Is there anything I can do to clean the dust from inside my zoom lens?
June 17, 2010 7:09 PM Subscribe
Do I really have to replace my digital camera because of a little dust inside the zoom lens? It's a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 and everything else about it is working perfectly.
I love this camera. I've had it three years and it's been great.
Recently I've been getting a small dark spot on my photos if I zoom in past about half way, and I can see a bit of dust inside the zoom lens assembly. I wish I knew how it got there!
I called Panasonic, and they didn't seem to have any suggestions at all. I also took my camera to a local small-electronics repair place (Portatronics in New York City) and they told me that the lens assembly could only be cleaned in a clean room, which would probably cost more than replacing the camera. (It's only about $100 to replace on ebay, and obviously there are several newer versions as well.)
I'm appealing to AskMe to see if there's anything else I should try before chucking this awesome camera that is otherwise working perfectly.
I love this camera. I've had it three years and it's been great.
Recently I've been getting a small dark spot on my photos if I zoom in past about half way, and I can see a bit of dust inside the zoom lens assembly. I wish I knew how it got there!
I called Panasonic, and they didn't seem to have any suggestions at all. I also took my camera to a local small-electronics repair place (Portatronics in New York City) and they told me that the lens assembly could only be cleaned in a clean room, which would probably cost more than replacing the camera. (It's only about $100 to replace on ebay, and obviously there are several newer versions as well.)
I'm appealing to AskMe to see if there's anything else I should try before chucking this awesome camera that is otherwise working perfectly.
Have you specifically tried a camera repair shop? I would try that as a last resort before getting a new camera.
posted by cecic at 8:33 PM on June 17, 2010
posted by cecic at 8:33 PM on June 17, 2010
If your feeling brave you could do it yourself. Here are some instruction for a DIY cleanroom. I figure the worst case is that you can't get it back together and you have to buy another anyway.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 9:07 PM on June 17, 2010
posted by Confess, Fletch at 9:07 PM on June 17, 2010
Dust inside a lens should not show up on an image. The dust is too far from the focal plane to show up on the image. This is physics. Check out this page and many other articles on the internet testifying to this.
If you have a constant spot on your images you have a problem with your sensor.
posted by meadowlark lime at 9:20 PM on June 17, 2010
If you have a constant spot on your images you have a problem with your sensor.
posted by meadowlark lime at 9:20 PM on June 17, 2010
I dont know how to fix it BUT I have this same camera. I still have it and it rocks.
posted by majortom1981 at 6:04 AM on June 18, 2010
posted by majortom1981 at 6:04 AM on June 18, 2010
A small amount of dust in a lens shouldn't affect the image. Dust on the sensor, however, would cause black specks.
posted by statolith at 7:43 AM on June 18, 2010
posted by statolith at 7:43 AM on June 18, 2010
"Dust inside a lens should not show up on an image"
Yep. Sensor dust is the culprit, not lens dust. Just clone it out in photoshop (unless there is a ton of it). Can you see it when you are looking at/sharing pictures with friends? Take a look at whether or not these spots really hurt your pictures in your opinion, cause fixing it might cost more than the camera is worth.
posted by kenbennedy at 9:30 AM on June 18, 2010
Yep. Sensor dust is the culprit, not lens dust. Just clone it out in photoshop (unless there is a ton of it). Can you see it when you are looking at/sharing pictures with friends? Take a look at whether or not these spots really hurt your pictures in your opinion, cause fixing it might cost more than the camera is worth.
posted by kenbennedy at 9:30 AM on June 18, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by raygan at 7:10 PM on June 17, 2010