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Photo Forum / Digital Photography / DSLR Cameras / February 2006Problem with Canon Digital Rebel XT
I bought a Canon Digital Rebel XT a few months ago. I recently took a trip to Hawaii & shot a lot of photos. When I examined them, I found some darker spots on many of the images, especially of blue sky. I then went back and took a series of plain blue sky images (both JPG & Raw) with 3 different lenses (with & without my skylight filter). The spots appeared in the same position on all of the images. I spoke to Canon & they said that there was probably dust on the sensor. I cleaned it & nothing changed. I read about Hot Pixels, so I took a 25 second photo with the lens cap on - but no spots appeared. I took a picture of a white wall inside my house - no spots appeared. Can anyone assist me with this problem? The camera is still under warranty so I could send it back to Canon. But I hate to lose the camera for a couple weeks if there is nothing wrong with it. I have posted a photo with the spots marked at: http://lbdassociates.com/auctions/Canon%20Spots.htm Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.  Signature--------------------------------------------------------------------------- FOR SCENIC, NATURE PHOTOGRAPHS OF HAWAII, WATERFALLS, RAINBOWS & MORE VISIT MY WEBSITE, SUSAN A. LEVINE PHOTOGRAPHIC ART http://www.lbdassociates.com/salphotos/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > I bought a Canon Digital Rebel XT a few months ago. I recently took a trip > to Hawaii & shot a lot of photos. When I examined them, I found some darker [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. I had the same experience with my Rebel. I returned it to Canon (finding the nearest agent via the web). They confirmed it was spots and cleaned the sensor within a few days at no charge, even though it was out of warranty! Today Dolph commented courteously on the subject at hand >> I bought a Canon Digital Rebel XT a few months ago. I >> recently took a trip to Hawaii & shot a lot of photos. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > confirmed it was spots and cleaned the sensor within a few > days at no charge, even though it was out of warranty! I've fortunately not seen this yet in my new Rebel, and I've taken almost 3,000 pics. I'm not obliquely taking a shot at the OP, but I can't imagine going to Hawaii before making sure the camera was OK, not to mention hundreds and hundreds of test shots to be sure that my "once in a lifetime" pictures, were. SignatureATM, aka Jerry I had taken many pictures but not very many with blue sky and blue water - which is primarily where the spots are noticable. Fortunately, I go to Hawaii every couple years so it is not a "once in a lifetime" photo opportunity. Also - the defect is not noticable on all photos - once again very fortunate. Signature--------------------------------------------------------------------------- FOR SCENIC, NATURE PHOTOGRAPHS OF HAWAII, WATERFALLS, RAINBOWS & MORE VISIT MY WEBSITE, SUSAN A. LEVINE PHOTOGRAPHIC ART http://www.lbdassociates.com/salphotos/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Today Dolph commented courteously on the subject at hand > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > camera was OK, not to mention hundreds and hundreds of test > shots to be sure that my "once in a lifetime" pictures, were. Today Verizon commented courteously on the subject at hand > I had taken many pictures but not very many with blue sky > and blue water - which is primarily where the spots are > noticable. Fortunately, I go to Hawaii every couple years > so it is not a "once in a lifetime" photo opportunity. Also > - the defect is not noticable on all photos - once again > very fortunate. OK. Sorry for the slam. My interest and problem is flash photography of cars in museums, so I made damn sure I bought from a store that would take it back. I'll assume from your reply that you weren't able to test drive blue sky, probably because there wasn't any. While I was evaluating my Rebel, in two car museums, I longed for a sunny day to try daylight general photography and cars outdoors. Not. From December 26 to when my "trial" ran out, there was nary a ray of sun in Michigan. SignatureATM, aka Jerry > Today Dolph commented courteously on the subject at hand > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > camera was OK, not to mention hundreds and hundreds of test > shots to be sure that my "once in a lifetime" pictures, were. Brialliant problem solving jerry, nice work Today Battleax commented courteously on the subject at hand > Brialliant problem solving jerry, nice work I apolgized to the OP, yet it might've saved a lot of heartache to have at least tried to do a hot pixel test or other testing of a broad spectrum of shooting situations, even if there were no sunny days prior to flying to Hawaii. Also, hindsight is always 20/20 while the crystal ball is always cloudy. So, the OP might not have thought of trying a light blue background, nor had any clue that some vintage Rebel's had a problem. I believe in the 6 P Principle - "Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance". The OP's challenge now is to salvage the