Digital SLRs and fungus contamination?

Hello!

I am considering to buy a Nikon D70, but will be moving to a very
hot and humid place in the near future, then came the doubt about how
DSLRs deal with fungus and mildew contamination.
On film cameras all optical surfaces are reasonably resistant to
cleaning, but I wonder how CCDs react to wiping? Or perhaps there are
special procedures for CCD cleaning?
I would really apreciate any thoughts on this, and I believe this
info would be helpful to other people living in tropical/sub-tropical
countries...
Thanks,

Mario.


PS.: Regarding preventative measures such as silica gel, they were not
enough to prevent contamination. I used to live in very humid places and
despite all care had to run all my gear to a thorough cleaning at least
every two years!

Mario Guimaraes wrote:

Hello!

I am considering to buy a Nikon D70, but will be moving to a very
hot and humid place in the near future, then came the doubt about how
DSLRs deal with fungus and mildew contamination.
On film cameras all optical surfaces are reasonably resistant to
cleaning, but I wonder how CCDs react to wiping? Or perhaps there are
special procedures for CCD cleaning?
I would really apreciate any thoughts on this, and I believe this
info would be helpful to other people living in tropical/sub-tropical
countries...
Thanks,

Mario.


PS.: Regarding preventative measures such as silica gel, they were not
enough to prevent contamination. I used to live in very humid places and
despite all care had to run all my gear to a thorough cleaning at least
every two years!



During my forays in more tropical climates, I imagine DSLRs will have
the same problem as FSLRs - frequent cleaning. Canned air helps
dislodge loose materials (spores), but not all. Also, I would NEVER
consider wiping across a sensor, especially for the purpose of removing
surface contamination. Not exactly the same thing, but there's one
location in S. Costa Rica with a PC on a generator. PC replacements are
an annual affair due to mold taking root on all the internal components.
In the early days, floppy disks had a MTBF of six months. A lot of
this was likely due to the internal heat, and a DSLR won't suffer *that*
much.

--
jer email reply - I am not a 'ten'
"If one dives and returns to the surface inarticulate with amazement and
with a deep realisation of the marvel of what he has seen and where he
has been, then he deserves to go again and again. If he is unmoved or
dissappointed, then there remains for him on earth only a longer or
shorter period of waiting for death." --William Beebe, "Half Mile Down"

Mario Guimaraes wrote:

Hello!

I am considering to buy a Nikon D70, but will be moving to a very
hot and humid place in the near future, then came the doubt about how
DSLRs deal with fungus and mildew contamination.
On film cameras all optical surfaces are reasonably resistant to
cleaning, but I wonder how CCDs react to wiping? Or perhaps there are
special procedures for CCD cleaning?
I would really apreciate any thoughts on this, and I believe this
info would be helpful to other people living in tropical/sub-tropical
countries...
Thanks,

Mario.


PS.: Regarding preventative measures such as silica gel, they were not
enough to prevent contamination. I used to live in very humid places and
despite all care had to run all my gear to a thorough cleaning at least
every two years!



During my forays in more tropical climates, I imagine DSLRs will have
the same problem as FSLRs - frequent cleaning. Canned air helps
dislodge loose materials (spores), but not all. Also, I would NEVER
consider wiping across a sensor, especially for the purpose of removing
surface contamination. Not exactly the same thing, but there's one
location in S. Costa Rica with a PC on a generator. PC replacements are
an annual affair due to mold taking root on all the internal components.
In the early days, floppy disks had a MTBF of six months. A lot of
this was likely due to the internal heat, and a DSLR won't suffer *that*
much.

--
jer email reply - I am not a 'ten'
"If one dives and returns to the surface inarticulate with amazement and
with a deep realisation of the marvel of what he has seen and where he
has been, then he deserves to go again and again. If he is unmoved or
dissappointed, then there remains for him on earth only a longer or
shorter period of waiting for death." --William Beebe, "Half Mile Down"

"Jer" wrote in message
...

During my forays in more tropical climates, I imagine DSLRs will have
the same problem as FSLRs - frequent cleaning. Canned air helps
dislodge loose materials (spores), but not all. Also, I would NEVER
consider wiping across a sensor, especially for the purpose of removing
surface contamination.


Sensor cleaning is a fact of life of owning a dSLR. It is easily
accomplished using methyl alcohol (Eclipse) and lint-free pads (Pec-Pads)
Look at http://tinyurl.com/62sbt . There's a nice step-by-step illustration
of sensor cleaning of a dSLR at http://www.pbase.com/image/15473243 .

Canned air OTOH is an extremely BAD idea for dSLRs since the propellent
(usually liquid freon or something similar) will definitely not do your
sensor any good. Best way to initially address the sensor in a dSLR that
shows "dust-bunnies" in its images (usually sky) is a hand blower such as
the Giotto Rocket (no-brush-blowers!)

HMc

Howard McCollister wrote:
"Jer" wrote in message
...


During my forays in more tropical climates, I imagine DSLRs will have
the same problem as FSLRs - frequent cleaning. Canned air helps
dislodge loose materials (spores), but not all. Also, I would NEVER
consider wiping across a sensor, especially for the purpose of removing
surface contamination.



