1DX "Caution 02" Warnings AND Filthy Sensor.

[Nazareth]

[[I feel like Bill Murray's character in Scrooged - "Scare the Dickens out of people...Nobody gets me."]]

I didn't take it badly Neuro- I just didn't udnerstand what you were talking about in regards to the dust delete by canon- I think you meant the DPP program- but I tried makign several dust delete profiles incamera, and then using DPP but it didn't seem to work at all-

I knew abotu hte sensor being made up of several compelx layers- but I didn't realize that the actual filter was seperate like that- I thought it was actually attached to the whole sensor unit by the way canon made it appear- I'm not sure why canon woudl want to change the whole unit (other than getting morem oeny for doign so perhaps)? If just the filter gets scratched, a $500 or so dollar repair would be much preferable to $2500 or so repair charge- and much less unervign when attemptign to clean a sensor filter if just hte filter itself coudl be replaced- I've heard of some folks talking canon and nikon into replacing just the filter- but I wonder what kind of battle they had convincing the companies to only change the filters? I'm not good at arguing for my case I'm afraid- and woudl no doubt end up having to pay for hte hwole unit- but alas- this is all just counting chickens beforee they hatch-

I think I'm probably goign to just send it in for hte first cleanign at least, as I think with hte possible lubricant on the lens that it would be too much of a risk/taks to tackle the sensor myself if it's indeed soem kind of liquid or lubricant. I hate to be without the camera for 2 or so weeks- but I guess that's the route i'm goign to have to take- After it's cleaned (Hopefulyl cleaned by canon) it shouldn't be too hard to keep it fairly dust free with regular dust with a rocket blower- I went 3 years with my canon 7D with no real significant sensor dust problems- I try to avoid changing lenses ourside if possible- and have been pretty fortunate in avoiding problematic dust so far.

[neuroanatomist]

I didn't take it badly Neuro- I just didn't udnerstand what you were talking about in regards to the dust delete by canon- I think you meant the DPP program- but I tried makign several dust delete profiles incamera, and then using DPP but it didn't seem to work at all

...I think with hte possible lubricant on the lens that it would be too much of a risk/taks to tackle the sensor myself if it's indeed soem kind of liquid or lubricant...

Nope, just making a joke. 

Not sure why the dust delete profile isn't working for you, it certainly should work.  But I've never tried it, myself.

My 1D X came iwth a fair bit of dust, just dust.  I have no problem cleaning that off, and I think that's a skill every dSLR owner should have, since no matter what you do, dust will get on your sensor.  But lubricant from the shutter mechanism, etc., is another story.  If that was the case, I'd send it to Canon, too.

[Nazareth]

Well that's my dilemma- eventually I'll have to either clean it myself, or spend money to have it cleaned at local camera store for way too much $$- Yep, I can send it to have it cleaned once for free by canon techs- but their free isn't really free either- it'll cost shipping both ways I assume, plus insurance- not cheap- I'd like to be able to clean it myself- and after watching numerous videos on you tube by many different folks who routinely clean their own cameras, I was feeling pretty confident about attempting it myself, but then as bad luck would have it, I ran across that fred miranda forum post about the sensor unit supposedly being more fragile- and a sealed unit that would necessitate replacing the whole sensor unit- sensor and all, IF the sensor filter got scratched- I then lost my nerve- IF just the sensor filter could be replaced (for around $400-$500) that wouldn't be such a big deal- and would be 'worth the risk' by trying to clean the sensor filter myself- but when I read about the sensor and filter being 'hermetically sealed' together, it kinda rattled me knowing that replacing the whole unit is more like $2500 or more should something happen to it

I have no problem with soemthign like rocket air- that doesn't unnerve me so much- but the wet method swabs does- I think my sensor will definately need the swab treatment at least this once to get the stubborn grime/dirt/dust or whatever it is off- once that's off, it shoudl be an easier time cleanign off regular dust- A little dust is fine- but my sensor right now is just too grimy-

I'm not positive it's lubricant- I just read 'thedigiticalpicture.com review of the 1DX and in that review he states his 1DX was the dirtiest sensor filter He'd ever seen too- He was able to get msot of it off via rocket blower- but still had to use swabs to get what remained off- Maybe my sensor's grime is just stubborn dust- it's hard to tell- if so, a very gentle swab might be enough to get the sensor filter at least mostly clean- but then if I try to clean it, and it doesn't clean off well, and I end up havign to send it in- then they may refuse because I voided the warranty- Uggggg! I gotta really think about it for another day or two- like you say though, eventually I'll have to learn to clean it myself due to $$ costs after warranty ends

[JimKarczewski]

I sent my 1Dx in a couple weeks after I got it because it was a dust magnet.  They said everything was "in spec" and cleaned it and sent it back.   I haven't shot much other than 2.8-5.6 images so don't notice anything, yet.

