Is the Canon EOS Rebel T5 / 1200D a problem for sensor dust without self-cleaning?
Asked 10/4/2014
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2 answers
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I'm considering the Canon EOS Rebel T5 / 1200D, but it doesn't include an automatic sensor-cleaning system. Should that be a major concern in normal use? I'd especially like to know whether owners of the T5 or other DSLRs without self-cleaning systems run into serious dust problems, and how manageable sensor dust is if you change lenses regularly.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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No, this isn't a huge deal.
Aside from the 1x00D series, other Canon camera models that did not have the sensor-shake/cleaning feature include: 1Ds, 1DsMkII, 1D, 1DMkII, 5D (classic), 10D, 20D, 30D, 300D (Rebel), and 350D (XT).
I shot with the 350D (it was my first dSLR) for four years, I changed lenses like a mad thing, often forgetting (gasp! horror!) to turn the camera off when I did so. I wasn't particularly careful when I did so, and I never had to do more than use a bulb blower to clean dust off the sensor. But I live in a very dry climate, so I rarely get the "welded on" dust issue that someone who lives where the humidity is high may suffer, and I only occasionally shoot landscapes where I'm stopping the lens down to the point where the dust is more evident.
Remember, too, that the mirrorbox assembly is covering your sensor when you change a lens.
The worst that can happen, though, is dust ends up on the sensor, and you have to clean it. And there are any number of tools and tutorials on how to do this easily and safely (I like Lens Rentals's tutorial, but to each their own). It is a task you can perform yourself, that you do not have to go to a service center to accomplish.
Originally by user27440. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user27440
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Lack of automatic sensor cleaning is usually not a deal-breaker, but it can mean a bit more maintenance.
From user experience, many older Canon DSLRs without self-cleaning systems were used for years without major issues. In typical use, dust is often manageable with a bulb blower, especially if you don’t frequently shoot at very small apertures where sensor dust becomes more visible.
That said, if you change lenses often, dust can build up more quickly, and some T5 users do find cleaning annoying compared with cameras that have self-cleaning. Environment matters too: dry conditions tend to be easier, while humidity can make dust stick more stubbornly.
The T5 does include a manual cleaning option in the menu, though it is not an automatic shake-cleaning system.
So: yes, sensor dust can happen, but no, it’s generally not a major reason by itself to avoid the Rebel T5/1200D. Just expect occasional manual cleaning and take normal precautions when changing lenses.
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