Jump to content

marioiturri

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi everyone,

 

I was cleaning my camera's sensor when I found a thing stuck on the sensor that looked like a scratch. I have tried to remove it but I could not.

 

This morning I took three sample pictures of the sky: f/16, f/11, and f/8.

 

This thing showed up only in the f/16 pic.

 

Would a scratch show up at any aperture setting?!

 

Also, Does anyone have experience with sensor replacement? How much would it cost (USA) ?

 

Thanks !

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Well to be fair it could perhaps be a bird shaped piece of gunk, but it is very sharp for dust or dirt on the sensor, that has a softer edge.

 

But Mario I'm intrigued as to what you found stuck on your sensor in the first place that you couldn't remove. Its not a 'scratch' in the corner of the sensor is it? That could be a cracked sensor. And what did you use (blower brush, wet clean, etc,) to try and remove what you think is a scratch?

 

Steve

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hahaha.. It is a bird.. the reason I did not find it in the other pics (f/11 & f/8) is because it has changed position.

 

Well, this bird is exactly in the same position as the scratch I have seen on the sensor. It looks like a thin transparent line. It looks like a scratch you would have in your sunglasses.

 

I have used the blower several times, dust-aid system & jumped into the Visible Dust Plus with the two swabs I had left. Now I got nothing.

 

Have you guys ever used Isopropyl 99% to clean your cameras?

 

Thanks !

Link to post
Share on other sites

My guess would be oily gunge that has streaked, and is now looking like a scratch, oily gunge being common with new cameras. It is going to be very difficult to actually scratch the sensor (glass) unless you have done something awful to it. Visible Dust wet clean is OK, but I have found Eclipse to be better. So buy some new swabs and try a different wet cleaning liquid. I recommend the smaller APSC sized swabs rather than full frame swabs. I'm sure it will clean off whatever it is.

 

Steve

Link to post
Share on other sites

Pure IPA is the stuff to use although distilled water is also very effective for certain types of gunk. Use both if you really want to get a clean result.

 

I use IPA and distilled water (sequentially) with technical grade Kleenex and cotton swabs. Maybe 2x per year max.

 

To remove loose dust the "Arctic Butterfly" is good enough. Arctic Butterfly sensor brush. Sensor cleaning, remove dust.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Pure IPA is the stuff to use although distilled water is also very effective for certain types of gunk. Use both if you really want to get a clean result.

 

I use IPA and distilled water (sequentially) with technical grade Kleenex and cotton swabs. Maybe 2x per year max.

 

To remove loose dust the "Arctic Butterfly" is good enough. Arctic Butterfly sensor brush. Sensor cleaning, remove dust.

 

Cotton swabs? Would you use q-tips?!

I have IPA and methanol.. I am just discussing whether I should proceed with regular q-tips or not.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Cotton swabs? Would you use q-tips?!

I have IPA and methanol.. I am just discussing whether I should proceed with regular q-tips or not.

Yep, they should work fine, check first on a piece of sheet glass or whatever to make sure the glue holding the cotton does not dissolve. Avoid using a lot of pressure, there is no need for that anyway. I normally use laboratory swabs with a wooden stick. Not the plastic variety

 

I am not too enthusiastic about methanol, ethanol as they are very hygroscopic & may leave water droplets after evaporation. IPA is better in that respect and somewhat less volatile.

 

The best of all is chloroform but I would not recommend using it on any camera/lens unless you really know what you are doing. I am happy enough to use it on our microscopes (with 10k euro objectives) but somehow using it on the M8 freaks me out, big time.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Cotton swabs? Would you use q-tips?!

I have IPA and methanol.. I am just discussing whether I should proceed with regular q-tips or not.

 

Use proper sensor cleaning swabs, Q tips can leave hairs of cotton inside the camera. It isn't difficult cleaning a sensor correctly so long as you take it seriously and don't try shortcuts.

 

Steve

Link to post
Share on other sites

Well,

 

I would definitely do it if I had a professional nearby. I live in Miami and I still have not found a technician around the area. Right now I am in Brazil, and it is kinda difficult to get things here (Visible dust & swabs) I would definitely use a Visible Dust swab if I could. I am not trying to use a shortcut

Link to post
Share on other sites

Well,

 

I would definitely do it if I had a professional nearby. I live in Miami and I still have not found a technician around the area. Right now I am in Brazil, and it is kinda difficult to get things here (Visible dust & swabs) I would definitely use a Visible Dust swab if I could. I am not trying to use a shortcut

 

I can appreciate that in emergencies yes you would use whatever is available, so I didn't mean to sound stern. Its just that people read these threads and then think that a Q-Tip is OK all the time for cleaning the sensor. While only light pressure should be exerted on the sensor glass anyway, a proper sensor swab spreads that pressure across a large area, so reducing any tendency to flex the glass, and so it doesn't apply localised pressure like a Q-Tip can. Good luck with whichever method you choose, but if it isn't showing in the image maybe leave the mark alone until you have the tools.

 

Steve

Link to post
Share on other sites

I can appreciate that in emergencies yes you would use whatever is available, so I didn't mean to sound stern. Its just that people read these threads and then think that a Q-Tip is OK all the time for cleaning the sensor. While only light pressure should be exerted on the sensor glass anyway, a proper sensor swab spreads that pressure across a large area, so reducing any tendency to flex the glass, and so it doesn't apply localised pressure like a Q-Tip can. Good luck with whichever method you choose, but if it isn't showing in the image maybe leave the mark alone until you have the tools.

 

Steve

 

Thanks Steve!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...