As for the Caution 2.. I had that as well.  Turned out the battery was faulty.  One minute the battery level would show 75%, 5 minutes later the battery light was flashing on the LCD to replace it.   So both of my batteries went in, they replaced one of them with a new one and no problems since.

[Nazareth]

Thanks Jim-

My battery doesn't actually lose power- and doesn't indicate it's losing power incamera- which is what's got me puzzled about it- Your definately soiunded like a faulty battery though- My caution 02 messages coem with either of my two btteries- one htat came with hte camera, and one that I bought extra- maybe both are faulty, but again, there seems to be no rhym or reason as to when hte error happens, coudl happen on a full charge, 1/2 charged, or low battery- It's just a wierd situation

[PeterJ]

My battery doesn't actually lose power- and doesn't indicate it's losing power incamera- which is what's got me puzzled about it- Your definately soiunded like a faulty battery though- My caution 02 messages coem with either of my two btteries- one htat came with hte camera, and one that I bought extra- maybe both are faulty, but again, there seems to be no rhym or reason as to when hte error happens, coudl happen on a full charge, 1/2 charged, or low battery- It's just a wierd situation

Not speaking from 1DX experience but general Li-Ion experience, I don't suppose you happen to be in a cold climate and have you noticed a correlation between the temperature and when it happens? Batteries can deliver lower peak current at low temperatures so just an idea I thought I'd put out there.

Also I've never actually read this anywhere or know an explanation but I was working on a project a while ago and observed through repeated controlled tests that units with a new battery would perform best after the batteries had been through 2-3 dishcarge / recharge cycles. It was something with a somewhat similar current profile to a camera too, sitting fairly idle most of the time but firing up a transmitter every 5 seconds that caused a peak.

[Nazareth]

Good point, I hadn't thought of that- Yes, one time it happend I was outside when it was really cold- the camera got cold to the touch as it was only around 25 degrees and I'd been photographing a forzen river for about an hour or so-

But, the other times have all been in relatively warm conditions- I do a lot of photography from the car-traveling around photographing scenics- I drive with the window open, but the heat on in the car- it does get cool, but not overly cool-

two times it happened indoors- so I'm not real sure what's triggerign the cautions

[[a new battery would perform best after the batteries had been through 2-3 dishcarge / recharge cycles]]

That had occured to me too- I also wasn't sure if these batteries needed to be fulyl discharged first before recharging them, but I think I read somewhere that these newer batteries no longer needed to be- but I'm not sure about the camera- I think I read soemwhere that the camera has an onboard battery? I'm not positive, I'll check into that more- perhaps there's an issue there if it does have one- I'll post back if I find anythign on that issue-

[moonwell]

I've seen a lot of random Caution 02's in my log. Most timestamps match up with times I was shooting, but I've seen some that would have occurred when the cam was just sleeping on my desk. 

My sensor was also horrendously filthy straight out of the box. 5D3 and all my older cams were always spotless.

[Nazareth]

[[but I've seen some that would have occurred when the cam was just sleeping on my desk.]]

Interesting- I'll mention that to the canon tech definately- another clue in this wierd issue- there seems to be no real rhym nor reason for the caution 02 issue- hopefully this is just a simple software fix via firmware update, and not something mechanical

What if anything did you do for the dirt on sensor? Did you send it out, clean it with air, or with wet method?

[Portrait_Moments_Photogra]

so far, my 1DX, i got July 13th 2012 is clean - really clean.

although, as for the Caution 02 - I have it multiple times each shoot -

if I clear the status list, by the end of my shoot, the list is full of caution 02
I used two batteries and they seem to give the same performance.

~ however - I have not noticed any issues that I can pinpoint to Caution 02 - at least - to what I experienced so far.

