Cleaning a FF sensor DIY Wet method - RESULT!

Raymond Lin · 8 Jan 2011 at 13:22

Isn't that hard after all.

I noticed there were 2 bit of dust when I shot some quick HD films whilst in Rome, they were shot at F/7.6 or something, I seldom shoot at that aperture so I never knew. I knew there's bound to be some dust as I've had one 5D over a year, one for 6 months, changed lens countless times in weddings so it is not unexpected. As its a new year I thought i give it a clean. What was scary is the FF sensor is BIG, it is a lot bigger than the 30D to clean but it's the same principle so I had a go.

I cleaned both, both shot at F/22

1st 5D result

This one is pretty much perfect I think, I can't see any dust.

edit - found one! Top right on the edge, really small !

2nd 5D result.

By the time I done this the clouds had come out, but i waved it to create movement...I can see a tiny dot on the top right, but its F/22 and it doesn't show at the normal aperture, this 5D actually took me about 2 tries (I first cleaned it 2 nights ago) before I got it like this...annoying, at one point I made it dirtier! lol

That's money saved!

Oh, I got my 35L calibrated.

Focused on the Moss, F/1.4

Raymond Lin · 8 Jan 2011 at 13:27

This is how i did it.

Cling Film over the table. It does 2 jobs

1 - It attract the dust near the surface to it, so it removes some dust from the air
2 - Its cleaner than your table, no matter how hard you try to wipe it.

The guide I followed is this one.

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=9766

Derek W · 8 Jan 2011 at 14:10

need to register on tp to see the guide

Marzipanogram · 8 Jan 2011 at 14:22

Mr L,
Where do you buy the pack of swabs from ?

Thanks.

DB_SamX · 8 Jan 2011 at 14:26

Derek W said:
need to register on tp to see the guide

Do you want to see it? I can print it to pdf and email it across if you want?

Raymond Lin · 8 Jan 2011 at 14:29

Marzipanogram said:
Mr L,
Where do you buy the pack of swabs from ?

Thanks.

I can't remember but just google "sensor Swab" and any plastic ones would do.

All you need is some Pec Pads and some eclipse fluid.

wrap up the swab with the pad, careful not to touch the bit where it hits the sensor (your fingers has oils), then wrap it up. I used electrical tape. Make a bunch ready, it normally take about 3 swabs before you get it clean.

glitch · 8 Jan 2011 at 14:30

Marzipanogram said:
Where do you buy the pack of swabs from ?

What camera do you have?

Mud · 8 Jan 2011 at 14:39

I've done a few dry cleans and they've come up perfect after 2-3 pads, so I'm yet to progress onto wet. Still scary!

Derek W · 8 Jan 2011 at 15:18

DB_SamX said:
Do you want to see it? I can print it to pdf and email it across if you want?

if you wouldn't mind Sam would appreciate that. Email in trust

Andy90 · 8 Jan 2011 at 15:22

It is a fairly easy thing to do, I've cleaned mine twice in the last 12 months.

Pec pads and Eclipse fluid is definately the way to go.

One thing to note is you're not actually cleaning the sensor. Your cleaning a glass filter that is in front of the sensor which is sealed behind it.

As long as you've tried blowing out most of the particles with a rocket blower type device, then anything else left behind tends to be rather sticky, such as pollen and is easily removed by the Pad and Eclipse fluid.

If you want to read up about the entire process and the various pros and cons of each type of cleaning method then take a look at this site:-

http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/index.html

glitch · 8 Jan 2011 at 15:30

Andy90 said:
One thing to note is you're not actually cleaning the sensor. Your cleaning a glass filter that is in front of the sensor which is sealed behind it.

Not on all cameras.

On the sensors in the 5D, 5D2, 500D and 50D you're cleaning the ITO coating of the sensor itself and you need to be very careful and use Eclipse 2 fluid - which isn't the easiest stuff to work with.

Raymond Lin · 8 Jan 2011 at 15:49

glitch said:
Not on all cameras.

On the sensors in the 5D, 5D2, 500D and 50D you're cleaning the ITO coating of the sensor itself and you need to be very careful and use Eclipse 2 fluid - which isn't the easiest stuff to work with.

I got the first eclipse fluid, these

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0000AUR1I/ref=oss_product

which are not there anymore.

glitch · 8 Jan 2011 at 15:57

Scratch my comments on Eclipse 2 fluid. I've just been looking for the damn stuff and it took me a few minutes to figure out why I couldn't find it.

As you were, everyone.

Andy90 · 8 Jan 2011 at 17:54

glitch said:
Not on all cameras.

On the sensors in the 5D, 5D2, 500D and 50D you're cleaning the ITO coating of the sensor itself and you need to be very careful and use Eclipse 2 fluid - which isn't the easiest stuff to work with.

On the Canon 50D and the 5D Mk2, there is a flourine coated low pass filter in front of the sensor. The filter is made of optical glass I believe. You are therefore not touching the sensor itself which is set back behind the filter.

Yes there is a risk as in all things of damage. Providing you're careful and use the correct fluid ie eclipse fluid and CLEAN pec pads there is little risk of damage.

You can see the layout of the 50D filter in this Youtube video.

Derek W · 8 Jan 2011 at 18:03

thanks for the email Sam

Marzipanogram · 8 Jan 2011 at 19:39

Raymond Lin said:
I can't remember but just google "sensor Swab" and any plastic ones would do.

All you need is some Pec Pads and some eclipse fluid.

wrap up the swab with the pad, careful not to touch the bit where it hits the sensor (your fingers has oils), then wrap it up. I used electrical tape. Make a bunch ready, it normally take about 3 swabs before you get it clean.

Thank you.

glitch said:
What camera do you have?

A Nikon D700.

I bought a wet cleaning kit maybe 6 months ago, that contained about 10 swab and holders, plus cleaning solution.
But I'd just like to buy the swabs, as I could attach them the plastic holders that I kept.
I might buy extra cleaning solution too.

MobyDick · 8 Jan 2011 at 23:01

At first I was like "He didn't do a very good job!", then I scrolled down and realised that it was just my filthy monitor