Sony Nex-5T - damaged sensor, any hope of saving this camera?

<p><img src="https://flic.kr/p/Enf6Ky" alt="" /><img src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/10358233@N04/25181954514/in/dateposted-public/" alt="" /><img src="https://www.mediafire.com/?kj458ks19d701i2" alt="" /><br>

Hey everyone. <br>

Just a scratching around in the dark kind of question. I recently made a mistake and damaged the sensor of my Sony NEX5T mirrorless camera sensor, by trying to remove a mark left behind by the previous owner, and making the small spot into a huge splodge. The resulting mark is visible on all photographs taken with any of my lenses, and so I've come to terms with the fact I'll need to buy a new camera (think it's time to switch systems, as I'm going into photography professionally so perhaps the Canon 5D Mark iii) - something more substantial, I think. </p>

<p>I phoned a local camera shop and they told me the sensor cleaning can't be done as it is prohibitively expensive - starts at around £300 and no guarantee of it working at all. I just wondered if anyone had any quick fix or slightly risky ideas to revive the camera, or if it really is a goner. I've attached a photo of the damage and am hoping it shows up so you can get a sense of what's happened. The damage by myself was caused by cleaning- the spot left by the previous owner, I have no idea. </p>

<p>Cheers, <br>

Zoe </p><div></div>

I would try wet cleaning before giving up on this camera.

 

http://www.photosol.com/index.html

 

I am sure there are more wet cleaning options and other places to buy this type of stuff

<p>I am amazed and happy that such a thing as the </p>

ECLIPSE & AEROCLIPSE OPTIC FLUID for cleaning digital sensors, amazing! Never knew such a thing would exist! I see you can't buy it from there, but will have a look on Amazon or eBay. Thanks a million. </h1>

<p>300 for a sensor cleaning? I'd try other shops. Used to be one near me that did it for free a couple of times because I occasionally bought something there. There's also wet cleaning at home. </p>

<p>This looks more like a smudge than permanent damage. Probably the spot was something oily that got spread around when you tried to wipe it off.</p>

<p>I think I'll give those shops a miss - there's only one near me (in OXford) and that's a half hour drive away and hence, can charge what they like, it seems! They don't even do it in house as they're scared to touch it, they suggested I'd need to send it off with Sony, despite the fact I bought it second hand. I am going to try the wet cleaning products that are made specifically for sensors. The worst that can happen, is it's a waste of money and doesn't work. If I do make things worse, then the camera was on its way out anyway, as a tiny mirrorless doesn't look so good when you're photographing weddings and portraits and the punters feel better when the photographer has 2 "big camera". </p>

<p>I'd try wet cleaning first, there are several kits available for this. Try to find one that suits you. You can even start with pure isopropanol. And remember, it's not the sensor that is damaged/dirty, it's the filter on top of the sensor. If the damage is permanent you can try to have the camera converted to IR. In that case they'll remove the filter and replace it with an IR transparent one. Some of these companies will even replace the filter. Think of GBP 300 or so for converting the camera to IR. Proper cleaning will in most cases be less than GBP 50. (I'll do it for 40 :-)</p>

<p>Thanks Jos, I might buy some of the isopropanol, if it doens't look suspicious these days buying a chemical like that... what are your thoughts? I guess what I will also need is a sensor cleaning swab or rod so that the cleaning material can be applied. <br>

Yes, I am sure now that I can clean it myself at home - I just needed to get around that thought in my head that I would only make it worse if I continued to poke and prod at the sensor myself, as that's what caused the smeary mess in the first place. </p>

 

Alternatively to the neat chemical, I found a product that looks like it might work on <a href="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-IN-1-Pro-Lens-CCD-CMOS-Sensor-Cleaning-Kit-For-Canon-Nikon-Camera-UK-Seller-/152013388368?hash=item2364b43a50:g:pRMAAOSwYlJW5Kv8">eBay</a>. This is a kit, so looks fairly appealing. What does anyone think of that?

 

There are so many cleaning kits and fluids out there - so what would work and yet be a reasonable price? Is there a trusted brand or are they all pretty much the same?

<blockquote>

<p>Wet cleaning - "<em>Never knew such a thing would exist</em>" <em><strong>Zoe H.</strong></em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>So this means you did a <strong>dry</strong> cleaning<strong>?</strong><br /> <strong>You're done</strong>, you scratched the coatings on the filter in front of the sensor (Like cleaning abrasions on the front of an old lens).<br /> Since you're so daring, short of replacement, might as well just perform a DIY removal of the "filter"...</p>

<p>Considering the expense of repair and the relative value of the camera, at this point I would buy a set of miniature screwdrivers and have a good ole time dismantling it just to see whats inside. Post photos of the process.</p>

<p>I think I've either just simply caused a smear on the filter, or I've done damage to it - I don't know as I've never owned a DSLR/mirrorless before and am experienced. To keep it simple. Sensor was dirty. I cleaned sensor with a cloth. Sensor got smeary. That's it, really. I just bought some random sensor cleaning products on eBay, that looked decent quality, and will report back as to their product names and how effective they were, once I have received and used them. Thanks for everyone who's helped by giving their advice and time. </p>

<p>Hey everyone, Just thought I'd give an update, so have attached pictures of the product that I used , which got rid of the smear on the sensor of my sony nex5T - YAY! </p>

<p>pic2</p>

<p>pic 3</p>

<p>pic4</p>

<p>Put a lense on, set the aperture to 22 and take a picture of a reasonably clear blue or grey sky. Shutter speed does not matter, but low iso. Post that image up....I expect your work may not be done....</p>

 

<p>Steven has the right idea. Then, take your image and apply "Auto Levels" or equivalent in any editing program. Hope it all works. If not, the newer Sonys are even better. A6000 should be cheap now.</p>

<p>I think I'm about to write off this camera. I have no idea what's going on and why I cn't get the sensor clean. </p>

<p>I will post up five images with this camera, straight out of cam with no levels-editing, to show the crazy, varied, but always bad results. </p>

<p>Shot at ISO 100 at F22 shooting up at the sky, ,moving the frame of view slightly each time. All shot within seconds (or less) of each other. </p>

<p> </p>

<p>pic 2</p>

<p>3</p>

<p>4</p>

<p>5</p>

<p>If you did not take the lens off between the pictures, the most likely explanation is there is a lot of dust and junk in the sensor chamber that is moving around. You might want to try to carefully clean the chamber. While the pictures you uploaded are ok for finding dust, you really need a real clean sky (no clouds) to make sure there is not some smudges.</p>

<p>Just to follow up, I took this camera with me recently on a trip to NYC (as it is so lightweight and small, being a mirrorless!) and the pictures were blemish-free. Whatever I did with the cleaning and constantly working on every little spot I saw, worked. In fact, my images didn't even need to be worked on with the spot healing tool for dust spots etc, which is almost always the case when I process images on LR or PS afterwards as part of my workflow. Sorry this isn't so helpful to others with same issue, but don't give up and do try targetting any single bit of dust you see, whether it's on lens or sensor. And those wet sensor cleaning kits do work - don't be afraid of them like I Was... </p>

<p><img src="webkit-fake-url://9C077E2C-7582-421D-B2E5-94DC86243A33/00dpBg-561675384.jpg" alt="00dpBg-561675384.jpg" /><br>

This is where I think you are on the right track. You just need to be prepared to dry the residual liquid off, accept that there will be dust particles after the drying, then hit them with a blower.</p>