Nikon D50 Low-Pass Filter, Remove the lens and turn the camera on, Use a Reliable Power Source

Technical Notes—Caring for the Camera

The Low-Pass Filter

The image sensor that acts as the camera’s picture element is fitted with a low-pass filter to prevent moiré. Although this filter prevents foreign ob- jects from adhering directly to the image sensor, under certain conditions dirt or dust on the filter may appear in photographs. If you suspect that dirt or dust inside the camera is affecting your photographs, you can check for the presence of foreign objects on the low-pass filter as described below.

1 Remove the lens and turn the camera on.

2 Choose Yes for the Mirror Lock-Up option in the setup menu ( 68). The message, “Press shutter-release button” will be dis- played.

3 Press the shutter-release button all the way down. The mirror will be raised and the shut- ter curtain will open, revealing the low-pass filter, and a row of dashes will blink in the control panel.

4 Holding the camera so that light falls on the low-pass filter, examine the filter for dust or lint. If there are foreign objects on the filter, the filter requires cleaning. See the following section.

5 Turn the camera off. The mirror will return to the down position and the shutter curtain will close. Replace the lens or body cap and dis- connect the AC adapter.

Use a Reliable Power Source

To prevent the camera from powering off while the mirror is raised, use a fully- charged battery or an EH-5 AC adapter (available separately) for prolonged inspec-

116tion or cleaning of the low-pass filter.