[Nazareth]

Thanks- All this info is great- I'll direct canon tech to this thread to shwo that there definately is a problem occurign with the caution 02 issue- perhaps an updated firmware will address the issue- I woudl imagine they've run into the problem themselves as it seems to be a pretty common problem

The sensor issue- I' guess what I'm goign to do is get insurance o ncamera and give the sensor a very careful and light cleaning with swabs, perhaps even with just breath o nthe sensor filter to fog it- just to see if all it takes is a lgith cleanign to get it cleaned- hopefulyl that's the case- hopefully the spots are not soem kidn of liquid or lubricant-

After I get the insurance, and give it a try- I'll post back- whether the results were good bad or truly ugly

[stoneysnapper]

I got my 1Dx back in early August however in the first month or so I did not shoot much at F22. I went away on a trip to the Isle of Skye and did a lot of shooting at F22 and noticed I had a lot of marks in my shots. I assumed it had been marks caused by seawater splashing up on my lens/filter and I had not cleaned it properly. I had not made the connection between F22 and the dust until I read this. Having just done a couple of tests its clearly a major problem at F22 and decreasing as I go down through F20 to F16 or so. I have used a 7D for nearly two years and never had this issue once and having just checked a number of my seascape images shot at f22 there is not any evidence of dust on them. I'll get in touch with Canon UK and let you know what they say.

[Nazareth]

Thanks Stony- I'm not sure lens dirt woudl case problems much unless it's really dirty and at best it woudl just cause morel ike a haze- the sensor dust however is very defined spots- A dirty lens has to be pretty dirty before it';ll show up on photos- but it only takes very little dust on sensor filter to be noticable at smaller fstops and plain thignsl iek skies or walls-.

I too used a 7D for many years with no problems- I'm comign to the conclusio nthat it's mostl ikely excess lubricant splatterign around inside the camera- it shoudl settle down eventually- (unless they relubricate the camera when/IF I send it back in- i'll have to tell them not to I guess). When you contact Canon UK inform them that quite an number of folsk are experiencing both the sensor spot problem, and the Caution 02 problem- these are two issues that canon needs to be made aware of, and them ore folks informign them, the4 better- I've already informed canon USA in NJ, and told them a number of folks are havign same problem-

[stoneysnapper]

Nazereth, I got this reply from CPS Rep;

"Thank you for your message.
Sorry to hear you are having some issues with your camera. We cannot comment on online forums.
For speed, for all servic related queries, please contact the main Canon Service Centre in Elstree. You can reach my colleagues directly on 08009 xxx xxx option 2 to arrange this. If it is just dust, it should be a relatively straight forward job."

From Canon Services after raising a ticket;

"Dear Mr. Doyle,

Thank you for your request and for contacting Canon.
Your enquiry has been forwarded to our product specialist team, who will investigate further. Please be aware that you will be contacted regarding this within 5 working days.

We would like to apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused, and to thank you again for contacting Canon.

Should you have any updates or questions concerning your escalation, do not hesitate to update your request by replying to this email.

Yours sincerely,

Canon Services"

I'm expecting something more specific back from Canon Product Specialist Team however as you can see on the CPS Rep response they dont or wont comment on issues raised on Forums, which I can kind of understand but as I pointed out Customers only have forums to in order synchronise their issues, without them we'd be stuffed.

Once I get more infor from both of the above I'll let you know how I get on.

[Nazareth]

Yeah, hey are only interested in gettign hte camera back to them for cleaning- mostly they don't give a hoto abotu how many peopel have problems in forums with a product- UNTIL someoen important brings it to their attention- When I spoke to thjem The USA rep essentially blamed the dirty sensor on Amazon- They didn't name amazon directly but blamed it on the storage of the camera- which amazon stored the camera- I've seen reviews by important reviewers who talked with canon about issues, and who also related that others were havign hte same issues as they were, and lo and behold canon services certainyl apapeared interested in looking into the issues - but with us regular folks, aparently not so much- their standard response is 'send it in to be cleaned and that'll be the end of it'- Oh well- They're no different htan other companies I've had to deal with in past abotu issues who said "We're not aware of any issues at this present time' and I'm thi9nkign to myself 'Really? Then I guess you haven't researched the issue liek those of us suffering from the problem because the internet is full of folks havign exact same problems with the product i nquestion"

Apparently canon wouldn't 'look into' these issues unless it started affectign hteir bottom line by peopel refraining to purchase said camera until thsoe issues were addressed- I can only hope that mopre professional reviewers wil lbrign hte4 issue to the forefront- looksl iek w2r're basically out of luck until then unless we want to send our camera in to have it serviced-