Damaged or just dirty

Welshy74

Senior Member
2015-12-05 21.55.57.jpg
Gave my sensor a wipe with a lens cloth. It looks like this now. Have I damaged it or will a sensor clean (In store ) fix it?
 
Not sure but I really don't think you should ever clean a sensor with a cleaning cloth. But a little late now for that advice. I would get it cleaned properly at this point and see it that takes care of it. If not you will need to send it to Nikon.
 

pforsell

Senior Member
Thats what I was thinking. Well you learn from your mistakes!!! Doesnt show up when i put a lens on though????


Sorry, but what is that picture trying to convey? It surely doesn't look like a sensor to me. It looks like a picture of the focusing screen IMHO. Or perhaps a picture of the mirror reflecting the focusing screen.

If there's some dust or lint on the focusing screen that's easy to clean, but if you got that stuff (or some liquid) stuck behind the screen (between the screen and the prism) that's gonna need either steady hands, or a trip to Nikon, or better still, just leave it in there, because it doesn't affect anything.

And by the way never ever touch the reflex mirror with anything. Unlike regular looking glass this one has the silver coating on the top side of the mirror and it is extremely delicate. Doesn't matter if there's dust on the mirror, since it does not participate in the picture taking.
 
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Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Shall I just take it to my local camera shop to be cleaned and see what happens from there??
Can you explain, in detail, exactly what you did?

In order to wipe the SENSOR with a cleaning cloth you'd need to put the camera in Mirror Lock Up; did you do that?

And if you did, did you then actually wipe inside the camera with a lens cloth? Because if you did, then yes; it's time to do nothing but step away from the camera and have it taken to a professional to be examined as soon as possible.
 

Welshy74

Senior Member
Can you explain, in detail, exactly what you did?

In order to wipe the SENSOR with a cleaning cloth you'd need to put the camera in Mirror Lock Up; did you do that? NO

And if you did, did you then actually wipe inside the camera with a lens cloth? Because if you did, then yes; it's time to do nothing but step away from the camera and have it taken to a professional to be examined as soon as possible.
Wiped the top inside the front housing and the bottom (On an angle). I dont think it was the sensor as there was no mirror lock up. Wiped the two pieces you can see as you look in the camera
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Wiped the top inside the front housing and the bottom (On an angle). I dont think it was the sensor as there was no mirror lock up. Wiped the two pieces you can see as you look in the camera
Okay, this is actually good news. Based on your description I'm assuming you cleaned areas #2 and #3...
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DSLR Internals.jpg
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Assuming I'm correct about about what you did, what you actually "cleaned" was the camera's focus screen and the camera's mirror; NOT the sensor. No harm done and your photos will probably look fine (probably) but I would suggest before you do something like this again, you do some research first. Cleaning the inside of your digital camera is somewhat delicate operation requiring specialized tools and little know-how.

Do a search on YouTube on, "how to clean a DSLR"; you should find plenty of information on how to proceed.
 
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SteveL54

Senior Member
Just be aware that different brands have very different cleaning procedures.


Nikon requires Rocket air and sensor swabs.

If it's a Canon, remove lens, and place lens and body in dishwasher for full cycle.
 

Rick M

Senior Member
View attachment 189274
Gave my sensor a wipe with a lens cloth. It looks like this now. Have I damaged it or will a sensor clean (In store ) fix it?

Probably lint from the cloth. These things are not as delicate as you might think. as suggested, have it professionally cleaned to make sure it's OK. From there I'd squeeze the camera body in a bench top vice and grind down the sensor monthly :).
 

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
@Welshy74 Lots of kidding going on here in this thread, which I am sure you realize. I would take it to be looked at by someone who knows the internal workings and how to clean and what to look for. Then you will know what is or isn't wrong. Like has already been stated, you are probably not as bad off as it could have been. :encouragement:
 

Daz

Senior Member
Well at least you learned a valuable lesson before locking the mirror up, never put anything inside of your camera without proper research :)
 
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