Pixinfo tests dust removal systems
By
Mike Tomkins
(Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 21:11 EDT)
The folks over at Hungarian imaging website Pixinfo have posted a comparative test of dust removal systems on four current digital SLR models.
The test, comparing Canon's EOS-400D digital SLR, Olympus' E-300, Pentax's K10D and Sony's α DSLR-A100, shows results after two automatic cleaning cycles on each camera, as well as after a full 25 cycles. Pixinfo also demonstrate results after two manual cleanings with a dust blower, and finally the results of a cleaning with 99% ethyl alcohol.
The results are likely to surprise many DSLR owners, showing how ineffective some of the built-in systems from big-name manufacturers seem to be. Obviously the test is a harsh one, but nonetheless we'd have hoped to see rather more significant benefits across the board.
After viewing the results, one thing is clear - even if you have a dust removal system in your digital SLR, you're likely to find yourself in need of a way to remove dust from your sensor at some point in the future. We don't pretend to have used everything currently on the market, but can tell you about one solution that worked very well for us. The "Copper Hill" cleaning method is straightforward and safe, and in our routine usage here at Imaging Resource, highly effective. Better yet, the products sold by Copper Hill Imaging are very reasonably priced. Best of all, Nicholas R (proprietor of Copper Hill) has put together an amazingly detailed tutorial on sensor cleaning, free for all.
(Other than a few backlinks on their site, we receive no promotional consideration from Copper Hill. We just think their sensor cleaning products are among the best on the market, and like their way of doing business. - We think you will too. Check them out.)
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