sensor cleaning

Bolerus

Bolerus

Bolerus

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Joined
7 Jul 2006
Posts
1,054
Location
Stoke on Trent
well it looks like i have to clean my sensor, I have bought a kit, which is made up of 4 sensor swipes, some pec pads (10) and some eclipse fluid


but in honesty I am finding that I am too scaredy cat to do it, does any body know how much shops charge, and or has any body cleaned their own and actually had a problem with it


the last thing I want to do is ruin my sensor but I guess this is an aspect of dslrs that has to be done.

any opinions would be duly considered, either to ease my mind or to tip me over the balance to get it done by a shop
 
I'm sure you local photography shop would offer some kind of service or you could send your camera to an authorised service agent but I've heard of people getting their cameras back with more dust than they started with! Not to mention it's going to cost you a fortune if you do it everytime you get a dust spot.

You really need to learn yourself. It does seem very scarey at first but read up on the process so you are sure of what you are doing and then give it a go.
 
Greg said:
I'd be really interested in this too!

mines dirty :(

thanks

greg
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ditto, mine needs doing badly, and it's a brand new camera!
Might take it back and demand one with a clean sensor :D
 
Interesting video but I feel a lot better about using a sensor swipe than coating my sensor with a low strength glue!
 
i have read a few guides


but there is one thing i am unsure about, and bneing unsure on this alone make me unsure whether to attempt it

the guides all say put 2 - 4 drops of elcipse on the tip of the sensor wipe (or pec pad if you are going with the make your own method)

do a swipe along the sensor, then turn the sensor swipe over and swipe again.

now a few of the guides have an embolded "never use a dry sensorswipe or pecpad"

so one you have swiped one way (with one side of the sensorswipe) do you re-apply eclispe to the other side of the sensor swipe, or will it have sufficiently moistened from the one lot of 2 - 4 dropplets?
 
the sensor area is more durable than people think.

If you really want to try it. apply some fluid to the pad and place the pad into the chamber and just let it slowly fall in place resting on the sensor. Using only enough pressure to move the pad move from one side to the other.

I really do think people are doing the rocket blower way wrong. I used to use a pad to clean my sensor every two weeks. Its been almost a year since I have needed to do it now I own a medium sized rocket blower.
 
Bolerus said:
so one you have swiped one way (with one side of the sensorswipe) do you re-apply eclispe to the other side of the sensor swipe, or will it have sufficiently moistened from the one lot of 2 - 4 dropplets?
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I find two drops is enough to cover both sides of the swipe. You will be able to see it soaking in so if two isn't enough you can add another.
 
Fstop11 said:
.

I really do think people are doing the rocket blower way wrong.
Click to expand...


could you perhaps explain how you do it m8, if i am doing it wrong with the blower, and there is a more effective way, that means I dont have to scare myself silly cleaning the sensor...
 
Fstop11 said:
the sensor area is more durable than people think.
Click to expand...

Very true, I've never met anyone who has broken their sensor by cleaning. I've only ever read one story online but I have no idea if it was true.

Fstop11 said:
I really do think people are doing the rocket blower way wrong. I used to use a pad to clean my sensor every two weeks. Its been almost a year since I have needed to do it now I own a medium sized rocket blower.
Click to expand...

It really does depend. I like you use my rocket blower frequently and only sensor swipe if I am going to be using slow shutter speed the next day e.g. getting blur on prop aircraft to really make sure I don't get dust spots. But I have had two occasions where the rocket couldn't move a spot and had to use two sensor swipes to get it removed.
 
could people please post the links of where they are reading how to clean their sensors? I've found one or two, but they are contradicting eachother with different methods and techniques.

many thanks

Greg
 
Bolerus said:
could you perhaps explain how you do it m8, if i am doing it wrong with the blower, and there is a more effective way, that means I dont have to scare myself silly cleaning the sensor...
Click to expand...
For absolute best results.

give your rocket blower a few puffs before exposing it to the camerea.
run the hot tap in the bathroom for a few mins and shut the door. (this will allow the steam to stick to the dust in the air and fall to the ground)
Turn tap off and give another few mins to allow the air to set.
take your camera and rocket blower into the bathroom. turn the camera so that the mount is facing the floor (pointing downwards) engage the sensor cleaning function. with the camera already facing downwards the vibration of the mirror will shake some dust loose.
Then insert the rocket blower into your cameras chamber, a few cms inside and give it one good hard puff. Wait a few seconds and give it another one.
Remove the rocket blower and still with the camera facing downwards, turn off the camera. attach lens or mount cover and if you feel the need. Give it a test.
 
Fstop11 said:
I really do think people are doing the rocket blower way wrong. I used to use a pad to clean my sensor every two weeks. Its been almost a year since I have needed to do it now I own a medium sized rocket blower.
Click to expand...
I'll second that, I've never used anything other than a rocket blower to clean any of my camera's (D100, 200 and D2x) and never have any issues with dirt on the sensor. I just give it a good blowing out on a regular basis and it keeps things nice and clean.
 
OMG fstop I think i love you

IT WORKED. I still have some dust on the viewfinder, so i may have to get the pecpad on that, but the sensor is clean now, im a happy bunny
 
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