DSLR Sensor Cleaning Tips

[Guyzerr]

There are two rules to this thread and they goes something like this...

A ) Don't post anything not pertaining to the subject. I don't want to see a helpful thread become cluttered. Thanks for your understanding.

B ) Rule breakers will be shot. ( I don't count because it's my thread )

Your skill level matters not when it comes to dust on your sensor and you don't have to change a lens to pick it up. Somehow it will magically appear on your shots as little gray dots or in some cases really big dots and / or streaks. Either way they will drive you nuts if you actually care about your work.

There are two ways to remove it as far as I'm concerned...

1) Send your camera away and pay to have it " professionally " cleaned. In Canada that's about $50.00 per visit.

or.........

2) Save some cash after an initial investment in cleaning equipment and do it yourself. You don't send it away and wonder when you're going to get it back. That in itself is a major advantage.

I prefer # 2 and this is what I've been doing for about 6 years. The initial investment can be quite a bit but keep in mind I haven't had to buy anything since my first purchase. Average the cost per year and so far it isn't much.

Step # 1 - I started with this blower... VisibleDust - Product Page

Step # 2 - is a gizmo called " Arctic Butterfly " . VisibleDust - Product Page
It comes with a clear set of instructions which when used in conjunction with your cameras manual to access the sensor works very well. I love mine and wouldn't be without it.

Step # 3 - is a " wet " method of cleaning the sensor if and when it becomes fogged due to humidity. Out of three DSLR's I've only had to use this twice. I purchased it only when I was forced to.

I bought a kit that contained both the liquid and the swabs. I couldn't find it quickly on their site so I'll show this instead.

Liquid... VisibleDust - Product Page
Swabs...VisibleDust - Product Page These come in various sizes so ensure you get the correct ones

I see that the company now offers the whole shebang as a kit. They didn't when I bought my stuff and from what I see it looks like the way to go.

It also comes with a clear set of instructions which when used in conjunction with your cameras manual to access the sensor works very well.


Many people are deathly afraid to do it themselves, as I was , but it really isn't difficult. Just take your time and use common sense.

If you have any questions, suggestions, methods or pointers that you would like to share please do so in this thread. I'm going to ask a " BOSS " to sticky this because I believe it's that important.

Disclaimer: I am not a shareholder in the company. I'm just a user that is very pleased with their products and the end results. If you know of something different please feel free to inform me or anyone reading this thread.

 

[freakofnature]

How much does something like that cost?

 

[Guyzerr]

How much does something like that cost?

Click the links...........

 

[Alien Allen]

holy shit that stuff aint cheap

 

[freakofnature]

Interesting. Cleaning sensors is not something I've ever thought of. :unsure:

:ninja

 

[JanieDough]

what if I have a fancy camera that cleans the sensor every time I turn it off?

 

[Guyzerr]

what if I have a fancy camera that cleans the sensor every time I turn it off?

Well Janie my camera has the same thing. The problem is those systems don't get it all the time. Even though your camera has it there will come a time when you'll have to have it manually cleaned. That point will come when you get tired of editing the spots by processing with your photo editor.

 

[Siphorous]

Guy, I think you're spot on with this. Very useful. I didn't even know these things existed.

You're absolutely right. Every light or sky pic features about 3 or 4 dots of various sizes and (not massive but visible enough) and 1 'streak' like thing too. It's a pita having to fix those in lightroom or paintshop pro everytime. I count my lucky stars everytime the area where they are is covered by a dark place in the scene

As for the kits Guy, I'm liking the idea of getting such a kit - useful if I ever change bodies in the future and so on too. Your step 1 and 2 listed things seemed to appeal the most, but the kit for stubborn stains including the wet clean sounds good.

Is the kit you're thinking of either of these two?

VisibleDust - Product Page

VisibleDust - Product Page

Although I'm guessing perhaps not the first one as it doesn't come with the bright LED?

 

[JanieDough]

Well Janie my camera has the same thing. The problem is those systems don't get it all the time. Even though your camera has it there will come a time when you'll have to have it manually cleaned. That point will come when you get tired of editing the spots by processing with your photo editor.

ok - I thought so, but I wasn't sure if I should mess with it. Although I hope such a day never comes.

Guy, I think you're spot on with this. Very useful. I didn't even know these things existed.

You're absolutely right. Every light or sky pic features about 3 or 4 dots of various sizes and (not massive but visible enough) and 1 'streak' like thing too. It's a pita having to fix those in lightroom or paintshop pro everytime. I count my lucky stars everytime the area where they are is covered by a dark place in the scene

As for the kits Guy, I'm liking the idea of getting such a kit - useful if I ever change bodies in the future and so on too. Your step 1 and 2 listed things seemed to appeal the most, but the kit for stubborn stains including the wet clean sounds good.

Is the kit you're thinking of either of these two?

VisibleDust - Product Page

VisibleDust - Product Page

Although I'm guessing perhaps not the first one as it doesn't come with the bright LED?

so does this fix your camera?

 

[Guyzerr]

Guy, I think you're spot on with this. Very useful. I didn't even know these things existed.

You're absolutely right. Every light or sky pic features about 3 or 4 dots of various sizes and (not massive but visible enough) and 1 'streak' like thing too. It's a pita having to fix those in lightroom or paintshop pro everytime. I count my lucky stars everytime the area where they are is covered by a dark place in the scene

If you really want to see how bad it is just do this very quick test.

Take a shot of a completely blue sky. No clouds or anything else in the shot. Then import that shot into your photo editor and convert it to greyscale. It will amaze you what crud is on your sensor.

