One of the few issues about the Nikon D600 is its propensity to get dust on its sensor. It has been documented by Roger Cicala of LensRentals here. In addition, some say the sensor gets oil (not just dust) on its sensor. Roger did not notice any oil on the 20 units of the D600 that he examined, and I personally have not observed it.
Anyhow at around 2000 shots I noticed that there were spots on my shots, even at a not-so-narrow aperture of f/8. I blogged about that here. I thought the spots were oil based on the characteristics I observed but it turned out that the spots were only dust.
That was about a month ago. I'm now at around 4500 shots, and although I haven't seen dust on my shots, I decided to reexamine the sensor. Here's what I found.
I now have a lighted sensor loupe, so I took a look at the sensor. To my relief, I did not see anything that looked like oil spots. I only saw a few flecks of dust. I blew them using a sensor cleaning blower but some of the spots remained. I tried to take photos of the sensor but it was really challenging. Here's what I was able to capture:
Other than that one spot, I couldn't see much. (I was able to blow that one spot away using the sensor blower).
Meanwhile I decided I would take some narrow aperture test shots. At first I took shots at f/22 and didn't notice anything. I then changed to a Tamron 70-300 VC which can go to as narrow as f/32 then I took a shot:
In Lightroom, I maximized the contrast to make the dust spots easier to see.
Click for higher-resolution versions of the shots. It's a lot dustier than what I could see from the sensor loupe, but I'm not very worried because they aren't showing up on my shots.
ACTUAL EXAMPLES OF OIL
Sometimes, dust exhibits the characteristics of oil (see here) therefore dust can be mistaken for oil. The following are definite indicators of oil:
1. Visible oil on sensor. See this photo:
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=433703
2. Rings on test shots (dark outside, light inside). If there is a ring but it is light outside and dark in the middle, the ring could just be a halo from excessive postprocessing (sharpening, clarity, contrast, etc.).
Example on D800 photo (scroll down):
http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=5517&page=7
Photos of REAL oil spots - courtesy of Canon.
Link 1: http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer?pageKeyCode=prdAdvDetail&docId=0901e0248013d2ea
Link 2: http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/news/EOS_oil_spots.do
Note: the spots on my sensor don't seem to have donut-like rings like the ones shown on Canon's site.
3. If you physically attempt to wipe the dust and it smears.
WARNING: physical contact with the sensor or AA filter will void your Nikon warranty
11/16/12 UPDATE: I just want to pose a question for readers: this issue about the D600 is very widely known. And there is clear evidence of DUST. However, even the issue about spots is very widely known and there's so much interest and discussion about it, why is it that there is still no unmistakable evidence of OIL (i.e. photos of actual oil spots on sensor/lowpass filter, or donut-shaped rings on photos, or smeared oil)? There is evidence of oil on some other cameras (see examples) but I haven't seen any such evidence for the D600. Could it be that people are mistaking spots for oil? Just something to think about.
RELATED POSTS:
Nikon D600 Resource Page (see under "Dust Spots")
Firefly DSC-2000 Review
Thanks for the update.
ReplyDeleteI've got a massive oil splash in the middle of my D600 sensor, also had loads of dust spot on it since I got it, but I can't shift the new oil one that's appeared a couple of days ago. Weird thing is it appeared whilst out shooting and I had the same lens on (70-200 2.8) the whole session. It's so big it appears at all apertures.
I've used the blower on it a few times but not had any luck. I've never had this issue with other the many other Nikon SLR's I own, which is a shame and a right pain during post processing.
Do you recommend a cleaning kit, as I don't want to be sending it away for weeks at a time each time this occurs.
Hi Damion. Thanks for sharing your experiences with the sensor on your d600. Re the oil, to be honest this is the first time I've heard of a large oil splash in the middle of the sensor. I definitely haven't seen or read anything about that being a typical issue therefore I would recommend taking it to Nikon for service. I am hoping that after they fix it, it won't recur (because I haven't heard of that kind of oil splash, much less heard about it being a recurring issue).
DeleteAs for the dust, I used to take my camera to Nikon for cleaning every time but because it seems the D600 is unusually prone to dust, I did get a sensor cleaning kit. I will be posting tests on its effectiveness. Pls. check back in a week or so.
