Canon® EOS 50D Digital Field Guide

Appendix C. Maintaining the 50D

In This Appendix

Cleaning the image sensor

Updating firmware and software

In addition to setting up, ongoing use of the 50D requires a few maintenance tasks that keep the camera performing well and save you time as you work with images. While the camera provides automatic sensor cleaning, there are additional sensor cleaning options that you can use to ensure spot-free images.

You'll also want to stay up to date with the firmware that Canon releases periodically. Plus Canon posts updates to the programs on the EOS Digital Solution Disk. In both cases, it's worth taking the time to download the updates as they become available. Firmware updates most often fix minor bugs that you may or may not encounter on the camera. The program updates include new features to programs such as the Picture Style Editor, Digital Photo Professional, and the EOS Utility.

Cleaning the Image Sensor

While recent Canon EOS cameras have offered excellent automatic image sensor cleaning, the 50D goes a step farther with a new fluorine coating that's been added to the camera's low-pass filter — the filter that sits in front of the sensor. This coating is designed to make cleaning more effective in removing particles that adhere to the filter. The automatic cleaning system uses an ultrasonic vibration to loosen and shake off dust each time the camera is turned on and off. The dust is then captured by material around the filter to prevent it from returning to the sensor.

The 50D offers ...