matthews434

Let me just share an experience from 10 yrs ago. While checking dust on the sensor I noticed a big smear/oil spray. Late afternoon, all shops closed and the next day I had to get up early for a flight to Nepal and of course I needed the camera for that trip. Tried several things to clean the sensor, hence I know that Q-tips are not ok. Then cut a piece of cardboard to about 1.5 cm width, folded a lens tissue over it and cleaned the sensor with a modest amount of lens cleaner (ispropanol). After a few tries the sensor was clean enough. Fortunately the sensor stayed clean for the next four weeks. I'm sure I couldn't have repeated the cleaning in a dusty tent.

Uh oh. Guess I shouldn't have used a Q-Tip? What will happen now that I did? interesting story btw

Well, a Q-tip, even moist, is not the best way to clean your sensor. Have it wet cleaned. In this case wet is not equal to water but mostly a clean grade of methanol or isopropanol. wet cleaning should remove all grease and debris.

Don't worry too much, the sensor (actually the plate in front of the sensor) can take some abuse.

And start reading the manual.

FYI there are little screws all over the camera. Time to get a philips screwdriver and take the thing apart. That's the easy part. Just guess about the difficult part :)

I just used isopropanol to clean the sensor. Seems like it worked, but I'm not so sure about unscrewing my camera haha

To touch the sensor, you would have had to have taken off the lens and poked your finger inside the camera...are you sure it was the sensor you were touching?

Yes, I'm sure this is what I was touching.

It could be, but likely all you have done is get "people grease" on it. If you twist it as you look at it you will see any major damage.

How do I twist it? What do I twist? Sorry if I'm a rookie at this

The sensor is what captures the image in digital form. Any damage or dirt on it will cause problems with image quality.

Could there be any scratches on it that I'm not seeing that will in any way effect the photos taken? I heard that image sensors are extremely delicate

Look at the biggest images at 100% from a plain white surface and some other colors at different speeds and apertures and see if you have 'artifacts' (smears, dots, etc.). If you don't, you may have been lucky. Otherwise buy some proper cleaning solution and swabs and have another go at it. If worse comes to worse get professional help.

Does the sensor do anything to the image when taken?