Speck of dust on my M9 sensor

[jaapv]

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I use my cameras in extremely dusty conditions from time to time, yet giving them a puff daily (in the bathroom) keeps them clean enough. The Artic Butterfly was a huge disappointment it that respect. I might try DA Platinum next time around.

[Guest WPalank]

I want to reiterate, when it comes to the white bits of particulate matter I found all over my sensor, the rocket blower doesn't work at all. (There is the possibility that these particles are indigenous to Northern California/my home). Under a surgical operating microscope, I was able to put the tip right up to the particles and blow. They didn't budge, flinch, etc., even when I turned the camera upside down. The only thing that seemed to move were hair and fiber particles. Another forum member had the chance to use a SOM and his findings in regards to the blower were just like mine.

 

That being said, I haven't been in a sandy dusty environment (Sahara Desert for example) for quite some time. Those sort of particles might be something else altogether.

[Jeff S]

William, did you first determine if those "white bits" were visible in the print? If not, while your study may have been academically accurate, it wouldn't seem to have practical merit related to using a blower.

 

All I know is that whenever I've seen spots in my prints (or rather first on my screen), the blower gets rid of the problem for the next shoot...most of the time.

 

Jeff

[Guest WPalank]

Jeff,

Your thoughts are very valid. My thinking, as I stated in my thread on the SOM, is that if I can see them and reach them, why can't I remove them?

 

I would much rather spend some time and get the sensor brand spankin' clean, verify that under high magnification and just know that I won't have spots on my images. And yes I am very adept at using the tools LR and PS have to offer in doing just that.

 

I'm still waiting for some dust removal aids to arrive via the post and then I will have a Part II to my post as to which, subjectively, tool does the better job in removing particles no matter what their size is. I'll leave it to other investigators to figure out what size really matters and at what f-stop. I find it a pain in the ass to have to remove my camera from the operating field, reinsert lens, go outside and shoot a picture of a blue sky while the lens is stopped down, remove base plate, impost images onto my computer, import into LR, examine image and then having to think of it as a mirror image and check for spots. I'd just rather all the spots be gone. I hope that makes sense.

 

My basic feeling or premiss in Part Two is that the sticky aid that works the best in removing these particles will leave behind the most residue and vice versa. We'll just have to see.

[stunsworth]

I find it a pain in the ass to have to remove my camera from the operating field, reinsert lens, go outside and shoot a picture of a blue sky while the lens is stopped down, remove base plate, impost images onto my computer, import into LR, examine image and then having to think of it as a mirror image and check for spots.

 

Then buy an LED illuminated loupe and you'll be able to see the dust during the cleaning procedure.

[Guest WPalank]

Then buy an LED illuminated loupe and you'll be able to see the dust during the cleaning procedure.

 

Steve,

The SOM does 10x the job (fiber optic light source). You have to see it to believe it.

 

The point Jeff is trying to make, in a nut shell, which particles matter (probably size)? Which ones truly make a difference on your output?

 

What I found, with the sensor cleaning materials I had on this day:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/114998-m9-ultimate-sensor-cleaning-device.html

(In the first image, I actually turned down the intensity of the light source before taking the picture.)

 

Knowing exactly where these particles were, and confirming under the microscope I could touch them (while viewing), I couldn't remove them. I'm hoping that the sticky products will do a better job.

[250swb]

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The Rocket Blower is a great tool for getting all the dust in the camera onto the sensor at the same time, then it can be reliably removed by any other method. The Rocket Blower ensures your sensor gets cleaned by hook or by crook, but it only facilitates the requirement and does not appear to do any cleaning in its action. So the Rocket Blower is actually a very good idea and I use one every time before I clean the sensor.

 

Steve

[diogenis]

My basic feeling or premiss in Part Two is that the sticky aid that works the best in removing these particles will leave behind the most residue and vice versa. We'll just have to see.

 

I have a feeling that the dust aid, is just a pure silicon substance and that there is no special glue on it and is of the most soft nature: much like how sticky is a silicon glue when it dries out. (of course I do not dare touching it), this way it wont leave any residues, but we will see...

[stunsworth]

The Rocket Blower is a great tool for getting all the dust in the camera onto the sensor at the same time...

 

That hasn't been my experience at all, quite the opposite in fact. Possibly down to how dusty, or dust free, your environment is.

 

Occasionally it fails to remove some dust at which point I use an Arctic Butterfly, if that still doesn't work I wet clean. I still have the original set of liquid and swabs I bought at the same time as my M8 in 2006.

[jaapv]

+1 Sometimes simple solutions work best....