Canon G7 - Dust in the lens :(

[bpribadi]

Got dust in my G7 lens It is visible on the picture when I use f/4.8 and smaller, shown as dark / grey spot. The smaller the aperture, the grey spot are more visible and darker

Any idea how to remove the dust from the lens? Any kind of anti static tools that can charge or discharge static on the lens from the outside, without opening the lens?

Or is it Canon service center the only way to clean it? Any idea how much it would roughly cost to clean prosumer digicam lens in Canon?

Thank you!

[A70]

I think it can be covered by warranty, if you can argue enough that it affects your picture quality.

[Henessy]

Originally Posted by bpribadi Got dust in my G7 lens It is visible on the picture when I use f/4.8 and smaller, shown as dark / grey spot. The smaller the aperture, the grey spot are more visible and darker Any idea how to remove the dust from the lens? Any kind of anti static tools that can charge or discharge static on the lens from the outside, without opening the lens? Or is it Canon service center the only way to clean it? Any idea how much it would roughly cost to clean prosumer digicam lens in Canon? Thank you!

I think only canon can clean it.

[bpribadi]

Sigh... looks like must go to Canon to clean it...

Anyone ever clean their prosumer digicam lens at Canon? Estimation of price? Thanks!

[street72]

Originally Posted by bpribadi Sigh... looks like must go to Canon to clean it... Anyone ever clean their prosumer digicam lens at Canon? Estimation of price? Thanks!

my friend send his S3 for service b4 , totally FOC + free coffee + see pretty gals @ service counter

[muvouser]

Gee, I hope you have success in cleaning your lens at canon. I understand that the lens may have to be re-calibrated after cleaning effort and sometimes it may not be as well-calibrated as it is from the factory.

Do check properly and take some reference pictures before you send it for cleaning so that you can compare later.

[hobbit6003]

Does the dust show up in your pic? If not, then leave it alone la.

Kenny

[muvouser]

Think he mentioned it does show up in his pictures at small aperture settings.

Originally Posted by hobbit6003 Does the dust show up in your pic? If not, then leave it alone la. Kenny

[hobbit6003]

Originally Posted by muvouser Think he mentioned it does show up in his pictures at small aperture settings.

Oops, I somehow missed that....sorry!

[Submarine]

Originally Posted by bpribadi Sigh... looks like must go to Canon to clean it... Anyone ever clean their prosumer digicam lens at Canon? Estimation of price? Thanks!

Hi, happy new year.

Did you eventually get rid of the dust by the service center? Would you share the experience?

I'm now having the same problem after 1 month use of the G7. Thinking to send it back to Canon service center but so afraid of that thay are going to disassemble my camera.
I sent in my 20D before, they actually broke the groove of several screws (and they didn't replace those screws with new one ) although they managed to assemble it back.

I would try to avoid any service if they need to do surgery inside of the camera body....

[bpribadi]

Sorry for late reply

Ok here is the story. The Service Center confirmed that it is a dust / small particle on the lens near the sensor, therefore visible in small aperture setting. So they clean it for me. Since my warranty is only local Hong Kong warranty, I have to pay SGD 63.- for the service, which is fine considering I bought it much cheaper than in Sgp.

When I collected the camera, I checked the spot (visible on the LCD screen), the previous spot has gone, but new 2 spots appear at other places But the new spots were less significant than the first one. So they said they will blow it again for me, and send it to me when done (delivery cost on them).

When I received the camera, a few days later, gooshh... the previous spots all gone, but there is another one spot near the center This time, the spot is also very fade, not easy to see in F/5.6, and you might not notice it in f/8 if you don't really looking for it.

But knowing there is spot on the lens is sometime irritating, especially near the center

I might go to Canon one more time for this... will keep you guys updated

[Submarine]

What a tragedy likes this!!
Actually, there are few similar cases discussed in DPreview.com. Most of them got replacement for new one, rather than cleaning it for "3 times"!!

Did you find they actually opened the camera for clean up?
If they did open the camera, there just more chances more dust could go in.

This is unlike a clean up job for DSLR, for which the engineer doesn't need to open the camera case, but just blow or brush the image sensor through the lens compartment. Clean and close it up can be easily and quickly done.

I spoke with Canon support in these days. They ask me to send in my G7 for further inspection to confirm the causes. They would consider to report the problem back to their HQ seeking for improvement of lens construction in future productions.

As per your experience, we could say certainly a cleaning up or even a replacement for new one is not the solution for this dust issue. Dust may still go into the camera in later days.

IMHO, I would not take this dust issue as a normal maintenace job like with a DSLR, but the dust goes into a "compact camera" should be inspected further and carefully considered as factory/design defects.

If this happens only to a certain batch of productions, we should urge Canon for a replacement, but not just a cleanup. When there is real solution available, then it's the right time to go service center.

[cwaikong]

Hi all,

I have the same problem as what bpribadi has mentioned. Worst still I see a translucent white dot at a random location on the photo when I use the built-in flash. The white dot does not always appear in every photo taken with flash though. Bought my G7 back to Canon Service Center. They did quite a good job in cleaning the interior and do not have the problem since then.

[Submarine]

Thanks, cwaikong, that's a good news. We should say outcome of a cleaning job really depends on particular technician.

How long has been now after your G7 got fixed? Still worried about dust may go in again.

[Schietgraagpiet]

Reading all these reports about dust in the lens is making me quite worried too. I don't want to sound so negative (I love my G7) but it does seem like the G7 has not been designed well enough to stay dust free.

On a lighter note, so far the only dust I have been able to pic up on my G7 is the dust in this macro shot of a figurine.



For a larger version:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/150/3...669e0ba9_o.jpg

[cwaikong]

Originally Posted by Submarine Thanks, cwaikong, that's a good news. We should say outcome of a cleaning job really depends on particular technician. How long has been now after your G7 got fixed? Still worried about dust may go in again.

My G7 was with Canon for about 1 week. So far, I am very happy with the results. As what you mentioned, it all based on your luck as who is the technician attending to the camera.

As requested, below is the pic showing the pale white spot. It is boxed in red for easy reference.



PS: The location and size of the spot is not fixed. Some photos shows big spots while others, like the one shown above, is quite small.

[Submarine]

Originally Posted by Schietgraagpiet On a lighter note, so far the only dust I have been able to pic up on my G7 is the dust in this macro shot of a figurine.

I know you were just kidding. Your posted photo looks great and "dust free".

Detect the wind direction first before taking any shot outdoors.

Cheers!

[Schietgraagpiet]

Originally Posted by Submarine I know you were just kidding. Your posted photo looks great and "dust free". Detect the wind direction first before taking any shot outdoors. Cheers!

Hi Sub,

Is that how you reckon the dust got into the lens (outdoor dust due to wind)? And not through normal "indoor dust"? (Like how you find that after a while dust will somehow creep in into your cellphone between the LCD display and the transparent plastic shielding it)

[Submarine]

Hmmm, better to buy the water case and lock the G7 inside all the time ;-)

[forcefilm]

That white spot looks like those floating orbs that SPI ghost hunters talk abotu all the time