Dirty Sensor - Need Advise

[Guest ccmsosse]

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I got my M9 12/23 and someone on the forum pointed out that my sensor needed cleaning. I initially though "no way - not possible" but indeed - blue sky photos in Florida show many spots as do photos taken in Brighton. No way did I do that. I got a dirty M9. So what to do. How do I clean the sensor or should I send it to Leica ?Please advise - I am quite unhappy if not pissed.Greetings

[thrice]

You're pissed that your sensor got dirty? Welcome to digital cameras. It is slightly more prevalent with rangefinders but it's unavoidable on any digital camera.

 

I recommend getting a wet cleaning system as well as a sticky cleaning system like the pentax O-ICK1 (what leica uses on the assembly line). I also have a sensor brush which works pretty well.

 

I will usually use a blower with the opening in the camera facing down, and if that doesn't help I'll do a wet clean followed by the brush and/or the sticky cleaner. But some specs will always remain, I currently have 3-4 specs I can see at f/22.

[Jeff S]

Suggest you do a search on the topic here on the forums. This is a frequent subject, with lots of comments and suggestions on sensor cleaning.

 

And, yes, it's a fact of life for digital cameras, new and used. With new cameras, however, there's a chance the spots involve grease from the shutter. If so, a bit more difficult, but still not a big deal.

 

My 2 cents...use a blower first (Giotto, etc.), then only if necessary, wet clean with Eclipse swabs.

 

Jeff

[Guest ccmsosse]

Thanks for the advise. I never noticed this with the E500, E520, EP1, nor GF1. But in truth I may not have been looking. In sensor clean mode, I don't see any dust. If it's grease, can I do damage by cleaning the sensor? Will there be a chance for residue? I will also look at other existing threads, but input is always welcome. At what point would you send the camera in?

[too old to care]

I am also a 4/3 sensor user (Panasonic L1 and Olympus 520) and have an M9 to on order to complement my M6. My Leica salesman, who is factory trained, told me that dust if more noticeable on Leicas because the IR filter is very close to the sensor. He said that this was necessary because of the narrow body of the Leica; where the DSLRs are much thicker thus have more room to move the filter further away from the sensor.

 

In his explanation, the shadows of the dust particles are not as noticeable in DSLRs, but dust is probably still there. I do not know if this is true or not, but I am like you, I have never had a dust problem with a 4/3rds system.

 

I then asked him about cleaning the M9 sensor, or should I be concerned. He assured me that it is easy and that he would gladly show me how to do it when my M9 comes in. I believe that he is telling me the truth because he has been with this reputable dealer many years. He also did not push me to other full size sensor cameras when I questioned him, even though the cost was about the same.

[marknorton]

Dirty sensors are a fact of life and you can help yourself by being careful where you put lens and body caps when not in use and vacuuming out the inside of your camera bag.

 

You can end up buying more cleaning stuff than you need and companies like Visible Dust have built their businesses playing to people's neuroses by selling products they don't need. I've never needed to go beyond a blower bulb - NOT an aerosol can - and cleaning swabs with Eclipse fluid.

 

1. Use the blower to clear as much as possible, first with the shutter closed, then open

 

2. If you need to wet clean, the swab should be damp across its width, not wet

 

3. Wipe across the sensor slowly, at least 5 seconds in each direction, but work quickly to get it done before the cleaning fluid evaporates.

 

4. Only press hard enough to slightly bend the sensor swab.

 

My usual recommendation is to practice on an old CD with something like paprika sprinkled on it so that you can see the cleaning action.

[Jeff S]

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Thanks for the advise. I never noticed this with the E500, E520, EP1, nor GF1. But in truth I may not have been looking. In sensor clean mode, I don't see any dust. If it's grease, can I do damage by cleaning the sensor? Will there be a chance for residue? I will also look at other existing threads, but input is always welcome. At what point would you send the camera in?

 

Try the easy way first. Dust may not be visible without a loupe. Shoot the sky or a white wall at smallest aperture, focused on infinity. Load file and check computer screen for spots. Use a blower, and re-check.

 

Jeff

[diogenis]

Use a powerful torch and examine the sensor box and its surroundings for dust.

Use a soft brush to remove dust from it

Open the shutter using the specific procedure in the main menu AFTER you have fully charged the camera.

Inspect there with the torch

For dry cleaning Dust Aid platinum is super

For wet, I love dust cloth MF

[chris_tribble]

Strongly recommend:

VisibleDust - Product Page

 

Seriously - the M8/9 is much less of a problem than the 5D. Ok - it doesn't have the new auto clean as on later series DSLRs - but it's really not a major issue.

