How do you typically clean your sensor?

[Lyndon So]

I got what I would consider quite a bit of dust.

How many options do I have?

-Lyndon

[Erik Anderson]

I got what I would consider quite a bit of dust.

How many options do I have?

-Lyndon


You've got quite a few options. I've personally used the 'Copperhill' method of sensor cleaning (modified spatula, Eclipse fluid and Pec Pads) with 100% success (both times I did it :)). You could forgo cleaning and use a Dust Reference image, you could use the Giotto Rocket Ship Blower in hopes that it would blow off the dust. I'm sure other will chime in with other methods as well.

Do you have a sample photo showing the amount of dust on the sensor?

[Keith Schoeler]

I've been doing the home brew "Copperhill" method for a few years now. Works well.

[Lyndon So]

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b273/kabuki421/IMG_3831.jpg

some of it is actually sand on the UV filter. but most of it is dust.

:(

[John Thawley]

Copperhill. ;)

Careful of blowing air or blowers... typically you're risking moving more dust in than out. Plus, as I understand it, there's a static issue involved in helping the dust stick to the sensor.

JT

[Dennis Murray]

I've had fairly good luck with the Giotto rocket blower, but I tend to be pretty careful about lens changes.

[Todd Corzett]

I use a Giotto in-between cleanings with my VisibleDust sensor brush. Works quite well for me!

-Todd...

[Todd Spoth]

eclipse and the pads. make sure you get the right size and the right size pads are in the package. i cant even count how many times there are 1.6x pads in the 1.3x boxes.

damn lyndon thats a lot of dust dude. bring it to me ill show you how to clean it dude.

[Jacob Leveton]

drop it off at the camera store around the corner from my house, pick it up 30 minutes later. If anything goes wrong, they take responsibility.

I'll take piece of mind for $20, alex!

[Todd Spoth]

drop it off at the camera store around the corner from my house, pick it up 30 minutes later. If anything goes wrong, they take responsibility.

I'll take piece of mind for $20, alex!

damn you do drift photos and you dont clean yourself? man unless thats a free pro service id learn to do it myself.

too. much. rubberrr.

[Jacob Leveton]

I also don't want to clean my sensor myself and snag a piece of rubber on the swab, and completely scratch the ******** out of the sensor, and I'm screwed. Had 2 friends already scratch their sensors. I am pretty careful about swapping lenses at the track (always do it in a car or in a trailor if not before the event, etc). But to me, I'd rather have a pro do it than risk downtime with my camera. Plus, its' a tax deduction.

[Dylan Wiggins]

I used to live just down the street from a Nikon authorized service center, but alas I had to switch states :( A cheap blower gets the dust off mine just fine, never had to try the eclipse pads.

[Lyndon So]

eclipse and the pads. make sure you get the right size and the right size pads are in the package. i cant even count how many times there are 1.6x pads in the 1.3x boxes.

damn lyndon thats a lot of dust dude. bring it to me ill show you how to clean it dude.
yeah...i went to the Photosource out here in Spring, and they told me they were going to send it off to Canon for an exorbitant amount of $. So I figure I should learn how.


I'll be in the downtown area tonight. Hit me up if you're gonna be in the area. I'd definatley appreciate your help mucho. <3

[Todd Spoth]

yeah...i went to the Photosource out here in Spring, and they told me they were going to send it off to Canon for an exorbitant amount of $. So I figure I should learn how.


I'll be in the downtown area tonight. Hit me up if you're gonna be in the area. I'd definatley appreciate your help mucho. <3

im covering the dance houston show at the Zileka hall tonite. call me up ill there from like 7-11 or so.

[John Hegg]

Are the techniques for cleaning sensors, covered in this thread, still the way everyone does it? Are there any suggested kits or products? I just noticed my 40d has a dirty sensor and needs to be cleaned. What a pain cleaning the photos up in PS.
Thanks,
John

[Daniel Buck]

I hardly ever clean mine. I wait until someone else offers to clean it for me :D

[Todd Corzett]

I'm still using a Visible Dust sensor brush. I've moved to an Artic Butterfly (no need to carry around compressed air) and one of their 7x sensor loupes (awesome for finding where the dust is without having to take photos of the sky). From time to time I will use my larger sensor brush to get the 'big stuff' off. Eventually I will get a wet clean when I send the body back to Canon.

-Todd...

[Hazrin Yeob Men Shah]

i also used Copperhill method

[Steve Stein]

I have a Honda pressure washer that spits out something like 1800 PSI. Works wonders.

On my 5Dustsucker, I use Sensor swabs and Eclipse. Got a good deal on the swabs since one of my friends sold his 5D and gave me a box of them. Rocket blower is useful, but the 5D really sucks in the dust on the sensor, no matter how hard you try to minimize lens changes and conditions.

[Dan Martins]

I use sensor swabs and VDust Plus sensor cleaning formula. Works great.

[Perry Bennett]

I just cleaned mine tonight for the first time ever.

I knew it was bad when I was seeing sensor crap at really low apertures... much less the real test @ f22.

Wow, what a pain in the ass. Took me 45-60 minutes of cleaning & testing & then cleaning some more. I also cleaned the mirror since it had an irritating piece on it that I could see thru the view-finder.

My sensor is now spotless!

Should save me loads of time in post... LOL

[Steve Stein]

Perry,

The first time is the toughest. After you do it a few times and have a couple shots of Jack, it's pretty easy. I've stayed away from the mirror since its coating is more fragile than the filter over the sensor. I've only blown that clean. Focus screens are another problem, especially with the Canon 5D. All kinds of crap get sucked up on them and taking them out to clean in an anti-static environment is especially hard. Canon CPS did my last big cleaning and there were still a few nits left on the focus screen.

[Daniel Buck]

two words: brillo pad

:D

[Perry Bennett]

I really didnt mean the mirror- I meant the focus screen. Thanks for the clarification.