Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

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Archive 2008 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

photomadnz
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p.1 #1 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

I need some opinions please. I picked up a 1ds2 camera for a very good price $3200 USD with only 1500 shots on the clock! Ive been using it alongside my 5D for a few weeks and it works very nicely. Anyway, I cleaned the sensor with the copperhill method and the sensor has sustained a minor scratch.

I really dont know how this happened as Ive cleaned alot of sensors in the past. The only thing I can think of there was a small piece of something that I couldnt see that got moved across the sensor. Anyway, damage done! The mark isnt too bad and in most shots is impossible to see its obviously, worst on a neutral background and at lower apertures which is where I shoot most (landscapes). Now I know its there I go looking for it and it bugs the hell out of me. I just know all the important elements in the photo will be under it from now on!

I live down under, one option is to ship it to the states to lifepixel and get the low pass filter replaced which is cheaper than Canon doing it down here, Other option is to live with it. The second option would mean losing any resale value if I ever decided to sell it though, as I couldnt sell it knowing it was there without telling the new buyer.

What would you do??

Thanks for any thoughts...

Apr 11, 2008 at 10:44 AM

morganb4
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p.1 #2 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

Balance resale value against replacement cost? Thing is you have an awesome camera, I know you got it cheap but if you get it fixed it will be what you want it to be: your awesome-f**k-off-camera :-)

Go on do it, you know you'll be grumpy otherwise.

Apr 11, 2008 at 10:49 AM

jcolwell
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p.1 #3 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

I'd get it fixed, no doubt about it. Do you have a quotation from Canon ?

Apr 11, 2008 at 10:56 AM

photomadnz
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p.1 #4 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

I actually live in New Zealand. Canon NZ want to replace the whole sensor which works out more than its worth. I contacted Australia and they have estimated $1400 USD for the filter installed. Lifepixel is @ $650 USD with freight there and back.

Apr 11, 2008 at 11:02 AM

jcolwell
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p.1 #5 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

Sounds like LifePixel is the right solution. I'd look at it this way: $3850 US for a nearly new 1Ds Mark II is an excellent price. Well worth the wait for a new filter.

Apr 11, 2008 at 11:14 AM

photomadnz
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p.1 #6 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

As a secondary query, has anyone had a filter replaced by LifePixel and how was your experience? I would hate it to rack up all that mileage and come back with dust under the filter...

Apr 11, 2008 at 11:30 AM

Binh Ly
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p.1 #7 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

photomadnz wrote:
I contacted Australia and they have estimated $1400 USD for the filter installed.

damn, i was contemplating starting to clean my sensors by myself but i guess i'll scrap that idea. i know people here do it all the time but just one small mistake and it could cost dearly. i will just send it to canon all the time. it's free and it takes only about 1 hour.

Apr 11, 2008 at 12:35 PM

bbudman
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p.1 #8 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

What material does Canon use for the filter over the sensor on the DsII? Plastic? Forgive me but I can not see how using the Copperhill cleaning method could damage the filter unless it was done with a lot of force which I am sure you did not use. Were you dry cleaning or wet?

If you were dry cleaning I was wondering if you did not get a smear across the sensor that looks like a scratch. One of my friends has a 20D and he was cleaning his sensor with the Copperhill brush system and told me he had scratched his sensor. The mark was visible on one corner when viewed with mirror lockup. I used my wet cleaner and a Sensor Swab and it came right off. It appeared to be some kind of lube that he picked up with the brush on the edge of the mirror box.

Again, I am not sure which method you were using but wanted to bring this up before you sent the camera off for repair. I have never damaged the filter on any of my Canon bodies from cleaning nor has anyone else I know personally. Not to mention the camera shop up the street from me cleans them on a daily basis and have never had a problem.

Apr 11, 2008 at 02:03 PM

mcbroomf
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p.1 #9 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

Before spending any money I would experiment with a set of presets in LR and/or actions in PS to clean the area up automatically. With a whole series (working from the left or right, top or bottom, you only need to take a quick look at the image and click on the best one that is suitable for the image and the job may be done, or leave you with only minor clean up work.

If it were me I'd live with that for a few weeks/months and see how I feel about it and how many images really can't be easily fixed. It's not going to get worse after all.

Mike

Edited on Apr 11, 2008 at 02:14 PM

Apr 11, 2008 at 02:13 PM

madmax200
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p.1 #10 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

Buy some methanol and swab it with 12 new sensor cleaners. I bet its just a pollen smear or ? I dont think you scratched it.

Apr 11, 2008 at 02:32 PM

krementz
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p.1 #11 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

bbudman wrote:
What material does Canon use for the filter over the sensor on the DsII? Plastic? Forgive me but I can not see how using the Copperhill cleaning method could damage the filter unless it was done with a lot of force which I am sure you did not use. Were you dry cleaning or wet? .

Yeah, I destroyed a sensor a few years ago. My fault, just got too enthusiastic.

OP, did you check your lens? I know this sounds silly, but I thought I had a very persistent dust mite on my sensor (not the one I replaced). Before getting too enthusiastic, I checked my lens - and it was on the rear element. Might be a small hair or something.

