D600 Dust & Shutter Count

[Dave_W]

I cleaned the sensor with a brush and it is spotless now. Easy to do.
I used f16.

337 activations. I will check daily and see how many pics before it shows up again.

Brushes are great provided you're using the static aspect to remove the dust, otherwise the particles will end up in the lens cavity and back on your sensor. Arctic brushes and items like this are first "statictized"...if you will, before using on the sensor so that dust will stick on the bristles. But eventually you'll require a wet cleaning and for that I would suggest the VDust system. I've never used a different system so I can't comment on them but the VDust system works like a charm and I would recommend this just due to my own experiences.

VisibleDust. DSLR camera sensor cleaning. Remove satins of dust, oil, lubricant, water.

 

[hark]

I received my new D600 on March 6th and took a few test shots of a light-colored, blank wall this afternoon. The last photo is shutter actuation 237. There are several spots on the upper left-hand side of the photos shot at f/22. Most of the spots weren't as noticeable at f/16 (could only see a few). The serial number is in the 3-million range. I haven't yet checked with the dealer (B&H), but even if they would allow me to exchange it, I'm wondering if this oil spot problem has really been resolved. Since mine is this new, the likelyhood of it happening with another new D600 seems high IMHO. I'm sure the sensor could be cleaned by Nikon, but this early on, would it be possible for it to happen again? I've only had the camera for 8 days.

Oh...and I used the sensor cleaning option right before taking the wall test shots.

 

[Cowboybillybob1]

I received my new D600 on March 6th and took a few test shots of a light-colored, blank wall this afternoon. The last photo is shutter actuation 237. There are several spots on the upper left-hand side of the photos shot at f/22. Most of the spots weren't as noticeable at f/16 (could only see a few). The serial number is in the 3-million range. I haven't yet checked with the dealer (B&H), but even if they would allow me to exchange it, I'm wondering if this oil spot problem has really been resolved. Since mine is this new, the likelyhood of it happening with another new D600 seems high IMHO. I'm sure the sensor could be cleaned by Nikon, but this early on, would it be possible for it to happen again? I've only had the camera for 8 days.

Oh...and I used the sensor cleaning option right before taking the wall test shots.

B&H gives you 30 days but it must be less than 200 activations.

I have had mine for only 4 days today and have had to clean the sesor. I feel it's a small rice toy for such great IQ. I am loving this camera despite this issue. I feel over time it will clear itself up since people have reported improvement over time.

Your milage may vary.

 

[NVSteve]

small rice toy

Freudian slip?

 

[hark]

I received my new D600 on March 6th and took a few test shots of a light-colored, blank wall this afternoon. The last photo is shutter actuation 237. There are several spots on the upper left-hand side of the photos shot at f/22. Most of the spots weren't as noticeable at f/16 (could only see a few). The serial number is in the 3-million range. I haven't yet checked with the dealer (B&H), but even if they would allow me to exchange it, I'm wondering if this oil spot problem has really been resolved. Since mine is this new, the likelyhood of it happening with another new D600 seems high IMHO. I'm sure the sensor could be cleaned by Nikon, but this early on, would it be possible for it to happen again? I've only had the camera for 8 days.

Oh...and I used the sensor cleaning option right before taking the wall test shots.

I just got off the phone with B&H. Even though I have 237 shutter actuations, I've only had it since last Wednesday so they will exchange this D600 for another. One rep even told me his friend bought a new D600 in January which hasn't shown any oil spots...guess I just got lucky. At least B&H has excellent customer service! Thanks B&H!

 

[BackdoorArts]

I've yet to have a bad customer experience with them. Very accommodating and customer focused.

 

[Cowboybillybob1]

I did my first wet cleaning today. Went to a local (within 30 miles) shop and bought a kit made by Delkin Devices. SensorScope DSLR Camera Sensor Cleaning System It comes with a vacuum instead of a blower and that makes a lot of sense. Some other cool stuff in the kit as well. In any case it worked like a charm and easy to do once you get past the first time jitters. The wand has two sides. One side you use wet and the other side you use it dry. Well worth the $100 bucks I paid for it.

 

[Marcel]

I did my first wet cleaning today. Went to a local (within 30 miles) shop and bought a kit made by Delkin Devices. SensorScope DSLR Camera Sensor Cleaning System It comes with a vacuum instead of a blower and that makes a lot of sense. Some other cool stuff in the kit as well. In any case it worked like a charm and easy to do once you get past the first time jitters. The wand has two sides. One side you use wet and the other side you use it dry. Well worth the $100 bucks I paid for it.

Good for you Paul. So so now you can say: "What dust problem".

 

[Cowboybillybob1]

Freudian slip?

No
Thumb slip.:uncomfortableness:
I meant to say "small price to pay'. This site does not work so well with IE10 so Firefox wins out.
I am at about 1200 activations and I had to do a cleaning. It was not as much as in the begining but still annoying. I checked my D700 which has about 2500 shots on it and it is spotless, Never had to clean it at all.

I do hope this eventually works itself out so that I can get at least 1000 pics before it needs another spit and polish. I am getting quite good at it and it takes less than 5 minutes to get the job done.

 

[Rick M]

I'm over 3,000 now, the problem is fading

 

[Cowboybillybob1]

I now have 1317 activations and has one or two small spots. When changing lenses I just threw the mirror up and gave it a few good blows and it cleaned up nicely. Although I'd rather not have the issue at all a little blower action when changing lenses I can live with. It is just a few second routine and easy to get used to doing.

 

[Cowboybillybob1]

1500 activations and clean as new fallen snow. Normally 200 shots and the dust would appear. Hopefully I am over the hump with just normal dust like any other Nikon.

 

[NVSteve]

One of the best ways I've found that really shows spots is by using the masking slider in lightroom (hold the Alt key and move the slider). Any dust or oil blobs will show up as halos/rings, and you don't need a shot of an empty sky to see it.

 

[Dave_W]

One of the best ways I've found that really shows spots is by using the masking slider in lightroom (hold the Alt key and move the slider). Any dust or oil blobs will show up as halos/rings, and you don't need a shot of an empty sky to see it.

I'm not sure I'm following you. Holding down the Alt key allows you to reset the defaults. Is there another key stroke involved in this?

 

[BackdoorArts]

I think he's speaking of the Sharpening Mask slider. If you hold down the Alt key while sliding it to the right it will show the detailed areas that remain unmasked for sharpening. I would gather that for a shot of dust against a white background these would be the last things that remained "White" while the alt button was held down. Neat trick.

 

[NVSteve]

I think he's speaking of the Sharpening Mask slider. If you hold down the Alt key while sliding it to the right it will show the detailed areas that remain unmasked for sharpening. I would gather that for a shot of dust against a white background these would be the last things that remained "White" while the alt button was held down. Neat trick.

Yes, sorry if that was unclear in my post. I'm not a huge fan of Lightroom, so don't really know too many key related tricks, at least those involving the use of Alt. It really helped on my previous body with finding all the oil spots that I simply couldn't see otherwise, especially when there is no sky in the shot.