Cleaning bits of Cameras (DSLR)

[Jono]

Hi,

Well i didn't bother with the blu-tak + compact idea; my sister kindly let me borrow hers, which is a Pentax K-X or something, some kind of entry level DSLR I believe.

I got some ok results with it (for me, anyway) - and I bought a couple of 52mm Hoya ND filters... and a camera cleaning kit. However, I stupidly used the cloth that came with the kit on one of the filters, and now it has lint all over it. Stupid lint-tastic lint-free cloth + stupid me = hmmm.

Anyway - I noticed that there are loads of little dark dots on the pictures I took, which I managed to clean up in photoshop, but where on the camera are they likely to be? The sensor has a dust removal thing which seems to be active on startup, so I'm thinking maybe it's the mirror? Is this something I can clean myself (how?) or is it best taking it to a proper shop and letting them have a look, and if so how much is it likely to cost? Or could it be on the lenses? I can't *see* anything at the external side of the lens(es) she has... but maybe there's a splodge of muck on the end that fits into the camera?

 

[neil_g]

dark dots are usually dust on the sensor (remember on an SLR the mirror moves out of the way for the shot so wont interfer with the image).

you can clean yourself with the correct cleaning swabs (not a cotton wool on a stick job), consult your manual on how there is normally a menu option that locks the mirror out of the way. or you can give to a shop to do.

 

[rpstewart]

It'll be dust on the sensor, the mirror gets out of the way to take the shot so the marks can't be on there. Even if the camera has a dust removal system they're far from perfect, all they do is shake the sensor and hope the dust drops off.

Cleaning the sensor is fairly simple, start with a Rocket Blower and see how that does, failing that it's onto a wet clean with pec-pads and eclipse fluid.