Posted by Carson Wilcox on April 18, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Has anyone had issues with dust on the Canon 5D MKII sensor. This is my fourth Canon camera and I've never had this much trouble cleaning the sensor. I've got 4 dust spots I just can't get rid of. I've tried cleaning with Eclipse/sensor swabs from Copper Hill, VisibleDust Arctic Butterfly and a blower and all I seem to be able to do is move the spots around.
Is is just me or is this a common issue?
Thanks
Carson
Posted by Dan Borzynski on April 18, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Not knowing your experience with digital bodies, I may say a few obvious things here.
Is this your first full frame digital camera? If so, keep in mind that that the sensor has twice as much area to it so you'll have twice as much dust, just as a starting point.
With using a blower, you also need to blow out the mirror box as well. I've found that I can get the dust off of the sensor but blow new stuff onto it (the size and shape changes), unless I spend a bit more time cleaning out the mirror box as well. Also, a really cheap blower can actually make the problem worse as particles from the blower are expelled to the sensor. I am using the Giotti rockets which are clean and powerful.
I've used the Arctic Butterfly products, which I have had really good luck with as a second step. Those will move dust around if you are not careful, especially towards the corners and edges.
For a wet cleaning of the sensor, again, I have used the same products. They also work well. One thing I have found is that if the dust has been there for a while, it becomes almost "glued" to the sensor. It will take several passes to clean it off. Again, you'll need to be careful not to push dust to the edges.
While I have not used the 5DII, the 5D did seem to be a dirtier sensor. I am sure that a large part of it is because of the sensor size and the fact that I tend to look at my images fairly close on a regular basis. The sensor cleaning function of the II is supposed to be good, but it won't get everything.
Last, just how bad are the four spots? Unfortunately, dust is just part of the digital process now and we have to learn to work around it. I know, you'd rather have a clean sensor. So would I (trust me, so would I). But getting 100% of everything all the time doesn't seem to be practical in the real world, especially if I am doing a lot of field work and changing lenses.
Posted by Carson Wilcox on April 18, 2009 at 3:10 PM
This is my first full frame, and I suspect that the larger sensor may be part of the problem. I also have had a 40D almost since it came out and have not had any dust issues with it. I did have an XTi and had dust issues with it all the time but was able to clean it with no problems. That's way I'm surprised that it is such an issue with this camera. But you could be right the size of the sensor as well as the greater resolution may be what is causing the difference.
Thanks
Carson
Posted by Paul DeCesare on April 18, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Carson, my original 5D was a psycho nuclear dust magnet, and I had excellent results keeping it clean with Dust-Aid and the Canon Cleaner Tapes (I think the new Dust-Aid Platinum works well with the 5D2 right out of the box). Have a look on their site, they have videos all about the 5D2 sensor, good info even if you don't use their product.
Anyway, now I have the 5D2, and while the built-in sensor-cleaning thing has helped for small stuff, it really has no affect on the big chunks we all get from time to time. My Dust-Aid kit still works well. I just had a big one that wouldn't come off after TWO tries with Dust-Aid. So I said forget it and just went on shooting for a couple of days, using PS to remove the spot. Then I decided to try a third time, and that got it off! I wondering if I "loosened it" the first two tries, then the Canon Sensor-cleaning thing loosened it more. Who knows. Honestly, I wouldn't care about a few spots if I didn't shoot video, but for that reason I like a clean sensor.
Posted by Zack Schnepf on April 22, 2009 at 8:08 PM
I also have found Dust-Aid to be the very best in dust removal. I used it with my 5D all the time with great results, and plan to use it with the Mark II as well. The Mark II seems to be just as much of a dust magnet, even with the dust shake ability.
Posted by Carson Wilcox on April 22, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Thanks Paul, I'll give dust aid a try, I do a lot of large prints and even small dust spots are a major problem for me. I love the full frame but the dust is going to give me a major headache.
Discussion
5 repliesIs is just me or is this a common issue?
Thanks
Carson
Is this your first full frame digital camera? If so, keep in mind that that the sensor has twice as much area to it so you'll have twice as much dust, just as a starting point.
With using a blower, you also need to blow out the mirror box as well. I've found that I can get the dust off of the sensor but blow new stuff onto it (the size and shape changes), unless I spend a bit more time cleaning out the mirror box as well. Also, a really cheap blower can actually make the problem worse as particles from the blower are expelled to the sensor. I am using the Giotti rockets which are clean and powerful.
I've used the Arctic Butterfly products, which I have had really good luck with as a second step. Those will move dust around if you are not careful, especially towards the corners and edges.
For a wet cleaning of the sensor, again, I have used the same products. They also work well. One thing I have found is that if the dust has been there for a while, it becomes almost "glued" to the sensor. It will take several passes to clean it off. Again, you'll need to be careful not to push dust to the edges.
While I have not used the 5DII, the 5D did seem to be a dirtier sensor. I am sure that a large part of it is because of the sensor size and the fact that I tend to look at my images fairly close on a regular basis. The sensor cleaning function of the II is supposed to be good, but it won't get everything.
Last, just how bad are the four spots? Unfortunately, dust is just part of the digital process now and we have to learn to work around it. I know, you'd rather have a clean sensor. So would I (trust me, so would I). But getting 100% of everything all the time doesn't seem to be practical in the real world, especially if I am doing a lot of field work and changing lenses.
Thanks
Carson
Anyway, now I have the 5D2, and while the built-in sensor-cleaning thing has helped for small stuff, it really has no affect on the big chunks we all get from time to time. My Dust-Aid kit still works well. I just had a big one that wouldn't come off after TWO tries with Dust-Aid. So I said forget it and just went on shooting for a couple of days, using PS to remove the spot. Then I decided to try a third time, and that got it off! I wondering if I "loosened it" the first two tries, then the Canon Sensor-cleaning thing loosened it more. Who knows. Honestly, I wouldn't care about a few spots if I didn't shoot video, but for that reason I like a clean sensor.
Carson