Return from Costa Rica, close calls, and a question.

[stemked]

Hi All.

 

I just returned from an absolutely incredible eight days in Costa Rica. I started

out with 13 college students in toe and actually somehow returned with all 13

back to the States. Remarkably beautiful place to do nature photography.

Although I went primarily to keep the students informed about the natural history

and geography they were seeing I had plenty of time to do some marvous

photography.

 

Anyway I did have a couple of incidents with equipment. I saw a fairly close

Hummingbird from the third floor of my hotel. I open up my bag and my Pentax 20-

35mm f4 fell out of the bag three stories below, just missing a student on the way

and pluging into soft mud. It was fine; can't say the same thing about the

student's or my own heart. On the same trip a tripod that was strapped away flew

out of an overhead bin onto a the head of a consultant on the bus. Glad to say

she wasn't seriously hurt, but I was feeling pretty small and had a sense like my

equipmet was jinxed.

 

I do have a question about sensor cleaners for the K10D. For the first time I

seem to have dust and a few spots on the sensor that the K10D sensor cleaner

can't clean up. I did a quick search here and found a product recommended by

one of our posters but when I went to B&H I found it discontinued. I've never

cleaned a sensor before so I'd appreciate any comments on safe and easy to use

cleaners. I used to be nervous about film pressure plates, this seems a lot more

problematic to me. Any advise Y'all might have would be appreciated.

[ronald_moravec1]

MANY threads have been written, Try the search function.

 

With the skills you seem to have, i would pay someone to do it .

[michaelc]

Glad to hear you had a great trip. It really isn't that difficult to clean both the focus scrren and/or sensor. Just be careful and read the numerous threads on this forum detailing with how to do it.

[marosari00]

This should help:

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00PUgx

[shots worth sharing]

It's great to hear I'm not the only klutz on this forum! The exploding tripod gambit sounds pretty impressive--you must tell me how it's done.

 

As to sensor cleaning, the first step is cleaning with a blower. So far, that has effectively resolved all my dirty sensor issues. I felt like I was doing brain surgery the first time I did it, but if you take reasonable care and follow the instructions in the manual, it's NBD. If (when) I encounter a problem that can't be cured by blowing, I'll take it to a pro: no way I'm going to attempt a procedure which requires actually touching the sensor.

 

Got photos?

[a few images]

Sounds like a great trip Douglas. I have Costa Rica in my sights as a destination to hit sooner rather than later. Guatemala as well.

 

Sorry to hear about your equipment mishaps, it happens though.

 

I have heard of people recommending some product that begins with the word Copper.. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful, I just don't have any experience using wet cleaning products on the sensor. Pentax offered a kit, maybe they have it on their site?

[miserere_mei]

Doug, is a blower not enough to get the dust off the CCD?

 

Please don't drop the camera on your toe while cleaning it.

[mc2imaging]

@Ronald - LOL! I about spit my Maruchan Instant Lunch all over my twin 20"

displays! I usually try not to poke fun at the forum moderator in his own threads...