Sensor Cleaning - A Caution

[boBQuincy]

Before a trip, I usually check the sensor by taking a photo of a blank object at f/22. I also usually find some dust and have to clean the sensor (I change lenses a lot).

This time I found a good sized speck and as usual blew it with the Rocket Blower and then wiped it with the Visible Dust brush. It smeared.
@#$%^&*!!! It wasn't dust, it was yogg (a more polite term than I actually used at the time). Not only was my sesnor smeared, my brush was now contaminated with yogg and any further attempts at cleaning would only make it worse. Liquid cleaning was the only solution now.
http://www.copperhillimages.com/index.php?pr=Tutorials

After a few tries the sensor was as clean as usual, maybe one or two very small specks which I don't worry about. The new dust removal sensors would not have shaken off the yogg, it was stuck real good.

Brushing the sensor while I was on my trip would have resulted in disaster, the sensor would be smeared with no way to clean it (the cleaning fluid is not allowed on airplanes, although I doubt TSA would notice it). Anyway, I am now thinking it might be best not to clean the sensor while away from home.

Btw, the smear appeared on the bottom of the image but the dirt was actually on the top of the sensor, I guess the image is reversed.

 

[MassJester]

I have to admit, the whole "sensor cleaning" thing gives me the willies. I'm glad this worked out for you.

 

[jann1033]

i don't know what yogg is but i hope i never see it.. i'm to the point i really should clean the sensor but no way i am attempting it and don't even know if i want hubby to try it.he has steady hands but 53 yr old eyes and his arms may not be long enough for him to see the sensor much less clean it

 

[ukcatfan]

Btw, the smear appeared on the bottom of the image but the dirt was actually on the top of the sensor, I guess the image is reversed.

If it is like the optics on a telescope, the image is upside down and flipped on the sensor. The software would correct the orientation.

Kevin

 

[boBQuincy]

i don't know what yogg is but i hope i never see it.. i'm to the point i really should clean the sensor but no way i am attempting it and don't even know if i want hubby to try it.he has steady hands but 53 yr old eyes and his arms may not be long enough for him to see the sensor much less clean it

Being well beyond AARP entry age myself, I put on my reading glasses *and* hold the camera under a magnifier lamp! No yogg shall escape my (optically enhanced) vision!

 

[Groucho]

I would tend to avoid brushing the sensor itself as a normal thing. I know VisibleDust is supposed to be safe, but that part gives me the heebie-jeebies (which are medically similar to the willies that MassJester gets)... at this point, if the Rocket Blower doesn't get it, either I'll try again with the blower or do the full pec-pad/Eclipse wipe.

 

[tinksdad]

Yogg??? Sounds disgusting!! Glad you were able to extricate the sensor from it's gulches.......

Thanks for the warning! I will definitely be on the look out for yogg the next time I change lenses!!

 

[amid chaos]

Yogg??? Sounds like camera snot.

I use a rocket blower...havent had the need to go anywhere beyond that, thank goodness because I'm the heebie, jeebie/willie type.

 

[handicap18]

I have to admit, the whole "sensor cleaning" thing gives me the willies. I'm glad this worked out for you.

It should, though if you read through the tutorial at copperhillimages.com, everything he say's there is right on the mark. Once you've done it a few times its not that big a deal. The first time you'll want a nice stiff drink right afterwards though.

I've only done the liquid sensor cleaning. I believe I've done it 3 times, but I do need to do another swipe fairly soon. I've detected a few dust bunnies. Whether or not they are yogg I do not know, but it will be a liquid cleansing for me.

I use my tripod set up next to my computer desk as its quietest down there. Set up the swab with the proper equipment and supplies, add the 2 drops, then set mirror lockup, turn the camera off, take of the lens, make my 2 swipes, put the lens back on, turn the camera on, return the mirror, done. The time that takes the longest is setting the swab pen with the cleaning pad and even that takes all of a few minutes at most. The process reminds me of making homebrew in that you have to be completely anal about cleaning and sanatizing.

 

[boBQuincy]

This was the first time I had anything other than dust on the sensor. From 5 years of owning four dLSRs I had always seen dust that would blow or brush away but this particle was definitely not completely dry. Yogg, for sure.

I have had no problems using the Visible Dust brush, it has always worked well but when confronted with a sticky particle it will have a problem. Like this time, I plan to use the Rocket & brush to start with, then if things continue to look bad it's time to get more serious with liquid cleaning.

Heebie-jeebies, willies, yogg... It's the language of digital photography! The P&S people are probably rofl by now.

 

[handicap18]

Heebie-jeebies, willies, yogg... It's the language of digital photography! The P&S people are probably rofl by now.

Excellent!!!!

Where's the Tag Fairy NOW!!!!!

 

[jann1033]

Excellent!!!!

Where's the Tag Fairy NOW!!!!!

 

[jann1033]

This was the first time I had anything other than dust on the sensor. From 5 years of owning four dLSRs I had always seen dust that would blow or brush away but this particle was definitely not completely dry. Yogg, for sure.

I have had no problems using the Visible Dust brush, it has always worked well but when confronted with a sticky particle it will have a problem. Like this time, I plan to use the Rocket & brush to start with, then if things continue to look bad it's time to get more serious with liquid cleaning.

