Filthy sensor - How to clean it and keep it clean

Last edited by wcfcfan on 2009-02-07, 09:59; edited 1 time in total

Grrr, I have an absolutely filthy sensor on my D40 - and I mean filthy. Blowing doesn't work, neither does a brush lightly over the surface of the sensor. My cleaning 'attempts' have made it worse! How easy is it to buy and use a proper cleaning with cleaning fluid swabs etc? If I had a shop do it, would they end up keeping it for weeks?

Steve

Subject: Re: Filthy sensor - How to clean it and keep it clean 2009-02-06, 12:05

Are you sure that it's the sensor that's dirty ?

Subject: Re: Filthy sensor - How to clean it and keep it clean 2009-02-06, 12:09

99% yeah, cannot see anything on the lens or mirror. Some of the muck moves about from the blower, but it just seems to blow it to another area of the sensor!

Admin Location : East Midlands Spotter Watch Member : Yes

Steve.

Check out www.cameraclean.co.uk

You want to buy the cleaner kit that matches the swab size type for your camera sensor.

Lehmans use the same kits (apparently).

Very easy to do, I have tried and tested all their cleaning products.

http://www.cameraclean.co.uk/acatalog/Kits.html

You want the type 2 introduction kit,

As I said I have tried and tested most their stuff.

The Dust Aid is very good, but does leave a bit of a sticky residue.

The Specgrabber is a fantastic tool.

I purchased the

http://www.cameraclean.co.uk/acatalog/Sensor_Wand_Cleaning_Kits.html

When I got confident in cleaning my sensor on a regular basis.

I have been reliably told that Keith on Lowfly.net uses lighter fluid and cotton buds.
And he works for Reuters as a photographer covering all sporting events.

Subject: Re: Filthy sensor - How to clean it and keep it clean 2009-02-06, 12:21

You've got to be REALLY careful cleaning the sensor,if I were you I'd get the professionals to do it.
Had a similar problem on my 350,I just locked the mirror up and used the blow-brush and it's been fine since.

I got the 450 body last year and have kept the telephoto lens on it and kept the 28-55 lens on the 350,dust on sensors is usually caused by swapping lenses.

BTW,the Canon EOS450D is an amazing bit of kit.
If I was choosing my 1st DSLR,I wouldn't hesitate to buy one and there's a lot of good deals on the go just now.

Admin Location : Bristol, UK

40612 wrote:: You've got to be REALLY careful cleaning the sensor,if I were you I'd get the professionals to do it.

It isn't actually the sensor you are cleaning, its a the low pass filter that sits over the top of it.

Its alot more robust than people make out and i've applied quite a bit of pressure to one (dirt refused to move!) without any problems.

However, I would suggest trying to 'dry clean it' first, using a Sensor Pen - Jessops product (Which Dunk recommended to me and I have used on on my dads D50 and is quite a good product).

Preventing the dust going onto the sensor is the best thing you can do, I've had my D80 over a year now and haven't got any visable dust on the sensor and I change my lenses regularly - at least once every couple of weeks, but normally alot more.

Mike

Location : Mildenhall

Get the swabs and the fluid and clean it. It's a piece of.....cake !!!!!
Trust me.
I was terrified of doing it but my sensor was getting really bad so I had to, now I do it when it needs it without thinking.
Just read the instructions carefully, and ask on here if you are not sure how to do it.
Dave.

Moderator Location : Between Coventry and Leicester

Dave934 wrote:: Get the swabs and the fluid and clean it. It's a piece of.....cake !!!!!
Trust me.
I was terrified of doing it but my sensor was getting really bad so I had to, now I do it when it needs it without thinking.
Just read the instructions carefully, and ask on here if you are not sure how to do it.

Dave.

Go with what dave as said. the swabs are the best and easy to do.
send it away and it will cost you £30 +. also had postage and insurance and around 1-2 weeks at best .
a swab and fluid kit will cost you around the same price but will last you years.

Been swabbing my sensors myself for the past 5 years still on the same kit.

