Sensor Cleaning

Rick M

Senior Member
I have the sensor cleaning set for every time on and off, which is the default. Does that seem too often?. Wondering if all the vibration would someday wear it down.

Any thoughts on frequency?
 

Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
I have mine set for turn on, I've never read read doing it your way is wearing anything out other than it may run down the battery a little faster.
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
Hmmm.... I've had mine off for the past year, ever since I bought the camera. Never had a problem with a dirty sensor. Maybe I should check it out anyway.
 

Rick M

Senior Member
Thanks for the comments, I've decided to leave it off and use the manual mode ocassionally. I don't change lenses much, so I can't imagine much dust is moving around inside.
 

Eduard

Super Mod
Staff member
Super Mod
Thanks for the comments, I've decided to leave it off and use the manual mode occasionally. I don't change lenses much, so I can't imagine much dust is moving around inside.

Actually some zoom lens are known to draw dust in to the body because they are poorly sealed. I remember reading about it quite a while ago and don't remember the particulars. I have my D300 set to clean mine.
 

Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
Thanks for the comments, I've decided to leave it off and use the manual mode ocassionally. I don't change lenses much, so I can't imagine much dust is moving around inside.

With extended use the sensor filter (cover) will begin to take on a positive charge which attracts dust, very tiny dust. Even without changing lenses often, as soon as the camera is opened, dust creeps in and sticks to the sensor filter. This combined with Eduards response will tell you there is indeed the posibility of dust accumulating.
 

Rick M

Senior Member
Have you folks cleaned the sensor manually? The manual recomends taking it to a dealer, but in reading, the process doen't seem that technical. If so how often? I realize it's not based on a time interval, just curious as to what I might expect in the future.

Thanks for all the input, trying to learn as much as I can!!
 

fotojack

Senior Member
May I suggest you Google "Sensor Cleaning Videos". You'll be amazed at the tutorials out there on YouTube on this subject. And no, it's not difficult; you just have to do it properly, otherwise you can end up damaging the sensor. Follow the directions explicitly and you'll have no problem at all. Let us know how you make out.

ps: I do mine every 6 months.
 

Ranie

Senior Member
Actually some zoom lens are known to draw dust in to the body because they are poorly sealed. I remember reading about it quite a while ago and don't remember the particulars. I have my D300 set to clean mine.

I Agree. All external focusing zoom lenses sucks dust every time they zoom in and out. All brands actually are prone to this. That's why, Pro lenses have internal focusing mechanism.
 

Eduard

Super Mod
Staff member
Super Mod
Have you folks cleaned the sensor manually?

I've had my D300 over 3 years and have always had sensor cleaning on. I have never had to manually clean my sensor. As you can see in my profile, I have quite a few lens. I try to follow basic precautions like always keeping the body pointed down when changing lenses, putting my back to the wind. etc. When I'm going on a trip or when I remember, I'll go through that day's kit with a lens pen brush on both the front and back of each lens.
 
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