[Jeff S]

Strongly recommend:

VisibleDust - Product Page

.

 

These may be fine products, as you and others attest. When I sought them out at two different Leica dealers in my area, both carried and recommended Eclipse instead (following use of rocket blower first). Each cited issues with other products, possibly due to user error.

 

This is not my opinion...just what I was told by two independent dealers. Maybe this is like a Canon vs Nikon thing. Or not.

 

Jeff

[Bo_Lorentzen]

Michael,

 

One more vote for "dust Aid" its a small easy travel package, works as advertised, basically its sorts of low-tac tape on a stick, first blow the sensor carefully clean, then tap the dust-aid stick across the sensor stamping each area, moving half and repeating until you have covered it all.

 

To see for sure dust. close your lens to f.22 and take a shot of the sky. stopped down the dust is very easy to see. it also give you idea what area you are particularly interested in. Beware the first time you do this, you might have a dirty sensor, looks like a lot of stuff sometimes. The good news is that when you photograph wide open dust is virtually invisible because the light arrives from more directions and blur the dust completely away.

 

diogenis, in "some" parts of the world, using a torch on the camera, would reveal nothing but some melted plastic parts.

 

.

[diogenis]

Note though, that it seems Leica recommends the dust aid platinum solution for dry cleaning.

As for wet cleaning it recommends using Eclipse. This is what is rumored on this site, and I guess it is true.

In every other case except oily spots in the sensor glass, the dust aid platinum is superior than anything, because there is no need to "drag": its sticky. Therefore it is also quite safe.

[diogenis]

diogenis, in "some" parts of the world, using a torch on the camera, would reveal nothing but some melted plastic parts.

 

.

 

lol :p I meant flash light xcuse my French, and not just any flash light: one using cree led and that lithium battery the CR123

[Double Negative]

You're pissed that there's dust on your sensor? Seriously?

[microview]

One thing I have found indispensable is a ProArte Prolene 3/16inch flat brush. It's UK made but available in the US at around $3 – found them at http://www.jerrysartarama.com/discount-art-supplies/ for example. It is for watercolourists but the synthetic fibres will lift dust particles from your lens or sensor (as opposed to pushing them around). However, keep in a clean atmosphere: I had one in a pot in my kitchen for some time and it put a smear across the lens!

For wet cleaners I recommend the Green Clean swabs (wet/dry in sealed packs). The full kit contains an aerosol pump but that's pretty useless, so just the replacement swabs are all you need. Easy to use if you hold a loupe to your left eye and apply swab with right hand.

 

The solution is harmless to Leica lenses too should one become fingerprinted .

[Alnitak]

I have to say that my M9 had the most issues with spots of any camera I have ever owned. My original 5D was bad, but the M9 was worse. Most of it appeared to be oil/grease spots from the shutter assembly. After about 30 days and several wet cleanings, things settled down, so it appears that the camera just needed to work out some loose bits and oil drops.

 

I use Eclipse and PEC pads for wet cleaning, and it works extremely well. For dry cleaning, I got the Visible dust product, and that has also worked very well for me. Personally I have found that the rocket blowers can put just as much dust on the sensor as they take off, so I don't use them any more.

 

Jeff

[snajczuk]

Just noticed the dust or oil in my photos glaring at me today. Have owned the M9 for 1 week and new to the Rangefinder. The D3 took at least 1 year before it required cleaning. Since I am not familiar with the camera just yet, will need to rely on my fellow Leica owners for advice. So far this post has been helpful. Yes, dust on the sensor is reality, but one would hope that it would not happen 1 week from arrival date. Oh well......

[diogenis]

In the assembly line video they showed us, there is a procedure for rigorous sensor cleaning.

So one might assume that it's particles that drop from transport till the cameras reach the owners. In any case use the products we suggested here, it's a very easy task

[Guest ccmsosse]

You're pissed that there's dust on your sensor? Seriously?

 

Forgive my "emotion" - I had read about dust earlier and had assumed that I had escaped that issue (afterall my M9 was new and I treated it like Gold). I seriously did not expect dust or similar that soon into using the M9. So maybe I am pissed at myself for being a fool.

Don't get me wrong - I love the M9 and have a lot of "growing-up" to do. The thought of cleaning the sensor on such an expensive tool gives me the chills - so I appreciate everyone's advise - I am off to Pictureline to by the cleaning utensils - I already have the Rocket-Blower.

Greetings

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[stunsworth]

You can get dust on a camera on day 1 or day 100. If there's dust in the air when you change lenses there's a possibility of dust getting onto the sensor.