I have a screen protector on my KR, there are bubbles and the screen protector is scratched. Just wondering if I am putting up with the crap, and saving the glass for the next owner.

Thinking of removing it.

But I have one on my phone because the phone was always covered in fingerprints, while the screen protector doesnt seem to collect the fingerprints.

Opened a host of photos on my Laptop, and Oh No, I thought more marks on my sensor. Just needed a wipe of my screen. Haha.

I know how you feel. You pay a lot of money and you want it perfect. When there is a fault, you really get down. Unfortunately these faults only arise with time, and sometimes no faults arise at all. You can only take lots of photos in the early days, and scrutinise these carefully as to the operation of the camera, and the quality of the output. Check for obvious physical damage or loose parts, and then hope for the best.

With digital cameras you need to change your attitude to your equipment.

Use it or lose it - No electronic equipment will continue to perform well if it is not used regularly. If you dont plan to use it that much, buy a cheaper one.

Wont last forever - Throw away electronics are susceptable to some of their weakest but most important parts, and are sometimes too expensive to fix. Be prepared for minor maintenance which you can do yourself. There is a limit on the number of clicks which will continue to produce good shots.

Write off your initial cost - When you buy your camera, start saving for your next one. They have a limited life due to the use and obsolesence. We get fairly good value for money from a Pentax SLR, but dont expect it to be an heirloom to pass down to your kids.

We all know the story of the computer and the television. Have to change them regularly due to changes in technology and planned obsolesence. No one wants your old Laptop or TV anymore. Not many people want the 6MP Ist DS either, eventhough I think it was a very good camera.

I see Digital SLRs on TradeMe (Our local E-Bay type auction) going for so little if they havent got video, or a high Megapixel count.

So enjoy it while you can, when you cant, throw it away and move forward to the next model.

When my KR developed a sensor dust spot, I thought OH NO. But I had to realise that I have to keep cleaning it, and when it breaks down, I will just have to buy a new body or model. Its an expensive business being in photography. Hard to justify if you dont love it or use it a lot.

Price of the Arctic Butterfly is well over the top. I suppose it lasts a long time and is reusable. However, you can buy wet sensor wipes on E-Bay cheaply. They are on a flexible stem so that you dont accidently place too much pressure on the sensor. They are pre soaked in Iso Alcohol.

Rocket blower is cheap. I would exhaust all the cheap alternatives before buying the "butterfly"

I bought a USB vacuum. It has very little sucking power, but just enough to suck up the dust blown around by the rocket blower. Dont put the vacuum actually into the cavity, also dont put the rocket blower into the cavity too far. Ensure you have good battery power or the mirror lock may drop onto your blower, then your problems may really start.

I had a similar problem on the KR recently. Consensus is that you avoid a wet wipe of the sensor, and do that only as a last resort.

A rocket blower seems to do the trick. Or you could always: https://www.pentaxuser.com/photo/sensor-cleaning-43395 LOL

Where does all that dust go. Does it just build up until the camera is useless. Is this a problem with Digital SLR cameras. How do you get the dust out eventually. I bought one of those small USB vacuum cleaners, it doesnt have much suction, but I am still hesitant to place it inside the workings.

The Kr has a dust alert, where you take a picture of a white surface under the dust alert config, and the picture shows where the dust is. First I hit the spot where the "bunny" was with a rocket blower. Checked the dust alert and saw dust specks I didnt even know I had. Did the sensor shake a few times with another hit with the rocket blower a few morse sensor shakes and now all is clear.

Thanks everyone for your help.

I suppose you should only try this on a waterproof K20D.

This really cleaned out the camera, but why doesnt it work anymore?
https://www.pentaxuser.com/photo/sensor-cleaning-43395

Tempted to try a household vacum cleaner, from a long distance of course, slowly moving closer. Wouldnt want to "suck up the innards"