doug_m Posted November 26, 2009 Share #1 Posted November 26, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Steve Huff has a Youtube video recommending M8/M9 sensor cleaning by holding the shutter open via the bulb setting. Steve's site has lots of great stuff on it but I have been told to NOT clean the sensor this way as it could be damaged due to the fact that the sensor is "hot" when actuated in the bulb exposure. I have also heard that a hot sensor will attract dust. Again, Steve Huff has lots of great info on his easy to read site and I thank him for this. However, this sensor cleaning info has me concerned. What do the experts think? And Steve, what are your thoughts about this? Also, has anyone else noticed that when the M9 is activated in sensor cleaning mode it turns into a 32 sec timed actuation if the battery charge is under 60 % -or any similar quirk? This may be a problem in need of a firmware update Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 26, 2009 Posted November 26, 2009 Hi doug_m, Take a look here Sensor cleaning concern. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
doug_m Posted November 26, 2009 Author Share #2 Posted November 26, 2009 PS. Steve Huff's cleaning recommendation is via a rocket blower "NOT" a wet cleaning. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ario Arioldi Posted November 26, 2009 Share #3 Posted November 26, 2009 Really I do not see the merit of using the "bulb" setting instead of the dedicated function. Blowing the sensor will only shift the non stiky dust from the sensor to some other place inside the camera; it is fine as a temporary solution and not with every type of dirt. Cheers, Ario Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James R Posted November 26, 2009 Share #4 Posted November 26, 2009 It seems to be a quick and easy method of blowing dust off the sensor. I don't see how it can damage your sensor. If you need to do a wet cleaning, then use the menu function to open the shutter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted November 26, 2009 Share #5 Posted November 26, 2009 Doug, Wow, the 32sec timed opening on sensor clean seems scary, guess I have not used that much time yet... it seems like using the sensor-clean setting is probably better than B. but B is very easy to access and as long as you keep your finger firmly on the shutter it ought to work well, also with the blower Steve recommend, it should probably never get close enough to the sensor that it would actually be hit by the shutter if you did close the curtain. Lately I have been using blower and also "dust-aid". this came about because of two things. First in the video from Leica assembly, I noticed the tec using a sticky-tape type cleaning quite energetic on the new cameras, the sound curled my toes.... then a few weeks ago I had a chance to spend time with Dan Westergren (Nat Geo Traveler senior photo editor), and asked his take on this, he was very firm that something he called sensor aid was recommended by the camera tecs at Nat Geo. I googled "sensor aid", could not find it, then realized it was probably "dust aid". Ordered a box of the new version and after a deep breath tried it on the sensor... it works like a charm, in a matter of seconds the sensor is perfectly clean. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
michali Posted November 26, 2009 Share #6 Posted November 26, 2009 Why would one clean the sensor using the B function instead of via the menu option? I shudder to think what would happen to the shutter curtain if your finger slipped off the button while you're busy cleaning! BYTW when I opened M9 out of the box it had some fairly serious oil stains on the sensor. I had to do several wet cleans on day 1 to get it right. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James R Posted November 26, 2009 Share #7 Posted November 26, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Why would one clean the sensor using the B function instead of via the menu option?I shudder to think what would happen to the shutter curtain if your finger slipped off the button while you're busy cleaning! BYTW when I opened M9 out of the box it had some fairly serious oil stains on the sensor. I had to do several wet cleans on day 1 to get it right. The bulb method is only suggested when using a rocket blower, not for wet cleaning or using anything that would enter into chamber. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted November 26, 2009 Share #8 Posted November 26, 2009 I would assume (can somebody say for sure?) that the sensor is not On (charged) when using the menu function for cleaning. As its static electricity that can make dust stick to the sensor it would seem sensible not to encourage it into the body while cleaning, same as turning the camera off when changing a lens. Just a thought. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 26, 2009 Share #9 Posted November 26, 2009 Iirc Leica specifically advises against using B when cleaning the sensor in the manual. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sclamb Posted November 26, 2009 Share #10 Posted November 26, 2009 You definitely don't want to use Bulb for any sensor operation - dust blowing or wet cleaning. Certainly in Bulb the sensor is operative and will attract dust. Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sclamb Posted November 26, 2009 Share #11 Posted November 26, 2009 Why would one clean the sensor using the B function instead of via the menu option?I shudder to think what would happen to the shutter curtain if your finger slipped off the button while you're busy cleaning! BYTW when I opened M9 out of the box it had some fairly serious oil stains on the sensor. I had to do several wet cleans on day 1 to get it right. Welcome to the club Mike Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffwros Posted November 28, 2009 Share #12 Posted November 28, 2009 BYTW when I opened M9 out of the box it had some fairly serious oil stains on the sensor. I had to do several wet cleans on day 1 to get it right. +1 I had a small amount on mine, very faint, but there as a small "squiggly" line. Three passes at wet cleaning took care of it. Wonderful camera, indeed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted November 28, 2009 Share #13 Posted November 28, 2009 Quote from the 7/2007 LFI article regarding sensor cleaning ("Tricky Little Specks")... "Various cases at Leica Customer Service show that there are obviously some very clever camera buffs who made the fatal choice of cleaning their delicate bits with the shutter speed dial set to bulb. Not a good idea." Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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