Sensor cleaning is a fact of life of owning a dSLR. It is easily
accomplished using methyl alcohol (Eclipse) and lint-free pads (Pec-Pads)
Look at http://tinyurl.com/62sbt . There's a nice step-by-step illustration
of sensor cleaning of a dSLR at http://www.pbase.com/image/15473243 .

Canned air OTOH is an extremely BAD idea for dSLRs since the propellent
(usually liquid freon or something similar) will definitely not do your
sensor any good. Best way to initially address the sensor in a dSLR that
shows "dust-bunnies" in its images (usually sky) is a hand blower such as
the Giotto Rocket (no-brush-blowers!)

HMc





I love it when I leave smarter than when I arrived. Thanks. I suppose
Mario and I will eventually learn if this info keeps the spores out.

--
jer email reply - I am not a 'ten'

Thanks a lot for the info!

Cheers,

Mario.



Jer wrote in :

Howard McCollister wrote:
"Jer" wrote in message
...


During my forays in more tropical climates, I imagine DSLRs will have
the same problem as FSLRs - frequent cleaning. Canned air helps
dislodge loose materials (spores), but not all. Also, I would NEVER
consider wiping across a sensor, especially for the purpose of
removing surface contamination.



Sensor cleaning is a fact of life of owning a dSLR. It is easily
accomplished using methyl alcohol (Eclipse) and lint-free pads
(Pec-Pads) Look at http://tinyurl.com/62sbt . There's a nice
step-by-step illustration of sensor cleaning of a dSLR at
http://www.pbase.com/image/15473243 .

Canned air OTOH is an extremely BAD idea for dSLRs since the
propellent (usually liquid freon or something similar) will
definitely not do your sensor any good. Best way to initially address
the sensor in a dSLR that shows "dust-bunnies" in its images (usually
sky) is a hand blower such as the Giotto Rocket (no-brush-blowers!)

HMc





I love it when I leave smarter than when I arrived. Thanks. I
suppose Mario and I will eventually learn if this info keeps the
spores out.

"Mario Guimaraes" wrote in message
43.38...
Hello!

I am considering to buy a Nikon D70, but will be moving to a very
hot and humid place in the near future, then came the doubt about how
DSLRs deal with fungus and mildew contamination.
On film cameras all optical surfaces are reasonably resistant to
cleaning, but I wonder how CCDs react to wiping? Or perhaps there are
special procedures for CCD cleaning?
I would really apreciate any thoughts on this, and I believe this
info would be helpful to other people living in tropical/sub-tropical
countries...
Thanks,

Mario.


PS.: Regarding preventative measures such as silica gel, they were not
enough to prevent contamination. I used to live in very humid places and
despite all care had to run all my gear to a thorough cleaning at least
every two years!

Mario,

I live in a hot and humid place called Florida. Of course the camera spends
most of its time in air conditioned quarters, while I go out and beat the
bushes for pesos. I haven't had any problems yet, but I did notice that the
Canon D20 has an operating limit of 85% relative humidity per the following
link:

http://www.adorama.com/ICA20DK1.html

I haven't seen that limit on the Nikon D70 but that doesn't mean it doesn't
exist.

Clyde Torres
"Hmm, beating the bushes for pesos sounds like Halliburton"

Mario Guimaraes wrote:

PS.: Regarding preventative measures such as silica gel, they were not
enough to prevent contamination. I used to live in very humid places and
despite all care had to run all my gear to a thorough cleaning at least
every two years!

I was disturbed to see one of my old zooms developed a fungus
between some of the internal elements; just a big of fogging
you could only see in direct light. Silica gel won't prevent
everything, but I'd sure keep any new stuff as cool and dry
as possible..

--
Ken Tough

"Jer" wrote in message
...
Howard McCollister wrote:


Sensor cleaning is a fact of life of owning a dSLR. It is easily
accomplished using methyl alcohol (Eclipse) and lint-free pads
(Pec-Pads)
Look at http://tinyurl.com/62sbt . There's a nice step-by-step
illustration
of sensor cleaning of a dSLR at http://www.pbase.com/image/15473243 .

Canned air OTOH is an extremely BAD idea for dSLRs since the propellent
(usually liquid freon or something similar) will definitely not do your
sensor any good. Best way to initially address the sensor in a dSLR that
shows "dust-bunnies" in its images (usually sky) is a hand blower such
as
the Giotto Rocket (no-brush-blowers!)

HMc





I love it when I leave smarter than when I arrived. Thanks. I suppose
Mario and I will eventually learn if this info keeps the spores out.


Humid environments are a problem more for lenses than for cameras. Fungus
growth in lenses in not uncommon and will ruin a lens. Having spent a fair
amount of time in Dominican Republic and Haiti over the years
http://www.pbase.com/hmac/haiti__february_2004 , my approach has been to
store camera and lenses in an airtight Pelican case with a few bags of
silica gel. During the day, I carry the stuff in a LowePro Computrekker,
then at the end of the day, I blow out the camera with a Giotto Rocket and
seal the stuff back up in the Pelican. Works for me.

HMc