Lens cleaning advice...

Hugh_C

Hi,

I've got a AF-S Nikkor 24-85mm zoom which took a little knock recently. I've noticed a few bits of dust on the inside of the front element and seeing some dust on the images like this (lower right)



- don't know if these are as a result of dust on the sensor or dust inside the lens. I'm seeing some dust through the viewfinder (Nikon D70) so I don't know where the problem lies.

Would anyone out there with some experience either recommend some place to have the lens looked at, or should I just stop worrying and have the sensor cleaned?

Thanks,

Hugh

(dSLR newbie)

sineadw

I hope you don't mind - I got on to post a similar problem - I'll tack on here rather than start a whole new thread

I got the DSLR on Tuesday, and since I only have the one lens at the mo I don't know how I could get dust or dirt on the sensor, but there are similar splodges that I noticed for the first time with some stuff I took today -



I can't test with another lens to be sure, but I can't see anything on the lens?

How the hell would the sensor have gotten dirt on it? And if it is the sensor, how much does it cost to get cleaned?

sineadw

Oh and Hugh - I could be wrong but my understanding is that if you're seeing the dirt through the viewfinder then its not a sensor issue but a lens one? The mirror flips up when the shutter releases so if its on the mirror then it wouldn't be visible on the final shot. If its visible in the viewfinder and the shot then I'm guessing the lens.

With my own problem there's nothing through the viewfinder that I can see - just the shot itself..

Borderfox

I have dirt on the viewfinder and the sensor. It just happens you have 3 options. 1 get it cleaned by a company in town. 2 do it yourself with a sensor cleaning kit. 3 ask a boardsie nicely and ply them with drink (after)
This just happens with slr's nature of the beast if you change lenses

sineadw

But thats the thing - I haven't changed lenses! I might bring it back into Jessops tomorrow.. How often does one usually have to clean the sensor?

Sorry Hugh - hijacking your thread :rolleyes: Goes into bold corner.

Roen

:eek: that's some dust, unfortunately some cameras arrive with it 'free' from the factory, it's an undocumented feature.

Borderfox

A lot of zooms arent sealed and dust gets in

CONMIKE12

My 20d came out of the box with a dusty sensor . I invested in the copperhill sensor cleaning kit and cleaned it there before xmas and a few times since. It's very easy as the kit comes with step by step instructions.Well worth it seein as how you will be cahrged about 50 euro to have it done "professionally". But you can alos spot heal the spots in PS as I did myself for a few months.

Fionn

a short term solution would be to get a blower and puff the dust off but really in the long term you'll have to get something like the wet sensor swab type like copper hill etc.
it's a bit nerve wracking at first but you'll soon get the hang of it.

good luck

Hugh_C

sineadw wrote:

Sorry Hugh - hijacking your thread :rolleyes: Goes into bold corner.

I'll forgive you if you give me the Gretch semi-ac in you photostream.



Not sure what to do, I'll try the sensor cleaning kit as I've been prone to tinkering for about all of my life. But since I've only the one lens at present, I'll have to stick with that and hope the sensor cleaning does it.

If I need the lens cleaned, is there somewhere in Dublin I could get that done?

hc