Heebie-jeebies, willies, yogg... It's the language of digital photography! The P&S people are probably rofl by now.

you forgot tinksdad's "gulches"

 

[Groucho]

Whether or not they are yogg I do not know, but it will be a liquid cleansing for me.

This could go in Bartlett's Quotations.

I use my tripod set up next to my computer desk as its quietest down there. Set up the swab with the proper equipment and supplies, add the 2 drops, then set mirror lockup, turn the camera off, take of the lens, make my 2 swipes, put the lens back on, turn the camera on, return the mirror, done.

Doesn't the cleaner evaporate in the time it takes to do the next couple steps? That stuff is designed to disappear awfully fast.

I thought most cameras had to stay on during it? On mine, you do the "sensor clean" mirror lock-up, do the wipe, then turn the camera off, at which point the mirror closes. It's not possible to leave the mirror up when the camera is off, which seems like a sensible thing.

I've only done it once, but I think mine would be to prepare the sensor wand with a fresh pec-pad, remove the lens, lock up the mirror, wet the pec-pad, wipe, then camera off. While I'm preparing, I don't care if a little more dust gets on the sensor since it's about to be cleaned... I'm more interesting in getting it closed quickly after cleaning.

 

[DueyDooDah]

i don't know what yogg is but i hope i never see it..

I believe yogg is the same stuff a puppy eats from a cat's litter box. The reason the puppy eats it is because cat yogg has a sweet taste to it (so some say). I assume Bob has cats and a puppy and the puppy felt that it would like to share his treasure with Bob. And to suprise him (an early Valetine's gift?), he placed the yogg inside the camera body. Now, Bob should be very happy. Not only did he get a Valentine gift from a puppy that loves him, but he has the knowledge that his little friend has the smarts and coordination to remove the lens, place the "present", and replace the lens. Now, that's love.

Now, if Bob has no puppy, he should attempt to find out who his new friend is, and maybe try to break relations with him/her.

 

[handicap18]

This could go in Bartlett's Quotations.


Doesn't the cleaner evaporate in the time it takes to do the next couple steps? That stuff is designed to disappear awfully fast.

No its hasn't yet, this is the step I follow from copperhillimages.com. In actuality, the time it takes the take the lens off, put it down and pick up with swap is not enough time for it to evaporate.

I thought most cameras had to stay on during it? On mine, you do the "sensor clean" mirror lock-up, do the wipe, then turn the camera off, at which point the mirror closes. It's not possible to leave the mirror up when the camera is off, which seems like a sensible thing.

I'll have to check my steps, but I believe I turn the camera off, and only pressing the shutter button again closes the mirror. Its been a while since I did a cleaning.

I've only done it once, but I think mine would be to prepare the sensor wand with a fresh pec-pad, remove the lens, lock up the mirror, wet the pec-pad, wipe, then camera off. While I'm preparing, I don't care if a little more dust gets on the sensor since it's about to be cleaned... I'm more interesting in getting it closed quickly after cleaning.

Yeah, thats pretty much it, I believe in copperhillimages tutorial he says to wet the pad, then remove the lens to let the liquid spread around the pad before wiping......

Yeah, here is the quote from the tutorial "After applying one or two drops of Eclipse on the tip of your 'Swipe', lock up the mirror, then remove the lens."

I believe in the instructions he provides with the cleaning kit he says the reason why. I'll have to look it up later.... never mind, found it on his site,,

"I recommend waiting about 5 or 10 seconds after applying the Eclipse to begin swabbing. This will allow a good majority of the liquid to migrate away from the tip, making it less likely to streak. I used to remove the lens and then apply the Eclipse to my 'Swipe, but now, it works out perfectly to reverse these two steps.

So, your sequence will be: 1) lock up the mirror; 2) put the one or two drops of Eclipse on the 'Swipe's tip; 3) remove the lens; 4) swab the sensor; and, finally, 5) remount the lens, unlock the mirror, and turn the camera off.
"

Maybe I do keep the camera on, I forget exactly how my camera works. But you very well are probably correct Groucho.

 

[fitzperry]

I have to admit, the whole "sensor cleaning" thing gives me the willies. I'm glad this worked out for you.

My sentiments exactly. I have one decent sized dust speck on my sensor that occasionally appears in the sky or against solid backgrounds, but I just photoshop it out. I'm just sure I'd do more harm than good trying to clean it.

 

[boBQuincy]

Now, if Bob has no puppy, he should attempt to find out who his new friend is, and maybe try to break relations with him/her.

No puppies, just cats, but I wouldn't put it past this one to deposit a micro hairball on the sensor and then run off laughing about it!

 

[jann1033]

I believe yogg is the same stuff a puppy eats from a cat's litter box. The reason the puppy eats it is because cat yogg has a sweet taste to it (so some say). I assume Bob has cats and a puppy and the puppy felt that it would like to share his treasure with Bob. And to suprise him (an early Valetine's gift?), he placed the yogg inside the camera body. Now, Bob should be very happy. Not only did he get a Valentine gift from a puppy that loves him, but he has the knowledge that his little friend has the smarts and coordination to remove the lens, place the "present", and replace the lens. Now, that's love.

Now, if Bob has no puppy, he should attempt to find out who his new friend is, and maybe try to break relations with him/her.

swhooo! glad you added the "so some say" i was getting worried

 

[tinksdad]

you forgot tinksdad's "gulches"

Opps.....