(User’s Manual – D300S page 361; D300 page 374)
Lock mirror up for cleaning is for those times when the high-frequency vibration method of cleaning your D300(S)’s sensor does not dislodge some stickier-than-normal dust. You may have to clean your sensor more aggressively.
In many cases, all that’s needed is a dust blower to remove the dust with a puff of air. I remember having to do this with my Nikon D100 in 2002, and I was always afraid I might ruin the shutter if I did it incorrectly. With the D100, I had to hold the shutter open in bulb mode with one hand while I blew off the sensor with the other.
The D300(S) helps out by providing this Lock mirror up for cleaning function so that you can more safely blow a stubborn piece of dust off the low-pass filter. Using this function, you can use both hands since battery power holds the reflex mirror up and the shutter open.
Here are the three screens and steps you’ll use to select this mode for manual sensor cleaning:
Select Lock mirror up for cleaning from the Shooting Menu and scroll to the right.
Choose Start, as shown in Figure 5-8, image 2, and then scroll to the right.
You’ll see a screen that says, When shutter button is pressed, the mirror lifts and shutter opens. To lower mirror, turn camera off (see Figure 5-8, image 3).
Remove the lens and press the Shutter-release button once. The sensor will now be exposed and ready for cleaning. Be careful not to let new dirt in while the sensor is open to air.
Clean the sensor.
Turn the camera off and put the lens back on.
Make sure you have a fresh battery in the camera because that’s what holds the shutter open for cleaning. It must be above a 60% charge or the camera will refuse to start the process.
You’ll need a good professional sensor-cleaning blower. My favorite is the Giottos Rocket-Air blower with its long red tip for easy insertion (see Figure 5-9). I bought mine from the Nikonians Pro Shop (www.PhotoProShop.com). It doesn’t cost very much!
My Recommendation: If even an air blower fails to remove stubborn dust or pollen, you will either have to get your sensor professionally cleaned or do it yourself. Nikon states that you will void your warranty if you touch the low-pass filter. However, many people still wet- or brush-clean their camera’s sensor. I’ve done it myself, although I’ll never admit it! (Oops!)
If all of this makes you nervous, then send your camera off to Nikon for approved cleaning, or use a professional service. Fortunately, a few puffs of air will often remove dust too stubborn for the high-frequency vibration methods. It helps to have the proper tools, such as the Giottos Rocket-Air blower from the Nikonians PhotoProShop.com (Figure 5-9).