Is there something I can do to remove lens contamination?
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M$6 Answers
I won't suggest you opening it up, because for every spot you remove probably 2 new ones appear. What you could try is your local camera shop (if Sony doens't want to repair it under warranty for you (Give it a shot even if it doensn't have any warranty anymore, this shouldn't happen, EVER)) they might be adventurous enough to open it and clean it.
Just keep in mind your camera is probably 'done for' as it will cost allot of money to let it be repaired (if not done under warranty) it will probably be cheaper to get a new camera.
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M$http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=3008
psa-newmember.org/consultation_services/equipment/Cameras.pdf
ways to eliminate dust
http://blogs.yucs.org/~dwallach/2004/08/canon_e18_error_repair_instruc.html
http://www.flickr.com/groups/36772163@N00/discuss/72157603933691575/
http://www.cnet.com.au/digitalcameras/cameras/0,239036184,339282333-9,00.htm
http://www.cnet.com.au/story_media/339282333/clean-dslr_9.jpg
http://repair4camera.org/disassembly_sony.html
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M$If it's not on the outside of the lens, then it really should be under warranty, so they'd be able to fix it for free. I'd send it in.
If they don't let you send it in, then you should consider opening it to clean it yourself. But that tends to reduce the picture quality because of lens positioning, so be extremely careful!!
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M$
Try rubbing alcohol with a non-scratching towel, like one specially made for lenses. That should take off the water marks, and can dissolve some other stuff. As for the marks, you're right, it's not causing the smudges. If you don't see any dust at all, then this might not help. But it might. Sometimes (according to my optics prof, actually) dust in specially placed spots can actually create some weird blemishes.
Does the camera have a thing that closes over the lens? Try cleaning that off too. And try cleaning as close to the edges of the lens as you can get.
I'm drawing at straws here as well. But it might help.
Offthedome, that's good to know, but 1) things like isopropanol and ethanol are restricted purchases in the UK - only by prescription! and 2) the Sony agent (mentioned above) said no liquids, just dry cloth. I'm tempted to get some distilled water - as water vapour/droplets have undoubtably gotten onto the lens occasionally.
If I hold the lens oblique to a light source I can see a couple of old water spots visible on the front, but not in the same location as the ones that show up in photos, and not as many. I don't know what to clean the lens with aside from the melamine pad. If thre's some sort of coating I don't want to rub it off.
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M$
That's not correct. Typical canned air is not a chemical, and does not contain chemical residues. It is composed of nitrogen and other benign gases. Any appearance of residue is probably particulate matter trapped by a localized freezing process that can occur due to the temperature effect of the expanding and escaping gas absorbing heat from the local environment. It is not chemical residue from the contents of the can itself. That said, you should always use caution with canned air and apply it from a safe distance.
teff, that's news to me. Why not?
Don't use canned air around cameras.
Sounds like our advice is fairly reconciled then. Not too close fits with my caution to work at a safe distance, inert gases fits with "nitrogen and other benign gases." I will concede that the cold itself could be a problem on some surfaces if one isn't careful, possibly camera components as well... I suppose there might be a better solution than canned air but I would probably throw caution to the wind and try it anyway (personally). ;o) But that's just me...
Have tried the canned air on the outside. I should have mentionend that.
Checked Wikipedia, and you're right about the gasses used - it's not just nitrogen but they are said to be inert. The bottle I have in front of me still says not to use it near on a camera mirror, though. It's one of the 5 or 6 specific "do not do" things on the can.
Because the compressed air is actually a chemical that can leave a residue. If you cover the objective of the lens carefully and use it to clean out cracks, it's one thing. If you get it on the front of the lens, it's one thing, but if you get it on the back of the lens, or on the sensor? That's not good. It will damage the sensor, and possibly the filter that is in front of it.
As the sensor is supposed to be sealed, this is actually a pretty significant problem. It's not going to kill your pictures, but you will need to edit the blobs out if you don't like them.
If the camera is 3 years old, it won't hurt to try sending it in, but it's probably not worth repairing for more than $50-60 or so, particularly if it's just a little point and shoot.
If you decide on a new camera these would be for your pocket (Just guessing here), here's a nice inexpensive one:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonsd1100is/page10.asp
A nice one that costs a bit more is the Panasonic FX35 or FX37.
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/FX35/FX35A.HTM
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M$
I have been wondering if damp can get inside and mildew. But as noted above, the problems seems to be significantly something to do with memory, as the spots have faded (and may have disappeared entirely) after resetting the camera.
No, the problem isn't memory. If there was a memory problem, you'd have corrupted files, which would be like this:
http://thekuipers.org/images/IMG_2279.jpg
Those are either dust spots on the sensor, dust on the lens, or, if the seal is broken could be mildew/mold/fungus, or some particulate.
The least sensitive part of the lens to image issues is actually the front glass - as you get closer to the back of the lens it will affect the image more and more.
They also won't show up as much against an active scene as opposed to a solid color.
http://static.photo.net/attachments/bboard/00E/00EWmZ-26989784.jpg
Example 3.
http://thorsten.smugmug.com/photos/128280619-L.jpg
The cost of cleaning dirt off a P&S's sensor would fetch one probably 5 more cameras; its not commonly done; OR its just masked off in software like Photoshop.
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M$
Thanks for the examples. I am convinced that it is partly something to do with resetting the camera, and partly something that needs proper service.
The spots have faded considerably after resetting, but as new photos show, they are still visible.
<img src="http://i43.tinypic.com/2n9cmmo.jpg
Wow, that's great news! I hope it works out if you try it tomorrow on a blue sky or something. I'm surprised it has something to do with Camera memory, but then again, it's a gadget and gadgets are weird.
Yeah. Take a look at this image made after resetting the camera. There are faint spots above the red markers. They seem much fainter than the earlier photos. They may show up more strongly against the sky.
Okay, I used the chat service. The agent - a robot? - said to reset the camera, and from first imprssions, that seems to have reduced the spotting greatly. I'll need to get some more photos in daylight for comparison. But if that has cleared up the spots, it's something to do with camera memory.
The first questions he asked were whether the battery was fully charged and whether the camera works as normal. He then suggested resetting the camera. I did that, and the spots - which *have been* visible on images when reviewing them with the built-in display, are not visible on the subsequent photos.
Aside from that, he said use only a soft cotton cloth, no liquids, on the lens. I looked at it closely and can see small bits of lint, and what might be pollen or water. If those don't show up when I take daylight photos I may just ignore them.
I'm in the UK, but can still find a Sony contact number pretty easily. I half-recall registering it online, so perhaps that's good enough for warranty purposes. That email address looks good - as I could send a copy of the photo and have them make an assessment.
Thanks, Tales. The camera was given as a gift 3 years ago - so I have no receipt. I took it to a well-regarded camera shop and they 'didn't know' what to do about it, except send it to Sony for inspection & repair.
I'm hoping that there might be more I can do to clean the lens front (without affecting whatever coating it might have)
I would still try to contact Sony, even though you don't have a receipt, they should be able to tell when the camera is bought. The air tight seal between the Lens and the Sensor should not 'break' as it were.
I'm guessing you are from the US, so here are some number you might want to try (if not just say where you are from and I'll try and find local numbers for you)
Sony Customer Relations: 1-800-222-7669 (SONY)
Technical Support:
Phone:
In English: 1-800-222-7669
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00AM-12:00AM (Midnight) / Sat-Sun 9:00AM-8:00PM EST
E-Mail:
https://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/contact-email.pl
Live Chat:
http://www.docs.sony.com/startchat.asp?modelnum=&chat=1