Removing Stubborn Dust From Sensor....

[mdwsta4]

I hadn't cleaned the sensor on my X-Pro 2 for far too long. Likely before I moved across country 6 months ago. In that time I've been in some harsh environments where I have changed lenses. As cautious as I try to be, it's inevitable the sensor will get dirty (no surprise).

I didn't realize how dirty until earlier this week when I was shooting long exposures with an ultra wide lens. The images are basically a bust since there are so many and photoshop seems incapable of removing them without being obvious. Here is an example:

(Please ignore the processing. I purposely did this to show the extent of the dust)


After noticing the above, I did my usual wet clean that I have done for over a decade and I've never run into a problem where the sensor wasn't clean after one go or perhaps two. Used 3 different swabs and cleaned the sensor 3 full times and while I thought it was clean, it was not.

(Same purposeful processing to bring out the dust)

Cleaned the sensor with 2 more swabs today and it is STILL dirty.

At this point, I'm at a loss. I have no idea why this dust is sticking or what I can do at this point to remove it. I would really hate to have to send my camera in to Fuji to have them clean it as swabbing the sensor has always been a fairly basic task.

Any of you have suggestions on stubborn dust spots?

 

[Larry H-L]

Those spots are really quite large, larger than I have experienced, and they have a decidedly hexagonal shape. Could it be something else, such as condensation under the sensor cover glass?

If it was dust, the spots should be in the same area on every shot. Third shot appears different?

 

[Shac]

Matt - I had similar issues with my Nex6 despite several wet cleanings. In the end I assumed it was dirt that got under the sensor cover glass. I'd had the camera since they first came out so it had done me well. I sold the body to a fellow who knew the problem and wanted to play around with the sensor. So a win-win.

I know this is no help but good luck with yours - maybe check with Fuji - they do seem awfully large ad Larry H-L noticed

 

[willie_901]

You may be able to find a local camera shop with a technician qualified to clean sensors.

The hexagon shapes are puzzling. I've never seen these before. Did you use the camera where there was salt water spray? A wild guess would be the hexagon shapes are related to some sort of crystalline structure.

Most difficult to clean debris involves dust, etc. that was aggregated by the evaporation water or shutter oil droplets. These adhere to the cover glass.

Did cleaning have any affect at all?

 

[Huss]

Those hexagonal spots are very unusual looking for sensor dust. Do they vary in size depending on what aperture is used?
If you don't have a sensor loupe, you can go to Samys Camera on Fairfax in LA and have them look at it to see if they can tell what's amiss before doing anything. Or Steve's Camera in Culver City.

 

[mdwsta4]

I cleaned the sensor a few more times with a lot more pressure than I have ever used previously. Also thoroughly cleaned the filter along with front/rear elements.

There are still a few smaller spots, but it's mostly clean now. Definitely had something somewhere!

 

[Huss]

What did you use to clean the sensor?

 

[mdwsta4]

What did you use to clean the sensor?

Eclipse solution and pec pads.

 

[rybolt]

From the look of some of those spots I think at least some of the stuff was on the rear element.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

From the look of some of those spots I think at least some of the stuff was on the rear element.

I think that is possibly where the hexagonal shape was coming from.

Phil Forrest

 

[Ronald M]

One needs to use rear caps that are clean on the inside.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness when it come to photography.

Angry Photographer has a nice vid on you tube on how to keep lenses clean.

 

[rybolt]

stuff happens. I had a tiny water spot on the rear element of the 10-24 and it made a very obvious spot on the image. It's a good lesson.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Off topic: Where/what is the unique structure in the photos?

 

[ptpdprinter]

Off topic: Where/what is the unique structure in the photos?

It's the Air Force Memorial outside of Washington, D.C.

 

[mdwsta4]

Agreed. Didn't think I had anything on there, but clearly something got onto the rear element.

From the look of some of those spots I think at least some of the stuff was on the rear element.

I like to think I keep all of my gear clean, but when you travel to sand dunes, foreign countries with a tremendous amount of dust/dirt, or coastlines, **** happens.

One needs to use rear caps that are clean on the inside.

As already mentioned, it's the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, VA (across from DC)

Off topic: Where/what is the unique structure in the photos?

 

[Danlo]

I do not recommend anyone trying this with their expensive cameras, but I got a cheap used Nikon J5 from a big Swedish online store. I just knew in my gut that there would be a big fingerprint on the sensor, and behold, when I took the body cap off, there it was 😀 So, i used a lens cloth and just wiped it clean. Didnt get any scratches or anything. So after that experience I am not that afraid to clean an image sensor anymore. Will not clean my more expensive cameras this way though.. 🙂

 

[DHK]

I recently, knowingly, purchased an x pro 1 with sensor dust (at a reasonable price from someone here at RFF.) the dust seems to be under the IR glass and on the sensor itself. Fuji wants to charge about $175 for the repair. Are there any other reputable shops that can disassemble and clean? I suppose $175 isn’t so bad but it’s not nothing., especially since I can remove in PS.

 

[twopointeight]

$175 is fair, considering they will do a complete diagnostic and CLA. Ask.

 

[DHK]

$175 is fair, considering they will do a complete diagnostic and CLA. Ask.

Good point, I will call again and ask about that. I’m under the impression this fee is for only opening it up, cleaning the dust, and putting it back together. Possibly a glass filter part.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I hadn't cleaned the sensor on my X-Pro 2 for far too long. Likely before I moved across country 6 months ago. In that time I've been in some harsh environments where I have changed lenses. As cautious as I try to be, it's inevitable the sensor will get dirty (no surprise).

I didn't realize how dirty until earlier this week when I was shooting long exposures with an ultra wide lens. The images are basically a bust since there are so many and photoshop seems incapable of removing them without being obvious. Here is an example:

(Please ignore the processing. I purposely did this to show the extent of the dust)


After noticing the above, I did my usual wet clean that I have done for over a decade and I've never run into a problem where the sensor wasn't clean after one go or perhaps two. Used 3 different swabs and cleaned the sensor 3 full times and while I thought it was clean, it was not.

(Same purposeful processing to bring out the dust)

Cleaned the sensor with 2 more swabs today and it is STILL dirty.

At this point, I'm at a loss. I have no idea why this dust is sticking or what I can do at this point to remove it. I would really hate to have to send my camera in to Fuji to have them clean it as swabbing the sensor has always been a fairly basic task.

Any of you have suggestions on stubborn dust spots?

It isn't dust. It is the gunk.

Swab has to match sensor size. Use as pure as possible alcohol available in the фотки land 🙂. It has to be 90+ % and just opened.
Sensor cleaning liquids like Arctic Butterfly are scam.