As for the kits Guy, I'm liking the idea of getting such a kit - useful if I ever change bodies in the future and so on too. Your step 1 and 2 listed things seemed to appeal the most, but the kit for stubborn stains including the wet clean sounds good.

The reason I would buy a kit is because I assume it would save money vs: buying each piece separately. I haven't done the research to see if that's the case though.

Is the kit you're thinking of either of these two?

VisibleDust - Product Page

VisibleDust - Product Page

Although I'm guessing perhaps not the first one as it doesn't come with the bright LED?

They both have their merits depending on what one needs and the amount he / she can afford. Neither has the blower which really isn't a big deal. The second one would be my first choice because it comes with the wet cleaning goodies and I don't think the first one does. It also has a LED gizmo that seems interesting and could be useful. To the hobbyist like us it could be overkill. It is something I haven't seen before and will have to investigate further.

With reference to the blower... what I did before I bought one and was in the process of cleaning my sensor was start the process with the sensor accessible. I used my pressurized air can that I bought at the camera store to clean lens and held it about 1 foot away and ever so gently squeezed the trigger to preclean the inside. All the rules say you shouldn't do that but it's never been a problem on any of my 4 DSLR's. I caution you to be very careful if you do it.

HOT TIP: Ensure your batteries are fully charged prior to starting any cleaning procedure. You don't want the curtain to close while your brush is on the sensor. :eek

Just out of curiosity have do you know what sensor size you have? ie: 1.6 Most prosumer DSLR's have that.

 

[Guyzerr]

ok - I thought so, but I wasn't sure if I should mess with it. Although I hope such a day never comes.

It will happen Janie especially if you like to change lens often. It will happen even if you don't but it won't be quite as bad.

 

[freakofnature]

:unsure: This is all way over my head. I really ought to know more about things.

 

[Guyzerr]

:unsure: This is all way over my head. I really ought to know more about things.

Zirc here is an example of dust on a sensor. Even though they are small and quite hard to detect they are annoying.

I took this shot on a very cloudy day and just finished manipulating it's colors so they show up better. It's made a bad shot even worse. In any event I'm just using it as an example and even though I circled a bunch they may be quite hard to see by looking at it posted in a reduced size and resolution. Trust me they are there.

Those are the buggers we are trying to eliminate.

 

[freakofnature]

I'm just scared I'll mess something up. I'd rather let someone else who knows what they're doing take care of such things. Two bucks says I'll never get around to taking it in, though. :surrender

 

[Siphorous]

If you really want to see how bad it is just do this very quick test.

Take a shot of a completely blue sky. No clouds or anything else in the shot. Then import that shot into your photo editor and convert it to greyscale. It will amaze you what crud is on your sensor.

They both have their merits depending on what one needs and the amount he / she can afford. Neither has the blower which really isn't a big deal. The second one would be my first choice because it comes with the wet cleaning goodies and I don't think the first one does. It also has a LED gizmo that seems interesting and could be useful. To the hobbyist like us it could be overkill. It is something I haven't seen before and will have to investigate further.

With reference to the blower... what I did before I bought one and was in the process of cleaning my sensor was start the process with the sensor accessible. I used my pressurized air can that I bought at the camera store to clean lens and held it about 1 foot away and ever so gently squeezed the trigger to preclean the inside. All the rules say you shouldn't do that but it's never been a problem on any of my 4 DSLR's. I caution you to be very careful if you do it.

HOT TIP: Ensure your batteries are fully charged prior to starting any cleaning procedure. You don't want the curtain to close while your brush is on the sensor. :eek

Just out of curiosity have do you know what sensor size you have? ie: 1.6 Most prosumer DSLR's have that.

There's certainly areas that I know have dodgy dust - but I'm sure your tip would reveal more. I'll have to try that next time there's a clear blue sky.

The static reducing blower sounded good in theory. Practice could be different I guess. Certainly the bright light led brush and wet clean items are the ones I guess I would be using in my case to be sure. For sure I'll make sure the batteries are fully charged. :eek

I had to look up what you meant by the 1.6 ratio. With a width of 23.6 - I guess that would make the ratio 1.52 or thereabouts.

 

[Guyzerr]

The static reducing blower sounded good in theory. Practice could be different I guess. Certainly the bright light led brush and wet clean items are the ones I guess I would be using in my case to be sure. For sure I'll make sure the batteries are fully charged. :eek

Siph in your case because it's never been cleaned before you will probably use everything that came in the kit if that's the route you go. After the initial cleaning what I know you will use more than anything is the nice little motorized brush. That I can guarantee you.

 

[Siphorous]

Siph in your case because it's never been cleaned before you will probably use everything that came in the kit if that's the route you go. After the initial cleaning what I know you will use more than anything is the nice little motorized brush. That I can guarantee you.

True, definitely not been cleaned before. The only thing that scares me is the idea that some sites suggested that you can damage things very easily. Still, I'm not afraid to try of course.

 

[Guyzerr]

True, definitely not been cleaned before. The only thing that scares me is the idea that some sites suggested that you can damage things very easily. Still, I'm not afraid to try of course.

Those sites and their comments concerned me as well but if you proceed with caution and common sense it isn't a problem. I think a lot of the naysayers have never tried it themselves because they know a sensor is very delicate.

 

[JanieDough]

and a lot of bumbling idiots go out and buy cameras and don't respect them.

so every website where professionals or experienced people are concerned will have warnings.

But I have confidence you can handle it Siph

 

[Siphorous]

Thanks Janie. I think I was not always as careful with lens changing as I should have been so I feel that I'm definitely to blame at some point for some of the marks at least - definitely one of those bumbling idiots