bad pictures. Getting the camera repaired is clearly secondary. SignatureATM, aka Jerry >I spoke to Canon & they said that there was probably dust on the sensor. I >cleaned it & nothing changed. I read about Hot Pixels, so I took a 25 second >photo with the lens cap on - but no spots appeared. I took a picture of a >white wall inside my house - no spots appeared. Set f/22 and take a picture of the sky. This will show you dust on the sensor, or more specifically the AA filter. How'd you clean the senor, just blowing? SignatureEd Ruf Lifetime AMA# 344007 (Usenet2@EdwardG.Ruf.com) http://edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/General/index.html I cleaned the sensor the way the book said. I used a rubber puff blower. What is the AA filter? Signature--------------------------------------------------------------------------- FOR SCENIC, NATURE PHOTOGRAPHS OF HAWAII, WATERFALLS, RAINBOWS & MORE VISIT MY WEBSITE, SUSAN A. LEVINE PHOTOGRAPHIC ART http://www.lbdassociates.com/salphotos/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >>I spoke to Canon & they said that there was probably dust on the sensor. I [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > just > blowing? >I cleaned the sensor the way the book said. I used a rubber puff blower. >What is the AA filter? it may need more than just a blow, possibly contact cleaning with the correct procedure. > >I cleaned the sensor the way the book said. I used a rubber puff blower. > >What is the AA filter? > > > it may need more than just a blow, possibly contact cleaning with the > correct procedure. Just to say that I have this problem too. I got the camera just before xmas. I thought it was something on the lens at first. It comes up in the same place, with blue sky. If a blower didn't work, would it be best to give it to a shop/Canon to clean? I don't fancy messing with this by hand, as this is my first DSLR. Signaturebellajonez at yahoo dot co dot uk Today Bella Jones commented courteously on the subject at hand >> >I cleaned the sensor the way the book said. I used a >> >rubber puff blower. What is the AA filter? [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > shop/Canon to clean? I don't fancy messing with this by > hand, as this is my first DSLR. My Rebel cost $900. I wouldn't relish sending it off for repair, so I bought an extended warranty from Ritz Camera which will make it easier. That said, unless I was leaving town again, I would send the camera in for repair rather than risk even more damage by rummaging around with a can of air and Q-tips, both of which can irreparably damage the sensors and result in needing to eBay the now-broken camera. SignatureATM, aka Jerry > Today Bella Jones commented courteously on the subject at > hand > >> it may need more than just a blow, possibly contact > >> cleaning with the correct procedure. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > which can irreparably damage the sensors and result in needing > to eBay the now-broken camera. Hmm, well, having just done some tests - blue sky, and white photoshop document on the computer - and improved things with a blower (Giotto rocket) that I just got from Jessops (London), there remains an immovable speck, right near the middle of the sensor, visible to the naked eye. Bad little blob at f32, visible at f13, have to know it was there at f10. Grargh! Plainly clear in the viewfinder as well... Signaturebellajonez at yahoo dot co dot uk Today Bella Jones commented courteously on the subject at hand > Hmm, well, having just done some tests - blue sky, and > white photoshop document on the computer - and improved [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > there at f10. Grargh! Plainly clear in the viewfinder as > well... How can you see sensor spots on the "ground glass" finder on a DSLR? It'd to be really big blobs, not just spots, to "spot" them in the Rebel's very small LCD. As to intentionally small apertures, while I think that's helpful to force the issue, then you backed off to f/13 to see if it was still there. Again, I don't have this, thankfully, but my apertures are rarely smaller than f/8, so isn't your test contrived, as are lab tests of new camera or those being repair. I'm not disputing anyone since I am a newbie to DSLRs, so please don't take my comments as derogatory or insulting. SignatureATM, aka Jerry > Today Bella Jones commented courteously on the subject at > hand [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > DSLR? It'd to be really big blobs, not just spots, to "spot" > them in the Rebel's very small LCD. Good point - even as I sent that post, I knew I should have deleted that bit. What a giveaway... > As to intentionally small apertures, while I think that's > helpful to force the issue, then you backed off to f/13 to see > if it was still there. Again, I don't have this, thankfully, but > my apertures are rarely smaller than f/8, so isn't your test > contrived, as are lab tests of new camera or those being repair. Well, I might well go higher than f/10 at times. If I came upon this pretty sight - <http://www.luminous-landscape.com/1photo-pages/t/tumbleweed_dunes.shtml > - which OK is unlikely in London, it would probably be blobbed. (Original article, bit about 'Sunny 16': <http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/unders tandexposure.shtml>) Incidentally, when might someone use f/32? I suppose one advantage of a smaller aperture is that the blobs will also be smaller, albeit darker, and therefore easier to patch in Photoshop.