GH3 New GH3 problem :(

Eclipse Sensor Swabs work great for cleaning the GHx sensors. My son got a hold of one of my bodies and plopped a nice fingerprint right on the sensor. Took several swabs to get it cleaned off, but no problems. Highly recommended!
 
Talked to store representative today about returning camera or exchange. Of course there is nothing in stock right now. She asked whats the problem. I described the problem, and she asked: why do you shoot at f/22? Isn't it funny? She said she cannot guarantee cleaning dust which is visible at f/22. It it going to be there always at f 22. I said it is even visible at f stop 7 or 8 but less. I decided to send it to them and we will see. But this is ridiculous to ask why do you use f/22. I have been using digital camera for 4 years and never heard that this kind of dust is always visible.
 
Bern Caughey said:
Returning a camera because the sensor has dust on it is about as sensible as returning a car because it ran out of gas, or needs an oil change.
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Not exactly. I am not sure if it's a dust. Have you seen video that i uploaded? I tried to blow it, tried to clean sensor and nothing helped. We will see. They said they can try to clean it. If they do, they will send me camera back. But what if they can't? It means that there is still dust and i shoul keep it because having dust is normal according to you? I cannot see anything on the sensor, it looks clear. Maybe it is under the sensor's glass. I am not techician. My gh2 was able to record with f/22 and it was clean. I've never seen any black dots on the picture.
 
kopan said:
Not exactly. I am not sure if it's a dust. Have you seen video that i uploaded? I tried to blow it, tried to clean sensor and nothing helped. We will see. They said they can try to clean it. If they do, they will send me camera back. But what if they can't? It means that there is still dust and i shoul keep it because having dust is normal according to you? I cannot see anything on the sensor, it looks clear. Maybe it is under the sensor's glass. I am not techician. My gh2 was able to record with f/22 and it was clean. I've never seen any black dots on the picture.
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So use a sensor swab. If it fixes it, then great. If not, then you can still send it back to them. While the previous analogy was maybe a bit extreme it is generally true. Sensors will get stuff on them and sometimes they do come with dust on them already. It's not hard to clean a sensor, especially a micro 4/3 sensor which is close to the lens mount and doesn't even require mirror-lockup. I'd definitely try to clean it before I sent it back.
 
kopan said:
Talked to store representative today about returning camera or exchange. Of course there is nothing in stock right now. She asked whats the problem. I described the problem, and she asked: why do you shoot at f/22? Isn't it funny? She said she cannot guarantee cleaning dust which is visible at f/22. It it going to be there always at f 22. I said it is even visible at f stop 7 or 8 but less. I decided to send it to them and we will see. But this is ridiculous to ask why do you use f/22. I have been using digital camera for 4 years and never heard that this kind of dust is always visible.
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Two things I'll say.
One, her question wasn't that off the wall.
I've never shot anything at f22, except to test for sensor dust.
It's not a place that any lens is good shooting. That's what ND filters are for.

Second, the general advice here is sound.
It can be difficult to see a spec of dust against a sensor unless you get used to the technique.
But if it only appears when stopping way down, then it really makes sense that this is sensor dust and agreeing with my friend Bern, yes it would be unusual to return a camera for a spec of dust.

You've got everything to gain and nothing to lose by giving it a good cleaning before you consider losing it.
Me, I'd use a piece of Scotch Magic Tape and it would be over in seconds.

I feel for ya and just want to give you some brotherly advice.
 
I come from shooting digital cameras when there were no self cleaning sensors. I would clean the sensors at least 4 or 5 times a day. The only thing I use and I still have to this day is my sensor brush from visibledust.com. Even if you have a self cleaning sensor camera, I highly suggest getting one of these brushes....
 
If I had bad spots in my footage after trying to clean the sensor I'd send it back too...
If you haven't tried cleaning it like the others said, give it a shot- test- then if it's still there, off she goes.
 
jimagine said:
Two things I'll say.
One, her question wasn't that off the wall.
I've never shot anything at f22, except to test for sensor dust.
It's not a place that any lens is good shooting. That's what ND filters are for.

Second, the general advice here is sound.
It can be difficult to see a spec of dust against a sensor unless you get used to the technique.
But if it only appears when stopping way down, then it really makes sense that this is sensor dust and agreeing with my friend Bern, yes it would be unusual to return a camera for a spec of dust.

You've got everything to gain and nothing to lose by giving it a good cleaning before you consider losing it.
Me, I'd use a piece of Scotch Magic Tape and it would be over in seconds.

