Basically agree with MattMatic - I started with RAW and so only taken a handful of piccies in jpeg mode (eg if feared running out of memory card space) since getting the *istD. Jpeg quality is good, but RAW is better - more shadow detail and so on. I use RAWShooter and adjustments and processing are so easy.
Andy

George, do I detect you weren't that happy with Parceline, then?


(Quickly takes cover!)
Andy

Tried it out on Friday in the shop alongside the Pentax 12-24. Altho' fun, I would have much use for the effect. Have to say far prefer the 12-24. Trouble is it costs £230 more

Andy

I agree that should only clean if necessary; however after my 'black snowstorm' comment above, had to use another method. I used the Eclipse fluid and 'digipads' available from ePz shop (Warehouse Express). Have had to use them twice, and seems ok as long as you follow the instructions.
Andy

Once used a blower to clean sensor, and ended up with black snowstorm pics - didn't think they would catch on tho'

Andy

I, too, use Picture Window Pro. Took a bit of getting used to, but as guest states, when it takes a guess, its usually pretty good. It has a basic interface with no frills. Also the Pro version is fully 16-bit compatible on all functions - useful when converting from RAW to 16-bit Tiff files. You can download a trial of it: www.dl-c.com.

For RAW, I have used RawShooter Essentials (free), but just taken advantage of their upgrade offer (now run out) to the Premium vesion - which I like. Having said that, having had a trial version of Capture One, I feel that gives a slightly better/ punchier first attempt of converting before any adjustments are added (for most pictures)
Andy

Apart from missing out on the flexibility of the SLR side of things, from what I have read, you could still end up with some stuff - wear and tear bits from shutter/ mirror mechanisms (obviously much less tho'!)
Andy

Hi Trevor,

You will find the sensor needs cleaning when you have black specks/ small splodges on the pictures that aren't there in the original scene! Taking a photo of a plain sky will show up the dust (I have found whether its blue or cloudy!). If you see only one, maybe 2 spots, it's probably best to live with them! and they don't show up if the scene is fairly 'busy', ie contains lots of detail. Dust enters when changing the lens, and I think from wear and tear of the shutter and mirror mechanisms.

The manual gives you a way to do it - using a 'bulb' blower having gone through the menu to find 'sensor cleaning' function that lifts the mirror up and opens shutter. Ensure you have a good set of batteries in for this as you don't want the shutter shutting part way through cleaning.

by the way it is not actually the sensor that you clean - it is a glass anti-aliasing filter in front of it (I think).

The bulb blower worked for me on my *istD the first time I needed it. However I then found it that it just added more dust on the sensor, so I needed one of the other methods. I went for digi-pads (same as sensorswabs) with Eclipse fluid. Worked a treat for me, and I think it might be cleaner than when camera was new!

There is also a 'dry' method using a sensor brush that relies on static attraction of the dust off the sensor. It is important to follow their instructions carefully and to remember that the manufacturer does not recommend these other methods, and so could claim you have voided any warranty.

Try these to find out more:
http://www.photosol.com/swabproduct.htm
http://www.visibledust.com/

Google search will show up more about these and what people think of them. In the UK, you cannot buy these across the counter from a High Street shop - they are mail order as they are quite specialist.

hope this helps

Andy

Oops - first time at trying to use the quotes - and seem to have got it wrong - sorry!
Andy

[quote]I know the arguments about protecting the lens are there, but how often have you damaged a filter? Never?