Dust spots on camera sensor and pictures

Customers experiencing gray or shadow looking spots in their images are seeing small specs of dust on the CCD or CMOS sensor. Dust is everywhere and yes, it will eventually get inside the camera and gets attached to the sensor’s surface and blocks light to the sensor. Cameras models that promote “self cleaning” sensors also fall victim to dust since field tests show these cameras are less than 60% effective. Solutions are not readily available for photographers in rural areas.

Manufactures recommend professional sensor cleaning by Authorized Service Centers. Hundreds of customers damage their cameras every day attempting to clean the sensors themselves. Internet retailers have bombarded the market with hundreds of gizmos and gadgets taking advantage of unsuspecting, desperate photographers in need of pictures that do not require hours of computer retouching. Beware, you have been warned of the dangers and should refrain from attempting this delicate procedure by anyone that is not trained by the manufacture to perform a sensor cleaning. Check to see if you have a local “Authorized Service Center in your area, if not you can ship it in for a professional cleaning. One highly recommended shop is Southern Photo Technical Service in Miami Florida. Southern Photo is a Authorized Service Center for Canon, Fuji, Nikon, Minolta, Olympus and about ten more Photographic equipment manufacturers with customers all over the United States and Latin America. This is “The Source” for fifteen minute “While you wait” sensor cleanings for walk in customers and 24hr. service for cameras shipped in by customers. For those of you that are in a hurry, you can next day the camera to Southern Photo and they will perform a professional cleaning and return ship it to you the same day or next business day. This two or three day service is priceless when you have a big shoot upcoming and dust is affecting your images.

Follow these simple steps for shipping your camera to Southern Photo.

1.)    Remove battery, memory card and lens. Install the body cap that was supplied with the camera. Include a letter with you full name, return address, daytime or cellular phone number and clearly state that you are requesting a sensor cleaning only and request one day service.

2.)    Pack the camera and letter with a minimum of two inches of packing material and ship it to Southern Photo using FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL etc. and insure it properly.

3.)    Ship it to: Southern Photo Technical Service, 37 NE. 167^th Street N. Miami Beach, Florida 33162

4.)    Southern Photo will perform the professional service and contact you for the $45.00 fee plus the return-shipping fee. Return shipping fee is determined by your method of choice, Next day, two day or ground shipping. They will use your shipping account if requested.

If your camera is in need of repairs, a sensor cleaning will not “repair” a broken camera. Southern Photo will provide a written estimate of repair cost for non-working cameras.