Sensor cleaning question

Clint_001

Clint_001

Clint_001

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1 Jul 2013
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37
Still new to this so apologies if any of this is stupid but today playing around with my d3200:

- Noticed annoying spot on photos (isn't there on photos from a week ago, so not a problem with the LCD display)
- Changed lens and still there, so not that
- Opened photo on GIMP and zoomed into 100%, its approx 5mm wide so don't think its a dead pixel on the sensor
- To double check its not a group of dead pixels on the sensor I took a photo of a white wall and over exposed, whole photo looks white now so pretty sure its not a larger dead spot (phew!)
- so i concluded its dirt on the sensor

So first question, is my methods of deduction ok?

My second question is do I take it into Jessops to get it cleaned (if they offer that service?) OR do i get a kit and give cleaning it a go myself?

Any help much appreciated! I'm just starting and doing a photography course, so any downtime is upsetting :mad:
 
To find out whether it is dust.

Turn aperture to F/15 or anything small.
Camera in AV.
ISO100.

Point it at the sky, shoot and wave it around like crazy.

The intention is make everything blur, the white of the sky will be white. Dust blocks light and dust on sensor isn't moving as it is stuck.

So you will get spots on the photo if there is dust.

What I do is clean it myself, it sounds scary, but it is a 10 min job.

What you need is some swabs the same size as your sensor.
Pec Pads.
eclipse fluid.
Some electrical tape to wrap them up.
Cling film to cover the work top surface, you want a clean area to work on. Much easier and quicker to just do this. Plus the static will pull down all the dust near the work top, as opposed to in the air.

6yNxt3y.jpg

Note - try not to catch the sides of the innards on the way down, the gears has oils.
Have a fully charged battery when you go it.
Swipe across, flip and across again, then discard, do not use again.
Have a lens to hand to check with the above method afterwards.
 
Last edited:
Hi Raymond,

Could I just check, do you use the pec pads so that you can re-use swabs?

There seems to be quite a price difference between swabs so I'm not sure whether to go for the branded photographic solutions ones, or to not worry and just get the cheaper ones, but then wrap them?
 
You wipe the dust off the sensor onto the pec pad which is then thrown away - never ever reuse a pec pad. I think I paid about $15 for a swab, 1000 pec pads and eclipse fluid about 10 years a go. It still looks like I have barely started using them and I clean my stuff every few months plus use pec pads for other cleaning uses (wiping lenses, LCD screens etc).
 
There's quite a prominent warning on the photosol website about not using Pec Pads on the sensor, is that to make you buy the more expensive swabs, you guys seem OK with it :confused:
 
I have never seen such warning....

the key is to wrap the pec pad with the central part to the sweep area. Something about lint on the outer edges.

Apart from that, the sensor is quite tough, it is a piece of glass, not actual sensor so replacable as a "cheap" part.
 
Even the sensor itself is pretty tough, silcon is a relatively hard metal crystal.


If you you to a store like best buy/costco/curries you should be able to find some DSLRS on display. Take the lens off and have a good look inside at what you are supposed to be cleaning. If no one is looking shove your fingers inside to feel the sensor assembly. The sensor is sat within a little box so the swab wont slip off the sensor.
 
Ok, thanks guys. I'm gonna go for the PecPads and your recommendations. I did a bit more reading and found quite a few comments about PecPads being fine, along with comments about it even being the recommended method before the much more expensive swabs came out (funny that!).

Just for your reference though, the warning is at the bottom of this page...

http://photosol.com/pec-pads/
 
I once - in frustration at dust - blew into my old Nex 5N, adding flem to the dust on the sensor. Wiped it with a lens.cleaning cloth angrily expecting to destroy it, only for it to be fine and dust free.

This isn't a recommended technique, just a anecdote about the sensor not being quite as sensitive as I was led to believe. Used that camera for thousands of photos after with no ill effects.
 
the_director said:
I once - in frustration at dust - blew into my old Nex 5N, adding flem to the dust on the sensor. Wiped it with a lens.cleaning cloth angrily expecting to destroy it, only for it to be fine and dust free.

This isn't a recommended technique, just a anecdote about the sensor not being quite as sensitive as I was led to believe. Used that camera for thousands of photos after with no ill effects.
Click to expand...

Yep, I did that with my Fuji a few weeks ago in Paris. Saw a big flake of something on the sensor while changing lenses. Gave a gentle blow which moved the flake, but also gobbed a nice ball of smeg onto the sensor. Having just had a beer this dried to a nice golden sugary circle. I'd bought some decent quality microfibre cloths, and luckily had a completely fresh one with me- a quick swipe removed all traces, was very pleased and won't be blowing again, especially after one too many beers. (Fnaaar).
 
Cleaned the lense on my d7100 a few times now. Took me ages to have a go myself. Then after watching all the YouTube vids and tips from the like of Raymond, gave it a go and wondered what all the worry was about. It really is simple as long as your not totally cakhanded.
 
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