HELP! Dust underneath Canon sensor (UK)

[MIDI_EVIL]

I have a Canon 40D, and I have dust actually underneath my sensor, not on the surface. I've cleaned it with the correct solutions and used air blowers but to no avail.

I've contacted Canon and they have some repair centre details for me, but with no prices.

How much am I expecting to pay for someone to clean my sensor, which will probably involve them actually removing it from the camera.

Here is an attachment with the dust...

 

[AlaskaMoose]

Underneath the sensor? I thought that there was a filter over the sensor. Could the dust be underneath the filter?

 

[compuwar]

I have a Canon 40D, and I have dust actually underneath my sensor, not on the surface. I've cleaned it with the correct solutions and used air blowers but to no avail.

No, you don't. Underneath the sensor is "never shows up in an image circuit board." However, sensor cleaning well is not trivial, are you absolutely sure you've cleaned it well enough with good solid swabs? You may have something under the Anti-Aliasing filter or the hot mirror, but that's not under the sensor... Can you actually see something on the sensor, or could it be dead sensels?

I've contacted Canon and they have some repair centre details for me, but with no prices.

How much am I expecting to pay for someone to clean my sensor, which will probably involve them actually removing it from the camera.

Here is an attachment with the dust...

You don't have to remove the sensor from the camera to get under the AA filter or hot mirror unless they're one complete assembly, but you do need the right tools and a clean-room environment to do it well. In the US, I'd expect that to be $150-250ish if it's a removable AA filter or hot mirror issue. But it's best to send it in and have them quote it.

 

[krissears]

camera cleaning

i guess cleaning the sensor with swab is okay.. cleaning by brushing or blowing... but the best would be to go their camera service center just to make sure that you're camera is cleaned in the right way..

doing it yourself if you're really not good when it comes to cameras might damage it so be careful...

 

[MIDI_EVIL]

No, you don't. Underneath the sensor is "never shows up in an image circuit board." However, sensor cleaning well is not trivial, are you absolutely sure you've cleaned it well enough with good solid swabs? You may have something under the Anti-Aliasing filter or the hot mirror, but that's not under the sensor... Can you actually see something on the sensor, or could it be dead sensels?



.

I can actually see something on the sensor panel... I've tried and used some pressure with a sensor swab, but it will absolutely not budge... It's impossible that it could be a scratch... could it be between the sensor and the filter?

Thanks to all for the replies...

 

[Phrasikleia]

I can actually see something on the sensor panel... I've tried and used some pressure with a sensor swab, but it will absolutely not budge... It's impossible that it could be a scratch... could it be between the sensor and the filter?

Thanks to all for the replies...

Dust or grime can get very stubbornly attached to a sensor. I remember seeing a microscopic view of dust on a sensor once; it looked like craggy boulders stuck in little potholes.

 

[MIDI_EVIL]

When the swab meets the surface of the filter, I can see that the dust appears to be under the very top layer. I guess this means it is under the filter?

I'm completely frustrated!

 

[compuwar]

I can actually see something on the sensor panel... I've tried and used some pressure with a sensor swab, but it will absolutely not budge... It's impossible that it could be a scratch... could it be between the sensor and the filter?

Thanks to all for the replies...

Yes, it's possible, though odd that it wasn't there all along. Again, sending it to Canon is your best bet- and hope it's not one part, because if it is, it'll be expensive, but at least they'll do it right in a clean room.

 

[MIDI_EVIL]

Just an update.

I contacted Amazon, whom I purchased the Canon 40D, and they offered me a full refund and agreed that it shouldn't really have allowed dust to get between the filter and sensor.

Thanks Amazon!

 

[Saladinos]

I was going to say, if you had another DSLR you could have taken a macro shot to try and figure out what exactly it is.