Location : Lincs

Steve,
Never be scared to clean the filter/sensor yourself. If you follow the instruction carefully then you shouldn't go wrong. Some products even guarantee that if their products damage whilst cleaning then you are covered.

See guide of how 'How to Test for and See Dirt'. Good to do a test before and after cleaning. Once a filter/sensor is cleaned a regular rocket blower clean should be suffice to keep the dust bunnies at bay.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/dirt-2007.htm

Sensor swabs and swipes are expensive. I use the following method with a chopstick and a Pec Pad as I find it gives me more control to get into the corners.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPcvaJl-eS4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2yfZL0edqs

See 'Building Your Own Swab/Swipe/Wand'

http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/howto.html

From. All the advice you will ever need!

http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/index.html

TJ

Subject: Re: Filthy sensor - How to clean it and keep it clean 2009-02-06, 15:54

Thanks guys

TEEJ - The guy in the vid was putting a lot more pressure on the filter than I expected.

I've had a go 'dry-cleaning' it with a clean modelling paintbrush and lens cleaning tissue wrapped around the end, as per the Japanese vid, but I think I will need some of that fluid as some of the dust appears to be stuck to the filter.

I will have a look tomorrow, see what I can find in the photography shop near me.

Steve

Location : Turriff Spotter Watch Member : no

As said in most of the advice above - dont be afraid to give it a go yourself.
I've given myself a couple of frights using swabs and fluid but it's all to do with confidence and following the instructions .
Key thing is to first see how the drops form and be sure to limit it to two on the end of the swab . I failed to see one or two drops and ended up with a very smeared filter. After my hair sank from vertical back to normal and several deep breathes later a fresh attempt cleared it all away.
Also , as already mentioned , make sure you seat the swab down onto the surface , dont swipe thin air and just smear everything . You need to apply positive but light pressure and hold that through the swipe.

Location : Lincs

Hi Steve,
It does seem a lot of pressure on the filter, but they are fairly strong. Try a light clean and then do a dust test. If there are still stubborn marks you can repeat the procedure. Even if you go down the swipe route, you'll soon gain confidence.

TJ

Location : Ramsey, Huntingdon Spotter Watch Member : no

this is some really good advice on cleaning your D-SLR's exspecaily for newbies like me maybe some one could make a sticky of it????

thanyou for the advice

Location : Kinross Spotter Watch Member : No

I use a blower to move the loose stuff, an Arctic Butterfly to sweep up what the blower has missed and on the really stubborn stuff sensor cleaning swabs from Visible Dust..

Location : london Spotter Watch Member : no

Not sure if this has been mentioned already or if you know/do this already but a good thing to do when cleaning any lens or sensor is to only wipe in a straight line (Basically dont wipe in a cirlce).This means that should you scratch the glass it will be less noticable than a curved scratch that will catch the light from more places. Also it is easier to have a straight line scratch polished out by a polisher when on repair.

I work with Film/TV cameras and lens' everyday and the last thing i want to do is scratch a twenty grand+ lens or sensor whilst filming. I always use some sort of compressed air first to remove any dirt (available for under £5 in Jessops or on the web). If there are any stuborn bits of dirt i try and dab them off with a medical cotton bud that has been dipped in cleaning fluid, this often works. I would never advise dry wipping unless using a SEVYT cloth which is a Film/TV indutry standard cleaning cloth. These are extremly soft and washable and i never go Filming without one. The best thing is they are not to expensive and you can reuse them.

ive included a link below to show you what SELVYT's are if you dont know already. Ive never bought from the site so cant recommend it but i know of other places that are better and can advise you if you wish (contact me via private message)

http://www.videogear.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=165

Hope this helps, sorry if you know this already.

Location : Durham. UK Spotter Watch Member : no

Sensor swabs with Eclipse Optical cleaning fluid. We have a dozen Nikon and S5 bodies at my work and I clean them all on a regular basis. It is simple, all the hype from the makers is just to get you to hand over more cash for them to clean it. A bit like the motor trade I suppose. Just follow instructions and you will be OK.
I have an old Fuji S2 and that was a sod for letting in dust. It's been cleaned more times than me and it still is producing great images.