Nikon D5000 Sensor Filter Replacement

Written By: Jacob Rardin

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

Time Required

30 minutes

Introduction

Need to clean out every last speck of dust? Scratched your sensor filter? Swapping out the filter for a custom modification? This guide can help.

The battery door has been removed for clarity, but is not necessary. See this guide for how to remove it.
Unscrew the eight Phillips #00 screws on the back panel:
Two 2.5x6mm screws above the screen.
One 3x6mm screw on the upper part of each side (two total; right side shown).
One 3x7.5mm screw on the lower part of each side (two total).
Two 3x4.5mm screws on the bottom.

Pull the back panel up, then tilt it back. There will be two cables still holding it on.
Doing this will also release the connector cover on the left side. Set it aside for now, but remember to reinstall it later.
Disconnect the ribbon cable by flipping the black tab up, then pulling the cable out.
This procedure also applies to all of the other ribbon cables in the D5000.
Pull out the other connector by lifting it up with tweezers, or by prying it out. Fingernails also work well.

Orange pulls straight up, if it does not want to come up, use your nails from the sides and pull up.

Be careful with the other ribbon cables, the latches swing up easily with your nail, but can be easy to break if you do it wrong.

Disconnect the six ribbon cables by releasing the clips and pulling the cables out.
Pry off the gold-plated connector with an opening tool, spudger, tweezers, or a fingernail.
Disconnect a seventh ribbon cable in the lower-right corner.

Flip up the motherboard.
Remove the white cable connector by pulling it out of its socket with a spudger or fingernails.

Remove the three silver 5x5mm screws.
Between the metal backing plate and the standoffs for each screw is a copper washer. Don't lose them!
Flip the sensor board out.
Be extremely careful from this point on. Dust or scratches on any part of the sensor or its filters can affect picture quality.