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Photography Question 

Christina Sandberg
 

Sensor Cleaning


I had an assistant turn on the sensor cleaning on my Canon 5D by accident...I didn't know until 2hrs later when I noticed CLN flashing in my display. I have never used this feature before and didn't know what it meant, so I turned off the camera (which had been left on). I later read in my manual that turning off the camera during cleaning could damage it. The lens never came off and the lens cap was on, so essentially, cleaning never happened...is there still the possiblity of damage being done?


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November 02, 2007

 

Christopher A. Vedros
  The 5D doesn't have automatic sensor cleaning like some of the newer Canon dSLRs do. The sensor clean feature on the 5D just flips the mirror up out of the way so that the sensor is exposed. Then you can clean it manually with a blower, brush, etc.

Turning off the camera during cleaning is only a danger if you have a blower, brush, or swab poking in there when you turn it off. Turning off the camera will release the mirror, and if it hits something during its travel, it could get damaged.

As for leaving the camera in cleaning mode for 2 hrs, worst case is that the sensor was exposed longer than usual to any dust that may have already been inside the camera. If the lens had been off, it would be more likely to now need a serious cleaning.

Chris Vedros


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November 02, 2007

 
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