Dust Removal Systems Reviews - Sony Alpha, Olympus, Pentax & Canon

[ShaolinTiger]

Some guy recently tested the current crop of SLR cameras with 'dust removal' systems to see how effective they actually are.

Sensor cleaning is becoming a standard feature on modern digital SLR cameras. While the manufacturers may use different techniques to get rid of the dust from the image sensor, they all promise clean, dust free images. Do they all work equally well? Can we throw our air blower away? We have tested the four different types of sensor cleaning technologies to see which one will most likely to fulfill the expectations.

I was quite surprised with the results, and how badly they all performed. It turns out they are all pretty much useless when it comes to cleaning/dust removal. Only the Olympus fared reasonably.

Here is our ranking according to effectiveness:

1. Olympus: good
2. Canon: poor (we are disappointed)
3. Pentax and Sony: useless (we are very disappointed)

If you are looking for a camera, have the dust removal as an expectation only at the end of your list. If sensor cleaning / dust removal is a must, the choices are limited to Olympus and Panasonic cameras.

Read the full test here:

Review: Dust removal systems / sensor cleaning (http://pixinfo.com/en/articles/ccd-dust-removal/)

[clemong888]

wonder why nikon chose not to go the dust removal way....

[noordin]

I have never believed in those features anyway. :P

[galee]

-.- they claimed that only Oly is good in the function, the rest just su+cks...

[sonyalpha]

As a Sony alpha user, as usual, would like to comment abit. All reviews show Olympus ccd cleaning is the best, and I fully agreed. My experience told me that sony alpha ccd cleaning is only working for very tiny light and non sticky particle, if you got any sticky or oily dust, their special low static coating and shaking technology will not help.

One thing to bear in mind, all the dust testing is quite extreme. And probably will not happen for normal daily use with some precautions taken when changing lenses. Sony alpha is an entry-level model with very limited weather resistance, the electronic or mechanical parts will die before the ccd under such extreme condition..:P

FYI, $ony Malaysia quoted me RM70-RM170, depending on the condition for CCD cleaning! Bloody sucking… :mad: :mad:

[galee]

As a Sony alpha user, as usual, would like to comment abit. All reviews show Olympus ccd cleaning is the best, and I fully agreed. My experience told me that sony alpha ccd cleaning is only working for very tiny light and non sticky particle, if you got any sticky or oily dust, their special low static coating and shaking technology will not help.

One thing to bear in mind, all the dust testing is quite extreme. And probably will not happen for normal daily use with some precautions taken when changing lenses. Sony alpha is an entry-level model with very limited weather resistance, the electronic or mechanical parts will die before the ccd under such extreme condition..:P

FYI, $ony Malaysia quoted me RM70-RM170, depending on the condition for CCD cleaning! Bloody sucking… :mad: :mad:


:) then no choice... U love branded stuff ma.... hehe

[sonyalpha]

Canon and Nikon more "branded" for camera leh... But I hope Sony will unseat them...haaaa, run and hide. :D

[Crazymalaysian]

I've read that the dust removal systems on both Pentax and Sony cameras utilize the CCD-anti shake system and just vibrate it. Little suprise then that they hardly work. Seems like a complete afterthought, or something the marketing department demanded the engineering department to include last minute.

[The Dark]

Maybe that's why Nikon don't bother to put them in their cameras. How about Sigma's system?

[g88]

Since all this dust removal system is so call "useless", izzit recommended that we turn OFF the feature since it's waisting battery ?? :redface:

[sonyalpha]

Since all this dust removal system is so call "useless", izzit recommended that we turn OFF the feature since it's waisting battery ?? :redface:


you cant turn it on or off for sony alpha. it's not totally useless, it's work for small "case".:D

[g88]

you cant turn it on or off for sony alpha. it's not totally useless, it's work for small "case".:D

I am refering to Canon :P :D