(?) Signaturebellajonez at yahoo dot co dot uk > Hmm, well, having just done some tests - blue sky, and white photoshop > document on the computer - and improved things with a blower (Giotto > rocket) that I just got from Jessops (London), there remains an > immovable speck, right near the middle of the sensor, visible to the > naked eye. Bad little blob at f32, visible at f13, have to know it was > there at f10. Grargh! Plainly clear in the viewfinder as well... If you see a blob while looking through the viewfinder, that particular blob certainly isn't on the sensor (or rather the AA filter). Bob I don't see the spots on the viewfinder - just on the images. Signature--------------------------------------------------------------------------- FOR SCENIC, NATURE PHOTOGRAPHS OF HAWAII, WATERFALLS, RAINBOWS & MORE VISIT MY WEBSITE, SUSAN A. LEVINE PHOTOGRAPHIC ART http://www.lbdassociates.com/salphotos/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >> Hmm, well, having just done some tests - blue sky, and white photoshop [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > blob certainly isn't on the sensor (or rather the AA filter). > Bob > > Hmm, well, having just done some tests - blue sky, and white photoshop > > document on the computer - and improved things with a blower (Giotto > > rocket) that I just got from Jessops (London), there remains an > > immovable speck, right near the middle of the sensor, visible to the > > naked eye. Bad little blob at f32, visible at f13, have to know it was > > there at f10. Grargh! Plainly clear in the viewfinder as well... > If you see a blob while looking through the viewfinder, that particular blob > certainly isn't on the sensor (or rather the AA filter). Yep - I feel a bit dumb now. :-) Great, so I have dust on the sensor *and* the viewfinder. But how did it get on the viewfinder, and how can I get rid of it I wonder...? Signaturebellajonez at yahoo dot co dot uk > > > Hmm, well, having just done some tests - blue sky, and white photoshop > > > document on the computer - and improved things with a blower (Giotto [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > *and* the viewfinder. But how did it get on the viewfinder, and how can > I get rid of it I wonder...? <waves> Just hope it isn't inside the prism, or it will be a service job to fix. Hopefully it is on the mirror, the focus screen above the mirror, or on the eyepiece :) Having read this lot think I'm going to have to do some test shots this weekend. SignatureJon B Above email address IS valid. <http://www.bramley-computers.co.uk/> Apple Laptop Repairs. > > > If you see a blob while looking through the viewfinder, that > > > particular blob certainly isn't on the sensor (or rather the AA [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Hopefully it is on the mirror, the focus screen above the mirror, or on > the eyepiece :) <waves back> Just had a blow at those bits. No change. Bollocks. But it isn't awful, just slightly distracting. > Having read this lot think I'm going to have to do some test shots this > weekend. I feel a bit of a twat with this thing stuck on the sensor. Until I brave sorting it all out, I shall adopt the pose of 'All apertures smaller than f/8 are for wimps'. That will be my story, and I shall stick to it. :-) Signaturebellajonez at yahoo dot co dot uk > > > > If you see a blob while looking through the viewfinder, that > > > > particular blob certainly isn't on the sensor (or rather the AA [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > awful, just slightly distracting. > Yeah I've had a few in mine for a bit, lens cleaning cloth in the eyepiece, and removing that hair that sat on the focus screen that had been nagging me for a while. Much nicer. > > Having read this lot think I'm going to have to do some test shots this > > weekend. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > smaller than f/8 are for wimps'. That will be my story, and I shall > stick to it. :-) Well some of these mystic blue skies you mentioned appeared today in Derbyshire, f16. Feck. Think I'm going to have to order one of them there Giotto's and a starter cleaning kit from Just Black's. Also going to have to sort out that coupler charger that never came with the camera :-/ SignatureJon B Above email address IS valid. <http://www.bramley-computers.co.uk/> Apple Laptop Repairs. >there Giotto's and a starter cleaning kit from Just Black's. Also going >to have to sort out that coupler charger that never came with the camera >:-/ If you mean an AC adapter in American speak, just use a fresh charged battery if you are worried. This would be another excuse to have a spare if you don't all ready have one. SignatureEd Ruf Lifetime AMA# 344007 (Usenet2@EdwardG.Ruf.com) http://edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/General/index.html > >there Giotto's and a starter cleaning kit from Just Black's. Also going > >to have to sort out that coupler charger