Issue on photographs

[Koa]

Hi all,

It's been a while hasn't it.

Anyway, I have been getting issues with images taken on the Olympus E510, I am presuming it's down to some sort of dust in the system somewhere but I just wanted to confirm this and ask your advice on the best fix, should I get it cleaned by a shop or could I do it myself ?

Bear in mind this camera has the cleaning on shutdown and this has obviously not touched this problem.

Here's an image taken especially to point out the problem, I took it in low light etc and toned the image down to show the issues up more so don't slag off my technique

 

[arc]

looks like dust on the sensor or the lens.

does it appear with other lenses, or if you don't have other lenses - does it appear through the view finder.

if you can see it through the view finder, then it must be on the lens, if not then it must be on the sensor. If you could see it through the viewfinder, but not on the photos then it would be on the mirror.

annyyyhoo, what you need is a rocket blower.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Giottos-Mediu...ryZ15215QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

remove the lens, check your manual on how to move the mirror out of the way (on mine, you select clean from the menu, click the button and it locks the mirror out of the way, expsoing the sensor). tilt the camera forward, and using the blower blow some air up onto the sensor.

that should fix it. if not, try it again! remember the sensor is covered by a filter called a hot mirror. It filters out IR/UV but also protects the sensor. So don't worry that you're blowing air directly onto the sensor - you're not.

all the autoclean does is fire up the image stabiliser, and wobble the sensor side to side to loosen the dust.

 

[Koa]

Hi arc, cheers for the really helpful explanation dude.

Sorry I should have mentioned before that I had tried it with other lenses and yes it was still there. There is a cleaning option on the camera like you mentioned arc, for moving the mirror out of the way. I'll get myself one of the air blowing thingies like you kindly gave me a link for and go from there.

It's very faint so it's difficult to see through the view finder, I'll have a closer look tomorrow for that one.

Again, Thanks arc, much appreciated

 

[bozzy]

Koa, if it doesn't remove with the blower you should send the body back from where you bought it rather than attempt to clean it yourself. I read so many articles of poor sods who scratched the sensor with one of many cleaning kits. It's new isn't it?

 

[arc]

Hi arc, cheers for the really helpful explanation dude.

you're welcome

if the blower doesnt remove it, it doesnt mean it needs sending back - any camera shop should be able to clean it, i think it should cost around £30. Like i said though, the sensor has a glass filter on it, so it is not as delicate as you might think.

I personally have never heard of anyone scratching their sensor / hot mirror, only stories of other people hearing about people doing it

saying that, i wouldn't fancy poking the sensor in my camera - but then despite changing lenses in awful conditions.. mines never needed anything more than the rocket blower to sort it out.

 

[bozzy]

It's a new camera with dust removal, if it isn't working as it should send it back under warranty, otherwise expect a problem whenever you change a lens.


As for sensor scratching I never hear about anyone scratching a sensor, I read about it often on various forums such as talkphotography.co.uk, perhaps as often as 1 a week.

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=52658

 

[Koa]

I understand where you're coming from Bozzy, I will try the blower first and see how it goes though. It does say in the manual that the in built cleaning system does not necessarily remove all dust so I am doubting it will be any use sending it back, it would cost a lot to do that and I don't fancy putting an expensive camera through the postal system so if it doesn't clear up with the blower I'll take it to a specialist and get it sorted.
The problem is, there's a fair amount of dust where I do a lot of the picture taking so it's my own fault here, I should have gone somewhere else to change lenses :bang:

Thanks a lot for all the input on this guys, much appreciated.

 

[arc]

fair enough bozzy, i don't frequent TP - only really deal with photography in regards to exploring - hence the changing of lenses in bad conditions! As Koa has said though, i expected there'd be a 'get out clause' in the manual regarding the dust cleaning system. (after all.. in body image stabilising is a gimmick ).

when i first got my camera, i got dust in it and it scared the crap outta me - was noticeable at high f/.

dust and SLRs is just one of them things that go together.

 

[bozzy]

arc, you would be in your element where I live. The wasteland that was once Rover has left enourmous empty factories/sheds/shafts/foundries that you would find interesting (looking at your shots anyway).

The one flight shed has a series of bullet holes in the roof where the Germans hit Longbridge during the war. Anyday now the wreckers will have it gone for good.

 

[arc]

i wished i'd seem Rover before it was flattened, i know some guys who went in there and it looks fantastic. I've been over in Birmingham quite a bit over the last few weeks - but mainly at the old CentralTV studios on Broad / Bridge Street

http://urban404.net/centraltv_gallery.php

The only foundry i've done was the old beans / ferrotech place in Tipton

http://urban404.net/beans_gallery.php

But am heading over Wolverhampton way soon in search of more things industrial. Might head via Longridge and have a look at whats left - i assumed it was all just flat now.

 

[faster4_tec]

AFAIK the only bits of rover longbridge are just the newer sheds that are now either in use again or still having machinary stripped down for china to take.


leyland/bl/ austin sheds all went in the last year :bang:

and think the jaguar plant has gone

and peugeot has gone (formally talbot?)

 

[bozzy]

I will get some pictures of what's left/ it's still vast. So far they have taken down about a half in total.

The BL/Leyland/Morris is still there in part. The newer stuff (10 yrs old) is being shipped out as you say. Another year and the supermarkets will move in. I can't decide if I like the new skyline as I open my curtains or whether I miss the chimneys and rooftops. Sad place.

 

[Koa]

Sorted....

The blower done the trick arc, cheers again for the help

 

[arc]

you're welcome