I feel for ya and just want to give you some brotherly advice.
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I used a ear cleaning stick to clean my sensor and it didn't help as well. It is visible even on f/6. I will upload some video so you can see it. It is going to be f from 5.6 to 10. I meant that it is visible the most on. f/22. It is a little bit funny, because it looks like everybody think it is normal, to have this kind of staff on the sensor. Maybe I am wrong, but trust me or not I have never had this kind of dust. I would like to keep it, couse it is hard to get gh3 but I cant to give movie to my clients with black dot on the picture. Outside there is no way to record with aperture 4.0 in sunny day. I know you can use nd filter, but it is not a point. If i can use f/22 i want do it. If i need 0.95 i want do it.
 
kopan said:
I used a ear cleaning stick to clean my sensor and it didn't help as well. It is visible even on f/6. I will upload some video so you can see it. It is going to be f from 5.6 to 10. I meant that it is visible the most on. f/22. It is a little bit funny, because it looks like everybody think it is normal, to have this kind of staff on the sensor. Maybe I am wrong, but trust me or not I have never had this kind of dust. I would like to keep it, couse it is hard to get gh3 but I cant to give movie to my clients with black dot on the picture. Outside there is no way to record with aperture 4.0 in sunny day. I know you can use nd filter, but it is not a point. If i can use f/22 i want do it. If i need 0.95 i want do it.
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Wait.... you used a cotton swab to clean your sensor? That's a big mistake. NEVER do that! Only use a sensor swab with the cleaning solution that's sold for sensors. A cotton swab could very easily make the problem worse.
 
dustylense said:
The only thing I use and I still have to this day is my sensor brush from visibledust.com. Even if you have a self cleaning sensor camera, I highly suggest getting one of these brushes....
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I've been thru most the sensor cleaning dances, & all I use these days is the Arctic Butterfly by Visable Dust.

If the sensor needs a better cleaning I have it done professionally, which runs about $50.
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Bern Caughey said:
Returning a camera because the sensor has dust on it is about as sensible as returning a car because it ran out of gas, or needs an oil change.
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agree! jeez to the OP, get used to cleaning your sensor. should clean it before every gig. should clean it multiple times on a shoot if changing lenses a fair amount. there are many ways to clean as others have described here on this thread. for me i used my breath (mild condensation) and a couple of Q-tips. that simple and that cheap. also have a bulb to blow out. been doing it on at least a dozen cameras since later 90's. get used to it and shoot with confidence. (((NO COMPRESSED AIR CANS!)))

david
 
david_p said:
agree! jeez to the OP, get used to cleaning your sensor. should clean it before every gig. should clean it multiple times on a shoot if changing lenses a fair amount. there are many ways to clean as others have described here on this thread. for me i used my breath (mild condensation) and a couple of Q-tips. that simple and that cheap. also have a bulb to blow out. been doing it on at least a dozen cameras since later 90's. get used to it and shoot with confidence. (((NO COMPRESSED AIR CANS!)))

david
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That's a bit overboard. Check it before every gig? Absolutely. But only clean it when it needs it, right? Unless your shooting out in dusty conditions, you shouldn't be getting the kind of dust that requires constant cleaning. (BTW, to help minimize dust when changing, always point your camera down and away from the direction of the wind. A lot of people point it up so they can look right down at the camera.) Agree 100% on the NO COMPRESSED AIR.

Q-tips are a bad idea as they can leave cotton fibers on the sensor or worse, fall into parts of the camera you don't see. Some cleaning kits use swabs that look like q-tips, but the cotton is tightly woven on those things so as to prevent cotton from coming off.

I use this method. Worth a few minutes to watch: http://www.moosepeterson.com/blog/2012/06/11/sensor-cleaning-with-copperhill/

I substitute Copperhill stuff with Pec products:

First, get a sensor swab. (Some camera stores will sell you a single swab for $2.) The little lint free wipe that goes on the end of the plastic swab is nothing more than a cut up Pec-Pad. You can get a pack of 100 Pec-Pads that'll cut into 300 wipes on the swab for $10 on Amazon. Another $10 on Amazon will get you a bottle of the solution that's on the prepackaged swabs that sell for $30 (for a box of 12).

Or just get this little kit for $20 that has 4 swabs, a small bottle of solution and a small pack of Pec-Pads. Then get the refills as needed.
 
thanks for the links! still I've been doing it this way for over 15 years and never had a problem nor do i anticipate one after all this time. i have it down to a science. I'm very aware of where im swiping when doing it also. as to cleaning multiple times in a shoot? dirt and dust has not been a problem when i go to edit so ill stick with doing it often. better safe than sorry id say and it takes less than a minute to clean so im not bothered by doing too much rather than too little.

again, thanks for the links just the same!
david
 
david_p said:
thanks for the links! still I've been doing it this way for over 15 years and never had a problem nor do i anticipate one after all this time. i have it down to a science. I'm very aware of where im swiping when doing it also. as to cleaning multiple times in a shoot? dirt and dust has not been a problem when i go to edit so ill stick with doing it often. better safe than sorry id say and it takes less than a minute to clean so im not bothered by doing too much rather than too little.

again, thanks for the links just the same!
david
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Sure. I suppose I was replying to your comment with the OP in mind. I think for someone who hasn't been doing it for as long or as carefully as you - the OP - using the right tools (lint free for example) for the job makes the most sense. The OP's ready to return a (probably) perfectly fine camera. Given that, it's pretty easy to imagine making the sensor dirtier without the kind of care and attention you give when cleaning your gear.
 
keylight said:
Sure. I suppose I was replying to your comment with the OP in mind. I think for someone who hasn't been doing it for as long or as carefully as you - the OP - using the right tools (lint free for example) for the job makes the most sense. The OP's ready to return a (probably) perfectly fine camera. Given that, it's pretty easy to imagine making the sensor dirtier without the kind of care and attention you give when cleaning your gear.
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you make a good point as to referencing the OP.

david
 
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