steven:s Posted July 28, 2010 Share #1 Posted July 28, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Is this something I can do myself or should I have it done by a professional? Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 28, 2010 Posted July 28, 2010 Hi steven:s, Take a look here cleaning of M8 sensor. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
richam Posted July 28, 2010 Share #2 Posted July 28, 2010 There has been considerable discussion on this topic, so I recommend you do a search for "M8 sensor cleaning" to get the full picture. But I'll add my personal take here. You need to be able to do it yourself since changing lenses will eventually lead to dust on the sensor, no matter how careful you are. But it's not all that difficult. I got the VisibleDust kit with the Arctic Butterfly brush, sensor swabs, cleaning liquid, and lighted inspection loupe. What's really essential from this kit is the Arctic Butterfly, and I carry it in my gadget bag when traveling. It's a brush that has a spinning motor and light on it. You spin away from the sensor, then swipe across the sensor once in one direction. Then repeat spin-swipe as necessary till you get all the dust particles. The loupe can help, but quick test shots on a blank wall will let you know if you got all the dust. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 28, 2010 Share #3 Posted July 28, 2010 Have a look in the M9 FAQ. There is no reall difference in this respect between the cameras. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfspencer Posted August 3, 2010 Share #4 Posted August 3, 2010 Is this something I can do myself or should I have it done by a professional?Thanks. It isn't rocket science. You can do it. But I must admit that I was a little nervous the first time that I did it. Just make sure that you use the right equipment and the right cleaners . . . and get a magnifying loupe to see what you are cleaning. I use Visible Dust products. Others use other products. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BigSplash Posted August 9, 2010 Share #5 Posted August 9, 2010 I was in Solms two weeks ago and took the opportunity to have my M8 checked out. I told the technician that I was alwys careful about taking the lens off to avoid dust and that is why my sensor is clean. He told me that he had checked the sensor and it had a lot of dust but he had cleaned it off! Apparently you will not normall see dust issues unless you look at a blank sky, and it is very aperture dependant. I asked about blowers and the butterfly gadget as I know that it is highly regarded here on the forum They told me that they think these items tend to blow the dust to areas nearby the sensor and that the dust subsequently quickly returns to the sensor. They use a mini vacuum system, (not practical for most of us) and they supplement this with some sticky swabs (marketed by Pentax) that allow the dust to stick to the swab and then this in turn is cleaned off by a pad which is a little more sticky than the swab. I think in future I shall take the thing to Mayfair who are apparently setting up to support sensor cleaning on site. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
delaneypl Posted August 9, 2010 Share #6 Posted August 9, 2010 It may not be rocket science, but mistakes happen.... my mistake is being repaired at the moment in Solms and costing me Eurs 3000.... ouch... apparently when i cracked the sensor i damaged the printer or something behind the sensor.... so be very careful... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted August 9, 2010 Share #7 Posted August 9, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) ... I think in future I shall take the thing to Mayfair who are apparently setting up to support sensor cleaning on site. Seems like a long trip from "South of France" for something that most photographers manage do without too much of a problem (delaneypl excepted of course ) ... Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
delaneypl Posted August 9, 2010 Share #8 Posted August 9, 2010 lol... agree... Amen for insurance....I also have being cleaning sensors for a long time too.. but as I said mistakes can happen... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted August 10, 2010 Share #9 Posted August 10, 2010 It may not be rocket science, but mistakes happen.... my mistake is being repaired at the moment in Solms and costing me Eurs 3000.... ouch... apparently when i cracked the sensor i damaged the printer or something behind the sensor.... so be very careful...Was that a stamping system? And if it was an M8 would it not be more cost-effective to buy another camera? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted August 10, 2010 Share #10 Posted August 10, 2010 I have the Arctic Butterfly which did a great job initially. But when I got minute flecks of lubricant (from the shutter mechanism, I believe) on the sensor cover glass, AB failed miserably. I managed to transform a tiny blob into a long wide smear which only a wet clean removed. I think the problem of oil specks recurring is slight however. I am troubled by a member's report of cracking the sensor glass. That must have been an unfortunate accident because very little pressure is required to wet clean a sensor cover. The bigger danger is applying to much cleaning fluid which can seep into cavities and do damage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted August 10, 2010 Share #11 Posted August 10, 2010 That was me - and it was scratched - not cracked by the removal of adhesive left by the Green Clean stamping system. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
normanchoi Posted August 11, 2010 Share #12 Posted August 11, 2010 Hi Jaapv So in your opinion what is the safest way to clean the sensor? I have got something annoying spots on my photos that I want to get rid off but worry about scratching/ cracking the sensor. Thanks ahead for your comment. Norman Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted August 11, 2010 Share #13 Posted August 11, 2010 Right now I prefer the Green Clean system. Vacuum cleaner-wet swab-dry swab. But the normal 3-drop swab with Visible Dust products works fine as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym911 Posted August 11, 2010 Share #14 Posted August 11, 2010 I have not ever cleaned a sensor on any digital camera (nothing to be proud of BTW) and if I see a dust speck I just get rid of it in PP....My M8.2 after around 2 years is still clean. No risk, no cost and less time needed and well, I just never think about it. Each to their own though andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted August 11, 2010 Share #15 Posted August 11, 2010 Which works even better in CS5 That content-aware healing tool is a marvel! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lagrassa Posted August 13, 2010 Share #16 Posted August 13, 2010 I started noticing some spots and small lines on my photos and have read many of the threads here and on other forums as well, all with varied opinions and suggestions. I decided that I did not want to touch the sensor with anything, wet or dry. So, I used the rocket blower while holding the camera body upside down. It took a few tries, but now when I shoot a blue sky at f/16, I see a very noticeable improvement, even when magnified up to the max. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted August 13, 2010 Share #17 Posted August 13, 2010 Blowing dust off the sensor is a start. But you cannot count on it all falling out of the camera body. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Likaleica Posted August 15, 2010 Share #18 Posted August 15, 2010 I've been amazed at the Visible Dust system. Just bought an M8 that was "cleaned" but when I checked it the sensor was very dirty. Two swipes with the butterfly and it was spotless. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramosa Posted September 1, 2010 Share #19 Posted September 1, 2010 you can definitely do it yourself. from visible dust, i use the artic butterly, as well as the zeeion blower and a magnifier. those work for almost everything. if it's worse, you also get their sensor clean, smear away, and applicators. it's great stuff, but not cheap. i swear by it, as it destresses the entire process of keeping your filter clean. (before getting these visible dust products, keeping my filter clean was darn stressful!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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