Blob of stuff on my CCD... Nikon D100

This happened today on a dive trip. I managed to fix it, so am posting it as a tip in case anyone else can use it in the future.

After today's dive's I noticed a "blob" on each of my photos. The blob was in the same place on every shot.

To fix the photos I'd already taken, I used Photoshop, of course, First I selected the blob using the magic wand a couple of times, holding the shift key to add to the selection each time. I enlarged the selection using Select->Modify->Expand, expanding it 3 pixels. I then feathered it by 3 pixels. Photoshop allows you to save selections, which turns out to be really useful in this case. I saved the selection to a new PSD. In Photoshop CS, there is a new tool called the patch tool, which is what I used to fix the problem. For each photo, then, I loaded the selection, and used the patch tool to grab the blob area and slide it over a similar area. Usually it took two or three times, but the patches came out great.

Then I fixed the blob in the camera itself. I was a little leery of doing this, especially with 3 days to go on the trip and not wanting to be without a camera, but I really wanted it gone. I did not have the special power cord required by the D100 to lock the mirror. So, here's what I did. I set the shutter speed to 2 seconds (not my idea - thank you internet...), and took off the lens. Laying on my back, holding the camera facing down, I fired the shutter, and was able to see the piece of fuzz laying on the CCD. I set the shutter for 4 seconds, and this time shot a little air at the blob using a lens cleaning brush. The fuzz came off the CCD and fell out of the camera. Yee haw, I am a happy camper.

Below is a photo showing the "blob", near the top of the photo.

Cp

In case you have not seen this, or need future cleanings, this link is the best source I have found for CCD cleaning tips and tricks. I don't take my camera anywhere without my cleaning kit!

http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning

That's a huge blob. You can set the camera to bulb and hold the shutter open indefinitely.

I used compressed air from a tank once to clean mine. I was desparate but it did a pretty good job with no ill effects. Now I always travel with sensor cleaning supplies and end up doing someone's camera on every trip.

Richorn: Thanks, I'll check that out. My D100 is probably due for a cleaning.

Craig: I thought about setting it to bulb, but just wanted to make sure that if anything went wrong, at least the shutter/mirror would close. Probably not a real big concern. Yes, it was a sizable blob, at least compared to the size of the CCD. I have no idea how it got in there. I am usually very careful when I change lenses.

Cp

Has anyone found it necessary to clean the CCD once a week? I cleaned my sensor a week ago, shot some test shots and the image was clean. A week later, I shot a wedding and had to clean just about every image in PS. Just curious if any of you find that the sensor and/or lens gets that dirty that fast. I also cleaned all of my lenses (both ends). Though it was a little fast for the CCD to get filthy again in a week.

Joe

Yes, I find it to be almost a weekly event, if I bother checking.

I think many miss it, because you need a very smooth background to see the imperfections.