Sensor Cleaning

[DVC Jen]

Do you do it yourself and if so how - or do you send your camera out to have it done? If you send it out - where?

I am noticing some pretty major flecks of dust showing up. I have been able to get some of them off by blowing on it - but not all.

 

[Gdad]

I tried cleaning mine myself once and it was a disaster. Beware of using compressed air. I did and the little straw that directs the air came loose from the can, shot out, and hit my sensor leaving a nice mark. I tried to swab it off with a q-tip (2nd mistake) and it smeared everywhere. I found a guy locally who does camera repair who cleaned it right for about $75 but it took him 3 times to get it right after I gunked it up so bad. I think in the future I will be goin there if I get anything my rocket blower will not remove.

 

[0bli0]

canned air also often has various chemicals in the aerosol which do not completely evaporate, generally leaving a film on the sensor and mirror.

 

[handicap18]

I do mine myself. We've had this topic come up a few times in the past and as I've mentioned in the past, the first time you swab clean your sensor is nerve racking, however it really is quite simple and takes from set up to clean up about 15 minutes. The actual swabbing takes all of 5 seconds.

I got my supplies and equiment from copperhillimages.com. He has a GREAT turorial and spells everything out very well. I follow his instructions to the "t" and haven't had an issue. I spent about $40 on supplies/equipment that will give me well over 100 cleaning/swabbing sessions.

If you have confidence in your hands it is well worth the time to check out his web site. Once you've done it a few times it really is no big deal. I will say that getting to and past that first cleaning is not easy, but once you do you'll be ok.

In fact I need to do another cleaning soon. Got a lot of dust bunnies building up that are now becoming annoying.

 

[tinksdad]

If you do the sensor cleaning yourself or send it out kind of depends on how feel about the process. If your queasy, then sending out to a camea shop is not a bad idea.

It's not hard, just need to follow the directions of the cleaning program. I have used the Copperhill products and have had good luck. The best approach is to minimize the entry of dust bunnies and "stuff" in the sensor area anyway.

1. Turn off your camera before changing lenses (powered up the charge can attract "stuff" to the sensor.
2. Watch for wind and protect the camera and lens during change if it's windy.
3. Have lens ready when changing so the time it's off the camera is minimized.
4. Blow out the back lens and lens cap so "stuff" won't get in there after the change.

 

[DVC Jen]

Thanks everyone. Chances are I will try it myself. I am either brave or foolish.

As long as I don't have to take anything apart - I don't do I? I should be OK.

I know exactly when the dust got on there. It was when I was changing lenses at the park and it was slightly windy. Long day - tired - not thinking straight and I had the first lens off before DH had the next one out of the bag.

Not the smartest move I have ever made. Live and learn.

 

[boBQuincy]

Thanks everyone. Chances are I will try it myself. I am either brave or foolish.

As long as I don't have to take anything apart - I don't do I?

If you are nervous about cleaning the sensor on your own camera, don't do it. Borrow someone *else's* camera and try it on theirs first!

It's a scary process at first, but gets better, and no, you don;t have to take anything apart (thank goodness).

Copperhill's newest product, "DustAid" looks to be the easiest cleaning method yet. I bought the kit and it looks well thought out, much easier and more foolproof than liquid cleaning.

 

[Groucho]

You don't need to take anything apart, just pop off the lens and put the camera in sensor cleaning mode (which flips the mirror out of the way.)

Definitely don't use compressed air and definitely don't blow on it yourself! Something like a Rocket Blower is probably best for day-to-day cleaning. Liquid cleaning is pretty simple, too, once you get the hang of it. Hey, it's really no more difficult than the load film, rewind film thing we did in the 35mm days...

 

[DVC Jen]

Thanks everyone. I will check into getting one of the products suggested. Then I will read the instructions and if I think I am in over my head - I will just take it in.

 

[amid chaos]

I have had great luck with the rocket blower. No need for the next step, yet, but I know it will come.

 

[jann1033]

a question about the rocket blower..am i right that it sucks it in rather than blows air out? if so could i use it to get a big hair or something off the inside of the view finder? i am guessing i don't want to use a qtip or something and get lint inside the camera...( if i see it there, it must be on the lens or viewfinder right? and it's not in the lens so.....)

husband picked up one of those magnifier lights so as soon as bobq sends me his 30d we can try a cleaning

 

[Groucho]

It does both... but it won't suck much up very effectively. (From my observations, it can suck air in on either end, but will usually get it from the tip unless that's been plugged.)

Try blowing it a few times on your focusing screen... it should also be fairly obvious by eyeballing if your focusing screen has a hair on it.

 

[0bli0]

to quote bart 'it sucks *and* it blows'... there is a one way valve in the bulb end that prevents air from going out that side. so when you squeeze it a high velocity breeze comes out the tip end but when you release it, air goes in both ways with almost no suction.