[Solved] Fungus on sensor - is there any hope?

slate37 · 27th October 2009, 4:15 PM

Photos from my D40 started showing a shadowy hairline blotch a couple of months ago. I thought it might just be dust and tried removing it with a blower without success. Further investigation reveals it is most likely fungus on the sensor or IR filter or between them. As expected it is only prominent with small apertures, visible at f/5.6 in this case and abhorrent by f/11. Unfortunately it shows on all of my lenses so it is definitely not on the lens.

The following is cropped from one of the images where the problem is prominent. On a 6x4" the blotch is about 1x1cm, just off the centre of the image, so it is rather significant.

Click to view full-sized image!

Could this be anything but fungus?

Is there any hope of salvation, short of replacing the sensor assembly?

Are there any further diagnostics to be done?

Edit: Seems it wasn't fungus, a wet clean and it's all good.

FB008 · 27th October 2009, 4:16 PM

Try getting a sensor clean perhaps?

phreeky82 · 27th October 2009, 4:36 PM

Yep wet sensor clean is what I'd try, could do it yourself with one of those copperhill kits or similar.

Man that sucks, hope you can get it cleaned up without issues. I'd not be mucking around, longer you leave it the more damage it could do.

Fatmantan · 27th October 2009, 4:40 PM

It could possibly be small hairline cracks?

Crash Dummy · 27th October 2009, 4:40 PM

Do you get the same result using different lenses ? If so i'd defintely be pointing at the IR filter covering the sensor. The shadow cast indicates that it isn't on the actual sensor. If there is no fungus on the IR filter my next guess would be the rear element of the lens.

SyN · 27th October 2009, 5:33 PM

give it moisture and nutrients and see if it grows to confirm whether its fungi or not!

FB008 · 27th October 2009, 6:04 PM

Teach the fungus to use Stun Spore on command - it will be an excellent substitute for VR.

isaaus · 27th October 2009, 6:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SyN

give it moisture and nutrients and see if it grows to confirm whether its fungi or not!

Quote:

Originally Posted by FB008

Teach the fungus to use Stun Spore on command - it will be an excellent substitute for VR.

Best replies

Yea i also suggest wet cleaning, i would rather suggest taking it to a repair centre to do so than yourself.

Mred32 · 28th October 2009, 12:30 AM

Cleaning with an alcohol based fluid would be my best bet. Pure alcohol will kill lots of things including humans.
The sooner the better though as fungus eats into many surface coatings, although not the glass itself.

Mred32

SyN · 28th October 2009, 2:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mred32

Pure alcohol will kill lots of things including humans.

Mred32

phew im safe

sgn · 28th October 2009, 9:39 AM

I would take it to a service centre to be cleaned.. Better than risking the ccd and then having to pay someone to replace it.

slate37 · 28th October 2009, 9:39 PM

Thanks for all the feedback. I guess I'll give the wet clean with alcohol a shot. About time the sensor was cleaned anyway. I don't see any issue with doing it myself, though thanks for the warning sgn.

Syn - perhaps my camera could host ultimate beer mother culture

.

FB008 - very clever, perhaps not too long off happening (linky)

slate37 · 15th November 2009, 4:23 PM

Just a quick update. I got the "Digital Duster" kit from DCW and after the wet+dry clean there is no longer any sign of the blemish. Presumably not fungus then so all is well. Some small specks left at F/36, but I'm never likely to use smaller than F/11 so no problem really.

Mred32 · 16th November 2009, 12:16 AM

Well done.

If my sensor is clean at f/16 I'm happy

f/22 if I'm feeling very fussy.

