joris_hekelaar

Consider this option: Send it to a company called Chipclean in the Netherlands (see their site: www.chipclean.nl). They can do it for you and do it right! Problem with (trying) to clean it yourself is that you will never achieve good results:

- Use a swab-like thing and you'll just shift dust or add muck or even worse, scratch the sensor surface

- use a blower and you'll blow the dust into the camera body where it'll sit for a couple of days only to return to your sensor, or the particles get stuck in some other place where you don't want it

I've used the Chipclean service and was very happy with it. They clean the sensor, the inside of the body, the lens and prove the difference. Worth a try!

Good luck, Joris

I would argue that the only way to get even better pictures then the one you can make with the Rebel XT, is to go for a full size sensor. The gain: you'll lose noise on low light/high ISO conditions. So, go for the 5D or step up to EOS1D mark III.

Good Luck, Joris

My advice is to not buy the camera in Tokyo since you will have serious warrantee problems if the camera breaks down. Your Canadian Canon service centre will not support camera's that have been purchased outside of the America's, meaning you would have to send it back to Tokyo etc.

Suggested solution: buy it from a local E-shop. That way you'll have a good deal AND warrantee.

Best of luck, regards, Joris