Help!

[Sandy]

My 20d has developed terminal spots.
Any ideas on how to remedy this. Did I ruin the camera? Thanks http://sandra.smugmug.com/photos/45715296-M.jpg

[JohnR]

Looks like a dirty sensor. You could try using an air blower..not a compressed-air can type, but the ones where you squeeze and it blows air. See if that helps. Otherwise, take it in for a cleaning.

[Sandy]

Thanks John, it didn't work. I will take it in.

[JohnR]

I hope that I'm right...because that's the only thing I can tell. Shouldn't take long for them to clean it.

I know there are kits out there to clean sensors...but personally I would send it in.

[Harryb]

Hey Sandy,

Dust on the sensor is not that big of a deal. I clean my sensor around once a month.

If you enter our Hall of Wisdom you will find this handy dandy thread on senor cleaning.

http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=8350

[KA0TVO]

Sandy,
Cleaning the sensor is not that hard. here is a link that will give the basics. I suggest looking at the Copperhill web site, and the use of the sensor brush.
Anyway good advice here follow the threads.
Also blow the dust off the mirror as well BUT DO NOT USE CAN AIR.
http://www.photosol.com/swabproduct.htm
Bob:thumb

[Mike Lane]

Just lick your finger and rub down the sensor...

I kid.

I used the copperhill method and I didn't much care for it. I may try the sensor brush next time. Go to the link that harry provided and you should be all set.

[pathfinder]

Looks pretty bad Sandy. Needs to be cleaned fer sure!!

There have been numerous articles on the Luminous Landscape by Michael Reichman about the various cleaning methods including the Sensor Swabs, the Sensor Brush, and lately the Arctic Butterfly. I use the Rocket Blower, then the Sensor Brush, and finally the Sensor Swab with methyl alcohol in that order, as a last effort.

It is good to be aware of all these methods as you will probably need to use all three sooner or later unless you live in a Clean Room.

Cleaning is easy and not that stressful after the first few times.

Here is a whole page of links about cleaning the sensor in a DSLR by real world users of DSLRs. Read the links and understand what you want to do. Go slowly and try to relax. Don't use canned air. Don't use hard stuff on your sensor. Use ONLY stuff made to clean your sensor, carefully, and you and your camera will be fine. Understand that your sensor will never be perfectly spot free, the real world goal is to eliminate at least 95+% of the gunk and leave the rest. This is a good time to be patient but not obsessive about every last little tidbit of dust.

http://www.google.com/custom?sitesearch=luminous-landscape.com&cof=GIMP%3Aff9900%3BT%3Acccccc%3BLW%3A469%3BALC%3A 993300%3BL%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fluminous-landscape.com%2Fimages%2FLL-logo.jpg%3BGFNT%3Affcc00%3BLC%3Acc0000%3BLH%3A81%3 BBGC%3A000000%3BAH%3Acenter%3BVLC%3Acc9900%3BGL%3A 2%3BS%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fluminous-landscape.com%3BGALT%3A006600%3BAWFID%3A35f6ab491f b2b550%3B&domains=luminous-landscape.com&q=sensor+cleaning+&sa=Search+The+Luminous+Landscape

[Sandy]

Great I will read the info so I can clean he sensor myself. I just got back from Samy's, the repair guy used a bulb blower to blow out the dust. It is easy to become obsessive and ruin the camera. I did wipe off the mirror before I read "NEVER TO TOUCH THE MIRROR". oK NEVER again.

Thank you all for your responses. Sandy