Mred32

27th October 2009, 4:15 PM	#1
slate37 Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Brisbane Posts: 510	[Solved] Fungus on sensor - is there any hope? Photos from my D40 started showing a shadowy hairline blotch a couple of months ago. I thought it might just be dust and tried removing it with a blower without success. Further investigation reveals it is most likely fungus on the sensor or IR filter or between them. As expected it is only prominent with small apertures, visible at f/5.6 in this case and abhorrent by f/11. Unfortunately it shows on all of my lenses so it is definitely not on the lens. The following is cropped from one of the images where the problem is prominent. On a 6x4" the blotch is about 1x1cm, just off the centre of the image, so it is rather significant. Click to view full-sized image! Could this be anything but fungus? Is there any hope of salvation, short of replacing the sensor assembly? Are there any further diagnostics to be done? Edit: Seems it wasn't fungus, a wet clean and it's all good. Last edited by slate37; 15th November 2009 at 4:24 PM.

27th October 2009, 4:36 PM	#3
phreeky82 Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Townsville Posts: 9,133	Yep wet sensor clean is what I'd try, could do it yourself with one of those copperhill kits or similar. Man that sucks, hope you can get it cleaned up without issues. I'd not be mucking around, longer you leave it the more damage it could do. __________________ Successful trades: eyusuf, andy8, stuartl, michaeliam, theDarkHorse, bob

27th October 2009, 4:40 PM	#4
Fatmantan Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Sydney Posts: 8,156	It could possibly be small hairline cracks? __________________ \| Dell 2407WFP-HC \| Q6600 \| Gigabyte P35C-DS3R \| 8gb Kingston HyperX 8500 \| EVGA GTX470 \| 4.2tb Storage \| \| Canon 40D \| Tokina 11-16 \| Tamron 17-50 \| Canon 70-200 F4L \| Canon 430ex \| \| D3 Profile \| Over $20,000 Successful Trades \| My f@h Stats \|

27th October 2009, 4:40 PM	#5
Crash Dummy Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Newcastle, NSW Posts: 1,719	Do you get the same result using different lenses ? If so i'd defintely be pointing at the IR filter covering the sensor. The shadow cast indicates that it isn't on the actual sensor. If there is no fungus on the IR filter my next guess would be the rear element of the lens. __________________ Click to view my Flickr Photostream Intel Core 2 Duo E5200 2.5Ghz @ 3.66Ghz 333x11\|Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4\|XFX Radeon 4890 1GB Apple Mac Pro 1,1 2.66Ghz\|6GB RAM\|ATI Radeon 4870 512MB

27th October 2009, 5:33 PM	#6
SyN Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 6,977	give it moisture and nutrients and see if it grows to confirm whether its fungi or not! __________________ You are now conscious of your breathing pattern. The one hundredth member of OCAU Camera Club Mark II Non-existant Fujifilm Finepix X100 club member #100

28th October 2009, 12:30 AM	#9
Mred32 Old and Decrepit Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Perth, South of the River Posts: 4,823	Cleaning with an alcohol based fluid would be my best bet. Pure alcohol will kill lots of things including humans. The sooner the better though as fungus eats into many surface coatings, although not the glass itself. Mred32 __________________ I've also eaten lots of brains] Mred32 Home]

28th October 2009, 9:39 AM	#11
sgn Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: sydney Posts: 588	I would take it to a service centre to be cleaned.. Better than risking the ccd and then having to pay someone to replace it. __________________ I thought a 'Blog' was something you did after a heavy night's drinking..

28th October 2009, 9:39 PM	#12
slate37 Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Brisbane Posts: 510	Thanks for all the feedback. I guess I'll give the wet clean with alcohol a shot. About time the sensor was cleaned anyway. I don't see any issue with doing it myself, though thanks for the warning sgn. Syn - perhaps my camera could host ultimate beer mother culture . FB008 - very clever, perhaps not too long off happening (linky)

15th November 2009, 4:23 PM	#13
slate37 Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Brisbane Posts: 510	Just a quick update. I got the "Digital Duster" kit from DCW and after the wet+dry clean there is no longer any sign of the blemish. Presumably not fungus then so all is well. Some small specks left at F/36, but I'm never likely to use smaller than F/11 so no problem really.

16th November 2009, 12:16 AM	#14
Mred32 Old and Decrepit Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Perth, South of the River Posts: 4,823	Well done. If my sensor is clean at f/16 I'm happy f/22 if I'm feeling very fussy. Mred32 __________________ I've also eaten lots of brains] Mred32 Home]