Sensor Cleaning - Sensor Brushes

Marzipanogram

Marzipanogram

Marzipanogram

Associate
Joined
6 Jul 2010
Posts
1,187
I'm wanting to buy some sensor cleaning equipment and original thought of wet cleaning (Pec Pads/Eclipse solution for cleaning a Canon 5D MK III)
But, this article has put me off http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/post/22111367 (cleaning a 5D I).

So, I looked at sensor brushes, but, they seem a rip off (as with all sensor cleaning products).
Can anyone recommend any cheaper alternatives to paying £25 for a brush i.e. a make up or an art brush, that will do exactly the same job, but, don't have a high price tag on them, due to them being used for photographic purposes ?


Thank you.
 
PhotoPixels said:
The `Lenspen Sensor Klear II angled Sensor Pen` should do what you need. About £10. Do you have a `Rocket Blower` too?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply.
I have the non angled version of that pen and a rocket blower.
I didn't really like the pen and some people think using a blower, just blows dust around the internals of your camera (even though the camera is facing down).
I'd just use the blower to clean the brush I'd be buying.
 
Is your the `lens` pen, or the `sensor` pen? Not sure if the tips are different.

The blower will dislodge any loose dust (make sure the body is facing downwards) & it can go to the sides, but at least it'll clear the sensor, which is what you want.

I have the Arctic Butterfly. Great but pricey.
 
PhotoPixels said:
Is your the `lens` pen, or the `sensor` pen? Not sure if the tips are different.

The blower will dislodge any loose dust (make sure the body is facing downwards) & it can go to the sides, but at least it'll clear the sensor, which is what you want.

I have the Arctic Butterfly. Great but pricey.
Click to expand...

It's a sensor pen, I bought a kit, the pen part has 3 or 4 interchangeable tips (I think they are triangular).

I wondered about the Arctic Butterfly,but, as you say it's pricey.
I was going to just use, either the blower or a can of compressed air to clean/static charge the sensor brush, as a cheaper alternative.

And an alternative to buying a illuminated sensor loupe, was a illuminated magnifying glass with 6 LEDs attached.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Powerful-Ma...003AX6BCA/ref=pd_cp_diy_0/278-9056227-4315041
 
I would't use compressed air even on the brush, i've heard that some of them can leave a residue. If that were to happen you could possibly tranfer it to the sensor.
 
I get the impression that if the poster on DPreview had followed the instructions correctly he wouldn't have had any problems.
There are potential drawbacks with all sensor cleaning methods but I've used the wet method with great success and I will now use it in preference it to other methods although I admit I haven't used the Arctic Butterfly.
 
PhotoPixels said:
I would't use compressed air even on the brush, i've heard that some of them can leave a residue. If that were to happen you could possibly tranfer it to the sensor.
Click to expand...

Not sure how much of a residue it can possibly leave but if it does it'll probably be if you use the can upside down or at a weird angle where the liquid starts to spray out instead of the gas. Holding the can upright or as close as possible prevents this.

Some seem to advertise being invertible but can't say I've tested this much :P
 
footman said:
I get the impression that if the poster on DPreview had followed the instructions correctly he wouldn't have had any problems.
There are potential drawbacks with all sensor cleaning methods but I've used the wet method with great success and I will now use it in preference it to other methods although I admit I haven't used the Arctic Butterfly.
Click to expand...

Phal said:
Not sure how much of a residue it can possibly leave but if it does it'll probably be if you use the can upside down or at a weird angle where the liquid starts to spray out instead of the gas. Holding the can upright or as close as possible prevents this.

Some seem to advertise being invertible but can't say I've tested this much :P
Click to expand...

Thank you both for the feedback.
The method I read for using compressed air (on anything) was to use the can upright and use short 1 second multi bursts.
A long burst and you get "freezing" taking place.
 
I picked up a kit yesterday from hilton photographic which has 6 full frame sensor swabs and some eclipse fluid (plus 25 lint free cloth you can use to make new swabs if needed) and a rocket blower sealed in a bag for £29.99. Cleaned my D3 sensor fully after 3 swabs (as it was CAKED)
 
Another thing probably worth mentioning is that I've found it much easier to clean a sensor now that I've bought a sensor loupe.
Granted it's a bit of a cost in the beginning but I feel more confident that I can really see what's happening when I use it.
In the end I feel it will pay for itself.
 
btw, one thing to point out, you're not actually cleaning the sensor itself, but a thin glass plate in front (low pass filter)
You do have to take care obviously, but it isn't maybe quite as delicate as some think.
 
i had some dust specs on my a55's mirror, couple of puff's with a blower and they where gone :o :)

its probably a fairly safe method, and as a first step its probably the best

id check any air can before use, the pc cleaning one i got spits out liquid, and it can stain plastic and metal/paint :o
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom