911 SENSOR DUST??

I thought it might be the lens at first as well, but when I put my 28-200 on it showed up the same way. :( My steadiness with small things like that is far too shaky to try and clean it myself, but what really sucks is I just had it in last month to have it cleaned. I'm wondering how often you should really have to clean it.... and thinking I may be dealing with scratches. Just a sick feeling.

Gag, I think it is scratced, but it still works well enough. For now I suppose I will just shop out any blobs that may show up and wait. A friend is going to give it a clean in May and see if that helps, having the proper stuff to do it with. I tried a kimwipe on a popsicle stick, but nothing. You would think they would make these camera's sturdy enough to be tossed around a bit ya know?

I clean mine frequently, the sensor is not that easy to scratch, it has hard glassy lenses in front of it, try using a blower at first, failing that use Eclipse fluid and Pec pads, you can even buy 'em on a stick to suit your sensor, really it's a 2 minute job! http://www.dphoto.co.uk

I clean my sensors before every shoot that I get paid for and every time I go out in search of anything other than a snapshot. Be careful using compressed air on your sensor. If you aren't confident in your ability to do it take it to the shop and have them show you how to use the cleaners. They should have them for sale along with the correct fluid to use.

This came up in a Worth1000 thread [1] recently. I linked it because there is some really good info there about cleaning sensors. I have not had to do anything as drastic as is discussed there. I blow my sensor off nearly every time I change lenses. I rarely have problems with sensor dust. I use one of those cheap bulb type things used for sucking the snots out of little kids noses. I bought it at a drug store in Oakhurst, CA during my trip across the western US last year. So if you do have to go the route of a drastic cleaning, you can probably avoid the worst of it later by using a little bulb blower regularly. [1] http://www.worth1000.com/stories/thread.asp?cid=19&eid=278032

Definitely no compressed air...no, no ,no. I think I mentioned that to you on the phone, didn't I? Last year I dropped my camera & it stopped working & I sent it to Canon. It went to Calgary Alberta(3 hours from here) It took 2 & 1/2 months to get it back & they didn't even repair it so I had to send it back to them & it took 2 more months!!!!! Not impressed!

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm a bit confused however as Canon says noooo don't touch it, and others say it's not so hard to scratch it. LOL!!

Of course Canon says don't touch it. Otherwise people would try who knows what to clean their sensors. This makes sure the majority of people send their lenses to... Canon. Just make sure you have the correct equipment and get some proper instruction in how to use it. We've never heard that one before have we?

Well it's not just Canon who says it. When I took the first part of the photography courselast year that was one of the first things they told us in the "Fundamentals" unit. The way I look at it is spend the couple of bucks to have someone clean it & if the do damage then they replace it.