M8 dust: Try for zero, or accept pretty good?

[jaapv]

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I was using cleaning fluid with swabs and was down to a few dust specs, then I thought I'll take the bulb blower and blow off the last few. BIG MISTAKE! After that I had a lot of spots and they are very hard to remove. Maybe it is the climate here in Southern California but I am finding it very difficult to wind up with a clean sensor.

 

That means you were too soon with blowing. Wait until the sensor is bone-dry and then blow away any residual loose particles. And blow with the sensor facing (nearly) downwards.Only that way will you blow dust out of the camera. If it is facing upwards, you will blow dust into the orifice.

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[Iron Flatline]

Me too.... I bought the Visible Dust system, but have been too chicken to use it.

[grober]

Dust? Inevitable, of course. But none yet.

 

None noticeable before, and so far, after, its mandatory six-week trudge back to Solms for a re-fit.

 

I make a very conscious effort to expedite lens swaps, minimizing the time the mount is naked and therefore available to invaders.

 

-g

[Michael M.]

Tryed also the "bulb blower" and was learning by this methode you will add spots instead cleaning them off.

So next was to take a vacuum cleaner and place the mouthpeace close to the sensor and brush the sensor in parallel with a clean (washed!) small paintbrush made from marten-hair (used for cleaning lenses from dust). Most of the particles went off but still some spots remaining - but fare less compared to my other actions ...

 

Think that the heavy airflow arround the sensor avoid that new particle could lay down to it during cleaning procedure and the action with the brush turn up the already "placed" ones and they went away. But still it's not perfect solution ... and not that handy

 

Need an electrostatical brush to clean perfect & dry

 

Michael

[wlaidlaw]

I have been using #3 Sensor Swabs and Eclipse but I just hate doing it. I keep thinking I am going to do something horrible. I had another demo from CameraClean at FOI yesterday and I had been doing it right. Photos of defocussed sky showed I was OK.

 

The product I really like is the sticky Dust-Aids pads. We are waiting for a commercial quantity of these to arrive in the UK but it strikes me as a much better approach than wiping a alcohol soaked pad across the sensor.

 

Wilson

[photolandscape]

I have been using #3 Sensor Swabs and Eclipse but I just hate doing it. I keep thinking I am going to do something horrible. I had another demo from CameraClean at FOI yesterday and I had been doing it right. Photos of defocussed sky showed I was OK.

 

The product I really like is the sticky Dust-Aids pads. We are waiting for a commercial quantity of these to arrive in the UK but it strikes me as a much better approach than wiping a alcohol soaked pad across the sensor.

 

Wilson

 

Wilson, I would be really interested to hear how you like the Dust-Aids pads. Somehow, the idea of putting anything with any adhesive on a sensor sounds scary.

 

What is Leica's policy on cleaning the sensor as it relates to one's warranty? How many times can I really go in and clean the sensor properly without scratching or damaging it in some way?

 

At the very least, I would have appreciated receiving my M8 with a pristine sensor. I accept responsibility for whatever dust it encounters from the moment I first change lenses. Mine came back from Solms, after I requested that they clean the sensor thoroughly, with many of the same spots (dust? machine oil?) in the same places. I do understand that if I go to the Sahara or India or any place else that can get very dusty, it's up to me to keep the sensor clean.

 

Some have said that holding the body upside down, changing lenses quickly, keeping the rear element clean, etc. helps, but I haven't found that to be the case. My Canon EOS-1Ds picked up a lot of dust on its sensor, but I was always able to clean it off fairly easily. Not so in my experience with the M8, for whatever reason.

[Shootist]

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What are Sticky Dust-Aids pads.

 

I have been using #3 Sensor Swabs and Eclipse but I just hate doing it. I keep thinking I am going to do something horrible. I had another demo from CameraClean at FOI yesterday and I had been doing it right. Photos of defocussed sky showed I was OK.

 

The product I really like is the sticky Dust-Aids pads. We are waiting for a commercial quantity of these to arrive in the UK but it strikes me as a much better approach than wiping a alcohol soaked pad across the sensor.

 

Wilson

[wlaidlaw]

What are Sticky Dust-Aids pads.

