camera effectively?
My camera lenses are getting particles and such on them, and whenever I take very close up (Macro) Picture, I can see these particles on the image. There are also fingerprints on the LCD screen. There ...
5
votes
4answers
221 views
How do I clean the external forward-facing glass on my lens?
How do I clean the external forward-facing glass on my lens?
Over the last year or so of use it has accumulated a little dust and a translucent smear mark. Nothing serious, but I'd like to remove ...
1
vote
2answers
645 views
How can I clean the sensor on a Panasonic LX5 compact camera?
I've noticed there appear to be some specs of dirt on the sensor of my panasonic LX5 and was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to clean the sensor on this camera? I found this link which has ...
7
votes
1answer
376 views
Dust-like speck visible every few pictures — is it dust, or worse?
I seem to have to dust-like speck on my Sony Cybershot S950's lens, but it appears randomly every few pictures. Could something be going bad internally?
8
votes
1answer
259 views
Where is this dust located on my sensor?
I have a really nasty looking piece of dust on my 550D's sensor, situated in the top right-hand corner of each image I take with anything higher than f/11. I am going to get a decent sensor cleaning ...
