Quote:
Originally Posted by NoBozo
OK: I had been wondering if you had a digital camera. My advice was for the old fashioned mostly mechanical film cameras. I have never opened up my little digital. Wish you luck....actually, ...I would chuck the old digital and just buy a new one. Your old digital camera is already OLD as it is. 
However: Cleaning Optical Glass is still the same...OH Wait..Is the glass really glass...? I wouldn't be suprised if a modern digital camera had "plastic" lenses and mirrors. All bets are off. DON"T use acetone on plastic. I gave it a shot.  NB |
Canon uses glass mirrors, and if you're buying good quality lenses they are ground glass (I use the Canon EOL "L" lenses).
The mirror in a (D)SLR is only there to allow you to focus and compose the shot through the viewfinder. When you hit the shutter release, the mirror flips up out of the light path, and then the curtains over the sensor open/close to expose the image.
If you see constant specs in your shots, you have dirt on the lens or sensor. The easy way to see if it's on the lens itself is to defocus the lens and look through the viewfinder at something brightish. If you see specs, then hold down the lens release button and turn the lens like you're going to remove it (but don't drop it!). If the specs move, they're on the lens. If they stay still they are on the mirror or viewfinder focus screen (and won't show up in a picture). If you see no spots they're on the sensor.
To clean the sensor you should use swaps sized for your sensor (*most* DSLRs have an APS-C sensor which is 2/3 the size of a 35mm frame. Higher-end cameras have a full-frame sensor and would use a larger swab).
If you use acetone to clean your camera sensor you are going to be in the market for a new camera...