Well, another short review for today, slot 11, the Giotto Rocket Blower. This is a great device because it is so simple and handy. Don't let the rocket shape fool you, it is nifty. If you change lenses on your DSLR(s) you will get dust on the sensor, even if you have one of those fancy new ones with dust removal vibrating functions! I know because I have three of them and I still need a blower. To use it, you simply remove your lens, invoke the 'sensor cleaning' function of your camera (I hope you aren't so timid that you won't even do this), turn the camera so that the lens opening is facing down, and without touching the sensor with the blower, blow on that puppy!
Some folks aren't sure how to tell if they have dust bunnies on their sensor. Let me first say that if they aren't causing you a problem, ignore them! Really, having some sensor dust is OK if it doesn't cause you problems ... just leave it alone! But if it is an issue but you don't know how to tell if your sensor is clean, here's what to do: take a properly exposed (just let your camera do it as usual) image in Av mode at a small f-stop, like f/22, of a homogeneous subject ... this usual means blue sky which is where most of us have trouble with the dust. Look at the image either via the enlarging function of your body or on your computer. If there are gray spots (or even black) then you have dust. It is OK not to have dust! But if you do, the very first thing to do is use your Rocket Blower. Sometimes it may take three or four iterations to get most of the dust off. I find this usually greatly reduces the dust. You don't have to get it all. It is OK to just reduce it to where it is not a problem. This is not something to have a hemorrhage about!
If you can't get enough of the dust off with the blower, then you need to "wet clean" your sensor. There are dozens of online tutorials about how to do this. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO TRY IT! I have NEVER heard of anyone damaging their sensor if they follow the simple directions in the tutorials. It is not rocket science. It is easy, although the tools are pricey and you may have to do two or three iterations. Do not be distraught if the first pass or two doesn't clean it perfectly! I have had to do four rounds (which cost about $6/round) of wet cleaning sometimes. Just get over it ... that's how it is!
OK, next equipment review will be about batteries for flash. Since starting this tutorial I have upgraded my flash battery setup so I'll go over both AA's and my new Quantum battery!
Be Safe!
Dwight
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