DSLR cleaning

[Stagecoach]

Here's an interesting one regarding turning your camera 'OFF'.

With my D300 fitted with my Nikon 18-200mm of which there is a VR fault, with the camera turned 'OFF' and when I remove the CF card the lens VR goes 'clunk'.

This also happens when the camera is turned 'OFF' and the VR switch on the side of the lens is in the 'VR OFF' position.

Work that one out

[cliveanne]

^^^

That's interesting.

Do you have the reference and / or further comment, because I'd be interested in the logic of that action.

Specifically, on the face of it, I cannot reckon the following two points, especially the second:

1. > a　relationship between the camera being powered on and as a result of being on vs. being off, static charges building.

2. > if charged with static electricity, why then the action of powering the camera off would necessarily remove that static charge

WW

I'm sorry I do not remember where I saw it. I think I saw some remark as well on a Youtube video. But I do remember the advice.

[William W]

Peter - Thank you for replying.

WW

[cliveanne]

Peter - Thank you for replying.

WW

No problem Bill, sorry I could not be more helpful.

[Venser]

With the camera on there's minimal chance static electricity or an electrical charge are going to do suck dust into the chamber. Mirror slap during use probably churns up more dust. It's simply precautionary on the manufacturers part.

This is another case of there being an astronomically small risk, but the camera manufacturers have nothing to lose by telling you to turn the camera off. It's the same as when the airlines tell you to turn off your Nintendo DS during takeoff/landing. You'd severely hope it takes more than a pocket games console to down an airliner, but instead of proving this, it's easier for them to just ban it.

- Argument by authority is a fallacy, but my PhD was improving CMOS sensors.

[Venser]

1. > a　relationship between the camera being powered on and as a result of being on vs. being off, static charges building.

It doesn't matter.

2. > if charged with static electricity, why then the action of powering the camera off would necessarily remove that static charge

It wouldn't.

[Venser]

Quite frankly, I find it astounding that anyone would actually not turn off the camera while changing lenses!

In order to clean the sensor on my Nikon D700, you have to turn it on, tell the camera that you want to keep the mirror up in the menu, and press the shutter. The mirror remains up until the camera is turned off. If cleaning the sensor with the camera causes no harm, why would changing lenses?

When changing lenses with Canon and Nikon, the left/right most (depending on manufacturer) pins on the body are the VBat pins, so when the lens is disengaged and rotated the first thing that happens is power is removed from the lens. Since none of the other lens contacts sweep over the VBat pin, the scenario of frying or damaging anything electrically is physically impossible. Without power, there is no information that can pass from the dcl, dlc, and lclk pins. It's simply manufacturers being overzealous.

[William W]

. . . When changing lenses with Canon and Nikon, the left/right most (depending on manufacturer) pins on the body are the VBat pins. . . etc

Thanks. I know the pins on Canon and I had it on my 'to do list' to find out about Nikon. I thought that with Nikon there could have been some whacky pin configuration or because Nikon allows such a range of their lenses to mount was the reason for the Nikon warning.

WW

[rpcrowe]

I have had very little problems with dust on my sensors probably because:

My cameras have auto sensor cleaning cycles. I think that the sensor cleaning cycle of my 7D cameras works pretty well. I used to have problems with my EOS 30D and there was no sensor cleaning cycle available on that camera.

Additionally, I usually carry two cameras wearing the lenses that I "think" that I will need. Therefore I do virtually no lens swapping in the field. In fact, I often carry only two lenses. My EFs 17-55mm f/2.8 IS and EF 70-200mm f/4L IS lenses on my 1.6x crop cameras cover 90% or so of the focal range at which I usually shoot. If I am going to need longer or shorter focal lengths or macro capability, I can usually predict that (sports, wildlife, airshows, etc.) in advance and start out with the proper lenses attached to my cameras.

I never store the cameras without either a lens or a body cap attached. I also never store my lenses without both lens caps attached. The rear lens cap is IMO the most important in keeping the sensor free of dust.

I always carry an OPTECH Rain Sleeve for each camera, lens combination I have with me. This will protect the camera from blowing dust. Blowing dist can be a big problem in Southern California. Since we are in this terrible drought, I worry little about rain. Rain Sleeves are light in weight and are sold in a two-pack.

I always carry a soft cloth in my vest (usually some well worn T-shirt material) and I keep the exterior of my cameras clean of dust using this cloth. Just a general precaution.

I cannot gauge the efficiency of any one of the above habits but, done in concert they seem to have protected my sensors pretty well. This is totally anecdotal but, I have not needed to clean my sensors in a long-long time...