D5100 sensor cleaning.

TammyL.Campbell

TammyL.Campbell

Senior Member
I'm confused with my D5100 it has an option for sensor cleaning but its just a button. in fact it wont continue until there is a lens attached to the body. Then you press the button and it says its clean.. surely not. I'm sure i'm :culpability:doing something wrong and I want to do it right especially since I just got it back from the shop..but my afternoon in dandelion dust makes me want to clean everything.
bees-4159.jpg
 
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Rick M

Senior Member
The sensor "cleaning" is just an ultra vibration. It is useful for loose dust, we like to believe. I'm not convinced it is any more than a marketing gimmick. With proper lens changing techniques and normal shooting conditions, you rarely need to clean your sensor. If you notice spots on your images at small apertures, you likely need to clean the sensor (manually).
 
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Lee532

Senior Member
As said the sensor clean vibrates the sensor to remove any loose dust, I have mine set to do this whenever I switch the camera on or off. Who knows how much good it does but every little helps.
There is another option in the same menu to lock mirror up for cleaning, I guess this is what you are looking for. Can't see anything in your posted photo that suggest you need to do this though. I have not cleaned the sensor on my D5100 for months and it still doesn't need it.
 
TammyL.Campbell

TammyL.Campbell

Senior Member
It's just a thing I have ,a couple months ago a big piece of lint got inside my camera and wouldn't come out. Up in the upper middle quadrant. I had to photo shop it out of a bunch of my images. Because i couldn't crop it out.. Im neurotic that it's going to happen again..:moody:
 
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sonicbuffalo_RIP

Senior Member
Tammy....why don't you buy a rocket blower (Giotto), and some lens cleaning fluid and swabs and next time, clean it yourself and save yourself some money? I just bought all that stuff for my camera, and I'm glad I don't have to pay anyone to perform a simple task.
 
TammyL.Campbell

TammyL.Campbell

Senior Member
I have a Giotto now.. But I'm NERVOUSE about cleaning a sensor.. The mirror won't lock up manually for cleaning.And this just came back from the shop because my mirror came loose before. I lucked out with them fixing that for me. . I'd rather not repeat that again.:kiwi-fruit:
 
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sonicbuffalo_RIP

Senior Member
TammyL.Campbell said:
I have a Giotto now.. But I'm NERVOUSE about cleaning a sensor.. The mirror won't lock up manually for cleaning.And this just came back from the shop because my mirror came loose before. I lucked out with them fixing that for me. . I'd rather not repeat that again.:kiwi-fruit:
Click to expand...

I owned a 5100 before the 7100, and the menu as I'm sure you are aware, has a lock position for the mirror for cleaning. I never had to use it, and had over 5000 actuations. I guess I either don't change lenses that often or am real lucky. Anyways, if you use the menu and lock the mirror.....and go watch a few you tube videos, you'll see how easy it really is. I am not afraid to do it. And, I'm a scaredy cat!
 
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