Dust-Aid??

[jaapv]

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I tried this stamping system. Never again. It works by cleaning the silicone stamp on a piece of sticky plastic and then stamping the sensor to pick up dust. In practice it tranferred rests of the cleaning adhesive to my sensor. I just spent 45 minutes using Eclipse2 (which isn't completely residue-free), medical grade alcohol and a variety of swabs and microbrushes, using an operation microscope, to get the darn stuff off the sensor again!

[viramati]

Interesting as I thought this was the system leica themselves use?

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[k-hawinkler]

Interesting as I thought this was the system leica themselves use?

 

I don't think so. Leica's orange blob looks like the SensorVu or Pentax Sensor Cleaning orange sticky device. I didn't find Dust-Aid helpful.

 

K-H.

[farnz]

I tried this stamping system. Never again. It works by cleaning the silicone stamp on a piece of sticky plastic and then stamping the sensor to pick up dust. In practice it tranferred rests of the cleaning adhesive to my sensor. I just spent 45 minutes using Eclipse2 (which isn't completely residue-free), medical grade alcohol and a variety of swabs and microbrushes, using an operation microscope, to get the darn stuff off the sensor again!

I sounds like it does what it's name suggests - it aids dust. I think I'd prefer a product called "Sensor-Aid".

 

Thanks for letting us know about the problems with this product, Jaap. I watched their video and found myself spluttering "But you're applying adhesive directly to the sensor!", "You're going to press particles onto the sensor and risk scratching it!" and "Oh no, that's just not going to work."

 

I think I'll pass on this one.

 

Pete.

[Ed_K]

There were similar discussion at another forum and might involve an interesting finding .... warm temperature. In 2 of the cases mentioned there, the kit was left in a pretty warm environment and residue of adhesive got left on the sensor surface instead. Even though the company replaced the user brand new stock, it was troublesome to remove those residue afterwards.

[250swb]

Just for the record the Dust Aid system does not 'apply adhesive directly to the sensor', or at least it shouldn't. Adhesive is used to remove dust from the silicone pad that picks up dust from the sensor, or it should.

 

I'm waivering about the Dust Aid thing. At first it seemed to work great compared to swabs and/or Arctic Butterfly. But now the Arctic Butterfly seems to work better. Maybe I was using it on the wrong kind of dust.

 

Steve

[hoppyman]

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I sounds like it does what it's name suggests - it aids dust. I think I'd prefer a product called "Sensor-Aid".

 

Thanks for letting us know about the problems with this product, Jaap. I watched their video and found myself spluttering "But you're applying adhesive directly to the sensor!", "You're going to press particles onto the sensor and risk scratching it!" and "Oh no, that's just not going to work."

 

I think I'll pass on this one.

 

Pete.

Pete the other side of that coin is that when you use a swab instead of that stamp you are dragging any particles not removed in advance across the sensor cover glass coating. If the particle is hard material (e.g. a speck of sand)......

Method one could give you a dot. Method two a long, heartbreaking line

A different tool but same principle has been at work on your sensor at Solms in the form of the orange blob thingie and adhesive strip too!

Just an alternative point of view on the subject

Edited April 9, 2010 by hoppyman

[jaapv]

Just for the record the Dust Aid system does not 'apply adhesive directly to the sensor', or at least it shouldn't. Adhesive is used to remove dust from the silicone pad that picks up dust from the sensor, or it should.

 

I'm waivering about the Dust Aid thing. At first it seemed to work great compared to swabs and/or Arctic Butterfly. But now the Arctic Butterfly seems to work better. Maybe I was using it on the wrong kind of dust.

 

Steve

You are right, it turned out that it transferred the adhesive to the sensor. I was fortunate that I was equipped to get it off again Actually it was quite scary as the pad actually stuck to the sensor, applying traction when pulled off. With the record of the M9 and cracked sensors that is not a nice experience.

[farnz]

Pete the other side of that coin is that when you use a swab instead of that stamp you are dragging any particles not removed in advance across the sensor cover glass coating. If the particle is hard material (e.g. a speck of sand)......

Method one could give you a dot. Method two a long, heartbreaking line

A different tool but same principle has been at work on your sensor at Solms in the form of the orange blob thingie and adhesive strip too!

Just an alternative point of view on the subject

A fair point, Geoff. I'll stick to putting the M8 without a lens in the washer/tumble dryer; that seems to get most of the dust off after a couple of goes but you have to make sure it's set for a good hot wash.

 

Pete.

[tobey bilek]

Go to the Copperhill site and watch the video.

 

It tells you to start the sweep with the eclipse moistened swab at an angle which you change to vertical as the sweep is made. Therefore a new portion is used as the swab is moved across.

 

I am three years into digital and bought their kit last month. I cleaned 3 cameras that really did not need it because I could not see dust with a lighted loupe. I feared some oil or other residue had formed like it does on all surfaces exposed to air.

 

I cleaned 3 cameras, then tried them all. All are perfect,factory fresh, but honestly I did not see any change from before I did the wet clean.

 

I prefer the charged brush he sells to wet cleaning if I can use it effectively. They recommend a wet clean before first use of a brush to get any contamination off the sensor like shutter lub.

 

My sequence will be Rocket blower, powered air carefully, brush, wet clean in that order stopping when clean and not necessarily going thru each step.

 

Eclipse 2 is no longer available. He recommends Eclipse for all cameras.

 

I am convinced the whole secret is changing lenses in such a way to keep out crud and to do a blow out of the mirror chamber after 6 lens changes to keep any debris from migrating to the sensor. I blow out, raise the mirror and blow off the outside of the shutter. I do not open it unless I know there is a problem on the sensor. It is all preventative, not clean up later.

[underground]

I tried this stamping system. Never again. It works by cleaning the silicone stamp on a piece of sticky plastic and then stamping the sensor to pick up dust. In practice it tranferred rests of the cleaning adhesive to my sensor. I just spent 45 minutes using Eclipse2 (which isn't completely residue-free), medical grade alcohol and a variety of swabs and microbrushes, using an operation microscope, to get the darn stuff off the sensor again!

 

What a Bitch!!

 

Thanx for letting us know.

[rosuna]

With the record of the M9 and cracked sensors that is not a nice experience.

 

Does the M9 have a record of problems?