Apr 11, 2008 at 04:23 PM

photomadnz
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p.1 #12 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

Thanks for all your responses. No, this is a scratch. Ive gone back to using some pre-made swabs just to be sure. Ive done alot of sensors both personally and at work and Im surprised the copperhill method has done this to but I wont be using it again! Only sealed swabs when needed and Visible brushes on a more ongoing basis. Ive never had a problem with this combination.

Your correct I never used any great force as Im always 100% careful when inside a camera, not easy to expain really. Moving on.... would still love to hear any other comments and also any feedback on LifePixel. Im swinging towards getting it done, the camera, other than this, is basically new so it is probably worth doing. Thanks for your comments.

Apr 11, 2008 at 10:43 PM

Pantel
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p.1 #13 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

I know it can happen, because it happened to me while using the CopperHill Method. I've used this many many times with no problems and most the time the static sensor brush does the job, but occasionally the sensor needs a wet cleaning. I've always been careful and cautious while doing this, but the last time I did, there was something on the sensor I did not see before the wet cleaning. My procedure is always in this order, blaster a few good blasts while holding camera face down and then checking image, if spots then static brush and check, repeating if spots persist and if it's necessary, wet clean and check. Sometimes it takes a few cleanings. I ended up sending it to Canon because I couldn't live with a damaged camera. Canon's procedure is to email you the estimate then you pay by phone or online. In this case it was $614 worth of education. Now I'm considering ordering the sensor scope or better yet, the camera shop I visit on occasion, will clean the sensor while you wait always checking the sensor until it's clean. Hope this will help someone to learn from my experience.

Apr 12, 2008 at 12:03 AM

photomadnz
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p.1 #14 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

I actually have the sensor scope and checked the sensor before I started and it was all clear before I started. The was a couple of spots of lub on there that is why I gave it a wet clean. The only plausable explanation is that something got shaken or nudged off the body on the way in with the spatula or there was something on the pec pad. The spatula had the pec pad that he initially ships it with and they insist it was sterile. Even though Ive done many sensor cleans, now that I have been burnt I doubt i will do anything other than a dry clean in the future.

If you can get the initial Canon lubricant off when new than brushes is all you probably need anyway unless spray or something gets in when the lens is off in which case I wil send it back to a tech so its on there shoulders.

It DOES show how easy they mark though.

Apr 12, 2008 at 12:26 AM

Doug Otto
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p.1 #15 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

I believe that there was a company in Aus. that did IR conversions. They can probably handle the replacement as well. Unfortunately I can't remember their name.

Apr 12, 2008 at 12:55 AM

Doug Otto
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p.1 #16 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

Found it:

http://khromagery.com.au/ir_conversions.html

Apr 12, 2008 at 01:00 AM

RalphJ
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p.1 #17 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

I don't understand what these price quotes are about.

I live in the US, and twice I've scratched the filter in front on the sensor of my 1DsII (well, I maintain that the second time Canon did it when the camera was in for an unrelated repair), and both times it cost less than $180 US for Canon in Jamesburg (NJ) to replace the filter and make it good as new. Perhaps you can send the camera with someone going to the US for a couple of weeks and they can send it to NJ or CA, but I'd be really surprised if it cost more than $200 - including return shipping to a US address.

Edited on Apr 12, 2008 at 01:08 AM

Apr 12, 2008 at 01:01 AM

photomadnz
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p.1 #18 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

I live in NZ. Canon NZ are reluctant to replace the filter only and will only replace sensor which is more than the camera is worth. I have since found out that many Canon tech around the world have said the same thing so its just not us. Australia do provide the service for $1400 AUD for sensor or $4000 AUD for the sensor. I wrote to Canon USA and they wouldnt give me an answer at all.

I have seen others that have marked there sensors on various forums and you are the cheapest Ive heard of on this one. I dunno what to do really. This price sounds too good to be true! I wonder if it is accurate, how the likes of LivePixel, who quote $650 get any business at all?

RalphJ wrote:
I don't understand what these price quotes are about.

I live in the US, and twice I've scratched the filter in front of the sensor on my 1DsII (well, I maintain that the second time Canon did it when the camera was in for an unrelated repair), and both times it cost less than $180 US to make it good as new. Eventually you can send the camera with someone going to the US for a couple of weeks and they can send it to NJ or CA, but I'd be really surprised if it cost more than $200 - including return shipping.

Edited on Apr 12, 2008 at 01:13 AM

Apr 12, 2008 at 01:12 AM

CVickery
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p.1 #19 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

I had the same experience with Canon in Canada and my 5D. Canon wanted to charge more than the camera was worth the replace the sensor. I'd look around for local Canon authorized repair shops. Not all will handle DSLRs but I found one here that replaced the filter for ~$400Cdn.

Edited on Apr 12, 2008 at 02:06 PM

Apr 12, 2008 at 02:06 PM

charlesk
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p.1 #20 · Scratched 1DS MK2 Sensor

I did this with my 5D last year. Canon fixed it for around $200, which I thought was pretty reasonable. --c

Apr 12, 2008 at 09:49 PM

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