Canon Repair in DFW?

[brad]

Ok, somehow today, the trusty rocket blower made the dust problem on my sensor worse.. worse to the point that even pec pads didn't get it clean.. worse to the point that there even appears to be a scratch (from before the pec pad application)...

Anyone know a place in DFW for repair? I don't want to send it off for a long turn around, but I could deal with that if I had to.

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by brad

Ok, somehow today, the trusty rocket blower made the dust problem on my sensor worse.. worse to the point that even pec pads didn't get it clean.. worse to the point that there even appears to be a scratch (from before the pec pad application)...

Anyone know a place in DFW for repair? I don't want to send it off for a long turn around, but I could deal with that if I had to.

OMG!!

This describes what I ran into just an hour ago myself!

I am thinking the "scratch" may be a smear.. but it sure looks like one.. shows up at F16+ Not really noticeable otherwise.. and is fairly small at the bottom of frame. Of course, I am seeing more dust spots now than before I started. Dang it!

[AndrewCCM]

I also cannot be without it for more than about 5 days either due to shooting schedule. So...a D/FW location would be preferable. May try and overnight via CPS, but not anytime soon.

[brad]

That's funny (funny weird, that is) that it hit you at the same time! How bizarre.

[brad]

Mine is annoying at f/8 .. haven't tried lower... REALLY noticable at more narrow apertures....

I wonder if maybe it wasn't moisture inside the blower...

[Davidtxs]

I have heard pretty good about these guys
http://members.aol.com/archcam/arch_services.html

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by brad

That's funny (funny weird, that is) that it hit you at the same time! How bizarre.

No doubt. It freaked me out..

I can see it at F8 on bright white, but it's not super noticeable.. I'll probably take another shot at it here in a few minutes. This kinda stuff gives me OCD..

[brad]

Took another shot at mine.. and its no better..

I can deal with it at 4.0 or wider.. but narrower than that and its awful.

:(

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by brad

Took another shot at mine.. and its no better..

I can deal with it at 4.0 or wider.. but narrower than that and its awful.

:(

I just finished my additional attempt. I have gotten rid of most of the dust.. But there are 2 "scratches" that show up at about F13.. I rarely if ever shoot over F13, Heck they could have been there forever...Not sure.. I will be ok with this.. but it's gonna bug me. Fixes pretty easy on shots that it will show on...I took some normal shots around the house at various apertures that I normally use.. Pretty much only visible on solid white or bright solid color. That is zooming in tight too. So.. guess I'll have to deal with it.

I sent an email to that company David recommended above...just to get a quote. I don't think they can "clean" the scratch/marks.. I am dumbfounded how they got there..

[brad]

And hey, they are in Richardson.... so not like mailing it off to someone you've never met.

[Bill]

Brad,

Check this page out for Archinal. They do a one hour class/workshop on cleaning your sensor. http://www.archinalcamerarepair.com/service.htm

Archinal has been around for a long time. I had them do work for me in the 1980s but do not know if same ownership and no idea of current reputation.

Bill

[AngelPhotography]

Have you tried Fort Worth Camera Repair? They are located near Fort Worth Camera. I had to get my shutter repaired on one of my cameras a few years ago and he did it pretty quick. Was told two weeks and he had it done by the end of the first week. I don't remember their phone number, but I'm sure you can look it up. Betty at Arlington Camera had recommended them to me. I don't know if they clean sensors though.

[brad]

I can't find them online Katherine.. do you have contact info?

[AngelPhotography]

Sorry, It's actually Camera Repair Center

3108 W 5th St
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 335-7463

[brad]

Ok...

Arlington Camera ROCKS

Went in there today and had them work on cleaning it.. took three swabs and some effort on his part... and he showed me how to do it all as well... but it appears that it is 95% clean now! The things I saw are still there visibly if you look at the sensor, but they are not showing up on images any more.. so those marks may have always been there.

All the marks seem to have been goop collected on the sensor from improper cleaning.


Now.. FYI: What started this whole nonsense appears to have been my rocket blower. For those that don't know what this is.. it is a rubber bulb with an attached plastic nozzle that is specifically designed for blowing dust off of things without adding to the problem.

Well, mine is kept at the studio.. and when we aren't at the studio, we turn the thermostat way up (making it hot in there)... then, when we come in, we turn the air back down to a reasonable level.

I'm guessing that this change of temps caused a little bit of condensation to form on the hard plastic nozzle.. which then got blown up onto my sensor.

So.. the moral of the story is make sure the nozzle of your Rocket Blower is clean before blowing it into the camera.. blow it out several times away from everything, etc.... be careful. :)