Whenever I get back up to New York, I like to indulge in a guilty pleasure – Split Image Photography in Smithtown, NY. This is a small, local camera store – a rare sighting in the days of super-sized retail outlets.

I usually go there to talk to Charlie and Steve, and peruse all of the gear they have in the store. Not only do they have great gear, the staff has always gone out of their way to help you with Photography, from beginners to experts. When you stop into the shop, you can easily spend hours learning about different techniques, tricks on how to use gear, and going back and forth with picture reviews. They sometimes even put gear out on loan (but don’t quote me on it)

Someone came in with a Nikon D80 that appeared to have dust or smudges in the sensor. Steve pulled out the coolest gadget out there – the Delkin Sensorscope.

With the sensor exposed on the camera, this thing works like a magnifying glass/light source and lets you see into the camera chamber, inspecting the sensor for any dust and scratches. Rather than going out and “Shooting the Sky” to check for sensor dust, this offers a quick way to get a look at your camera, and shows EVERYTHING on the sensor.

We immediately saw that there were smudges and some really weird lines on the sensor. Steve grabbed a cleaning kit from American Recorder, and went to town on the sensor. Apparently someone tried to help this guy by using a makeup brush to clean the Nikon Sensor. Bad idea.. very bad idea.

After a couple of passes, it was good as new – another happy customer.

Why am I sharing?

1. Your sensor is the most important part of the camera. Making sure that you keep this clean and scratch proof is essential for the life of it.

2. Why spend the time guessing when you can really find out if you have a problem with the sensor. I think I am going to get one of these scopes and play with it a little more. When I do, I will put up a full review.

3. Don’t underestimate the power of your local camera shop. Take a moment to go in and check it out! Yes, big stores are great, they have fancy websites, and in some cases can offer you some savings. However, you will learn more by talking to people who are in the business. Your local camera shop will teach, will help, will satisfy, and will provide a great outlet to take your passion further. I can honestly say that had it not been for Charlie and Steve, I wouldn’t feel as comfortable as I do on my camera. And I still get a decent deal.

So… get out there and check that sensor, will ya? And if you want, give Split Image a call. Tell ‘em RC sent you, they’d totally hook you up.