Florian Lauffer , Feb 08, 2012; 02:52 p.m.
Hi all,
After 50000 pictures in two years, I get a feeling when looking at newer pictures, that they lack the same color and vividness i used to get out of my kit lens and brand new d90. Moreover, where I used to remember pictures being taken indoors at f3.5, ISO 400, 1/50s without flash, I now seem to be using f2.8 and still needing 1/15s at ISO 400. So my question is:
1. Does the auto-cleaner of the sensor after shut down, automatically clean the sensor? I don't see any dots or spots on any pictures. Is it even worth getting it cleaned professionally or totally unneeded.
2. The casing and the contacts seem to be pretty dusty. Does this (or even the aforementioned older sensor) deteriorate and make the camera less able to absorb photons?
So the point is, with a d90 with a self cleaning mechanism, or any dslr, how often should it be cleaned professionally? And do the above observations make any sense?
Thanks in advance,
Florian
Matt Laur 
, Feb 08, 2012; 03:18 p.m.
Your perception of exposure changes over time, and of qualitative issues surrounding the camera's output probably have more to do with your own evolving standards than anything else. It's also possible that you've simply changed your in-camera processing settings along the way, and are rendering JPGs with less contrast, or less saturation, or in a different color space (say, Adobe RGB instead of sRGB).
It will help if you mention whether you're shooting straight to JPGs, or if you're using RAW/NEFs. You might also look to wether you've changed how you're post-processing your work, and whether there's been any change to the calibration in your computer display or a change in the lab where you're printing, etc. Can you say more about how you work?
Florian Lauffer , Feb 08, 2012; 03:43 p.m.
Impressive response time! Here is the setup:
I have always worked with sRGB. I shoot both JPEG and RAW. I have reset to custom settings to esnure it wasn't an inadvertent setting. I have changed from SD setting to VI to try and compensate with saturation and contrast and has done the work, but I get undesirable oversaturation at times.
Post processing doesn't exist yet in my world, the RAW files are only in case the ultimate pictures appear and I need the slightest tweak.... Haven't done so yet. I decided to shoot manual and aperture/speed priority for 3 years until I became good a taking pictures.
Thanks,
Florian
Brooks Gelfand , Feb 08, 2012; 04:00 p.m.
May I suggest an experimant.
Find an old image of a subject that exists today. Put the camera in Manual Mode and use the EXIF data on the old image to set the camera to the same settings. For an outdoor shot, take an image at the same time of day and same time of year and under the same conditions, i.e. if the original was taken with blue skies and sunshine be sure the weather is the same.
Display both images on the computer screen side by side. Is there a difference?
Ariel S 
, Feb 08, 2012; 05:16 p.m.
You can follow Brooks' experiment, or you can just understand electronics. It's not like an engine in a car; electronics don't "wear down" or "wear out" like mechanical devices do. Your D90 is taking the same photos as the day you bought it. If it isn't doing it for you anymore, it's because you've become used to the image quality, and jaded with it. The camera has lost its new car smell. Likely, successively better cameras like the D7000 and recently announced D800 may have something to do with it as well. You should have your camera cleaned once a year, but the dust and dirt doesn't affect overall image quality; they will manifest itself as spots in your photos, not washed-out colors.
Nigel Farmer , Feb 09, 2012; 05:44 a.m.
Im sure many things have changed over time in relation to how and what you shoot - eg I dont think you are using the same lens(es) as you were, since I cant think of any "kit" lenses that can shoot at f2.8. Most are f3.5 wide open which is what you said you were shooting at before.