Best regards,
Mic
Best regards,
Mic
Good sensible post on this subject.
ReplyDeleteI am also cleaning and monitoring my D600 sensor carefully. But only at f/22 :-) And my few spots don't show at f/8 which is my normal minimum aperture. What I see are spots that seem to behave like dust-- they can be blown off and some move to new locations after cleaning.
I haven't seen any reliable verification of oil spots, only dust. I think the unverified oil splatter hysteria on some forum discussions is diminishing D600 users' credibility. And the ultimate resale value of their cameras.
Hi John. So far I have to agree - I haven't seen any oil spots (only pictures of spots that are purportedly oil spots). I suppose it is possible some of them are truly oil and not dust, but based on my own mistake the first time around, I am guessing that at least some (if not most) of those cases are just dust, not oil. As for the resale value of the D600, I am hoping it won't really be affected. The D7000 and D3S are supposed to have oil splatter issues but they still command high prices in the used market.
DeleteBest regards,
Mic
I cleaned the D600 today for the 2nd time since I first got the camera in late September. At 1400+ shots, it had many easily visible (F8) dust spots that were not removed by the auto cleaning. I have just the 24-85 VR lens and don't remove it except to clean the sensor. Something internally is generating the dust.
ReplyDeleteThis time, I used a VisibleDust Quasar 7x loupe which made it very easy to see the dust particles. I then used a DustPatrol full frame sensor brush, charged with a hand blower, to remove the dust. It took a few iterations of brushing and checking with the loupe to get almost everything, but there were still a couple of very small particles that would not come loose. I tried wet cleaning with two VisibleDust wands and Eclipse fluid, but the same tiny spots would not come loose. I have a Lenspen LENSK1 Sensorclear on order, which I am hopeful will be the right tool for getting those individual spots loose. If that doesn't work, I'll try the SensorSPECK. Apparently, the LensRentals service guy uses something called a Dust-Aid Sensor Stamp, which is the same idea as the SensorSPECK, only with a larger surface area.
Imo, most of these sensor cleaning products are overpriced! Oh well...
I also spent some time plucking bits of lint from all around the fuzzy-surfaced mirror box. I have no idea where the lint came from. Anyway, the sensor is virtually, if not 100%, clean now, at least nothing left is likely to show up in normal photos.
As for future wet cleaning, I will try Pec-Pads wrapped around a SensorWand when my supply of VisibleDust wands is gone. By the way, I don't like the design of the VisibleDust wands. The ends aren't neat/straight and may contribute to the minor smearing along the edges that I have experienced. I wonder if the Photographic Solutions Sensor Swabs are better?
The viewing loupe is a very useful tool!
Hey there Ken! Thanks for posting your experiences with these sensor cleaning products. That's very helpful info for anyone considering sensor cleaning tools.
DeleteI got the lenspen kit and a wet swab kit (dont recall the brand). I've used the lenspen sensor cleaning pen to remove stubborn dust specks that couldnt be removed by a blower. Hopefully it works for you too.
And yes i agree the loupe really helps.
Thanks again!
Best regards,
Mic
The D600 review is up at DPReview. 87% score! One of the highest ever.
ReplyDeleteThey have a section about the dust issue, which their review camera has. They say they are in contact with Nikon about it and will update their review as new information arrives. Perhaps this will help pressure Nikon to make an official response. At any rate, this is the kind of "problem" that can quickly eat away at Nikon's profit margin for the D600. On one hand, if they admit a problem, they will be swamped with even more returns and demands for regular cleaning under warranty, not to mention possibly raising questions about previous cameras. On the other hand, there are many folks in the comments section who say they won't buy the camera until this is resolved, so they are losing sales right now.
My theory is that particles are continually flaking from the surfaces of the mirror box and/or bottom of the mirror, but then, there are folks who say they have never had any dust issues. If and until Nikon responds, it's only a guess. I have tasted the sensor and it is definitely not fish sauce attracting all that dust! (;->)
Meanwhile, I didn't intend to become an "expert" at cleaning sensors (not there yet by a long shot!), but it's probably not a bad skill to have going forward...
