[Timetraveller]

Timetraveller, I do not understand your problem with dust on the sensor - was it there when you acquired the camera or has it collected during use? I cannot imagine that one make/model of camera is more susceptible to dust than any other. I have been following guidelines similar to Craig's good advice above for several years and do not have that problem. Just one thing I would add to his list - make sure the camera is switched off when changing lenses, as the electrical charge of a live sensor can attract dust.

Cheers.
Philip

My camera is a Nikon D7100 which I bought as soon as it came out with the insurance money from the stolen D7000. I also bought a replacement 18-200 mm lens.
I bought the D7000 on eBay by mistake. I put a starting bid on at a ridiculously low price and won the auction. It was an amazing camera. It travelled extensively with me and took around 15000 photos until it got stolen.
The D7100 takes equally good photos but at an early stage I noticed the dirt problem. I took it back to the retailer twice and they said that all DSLRs suffer from this and that they clean their sensors all the time with a puffer brush. After reading about similar problems with the Nikon D610, I complained to Nikon and they asked me to send it back to them but all they appeared to do was clean the sensor and send it back to me.

It is now out of warranty.

In May, I fell over and grazed the case. The travel insurance agreed to pay for repair and so it went back to Nikon for a new case, to be checked over and recalibrated and cleaned. I then took it out for a test run but found the pictures rather lacking in vibrance. I sent some sample photos to Nikon Support but the suggested that I change the settings which I feel should not be needed on Auto. Then I discovered the dirt on the sensor again! I complained yet again and they have agreed it should go back again.

I wonder if maybe the dirt is coming in through the new lens? My old lens was used on 3 different Nikon cameras. I rarely take the lens off as it is good for my purpose. There is just the occasional use of my 50mm lens when I visit the grandchildren.

At this moment, I feel like selling the whole lot and starting again but I do like the sharpness of the photos and am worried that other makes might not have this sharpness.

I am interested in the Fuji kit mentioned above. Are the photos extremely sharp?