that didn't take long

[spencewine]

4 days I've had it and I've already got what appears to be a particle of dirt on my M-mount sensor. Do I clean it myself or send it back? I'm afraid if I send it back I'll be waiting some time for another one, but if I keep it and it's more than just dirt, then, well that would suck.

 

[__--]

Four days is not inordinately short to get dirt on the sensor. Of course you should clean it yourself, with blower as described in the manual, rather than sending it back. I used to do this all the time when I had my Leica M8.2. Indeed. it's so common that there is no reason for me to commiserate with you and to offer my condolences.

—Mitch/Bangkok
Paris au rythme de Basquiat

 

[spencewine]

I used a Giottos blower on it and it's still there, I can actually see the chunk of dirt. The reason I'm a little concerned is that it'll require buying a sensor cleaning kit, I think, and physically wiping the sensor - which basically is what the manual says not to do and would probably void any warranty.

 

[Ronald_H]

I worried about this in 2004 when I bought my Nikon D70.

http://www.copperhillimages.com/index.php?pr=tutorials2

Costs nothing, works. Don't be paranoid about touching the sensor.

 

[magicianhisoka]

I had an extremely dirty sensor once. Cleaned it out after 10 minutes of blowing on the sensor. Not with my breath of course 🙂 Just takes some patience.

 

[dovi]

I have a speck on my 50mm a12 although it claims to be sealed

I have a speck on my 50mm a12 although it claims to be sealed

pain in the neck because I hear that their repairfolks in the usa want 150 + to clean.

I really think given their claims for the sealed units, It should not be this expensive to clean.

If I new then what I know now, I would just go with the OLY Pen.

Can you just use regular methods to clean the m adapter unit? I mean a blower and a cleaning kit.

 

[hans voralberg]

Why not, and who the hell charge $150 for a clean? It's just a sensor like any other camera, a sensor cleaning kit will do. Any camera can get dust, you can't seal the lens mount opening.

 

[dovi]

the a12 50mm field of view (33mm ) module is sealed

the a12 50mm field of view (33mm ) module is sealed

CrissCam, according to another site, wants something like 150+ to clean a sealed module that poster queried about.

I was asking if with the m module traditional methods will work.
Although I am disappointed with the spot on my sealed unit, I am curious about the m module because I think it is cheaper than dumping my Ricoh system and buying Oly...

 

[spencewine]

update

update

So after 5 minutes of intense blowing with the Giottos, I blew the piece of dirt off, but not before it left a trail of residue....What was a tiny spot of dirt is now a 3mm trail across the sensor. Oddly, I'm actually relieved that it blew off as I thought it might so how have been something more than dirt (like a scratch). I've got a 50mm elmar f2.8 that I mounted on this ( it says it's okay on ricoh's website) and if fits in the lens checker collapsed - but barely, so I was a little nervous I managed to damage something.

I guess I'd eventually have to get a sensor cleaning kit anyway, I just didn't expect it to be 3-4 days after I bought the unit. Thanks all for the advice.

 

[dovi]

Good Luck!

Good Luck!

I hope the sensor cleaners work for you.

In the past when I was using a Nikon D70, the Eclipse line of sensor cleaner worked well for me. It cost me around $45 some years back.

Anyone else have a brand they particularly like?

 

[jl-lb.ms]

It's true - I called CRIS to get a quote on cleaning dust on a sealed sensor P10 unit, and they wouldn't even quote a price. Said to send it in and they'd give me a quote. I pressed for an estimate and she replied "$150 on up."