that never came with the camera [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > battery if you are worried. This would be another excuse to have a spare if > you don't all ready have one. Yes its the AC adapter I'm missing. If the accepted way to shove it into bulb mode then? iirc my D30 won't go into sensor clean mode unless it is on the mains. Between the G2 and the D30 I've got 4 batteries so well covered there :) SignatureJon B Above email address IS valid. <http://www.bramley-computers.co.uk/> Apple Laptop Repairs. >Yes its the AC adapter I'm missing. If the accepted way to shove it into >bulb mode then? iirc my D30 won't go into sensor clean mode unless it is >on the mains. Between the G2 and the D30 I've got 4 batteries so well >covered there :) Sorry, My Nikon D70 will flip the mirror to allow cleaning while on battery power. I made a bad assumption this was possible for you and your camera. SignatureEd Ruf Lifetime AMA# 344007 (Usenet2@EdwardG.Ruf.com) http://edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/General/index.html >I cleaned the sensor the way the book said. I used a rubber puff blower. >What is the AA filter? Anti aliasing filter. You're probably going to have to resort to a wet cleaning method using Eclipse pure alcohol and a Sensor Swap or Pec Pad. See http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/image/11151178 as a start. It's best if you learn how to do this yourself. It's not that big a deal. SignatureEd Ruf Lifetime AMA# 344007 (Usenet2@EdwardG.Ruf.com) http://edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/General/index.html I took the picture at F22 as suggested, and saw the same spots that I had seen at other exposures. Does that mean that it is dust?? --------------------------------------------------------------------------- FOR SCENIC, NATURE PHOTOGRAPHS OF HAWAII, WATERFALLS, RAINBOWS & MORE VISIT MY WEBSITE, SUSAN A. LEVINE PHOTOGRAPHIC ART http://www.lbdassociates.com/salphotos/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>I spoke to Canon & they said that there was probably dust on the sensor. I >>cleaned it & nothing changed. I read about Hot Pixels, so I took a 25 [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > just > blowing? >I took the picture at F22 as suggested, and saw the same spots that I had >seen at other exposures. Does that mean that it is dust?? Yes. Suggest you get some Eclipse (comes with a few PEC pads) and follow the directions.....sounds like you just have some spots on the sensor filter......after cleaning with Eclipse, use your blower to make sure the filter is dry then do some test shots against a blue sky at f/11 or smaller. Hope this helps. Mike >I bought a Canon Digital Rebel XT a few months ago. I recently took a trip >to Hawaii & shot a lot of photos. When I examined them, I found some darker [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. I got some Eclipse & Sensor Swabs today. After 2 cleanings with 2 swabs it looks great! Thanks for all the advice. Now new questions - can you use Pec Pads rather than the very expensive Sensor Swabs? Also - any tips on keeping the sensor clean??? I was doing a lot of scenic photography in Hawaii & switching lenses a lot. How do people prevent problems? Or, is it just a fact of life with digital cameras? I saw that using zoom lenses made the problem worse. Is that true? I always try to change my lenses in a way that doesn't leave the inside of the camera exposed to the air for very long. Do you need to blow out the inside with air before putting on the new lens? --------------------------------------------------------------------------- FOR SCENIC, NATURE PHOTOGRAPHS OF HAWAII, WATERFALLS, RAINBOWS & MORE VISIT MY WEBSITE, SUSAN A. LEVINE PHOTOGRAPHIC ART http://www.lbdassociates.com/salphotos/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Suggest you get some Eclipse (comes with a few PEC pads) and follow the > directions.....sounds like you just have some spots on the sensor [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] >> >> Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. >Now new questions - can you use Pec Pads rather than the very expensive >Sensor Swabs? Those are what I used for my first 'wet clean' last week, wrapped round a SensorWand from <http://www.micro-tools.com>. >How do people prevent problems? Or, is it just a fact of life with digital cameras? Dust ingress has always been an issue with interchangeable-lens cameras, it's just that the digital sensor makes its presence much more obvious than it was with film. I personally don't find it a frequent problem, and just give the body a 30s blast with a Rocket blower every couple of weeks to keep things tidy. In fact, it wasn't dust but a speck of 'flock' from the mirror box adhering to the sensor that required the Eclipse treatment - the darn thing was clearly visible on images taken at f/4! <g> >Do you need to blow out the inside with air before putting on the new lens? I wouldn't say you *need* to but if you had the time it wouldn't hurt. Me, I do the maintenance at home and worry only about the photography when in the field. :-) Al Signature[This space left intentionally blank] |
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