5D mk 1 sensor clean
 

HI,

I have just received my 5D and I think the sensor needs cleaning. There are lots of black specks when I look through the viewfinder, and when I go into Photoshop and click autolevels, they show up. Is it a good idea to do it yourself? if so, how if not, I need a fast trunaround can you recommend a shop - am in the N Lincs area.

Also took delivery of my new Canon 2.8 L 24-70mm lens and my images seem a bit soft. I have a Hoya prod 1 uv filter on. I am not used to a heavy lens, my previous camera is a 300D with kit lens.

What am i doing wrong?

Thanks
Jaime (a girl)

You won't see marks on the sensor by looking through the viewfinder as the sensor is hidden behind the mirror, what you see through the viewfinder are marks on the mirror, prism and focusing screen, usually on the inside of the focusing screen. There is a small catch on the screen which makes the holding plate drop down and you can take out the screen and clean it. You can clean the underside of the screen and the mirror when you take the lens off.

As regards sensor dust, stop the lens down to f22, take a shot of something white, like the sky or a door, making sure you get a reasonably bright image, then use that image to check for sensor marks.

Thank you so much for the quick reply, I will have a look at that now! What should I use to clean it? I have a lens clear pen.

Could you give me some more details as to how I get the focuusing screen out etc? It is all new to me.

Thanks again

Jaime

the focusing screen sits on a metal tray which you can flip down, when you take the lens off look into the camera and look at the top of the inside, the plastic frosted rectangle is the bit I mean, you might see osme marks on it which can be wiped off, to get to the other hidden side of it you need to release the support tray,

on the top edge of the screen/tray is a small clip, if you push/pull it (can't recall off top of head which) the tray will drop down, be careful as the screen can then fall out and may end up on the floor if you're not careful,

take it out, clean it with a clean lint free cloth or microfibre cloth, breath should be all you need on it, then carefully put it back the same way it came out, push the whole thing back up into the roof until it click locks back in.

Get an Artic Butterfly to clean your sensor, mirror and focus screen. :D

I have found a rocket blower is good for just shifting dust and if the sensor has been really bad a wet clean has always worked for me using swabs and eclipse fluid form [url=http://www.cameraclean.co.uk/products.php?cat=Sensor+Cleaning+Tools+-+Wet]here[/url]. Having said that on one occasion it did take a couple of attempts.

I have read good things about the artic butterfly OldBoy recommended also.

Just take care when cleaning the sensor though but on the same token don't be scared as with a little common sense and care it is straight forward.

Thanks very much everyone, I managed to take the focussing screen out but couldn't see any marks. I am assuming the dust is up in the eyepiece somewhere? I need to get a blower/arctic butterfly and then will tackle!

Many thanks
Jaime

Could be just above the focussing screen. I took the screen out and cleaned above it with lens fluid cleaner.

I did, like a fool, clean the mirror with the fluid too but to no detriment thank goodness!!

Still have a couple of dust / marks when looking through viewfinder though.