Sensor Cleaning - Sensor Brushes

Marzipanogram · 12 Jan 2013 at 13:55

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.

Marzipanogram · 12 Jan 2013 at 14:28

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

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.

Marzipanogram · 12 Jan 2013 at 15:14

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.

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

Marzipanogram · 12 Jan 2013 at 15:23

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.

OK, thanks for the heads up.

Marzipanogram · 12 Jan 2013 at 16:04

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.

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

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.

Marzipanogram · 13 Jan 2013 at 11:08

Thank you all for the feedback