Sensor cleaning

Went to the camera show at the NEC today to buy an Artic Butterfly and Visible dust Sensor Loop. First impressions are the Artic butterfly is for dust and stray bits of hair etc and not had the chance to try it out. However the Sensor Loop from Visible Dust is a truly amazing bit of kit, a real must have if nothing else.

Now I "thought" my sensor was dirt free but how wrong I was, looking through this illuminated magnifier, I can't stress how good it is. Ok to clean the sensor I had to use special cleaning pads with Eclipse Optic cleaner to get rid of those horrible dots.
I couldn't detect them in the pictures but they sure were on the sensor, but not any more.

Even though cameras have dust off facilities I bet looking with the Loupe you will still find some. This is the bit of kit I am on about

http://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/Visi...t_Sensor_Loupe

Not the cheapest place to buy possible but used for reference only
Bazza

Blimey, bit steep that, and that just shows you the dust, have to buy something to get rid of it... however have given me an idea to try and do it a bit cheaper with some equipment we have in the lab at work. Should have been going to the NEC show, got trade tickets, even went past the NEC on the way to Worcester today, but just too busy and no time...damn. Thanks Bazza.

i had a nightmare between Hong Kong and Mauritius.. had several dust specs showing up on photographs the D300 wouldn't shake of with its self cleaner or my rocket blower.. had to buy a cleaning kit.. i was loathed to do it but with the clear skys of Mauritius looming i was desperate. it looks a good bit of kit but i dare say it could make you paranoid and force you to run the risk of damaging your sensor cleaning it too often yourself.

I have just cleaned mine, what helped was putting the camera on a tripod to hold it in position while doing the cleaning. It is almost impossible by just placing it on a table top due to the camera moving.

The trick is to go carefully and don't try and get it spotless at the first attempt, it may take several tries before its clean. You would also more than likely need photographic cleaning swabs and fluid as can be found in different kits. I used one swab with fluid followed straight away with a dry one, in actual fact damp in one hand and dry in other. After every cleaning wipe I did the other tip I posted about photographing a plain white paper

Bazza

I just did my first ever "wet" clean tonight as well. I was starting to get noticeable blobs even on modest apertures.

I have to say it was a bit of a brown trousers moment, but once it was done and I saw the results I was happy.

I think the white paper detection method is enough for me though. I'm really picky about muck on my monitor, on the feet of my mouse etc. If I got the loupe thing, I don't think my 40D sensor would thank me for it in the long run.

Having looked at the sensor through the loop during cleaning I did try using the Rocket blower to see what would happen. DON'T ever use one or any other blower, at least inside the camera body.
The amount of dust it stirs up makes using it useless. I had virtually got the sensor clean apart from a few minute hairs ( you know the type, the ones that come out in the photos), So I used the rocket blower as I thought it was the easiest way to get rid of them instead of the Artic Butterfly and I was back to square one, dust/hairs all over the sensor again.

My strong advice is to avoid these blowers inside the camera body like the plague.


For Beanies Dad you just rest the paper on the monitor screen lip
Bazza

a blower is a perfectly good bit of kit. So long as it is a good quality one and is discharged before placing it into the body. Some of the cheaper rubber blowers actually blow rubber debris into the body. There is also a set blowing procedure too - to ensure you dont blow onto the sensor.

Would be more helpful if you could expand on that Jack, which brush and what method?

Sure Snapper - Giotto or similar blowers are great - they are quality tested and made from high quality non-perishable latex rubber.

Some of the cheaper ones are not and small particles of rubber from inside the blower can contaminate the sensor. The Giotto blowers also have a valve inside to stop any blow back of crud or dust entering the blower body and contaminating the sensor - cheaper versions don't.

When you consider a Giotto blower is only about £7-10 its really a foolhardy economy to save a few quid by buying a cheaper one for a few quid less at the risk of contaminating the inside of your camera body.

The blowing sequence for sensor cleaning is to blow from the centre of the sensor to the top left corner then from top edge to right corner, then from centre to bottom right corner, then bottom right corner to bottom left corner, to top left corner - finishing with two blasts horizontally and then vertically.

Blowing should be PART of your cleaning ritual but they are not the be all and end all. Blowers are cheap to buy and can be carried most anywhere. This is a non- physical contact method so chances of damaging the sensor is nil, but they will not remove pollen or dust that is attached with moisture. Dust attached with a static charge is also hard to remove with this method.

Thank you, I do fortunately have a Giottos blower that looks like a rocket

Now could you tell me if I am going to cause my glass damage by cleaning them with the tissues that I use to clean my spectacles? The ones I use are Opticlear and I also use them to remove gravy from my monitor they do say they are suitable for lenses and cameras and so far I have not noticed any problems, the reason I ask is that they seem reasonable priced compared with many things suitable for use on a camera or camera lens.