Just to add to this thread...
found the UK distributor of Eclipse, Pec*pads, and SensorSwabs:
http://www.crown-digital.co.uk/
(more details from the US website: http://www.photosol.com/)

Have ordered mine already and I'll let you know how I get on
(Have some real globs of dust on the *ist-D at the moment!)

Matt

Just an update on cleaning...

Found this very interesting site, purely by chance.

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



Matt

If you do need your CCD cleaned, I just found this London company:

www.fixationuk.com
Of course, remembering that the *istD has the same sensor as the Nikon D100...
Matt

I wouldn't suggest that

Vacuum cleaners can generate a huge amount of static electricity, because of the moving air. Such static could pop the electronics in the *istD.

If you've ever seen the price of a static-free vacuum cleaner, you'll understand!

With the large blower, I find that an angled jet of air will just shove the dust out quite well. It's not been a problem for me so far.

Matt

Here's a link
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=&products_id=7525

Hope it does the trick!
Matt

Malcolm,

From whay I've seen, the general opinion is to never touch the CCD with anything For the Fuji S2, I've seen people recommend only specialist cleaning if there's real gunk on the CCD.

I bought one of those huge air puffers from 7dayshop which seems to get rid of pretty much anything that's landed on the CCD. Things seem to get lodged on quite tight, and the smaller puffers just won't budge the dust.

Matt

BTW,
Pentax RAW plugin available from here http://www.pentaxusa.com/digitalupdate/

Works a treat with Elements 2.

Malcolm,

If you don't already have Elements 2 then that's definitely worth an upgrade from Elements 1. Other nice plugins available from www.hiddenelements.com - most bridge the gap between Elements and PS7 (layer masks, curves etc). There are free tools: http://www.hiddenelements.com/freetools.html

Richard Lynch has a great book too, which has yet more plugins for Elements. Definitely worth a look, and cheaper than upgrading to PS7. I found the combination excellent. (However, having PS-CS, as John says, there's a lot of stuff in there, and I've grown to like it all. But then I'm a computer junky anyway, and love learning new stuff!)

Matt

Hi Malcolm,

Well, maybe not entirely useless It's great for family photos because you can get ready and just trigger the IR from within the group. There's a choice of immediate release or 3 second delay in the custom menu

For macro work, though, I find the CS205 more useful and positive. If you are doing long exposures too, the CS205 is the thing to get because it has a lock to keep the shutter open without busting your finger

Matt

Malcolm,

The tree symbol is for the compact cameras. It changes the zoom setting from wide to mid to tele.
Obviously it does nothing for the *istD. And I know what you mean about it getting lost - I've lost it in the camera bag a couple of times!!

And... the IR control does not focus. You have to prefocus.
The CS205, however, will focus.

With regard to the CS205, check out my previous posts:
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/ftopic392.html
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/ftopic266.html&highlight=cs205


Matt

Mark,

Just added my penny's worth to the list. Even though I can use PS-CS, I'd like to see more *istD support all round

Matt