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Playing with a 400D and tested the sensor dust removal features ...
found 25 relatively minor dust specks on the sensor of a new camera
which the sensor-shake feature did not remove. Tried the "Dust Delete
Data" software mapping option with mixed results.

Even if you are sure you'll never own a Rebel you might find this write
up interesting since it's likely Canon will put their sensor dust
removal features in future cameras.

Details here ... http://members.aol.com/bhilton665/tests/dust_400d/

If you have a 400D could you check for sensor dust using the same steps
outlined in the site above and let me know what you find?

Bill.

"Bill Hilton" <> wrote in message
news: ups.com...
> Playing with a 400D and tested the sensor dust removal features ...
> found 25 relatively minor dust specks on the sensor of a new camera
> which the sensor-shake feature did not remove. Tried the "Dust Delete
> Data" software mapping option with mixed results.
>
> Even if you are sure you'll never own a Rebel you might find this write
> up interesting since it's likely Canon will put their sensor dust
> removal features in future cameras.
>
> Details here ... http://members.aol.com/bhilton665/tests/dust_400d/
>
> If you have a 400D could you check for sensor dust using the same steps
> outlined in the site above and let me know what you find?
>
> Bill.
>

Bill,
I found your test very interesing and I'm looking forward to the follow-up
as well as people's comments. What I found strange is the fact that new, the
sensor was already "dirty".
I might add an idea that popped up to my mind while reading : what might be
acceptable to some may become unacceptable to others. You were right in
saying that some of those specs might not show up on an ordinary photo while
they do on the DDD.
Cheers,
Marcel

I just thought of another test to run ... turn off the "automatic
sensor cleaning" feature so the sensor cover won't vibrate, then put a
100-400 IS lens on ... this one zooms by extending the barrel, forcing
air out the back of the lens and into the chamber when you zoom from
400 to 100 mm, long suspected as a source of dust.

So I'll trombone this lens a dozen times then re-run the dust check and
see if I get any new specks. If I do then I'll turn back on the ASC
feature and see if these are cleaned. You would think this is the kind
of dust that the ASC would clean up. Will probably do this in the next
few hours.

Bill

> Celcius wrote:
>
> Bill,
> I found your test very interesing and I'm looking forward to the follow-up
> as well as people's comments. What I found strange is the fact that new, the
> sensor was already "dirty".
..
Marcel,

I think I have bad luck with dirty new cameras from Canon. The first
digital I ever bought was the 1Ds and I was really, REALLY nervous
about having to learn how to clean the sensor by practicing on an
$8,000 camera So I was really careful when I put the lens on and
didn't want to take it off ... then I stopped down to f/32 to a panning
shot and the dirt was awful ... I just went back to that frame and it
had 113 specks on it ... here's a 100% crop snippet, it was about this
bad all over the frame ... this is from a new camera ...
http://members.aol.com/bhilton665/te...dust_W0286.jpg
..

> I might add an idea that popped up to my mind while reading : what might be
> acceptable to some may become unacceptable to others.

I agree. For me I know I have a problem if I see the specks at 25%,
typically when previewing the images with the RAW converter. Probably
the 25 specks on the 400D sensor would not show up in my normal
shooting except when I stopped down for panning, but still I would
prefer to remove them

Bill

"Bill Hilton" <> wrote in message
news: ups.com...
>> Celcius wrote:
>>
>> Bill,
>> I found your test very interesing and I'm looking forward to the
>> follow-up
>> as well as people's comments. What I found strange is the fact that new,
>> the
>> sensor was already "dirty".
> .
> Marcel,
>
> I think I have bad luck with dirty new cameras from Canon. The first
> digital I ever bought was the 1Ds and I was really, REALLY nervous
> about having to learn how to clean the sensor by practicing on an
> $8,000 camera So I was really careful when I put the lens on and
> didn't want to take it off ... then I stopped down to f/32 to a panning
> shot and the dirt was awful ... I just went back to that frame and it
> had 113 specks on it ... here's a 100% crop snippet, it was about this
> bad all over the frame ... this is from a new camera ...
> http://members.aol.com/bhilton665/te...dust_W0286.jpg
> .
>
>> I might add an idea that popped up to my mind while reading : what might
>> be
>> acceptable to some may become unacceptable to others.
>
> I agree. For me I know I have a problem if I see the specks at 25%,
> typically when previewing the images with the RAW converter. Probably
> the 25 specks on the 400D sensor would not show up in my normal
> shooting except when I stopped down for panning, but still I would
> prefer to remove them
>
> Bill
>

Hi Bill!

Please don't get angry at me. I find this pretty clean... You should have
seen my 350D before I decided to clean it with a Pecpad and Eclipse
I do agree that it's a darn nuisance. I have a Canon, but I doubt people who
have a Nikon 70D, Canon 20D or anything else for that matter who change
lenses and tell us that everything is fine!

Take care,

Marcel

Bill Hilton <> wrote:
>Playing with a 400D and tested the sensor dust removal features ...
>found 25 relatively minor dust specks on the sensor of a new camera
>which the sensor-shake feature did not remove. Tried the "Dust Delete
>Data" software mapping option with mixed results.

>Even if you are sure you'll never own a Rebel you might find this write
>up interesting since it's likely Canon will put their sensor dust
>removal features in future cameras.

>Details here ... http://members.aol.com/bhilton665/tests/dust_400d/

>If you have a 400D could you check for sensor dust using the same steps
>outlined in the site above and let me know what you find?

Thanks Bill. I've marked that URL for future reference.

The sensor dust removal stuff is all quite new. I'd expect that
in a little while Canon might come out with updated instructions
or the community will more or less agree on a proper set of
instructions.

Still, the problems you found are worrisome.

---- Paul J. Gans

>Bill Hilton wrote:
>
> Playing with a 400D and tested the sensor dust removal features ...
> found 25 relatively minor dust specks on the sensor of a new camera
> which the sensor-shake feature did not remove. Tried the "Dust Delete
> Data" software mapping option with mixed results.
>
> Even if you are sure you'll never own a Rebel you might find this write
> up interesting since it's likely Canon will put their sensor dust
> removal features in future cameras.
>
> Details here ... http://members.aol.com/bhilton665/tests/dust_400d/
>
> If you have a 400D could you check for sensor dust using the same steps
> outlined in the site above and let me know what you find?
>
> Bill.

(Sorry if a similar post appears twice, the first one crashed as it was
uploading so dunno if it made it ... don't see it so probably not).

I posted an update to the site, trimming down the first part a bit and
adding some new tests.

Turned off the auto sensor clean and played trombone with a 100-400 IS
L trying to stir up the air in the chamber to see if I could add more
dust ... this was too successful, adding ten new spots, including one
so big than even Marcel might be bothered by it ... then turned ASC
back on to see if five cleaning cycles would clear up the new dust
specks ... read about the results at the link ...

Also tried a 27 shot burst to see what effects a rapidly flapping
shutter might have if there is known dust in the chamber ...

Then I did a manual sensor clean, first with the Sensor Brush (which
got most of it) and finally with a Pec Pad and Eclipse ... first time
I've ever had a speck that wouldn't clear up with a Pec Pad.

Added a summary and my conclusions at the end. Canon lovers may
cringe, Canon haters will enjoy reading it ...

Bill