Sensor check
I am very surprised that in the Nikon Know-how series in the January 2022 edition
(N-photo 132) at the bottom of page 84 on how to change a lens, it is recommended that one lays the camera on its back and then rotates the lens barrel clockwise…
I was absolutely horrified to be advised to lay it on its back so that dust, rain spots or any other detritus can easily drop in towards the sensor. Any article that is advisory for newcomers must always be checked for accuracy!
I have always, since digital first appeared, made a very strong point of holding the camera body in one hand with the mount facing down towards the floor/ground. The lens can then be safely removed, minimizing the risk
of any foreign bodies dropping inside.
This is something I have done for the past 20 years, give or take, and have only once had to clean a sensor using relevant swabs and liquid made for the job.
I think that error should be corrected in next month’s copy!
Tony Johns
You’re absolutely, of course, Tony. While the images in the article were taken to clearly show how to change a lens in a simplified step-by-step way, in the real world we would strongly advise changing lenses with the sensor facing downwards and minimizing the amount of time it’s exposed to the elements. Consider us corrected!