Dirty Sensor - Need Advise

[Guest ccmsosse]

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I used the Eclipse sensor swabs and a rocket blower.

4 swabs later and my sensor is clean - thank you all for the advise.

It was actually easier than expected.

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[250swb]

Well done for getting stuck in Michael.

 

FWIW a lot of people who say they don't have dust from new haven't stopped their lens down yet, its the DOF that shows it up. After the first few cleans the oil and dust do settle down, and then a 'Visible Dust' Artic Butterfly brush, or one of the sticky pad systems, is a great interim quick clean method that you can do before going out shooting. But there is still no full solution that replaces the cloning tool or Spot Healing Brush in Photoshop.

 

Steve

[tdtaylor]

I used the Eclipse sensor swabs and a rocket blower.

4 swabs later and my sensor is clean - thank you all for the advise.

It was actually easier than expected.

 

Note that with every Digital camera I have had (D300, D3, D700, M9), after the first cleaning it was much better. The M9 has been better than the D3 or D700- both had oil on the sensor, which took much patience and quite a few swabs to clean.

 

With the M9 an Artic Butterfly or simple blower has clean it to a spotless condition.

[snajczuk]

I have a professional camera company scheduled to clean the 7 spots off of my M9 sensor. Is there a difference in the way a SLR sensor is cleaned v/s one of a rangefinder? The camera company has never cleaned a Leica sensor, only SLR’s.

[Double Negative]

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

 

Apologies, Michael - my post may have come across a little harsh.

 

Dust is just the nature of the beast. Unlike film which is constantly refreshed and wiped by the cartridge felt, the sensor stays in one place... It's just a matter of time unless you change your lenses in a clean room - and even then, it could be coming from within the camera (e.g. lubricant). Even with great care, something will eventually get in there.

 

Sounds like you got it sorted out nicely though. It's only daunting the first couple of times - after that it's like routine maintenance.

[diogenis]

I have a professional camera company scheduled to clean the 7 spots off of my M9 sensor. Is there a difference in the way a SLR sensor is cleaned v/s one of a rangefinder? The camera company has never cleaned a Leica sensor, only SLR’s.

 

Basically no, but would you trust them?

Anyway, you just can't clean the sensor to 0 particles, it will catch particles again in a a matter of minutes. Also you need to run the cleaning procedure periodically. Why don't you use a dust aid platinum? Very easy to use it very fast, with great results, extremely safe and you can do it on the spot: DUST-AID : Sensor Cleaning Products for DSLR Cameras

[250swb]

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I have a professional camera company scheduled to clean the 7 spots off of my M9 sensor. Is there a difference in the way a SLR sensor is cleaned v/s one of a rangefinder? The camera company has never cleaned a Leica sensor, only SLR’s.

 

Well make sure they use the exact proceedure as described in the Manual, and don't just set the camera to 'B' and hope to keep the shutter open. There do seem to be reports that the shutter can close while cleaning is in progress by doing it that way, and the sensor will be charged so will attract even more dust. I'm sure they know what they are doing though....

 

Steve

[cliffp]

I have just ordered a cleaning kit from Bristol Cameras called the 'Just Pro' for type 3 (full format) because it seemed a cost effective way of getting the Eclipse E2 fluid and the set of 12 swabs. The kit also has a Kinetronics Speckgrabber, a Kinetronic StaticWist brush. Does anybody have any experience of either of these? I guess the second item is trying to do what an Arctic Butterfly does which since I have one of these, do not need. The Speckgrabber could be of interest to me if it is like the Dust Aid platinum. Has anyone used either of these products?

[diogenis]

It does look like it has the same logic, but it lacks surface. Dust aid can be faster and easier to use I believe

[snajczuk]

Basically no, but would you trust them?

Anyway, you just can't clean the sensor to 0 particles, it will catch particles again in a a matter of minutes. Also you need to run the cleaning procedure periodically. Why don't you use a dust aid platinum? Very easy to use it very fast, with great results, extremely safe and you can do it on the spot: DUST-AID : Sensor Cleaning Products for DSLR Cameras

 

 

This is my first Rangefinder and owned for about 2 1/2 weeks. The Nikon D3 I own has only required cleaning once and was cleaned by the professional camera company mentioned in my original post.

 

I noticed the dust almost immediately on my M9. Since I am not familiar with the maintenance involved, I assumed the sensor would be cleaned and good to go for awhile. I did not realized this was an on going issue that required routine maintenance. I will read through the posts to educate myself. Definately not something I was looking forward to. By the way....How does the dust get in there if the lens is never removed? Perhaps a stupid question.

 

I would trust a professional camera company that does primarily sensor cleaning more than I would trust myself. But your point is welll taken and I will educate myself through the posts and do what is needed.

 

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question.

 

Best,

 

Debbie

[diogenis]

Not at all. Happy to help.

Dust is everywhere. The more times you clean your camera the less dust it will gather, but eventually it will.

Follow closely the routine sensor cleaning in the manual and use a dust aid platinum. With it its very easy.

Oh and if you want to check on dust, get a pic of a white surface, like sheets, or blue sky with the smallest aperture. then dust particles will all reveal

[UliWer]

Debbie, your experience of the M9 sensor attracting dust and even oil has been made by everyone with a new camera. As the camera is new, it needs to be "worked in" which means that you will have some abrasions in the beginning and traces of this will be seen on your sensor.

 

This will become less and less the longer you use the cam. Though there is no way to completely avoid any dust or grease on the sensor. It is a nuisances as it was on film negatives or slides.

[snajczuk]

Debbie, your experience of the M9 sensor attracting dust and even oil has been made by everyone with a new camera. As the camera is new, it needs to be "worked in" which means that you will have some abrasions in the beginning and traces of this will be seen on your sensor.

 

This will become less and less the longer you use the cam. Though there is no way to completely avoid any dust or grease on the sensor. It is a nuisances as it was on film negatives or slides.

 

Thank you for your response.

 

I have been able to get away with one cleaning in two years on the D3. Since this has been my only sensor cleaning experience, I was under the assumption that good camera care prevents dust. I now know different. I prefer the art behind photography rather than the mechanics. LOL! I appreciate you letting me know what to expect in the future.