 

DUST-AID : Adhesive Based Sensor Cleaner for DSLR's

 

Wilson

[barjohn]

I sent an email to Dust Aid to see about availability. They are saying in March on their web site (not far away). I too wonder about the potential damage to the sensor by the adhesive on the pads but their independent labs tests say no, it won't hurt any sensor. Still, it would be nice to have Leica's position known.

[Shootist]

Personally I would never use anything that has adhesive on it to clean a sensor in any digital camera I own. I don't care what test they say they have done.

[wlaidlaw]

Personally I would never use anything that has adhesive on it to clean a sensor in any digital camera I own. I don't care what test they say they have done.

 

I think the Dust Aids look like the best of a series of not very attractive options. I tried them on a sensor not in a camera at FOI and they are very easy to place accurately - much better than when you poke around with an alcohol wetted swab. I am always scared I am going to crease a shutter blade. The adhesive is not very sticky - a bit like Post It notes. You don't pull it off the sensor after use but tip the wand to one side and peel it off. There is a video on their website. The adhesive is alcohol soluble so if any residue is ever left, it will clean off with Eclipse. If you look at dust under a microscope, it looks like small rocks with sharp edges and points. If you wipe those across the sensors on a swab, you are bound to put micro-scratches on the front surface. Maybe that will eventually result in the M8 having an anti-aliasing filter.

 

Wilson

[barjohn]

I thought I would post an update on my experience with a couple of these expensive products.

 

I tired the VisibleDust's arctic Butterfly with Sesnor Clean and with their green sensor swabs.

 

I tried Eclipse Type 1 Swab with Eclipse fluid.

 

I Tried static master film cleaning brush.

 

Try as I might, the expensive Visibledust products would not leave me with a clean sensor. I tried more fluid, I tried the Arctic Butterfly brush, I tried less fluid, nothing would leave me with a clean sensor. I tired the static master and it wouldn't remove the dust either. Finally, I tired the eclipse swab and fluid. Two tries adn I am down to to very small spots. I think one more might leave me with a spotless sensor. It was $48 but appears to be the best solution for this particular sensor. From what I have read to get comparable results from Visible Dust you need to spend even more and get their Smear Away fluid to clear up the smears left by Sensor Clean?? Dust Aids may be an easier solution, I don't know yet and would like to have some endorsement from Leica. By the way, Leica endorses the Eclipse system as do several other manufacturers including Kodak. Thought I would help save you some money.

[albertknappmd]

I first use my blower and if this fails, the butterfly 724... this usually works but if I have to go further, then I use my swabs with Eclipse (100% methanol) to get the tough spots. This has been 100% effective on my DMR (still waiting for the M8.) Meticulous technique, patience and pratice are key. Eclipse can be obtained at Photographic Solutions, Inc. - Digital & Photographic Cleaning Solutions and is approved by Leica for the DMR and therefore will be OK for the M8 IMHO.

[wlaidlaw]

I first use my blower and if this fails, the butterfly 724... this usually works but if I have to go further, then I use my swabs with Eclipse (100% methanol) to get the tough spots. This has been 100% effective on my DMR (still waiting for the M8.) Meticulous technique, patience and pratice are key. Eclipse can be obtained at Photographic Solutions, Inc. - Digital & Photographic Cleaning Solutions and is approved by Leica for the DMR and therefore will be OK for the M8 IMHO.

 

Whereas I am happy that the Eclipse system I have works, I am still frightened that my hand will slip and I will knock into the shutter blades = expensive holiday for the M8 in Solms. On the Dust Aid, I too would be happier to see an endorsement from at one of the major camera or sensor makers.

 

Wilson

[charlesphoto99]

Make sure to always turn the camera OFF before swapping lenses. I haven't seen anyone talk about that here but I've been told this is one way to minimize dust issues and I have had zero issues with my D200. A sensor that is on is positively charged and will attract any floating dust. I'll be curious once I get my M8 as I swap lenses continuously with my M7. The D200 I do as well (I've always preferred primes) and only one dust spot easily removed with a blower in over a year of use.

 

I have a feeling Leica doesn't have an entirely "clean" room where they are doing something (testing?) at the end of manufacturing before packing up. Really no excuse for this except their size and being relatively new digital. 5K cameras should not be arriving with dirty sensors. That said I can't wait for mine dirty sensor or not.