Photography Thailand Forum

[Marc Schultz]

I am normally pretty good about keeping my sensor clear of dust and dirt and I clean it normally with a sensor brush every couple, few shoots I have.

Recently I was shooting an interiors job and had cleaned the sensor before the shoot. Two days into the shoot, I realized that there were some stains on the sensor that looked like water spots. I didn’t see them previously because when I cleaned the sensor prior to the shoot I did not use a bright light to shine into the camera during cleaning. When I noticed the spots though I was using sunlight through a window to look at the sensor, so the spots became quite obvious then.

At first I didn’t think the spots would have much impact on the shots, but they did a bit and I ended up having to do a fair amount of retouching on some of the pictures where the stain ended up showing in the photos. Attached you can see one of the shots I took with the stained sensor and a close-up of the sensor spots themselves in the picture. Luckily it was not too bad and easily removable with some healing and cloning in PS.

After I discovered the spots though, I got the sensor cleaned immediately and all was back to normal. So no permanent damage to the camera.

My thought is that the spots could have occurred when my camera recently traveled with me on the airplane a couple of times for some recent overseas jobs. I think it was the condensation that occurred from the camera going immediately from a very cold dry environment on the airplane and into a very hot and humid environment outside of the plane.

My advice from all of this is if you are traveling with your camera on airplanes often, and landing in hot, humid countries, then check your sensor regularly and save yourself the grief I went through. That is check for any water spots that might occur on the sensor from condensation, leaving your future pictures with nasty looking spots.

Happy shooting…

[Adzz]

Mark, do think putting the camera in a ziplock bag with some silica bags would help?
Im a bit paranoid about lens rot over here with all the humidity. I keep kit in a dry cabinet if its not in use. If I move stuff around, I found some good dry packs for shoes (basically deodorizers) in Tesco Lotus. Plus a plastic food container or ziplock bag are good. If your looking for a good supply of dry packs I found this site before, www.powerdry.co.th 

Could I ask, what sensor cleaning system you use and do you sometimes have Canon /Nikon clean for you?

Regards Adam

[Marc Schultz]

Hi Adam - Ziplock with Silica might help. I used to use Silica, but the problem is that it basically needs to be thrown out after just 1 (maybe 2) uses in a humid country like those in SE Asia. I even bought some of that boat marine silica they sell at B&H in New York, but it was about the same result and it gets expensive if you use it a lot. When I travel though I travel with all my gear in a Pelican Case, which is airtight, but obviously that doesn't seem to be enough to protect against condensation and humidity changes it seems. When I am not traveling though I also keep everything in dehumidifying cabinets.

For sensor cleaning I use a brush from Visible Dust. It is not good for really cleaning the sensor, but for dust specs it does the job. I have had my camera cleaned at Canon and the last time (pertaining to the problem in this posting) I used Foto Thailand on the 3rd floor in MBK.

Hope that helps...

[Adzz]

Thanks thats helpful... I guess the only way to avoid the condensation problem when you fly is to take the bodies on as cabin hand luggage.
Still its less stressful I think than the old days, worrying about carrying rolls and rolls of film back to base or risking an E6 line you didn't know.....

I use a lens defocused pointed at an even lit white card or wall... can check for sensor crap quite effectively that way...

What do you do?

Regards Adam

[Marc Schultz]

Yes, the defocused method works on a wall as you said. But unfortunately it only lets you know if something is there. Doesn't remove it  

I think some of the newer DSLR models now have sensor cleaning functions built in, but I believe it only works for either shaking and/or burning off small bits of surface dust, but not sure. It might be more affective than that, but my understanding is any grease spots will still require a proper cleaning.

Normally I am too lazy to check for spots though myself. I usually destroy a few pictures first and that is how I usually find out I need a cleaning  

[agitlits]

Thanks for the tip, Marc. I normally wet clean my sensor, but quite rarely. Unfortunately I do not travel to Thailand as often as I like so I live in a non-humid country .

Alex

[Vanda Manprasert]

Wow those water spots look just like what I have on my sensor right now!  I've been trying to clean all this "phantom dust" off and unable to get it, but I guess this explains why.  I've only used a dust brush and bulb blower, but seems like it needs to be wiped off.

Any specific advice on what to use to safely clean these types of marks?  Q-tips? Special lens pens or tissues?  

Thanks!

[David Salmanowitz]

Vanda--No Q-tips. Here is an assortment of things that would work. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/435207-REG/Visible_Dust_2902544_VDust_Plus_Formula_Solution.html#accessories   Pretty sure I have seen Visible Dust stuff at Foto File at MBK. The Photographic Solutions  company (who sell swabs in the link) also makes Pec Pads, which I have used for years to clean filters and lenses. Never use a normal tissue as those usually have wood fibers in them and can possibly do damage. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=pec+pads&N=0&InitialSearch=yes   I never use filters with digital except for polarizers and neutral density (either screw on or square reverse grads). The reason is the filter cuts off light angling in from the sides on its way to the sensor. Do I notice an incredible difference from when I had a filter on the lens--no, but I want the maximum amount of data to reach the sensor; same reason I shoot in RAW and slightly overexpose to the right, as that is where the majority of data is in a digital file and I just bring it down post processing. Was a hard habit to break but since I got my first SLR many many years ago I always kept a filter on the lens thinking rather scratch a filter than a lens, but all seems fine since I stopped with filters for protection. I always have a lens hood on (to reduce glare and I am clumsy bumping into things) and just put back on the lens cap when needed. Another good reason for lens hoods is if you have the misfortune to drop a camera (sadly I have) often the hood can take the brunt of the damage and save the lens and camera. Sorry if this veered off your original topic a bit, but once I got going...

[bjorn slis]

Why not let the people at fotofile clean it for a couple of baht. They work together with photobug in CM and they do a great job for 300 baht.

[David Salmanowitz]

Bjorn--that is a good deal, especially if they do a good job. I know in the USA it is a racket sending one's camera to Nikon, Canon, or wherever as I was told they charge some ridiculous amount--there is probably nothing they like more than sensor cleaning as it is quick and profitable. The problem is when one is out in the field and unable to get to a place such as you mentioned, then it is a good idea to have something to take care of the problem.

[Vanda Manprasert]

Hmm... yeah I suspected as much.  Sometimes I use those special fabrics for cleaning glasses, or I'll really cheat and use non-scented tissues(:-o) on my UV filters when in a pinch, but I sort of knew not to do that with the sensor. 

I'll look for some of those cleaning tools at Foto File then.  Having someone clean it for me for 300 baht is certainly reasonable, though I guess being that I'm a DIY sort, I'd rather just know how to do it and have that option for when I'm out in the field :-) 

[Adzz]

I tend to agree about just paying someone to clean it for you.. But still good to know what to do..

This site has some good info..

http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/

[Marc Schultz]

If your camera is Canon, then the Canon service center in Thailand will do it for 300 Baht. Address is here: http://www.photographythailand.com/Forum/index.php/topic,153.0.html

They will do it while you wait, but the wait depends on the cue. Usually an hour to clean after you have been called up to the service counter. Or you can go back the next day.

Foto Thailand on the 3rd floor of MBK (sister shop to Foto File) will clean all brands of camera sensors and will clean it free if you are polite and ask them nicely :)

[Vanda Manprasert]

Thanks for all the tips guys!  :)

[Marc Schultz]

For those who were following this thread, this web site is worth looking into in detail as it covers everything about what you should and shouldn't use on your sensors, techniques, and etc:

http://www.sensorcleaning.com/main.php