Chris S. wrote:
What a bummer. Thanks for sharing--may save me or somebody else down the road.
As a thought, aren't there companies that will remove/replace the cover glass from a sensor? Not that I've paid much attention, but I had it in my mind that the service was in the $300 range. Nothing more than a thought, but I wonder if they would could solve the problem for a lot less money?
When all is said and done, I hope you'll let us know what the tech says. This particular issue is new to me.
(Zebra, I doubt anybody was offended--just embarassed for you.)
Cheers,
--Chris
Trust me, I'm not embarassed by being right. Somebody has to step forward and do it.
Well I think it happened after I tried to suck out dust with a household vacuum.
My guess is I worked dust off the the landing pad of the in cam cleaning device. It seemed to lodge in between the sensor and the protective glass.
A hairlike line was the most disturbing. The "hair" didn't come off using heptane, a good solvent that doesn't hurt plastic.
It takes a significant amount of excessive dicking around to screw up a sensor this badly - sensor cleaning is easy when you do it right, and there's more guidance online about how to do it properly than you can shake a stick at.
The issue is that he made an assumption of what was done wrong before any info was give as to what had happened. This time he MAY have been correct, but next time probably not. Otherwise known as jumping to conclusions.
Besides, applying a vacuum to the body isn't necessarily getting rough or forcing things. I've read several accounts of people who repeatedly do this w/o issue (though I wouldn't).
It is possible to HIDE anyone you'd rather not deal with. It is an option listed at the bottom of each post, the last button on the rank of buttons on the left. Try it, you'll like it... I've only used it twice thus far, but I'm very happy it is there. Thanks Fred!
From southern Tech Photo:
"show details 10:52 AM (4 hours ago)
Ok, are you tell us that Nikon USA has seen and expected the camera at their repair shop in NY or CA and that was the official diagnosis? If the information was over the phone or by email, I would not believe it since the sensor almost never fails and impossible to determine in email or over the phone."
After getting this, I contacted Nikon told them to contact the tech to determine how a sensor can be damaged by dust.
Fingers crossed that a positive solution will be worked out for much less money.
I know diddly about camera repair, but from what you described, I found myself wondering why the sensor would require replacement. The protective glass cover, maybe--or perhaps this cover might need to be removed, cleaned, and reset. Depending on how much suction the glass cover underwent, I could imagine a stress line forming in it, which might look like a fine hair. Or perhaps some separation could have been induced between sensor and glass cover. But the sensor itself?
Glad to hear you have the possibility of better news.
The issue is that he made an assumption of what was done wrong before any info was give as to what had happened. This time he MAY have been correct, but next time probably not. Otherwise known as jumping to conclusions.
The first post stated "I screwed up my sensor " -something that doesn't happen with gentle feathery touch. There was no jumping to conclusions.
Besides, applying a vacuum to the body isn't necessarily getting rough or forcing things. I've read several accounts of people who repeatedly do this w/o issue (though I wouldn't).
John
Yeah, the airflow from a vacuum cleaner inside a camera body is completely normal. Sometimes I just use the gasoline powered leaf blower on my camera gear for the tough to remove pieces of dirt.
In case somebody missed the lesson here, it's don't use a vacuum cleaner to clean your camera sensor.
Well my original guess that the vacuum cleaner was the culprit was wrong. It was the time the wrapped cloth slipped off the cleaning paddle I was using to clean the sensor glass (low pass filter)
Nikon reported there was a scratch on the sensor and the repair was $1,600. What they didn't tell me is they only sell the sensor with the low pass filter as a combo (a $1,300 item).
Canon and others manufacturers don't, they sell them separately.
I got a price of $999 to replace the sensor (that Nikon charged $1,600) from Southern Photo in FL.
I was a little concerned about the frequency of the repair from a photo shop. I figured I'd check out an outfit the specialized in low pass filter replacement, like Lifepixel Infrared.
Spoke to Dan Malkin of Lifepixel (a well regarded outfit) and he said he has a stock of perfect low pass filters without the sensors from IR replacements.
His replacement price for a D700 was $470 including shipping.
I shipped my cam and will update when I get it back
Zebrabot wrote:
The first post stated "I screwed up my sensor " -something that doesn't happen with gentle feathery touch. There was no jumping to conclusions.
Yeah, the airflow from a vacuum cleaner inside a camera body is completely normal. Sometimes I just use the gasoline powered leaf blower on my camera gear for the tough to remove pieces of dirt.
In case somebody missed the lesson here, it's don't use a vacuum cleaner to clean your camera sensor.
Hmmm . . . so it seems you were in fact wrong. Scratched due to sensor cleaning mishap, which could happen to any of us. Doesn't sound like he "forced" or "got rough" with his camera. Quick to judge w/o all the info - not a good thing.
VTHokiEE06 wrote:
OT: Is anyone familiar with Southern Photo? It's the closest camera store to me but I've never stopped in since its about 35 minutes...
I was in contact with Isaac. Seemed like a nice guy and I'll give them a try the next repair (have no idea of quality of work). He just didn't have the single filter. Stop by their shop and talk to them, post the results of your conversation. Always good to have resources.
I'm rehabilitated. I got Sensor swabs (with the tiny rubber bands) and I swear I'm not going to give my filter a hickey again with a household vac
Chris S. wrote:
In case somebody missed the lesson here, it's better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.
So what you're really saying is when you shove a vacuum cleaner into your camera and trash the sensor, don't brag about how dumb you were on the internet.
You have people who are afraid even to take the lens off...and you got guys like one in another forum who fine-tuned the focus on a D90. With hex keys and a lot of care. If you have developed the mechanical skill and the confidence you will have no trouble at all with cleaning a sensor.
And, as far as I know, there is not a lot of divergence in the info on the web about how to do it, apart from minor variations. You have to exclude the oddballs and outliers, but that comes with mechanical confidence, and the ability to suspect when something is, well, not exactly a good idea.
Many kinds of people with many different skill levels. Some have a mechanical aptitude and can do things logically and with forethought. Others shouldn't be allowed with anything more technically advanced than an anvil and a pencil eraser because they'd probably break the anvil with the pencil eraser. It's good to know your own comfort and skill level.
Another logical item. What is the price of a Giottos(sp) rocket blower vs. going to Wal Mart and getting a baby ear syringe? Does the exact same thing for a lot less.
What is the price of a Giottos(sp) rocket blower vs. going to Wal Mart and getting a baby ear syringe? Does the exact same thing for a lot less.
My Giottos Rocket Blower moves much more air, and with considerably more force, than the couple of ear syringes I've tried it against. While I try to avoid voodoo marketing (for example, I clean sensors with whatever cheap alcohol is handy, and re-cover my swabs with pieces of cut Pec pad), this is one cleaning product that actually seems to be worth its modest price.
Don Olson wrote:
Another logical item. What is the price of a Giottos(sp) rocket blower vs. going to Wal Mart and getting a baby ear syringe? Does the exact same thing for a lot less.
This is a joke--do *not* take seriously! If you use a baby syringe, you have to fill it with hot soapy water.
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This part is serious. I've been using an adult size syringe ever since I got my D70. Works so well I've only wet-cleaned a sensor once. At this rate I will have a box of pec pads and a bottle of fluid left when I die.
Zebrabot wrote:
So what you're really saying is when you shove a vacuum cleaner into your camera and trash the sensor, don't brag about how dumb you were on the internet.
You know, the more you post, the more you reinforce Chris's post. I suggest you just call it a day chap.
I've only used it twice thus far, but I'm very happy it is there. Thanks Fred!