Sensor Cleaning?

[JimNotJon]

Would anyone recommend either Jessops or London Camera Exchange to clean your camera for you?

After a bit of a session at Brands Hatch the other week, I have noticed I can see a black spec through the view finder of my Pentax K10d. Swapped lenses and its the same. I tried locking the mirror up and removing the artifact with compressed air to no avail.

Recommendations please! Im in Lincoln by the way and the shops above are the only ones I know of.

[craig_s]

Does it appear in the photos? That's the important thing!
If you can see it through the viewfinder it's more likely to be something on the window between the viewfinder & the mirror or could be on the mirror itself. I've got a couple of specs that are only visible through the viewfinder that I can't shift but don't appear in photos so I do my best to forget they are there.

[ian in lancs]

if you can see it through the viewfinder its not on the sensor. Dust on the sensor can be seen on plain areas of a downloaded image when the aperture is at a high number circa 22 plus. These can be cleaned in aggression order; blower brush (don't use compressed air - it can leave marks from the propellant), artic butterfly, Eclipse wands and fluid (i use all these - very good) and only as a last result take it to a shop and never to Jessops or LCE! In five years and 70,000 pics I've never had to resort to paying for it.

[itsnotarace]

You might get lucky in Jessops and find someone with half a clue, you may not. Personally I wouldn't risk it. Go and have a chat with London Camera Exchange and see if the staff seem competent or look for a small independant.

2 mins on Google just threw these up:

http://www.afosterandson.co.uk/index.html
http://www.qype.co.uk/place/328143-George-Tokarski...

[JimNotJon]

Thanks guys. Its a bit dark to check for specs but took a picture of a bright white page on my laptop and there are no visible marks. Like you said, could just be on the inside of the view finder.

[Simpo Two]

Point the blower at the ground glass screen (above the sensor).

[racing green]

I have an old K100D which doesn't shake its sensor to clean every time. I have some stuff made by Photographic solutions which combined with a sensor cleaning swab clears away any spots on my sensor. I take a photo of the sky which is the easiest way to find any spots. My other K100 Super is self cleaning to a degree but still needs a little help every now and again. Its much cheaper to do it yourself but I guess that either company mentioned would be able to do the job in the shop there and then - for a price.

[itsnotarace]

JimNotJon said:

Thanks guys. Its a bit dark to check for specs but took a picture of a bright white page on my laptop and there are no visible marks. Like you said, could just be on the inside of the view finder.

That probably wont help. Take a picture of the sky at f/32

[Hedgeman]

I'd also recommend the arctic butterfly if you do need to clean your sensor.

[Hedgeman]

I'd also recommend the arctic butterfly if you do need to clean your sensor.