Thanks for the info re DPReview's review, Ken! I hadn't seen that. Reading it now and will highlight any new info compared to what I've posted in our review.
DeletePerhaps the dust is because there are lots of nooks and crannies in the camera where manufacturing dust can hide, and the dust gets dislodged over time. (?) Who knows.
Best regards,
Mic
I e-mailed CopperHill to try buying just the 24mm SensorSwipe and QuickStrips (their special pre-cut wraps probably made from Pec-Pads), but they only sell them separately to customers who have bought the full basic kit. I already have a bottle of Eclipse fluid, so don't need the kit. So, I will make my own "swabstick" to wrap the Pec-Pad around. I can buy a 100-pack of Pec-Pads for about $10. Assuming I can make a suitable cleaning stick of the proper width, shape and material, this will be a much more economical way to wet clean vs. the $3-4 cost per VisibleDust or Professional Solutions swab. The Pec-Pads are also great for cleaning lenses, viewfinders, LCDs, sunglasses, etc.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I figure that the lint I cleaned from the sides of the D600 mirrorbox chamber came from the swabs that I used. I know I'm not suppose to touch the chamber sides with the swab, but it is easy to do, as some of you will know!
Thanks for the update Ken. I know the cost of the sensor-cleaning swabs is off-putting so some folks are interested in DIY solutions such as this. As for me, until I get more experience cleaning sensors, I won't try to wet-clean the D600 sensor yet :) (I will however, try to clean the sensors of my older cameras).
DeleteBest regards,
Mic
I doubt that it's dust that that is the problem here - for the following reason:
ReplyDelete1) A quick search on the web shows that most D600 users report that the spots are only in the upper left corner of the image. Dust doesn't collect in one area only - particularly noot with many users. My D600 shows the same pattern: upper left corner.
2) My first shoot with the D6oo shows a telling symptom: the first pictures i took are clean. After about 400 pictures - same shoot, no change of lens - the pattern starts to appear.
3) My pictures and the ones I saw on the web all show the spots as almost round whereas dust would show in a variety of shapes.
From this I conclude that the reports found on dpreview are correct: it`s oil splashes.
Hi! Thanks for chiming in. I have to disagree with you on a few points here.
Delete1. In Roger Cicala's article, he found what appeared to be some sort of gap around the shutter curtain. His educated guess (which I think sounds reasonable) is that the gap may be the reason for the dust, and could account for why it is appearing on one corner.
2. Even if you don't change lenses, it is possible for dust that's already inside the camera to be shaken loose by the vibration of the mirror moving up and down. So the fact that you didn't change lenses yet saw spots doesn't preclude the possibility of dust.
3. My own camera showed spots that were round and had varying degrees of transparency -- the characteristics claimed by some to be characteristics of oil instead of dust. Yet the camera store's repair man found no oil. And when I looked at it with my sensor loupe, I found no oil either.
4. The Canon article shows what oil really looks like - it looks like a donut-shaped ring (dark on the outside, light on the inside). My spots don't look like that (on the contrast-increased version, it appears there is a lighter "ring" around the spot, but that is because I increased clarity and contrast to the maximum -- in any case it is not dark outside and light inside).
5. You mentioned reports found on dpreview - by that I mean the forum. The forum just reflects opinions of photographers like you and I. I still haven't seen clear evidence of oil -- only spots that users believe to be oil. By clear evidence, I mean something like what Canon's site shows.
6. Since you mention dpreview, I think it's fair to say that DPReview's own review of the D600 makes absolutely no mention of any oil -- only dust. For me, I give more credence to their review than the opinion of amateurs like me.
Of course, you may be right that your spots are oil and not dust -- if you have photos of oil spots on the sensor, or if you have photos of donut-like rings like the one on Canon's site, it would be great if you could post a link to them. That would be helpful for many people who are concerned about this issue.
Best regards,
Mic
I think I will put off purchase of D600 body until this issue is resolved. If one googles D600 dust issue the info is endless. Nikon needs to address this and fix it. It is unacceptable to receive a brand new camera only to find after initail use and no lens change one has MANY dust spots when shooting.
ReplyDeleteOnly at f/22 i see two spots in upper left corner. I blown off without problem.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any oil spots, only dust.
