Digital Camera Information

Now here is an interesting alternative method to cleaning your DSLR sensor. It is an adhesive-based DSLR sensor clearer called DUST-AIDâ„¢ that will offer a unique solution for DSLR camera photographers seeking a safe and easy way of cleaning their dusty sensors.

It was developed and tested for contamination using extremely sensitive Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), the same technology used in scientific instrument such as the Foss Milkoscan FT-120 which is used to measure low levels of different components in milk. The DUST-AID was invented by a landscape photographer who primarily works with film but needed digital capabilities for advertising / contract shoots. It seems more like an advance version of the 3M Post it Notes and I’m surprised 3M aren’t involved.

“I wanted a fast way to remove dust that didn’t use flammable liquid or canned air,” says Ross Wordhouse, DUST-AID inventor. “I travel extensively on airlines for my photo business so many of the methods just didn’t work for me. I knew there had to be a better answer that works quickly, easy and can pass airport security.”

Born out of frustration and a desire for a high-performance solution, DUST-AID employs a unique combination of three main elements – an ultra low-adhesive foam tape, pad and a re-usable wand. The patent-pending DUST-AID cleaning device is a blend of three different tape and foam layers, tested and designed to protect the sensor filter during dust removal. The final layer, which actually touches the sensor filter, includes an adhesive specifically designed for glass applications with one of the lightest tack levels available. This glass cleaning adhesive has been FTIR tested, which showed no residue contamination after 100 applications. Dust-Aid will have a suggested retail price of $39.95.

If your camera warranty has just expired and it is in dire need of repair then you are going to pay for it. The service department is not geared up to large amount of repairs and at the same time, each repair is different and requires individual attention. Once something is out of warranty, the customer is going to have to pay for every labor and overhead cost any finance person in the company could possibly forecast. Every job that is not mass production or warranty work becomes a task that must show a profit. Beyond how this approach to resource allocation impacts the price, it also impacts the turnaround time. You might be lucky to get your camera fixed quickly.

Some specialized engineering companies make their entire profit on parts and service on their equipment. By manufacturing all their parts, they can charge whatever they want as long as there is a profit at the end of the day.
Unfortunately, most highly camera manufacturers simply have a hard time figuring how to get from state of the art engineering to state of the art service. Such companies simply don’t plan for products to break or need service because they consider it to be a relatively rare event that will burden only the occasional frustrated customer rather than spreading the cost of risk management across their entire customer base.

Most people buy reputable camera brands because it has a reputation of being higher quality, but occasionally when it something does break, it also breaks the cost barrier as well.

If you are a professional photographer and your livelihood depends on your camera, you probably have more than one body, and when you get a $500 repair bill it definitely subtracts from your revenue, but it’s more or less a miscellaneous cost that was likely budgeted somewhere into your business plan. In addition, get extended warranty. If you are an amateur / enthusiast, it’s a big bite to pay a major percentage of the purchase price for a repair, let alone a 2nd body. It seems the photography hobbies is getting more expensive all the time.