Cleaning sensor or behind lens? at DVinfo.net

Jim Newberry · March 16th, 2008, 02:06 PM

When focusing extremely close with my XH-A1, I can see some dust or something which is not on the front of the lens--I can't tell if it's on the rear element or sensor. Is this something I need to have serviced, or is there a safeish way for me to clean in myself?

Chris Soucy · March 16th, 2008, 08:55 PM

If there is indeed "stuff" anywhere behind the front lens element or on the sensor, there is no way for a user to fix it. At least, not without shooting your warranty down in flames.

Intrigued as to how it could have got there, the lens modules are, as far as I'm aware, completely sealed units with no external openings whatsoever.

That said, I had a lens module replaced in my XL1s some years ago - the "new" sealed module when examined carefully looked like someone had flicked their cigarrette into it - white flakes of "stuff" everywhere.

The Canon tech was utterly gobsmacked.

So, it can happen.

CS

Ernest Freeman · March 16th, 2008, 09:45 PM

Are you sure that it is not just in the eyepiece? Lift the eyepiece up as far as it will go, on the bottom side you will find a little rubber plug. Remove this plug and carefully clean the lens with a cotton swab. Let us know if this alleviates your problems.

Bill Pryor · March 17th, 2008, 01:31 PM

Are you seeing it on your monitor? If not, then it's on the viewfinder.

Richard Hunter · March 17th, 2008, 02:03 PM

I doubt if a zoom lens can be hermetically sealed, so I guess if the cam was used in a dirty environment it is possible for particles to get inside.

Richard

Andy Gordon · March 17th, 2008, 09:49 PM

I shoot at the beach in strong wind all the time and I've had a grain of sand appear on the inside surface of the front lens element twice. It shows up as a shadow in the footage. Rather than send the camera to canon and be without it for a several weeks (which is how long it took to resolve a jammed tape) I unscrewed the front lens element and a quick blast of air removed the grain.

Daniel Browning · March 17th, 2008, 10:38 PM

Dirty environment? No, it's very easy to get dust on the sensor. I babied my XH A1, and only ever shot indoors, but I still got two big gobs of dust on it after just three weeks of ownership. I have to be careful to shoot at f/3.4 to avoid it; I'm glad I don't try to shoot macro very often. To see if your camera has dust, shoot f/9, infinity focus, on a monotone light subject, exposed to the right, then examine it at 100%

March 16th, 2008, 02:06 PM	#1
Jim Newberry Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 170	Cleaning sensor or behind lens? When focusing extremely close with my XH-A1, I can see some dust or something which is not on the front of the lens--I can't tell if it's on the rear element or sensor. Is this something I need to have serviced, or is there a safeish way for me to clean in myself?

March 16th, 2008, 08:55 PM	#2
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,691 Images: 18	Hi Jim......... If there is indeed "stuff" anywhere behind the front lens element or on the sensor, there is no way for a user to fix it. At least, not without shooting your warranty down in flames. Intrigued as to how it could have got there, the lens modules are, as far as I'm aware, completely sealed units with no external openings whatsoever. That said, I had a lens module replaced in my XL1s some years ago - the "new" sealed module when examined carefully looked like someone had flicked their cigarrette into it - white flakes of "stuff" everywhere. The Canon tech was utterly gobsmacked. So, it can happen. CS

March 16th, 2008, 09:45 PM	#3
Ernest Freeman New Boot Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: R.S.M. Calif USA Posts: 16	Are you sure that it is not just in the eyepiece? Lift the eyepiece up as far as it will go, on the bottom side you will find a little rubber plug. Remove this plug and carefully clean the lens with a cotton swab. Let us know if this alleviates your problems.

March 17th, 2008, 01:31 PM	#4
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Are you seeing it on your monitor? If not, then it's on the viewfinder.

March 17th, 2008, 02:03 PM	#5
Richard Hunter Trustee Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lipa City Batangas, Philippines Posts: 1,110	I doubt if a zoom lens can be hermetically sealed, so I guess if the cam was used in a dirty environment it is possible for particles to get inside. Richard

March 17th, 2008, 09:49 PM	#6
Andy Gordon Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Perth WA Posts: 103	I shoot at the beach in strong wind all the time and I've had a grain of sand appear on the inside surface of the front lens element twice. It shows up as a shadow in the footage. Rather than send the camera to canon and be without it for a several weeks (which is how long it took to resolve a jammed tape) I unscrewed the front lens element and a quick blast of air removed the grain.

March 17th, 2008, 10:38 PM	#7
Daniel Browning Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 949	Dirty environment? No, it's very easy to get dust on the sensor. I babied my XH A1, and only ever shot indoors, but I still got two big gobs of dust on it after just three weeks of ownership. I have to be careful to shoot at f/3.4 to avoid it; I'm glad I don't try to shoot macro very often. To see if your camera has dust, shoot f/9, infinity focus, on a monotone light subject, exposed to the right, then examine it at 100%