I agree thet the unverified oil splatter hysteria on some forum discussions is diminishing D600 users' credibility.
Hello to all. I'm writing from Google Translate. The problem of oil / dust on the sensor is related only to the D600? The D800 has presented similar problems? I'm doing a "culture" in preparation for a future purchase. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi. Sorry I don't know about dust on the D800. I just know what the D600 has more dust than other cameras based on the LensRentals article and from personal experience.
DeleteBest regards,
Mic
ReplyDeleteREPORT THESE ISSUES TO NIKON SUPPORT!!! If we don't all report them, Nikon won't address them. I am having this problem and am submitting a support request to Nikon now.
The more that we all hold Nikon responsible, the quicker we will get an answer and a fix.
Thanks for the suggestion. Honestly it hasn't affected my photos as far as I can tell (except the photo of the airplane in the clouds). However, it would be great if Nikon could fix it, and I think you're right that they need to be pressured to doing so through complaints to Nikon support.
DeleteBest regards,
Mic
$2K I won't be spending this holiday season. I guess I'll be putting it toward the new iMacs. I haven't heard any rumors about dust on their screens :-)
ReplyDeleteMore power to you for being able to resist the temptation :)
DeleteBest regards,
Mic
Add another to the list. Until I ran into many threads similar to this one today I thought it was my UV filter, removed it. Thought it was my lens. Cleaned until I rubbed the coating off (exaggerating of course but not by much). Called Nikon tonight. No admittance of a widespread problem by the tech support guy. In fact he said "the internet reports are overblown". Basically he told me to send the camera in for service. Packing it up tonight. What a drag. I was so excited about this purchase being my first full frame. Traded in my D5100, which never gave me a spot (pardon the pun) of trouble for it. My concern is I am reading on other posts that others have done this already only to have the spotting reappear shortly after getting it back...
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I have no dust/oil problems. Like many, I was terrified of buying my D600 after all the online comments re the sensor gaining dust or oil marks. perhaps I'm just lucky so far (2 months) but I have no regrets. I love the camera, the photos and shooting with it. TBH even if I get sensor spots now, I wouldn't be very upset as the D600 has brought me so much joy. It's my first FF, first Nikon, and I have used Olympus 4/3 and Sony Nex-5 prior to this. If you are thinking of a d600, just go for it! SB London.
ReplyDeleteHi SB! Congratulations on getting the D600! I agree it is a great camera, and although it has some dust issues, I think some folks are worrying a little too much about the spots, instead of observing whether it actually affects their shots. Thanks for sharing your experience with the D600!
DeleteBest regards,
Mic
mic ty, you are an asshole. Just Nikon pay you to solve with bla bla bla their issues. what do you think?
ReplyDeleteBe careful my friend. Your manners are showing. :)
DeleteAnyway i have posted only the facts:
1. The d600 does have dust issues - more than any other camera i'm aware of.
2. On my camera the spots were plenty and showed up at f/8 after around 2k shots.
3. But those spots went away with just a blower.
4. I have since had around 7k shots and i can only see spots at f/22 or narrower. I dont see spots at f/11 or wider. 99% of the time i take my photos at f/8 or wider, so funnily enough the spots dont bother me.
5. I noted that i have not seen any solid evidence of oil (as opposed to dust).
Is my experience necessarily the same as others? no. It is one of many data points. But i presented my experience. Whether people continue to obsess about dust or not is entirely up to them. Personally i prefer to take photos. Also i dont think nikon should be off the hook - in fact i agreed with a comment that we may want to complain to nikon about it. Sadly, unlike canon, they havent accepted that there is a spotting issue - would be nice to offer cleaning at certain intervals for example. Does that change what i observed? Nope.
Anyway you have courage for trying to call me out. Hopefully you have the intellectual honesty to see whether what i have written is true.
PS if you think i am on nikon's payroll or anybody else's for that matter you are sadly mistakenI paid full price plus tax for my d600. I paid for all the gear that i have reviewed. No one has sent me anything (yet) and if they did i would disclose that. I do get perhaps a dime per hour of work that i put in from amazon affiliates and i always disclose that.