rafael_macia Posted March 28, 2014 Share #101 Posted March 28, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Please, stop making it sound difficult for people then. It is simple. Use a swab and isopropyl alcohol. If you have a difficult spot then use a small sensor cleaner swab and some alcohol and rub a little in that spot. Use the swabs I linked to. It's easy for YOU. I find sensor cleaning..... and I have tried lots of methods incredibly difficult. Hands down the absolute worst chore ... for ME in digital photography. I still hope to one day find a cleaning method that works. Visible Dust was terrible leaving streaks. The gel pickup stamps used in the Leica video ..... left smears The Kinetronics. Speck grabber left a mark whenever it picked a speck. The Delkin kit Sensor Scope was Ok with the M9P but does not work with the M. The sensor on the M is different when lit by LED's Impossible to see dust. I don't know what to do ..... try some new method? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 28, 2014 Posted March 28, 2014 Hi rafael_macia, Take a look here Adventures in M-Monochrom Sensor Cleaning. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
friedeye Posted March 28, 2014 Share #102 Posted March 28, 2014 Leicas are notoriously dirty when they leave the factory. I couldn't believe how filthy my sensor was at 300 actuations. Wet cleaning was the only thing that worked. Simply: get comfortable cleaning your sensor, or plan on your camera taking repeated trips to the shop. The good news is, that, over the course of a couple of years, the sensor will need less and less cleaning. I check for spots every couple of months now, and this last time, there were just a couple of tiny dust specs at the bottom of the frame that weren't worth the trouble. Of course, if you change lenses in the middle of a dust storm…. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 28, 2014 Share #103 Posted March 28, 2014 It's easy for YOU. I find sensor cleaning..... and I have tried lots of methods incredibly difficult. Hands down the absolute worst chore ... for ME in digital photography. I still hope to one day find a cleaning method that works. Visible Dust was terrible leaving streaks. The gel pickup stamps used in the Leica video ..... left smears The Kinetronics. Speck grabber left a mark whenever it picked a speck. The Delkin kit Sensor Scope was Ok with the M9P but does not work with the M. The sensor on the M is different when lit by LED's Impossible to see dust. I don't know what to do ..... try some new method? Please explain how a stamp can leave smears, when you are not supposed to rub the sensor with it… Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafael_macia Posted March 29, 2014 Share #104 Posted March 29, 2014 Please explain how a stamp can leave smears, when you are not supposed to rub the sensor with it… I should have said residue, rather than smear. The slightest touch left a mark. I did not move the stamp around. The material the stamp is made of leaves a mark. The stickiness of the stamp may have become more so, due to temperature. A few manufactures make these stamps. Maybe mine was not a good one? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 29, 2014 Share #105 Posted March 29, 2014 Possibly. I use the EyeLead one and find it close to perfect. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafael_macia Posted March 30, 2014 Share #106 Posted March 30, 2014 Possibly. I use the EyeLead one and find it close to perfect. The Hong Kong generic copy of the EyeLead I purchased must be a poor copy. thanks Rafael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotografr Posted March 30, 2014 Share #107 Posted March 30, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Possibly. I use the EyeLead one and find it close to perfect. I agree completely. I've used every method imaginable to clean sensors the EyeLead is by far the best for cleaning dust. My MM sensor is spotless thanks to this product. Oil specks, of course, need a wet clean. For that rare occurrence I use isopropyl alcohol right out of the medicine cabinet, applied to a SensorSwab. This is at most a two-minute, no sweat process. I will never understand why people are willing to spend $75 and up to have a camera store clerk clean their sensor in a back room when it's so easy to do it yourself. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reeray Posted May 14, 2014 Share #108 Posted May 14, 2014 I know it's a thread for the MM but I had tremendous problems sensor cleaning my NEW 240. I've been wet cleaning where necessary my M8 M9 Canon 5D for years and never an issue. But the 240...... ! I contacted Leica who stated that under no circumstances use a blower. Use only Visible Dust swabs and Isopropyl together with Pentax pads. I don't like the look of the pads and dismissed this. I already had VB Vswabs and pads with the basic wet cleaning fluid which left smears. Purchased Smear Away fluid and just as bad. Local pharmacy had Isopropyl 70% and bingo. 2 drops, one wipe and reverse wipe from "dry"side and done. 1 minute in total. F22, bright blue sky and not a mark. I needed a wet clean almost monthly initially but, as others have stated, after putting a few thousand actuations on the camera, all has now settled down. Purchased a VB anti-static blower for a periodic blast and not 1 single issue or wet clean needed in 6 months. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinicio Posted May 30, 2014 Share #109 Posted May 30, 2014 This is what i use to clean my M9P and MM sensors after a view of one Leica's video: Imagesensor Cleaning Kit from Pentax easy to use, fast and REALLY effective!! BEST REGARDS Vinicio Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinicio Posted May 30, 2014 Share #110 Posted May 30, 2014 It's easy for YOU.The gel pickup stamps used in the Leica video ..... left smears Try to clean better the gel stamp on the film strips Don't press to much on sensor surface this should help..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick_S Posted May 30, 2014 Share #111 Posted May 30, 2014 I contacted Leica who stated that under no circumstances use a blower. Use only Visible Dust swabs and Isopropyl together with Pentax pads. Why no blower, are they referring to canned air or to something like the Giotto Rocket blower? Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted May 30, 2014 Share #112 Posted May 30, 2014 I've always said not to use a blower of any sort. Why do people believe the dust is blown out of the camera and will never again migrate to the sensor or eventually end up in the viewfinder? Blowing air around inside the camera is often given the blessing of 'I haven't had a problem', to which a sane person would add the word 'yet'. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Abrahams Posted June 10, 2014 Share #113 Posted June 10, 2014 After getting the sensor cleaned yesterday at a reputable camera repair place (it took a few hours and then some more) they said it was difficult to clean however charged me the standard rate. Today I took some test shots at the fading sun and after three shots a big blob appeared. Why would the camera throw up material such as this. I purchased the camera new three weeks ago. Any clues? 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 Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/195365-adventures-in-m-monochrom-sensor-cleaning/?do=findComment&comment=2607823'>More sharing options...
pico Posted June 10, 2014 Share #114 Posted June 10, 2014 after three shots a big blob appeared. Why would the camera throw up material such as this. As Steve suggested, the blowing on the sensor just moved some dust to the edges, off the sensor, which was redistributed by the shutter after a few pictures. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
biglou Posted June 10, 2014 Share #115 Posted June 10, 2014 Looks like an oil blob, i had this on my M9 (not on my monochrom) and i suspect it varies camera to camera. My M9 spilled oil on the sensor for about a year and a half, i had to clean so many times that what was supposed to happen did, the sensor cover was damaged. Hopefully Leica agreed to change it for no money and now my camera is fine, at last. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbuckley Posted June 10, 2014 Share #116 Posted June 10, 2014 I have owned five digital M's, beginning with the M8. While all Ms -- all cameras, maybe -- in my experience secrete some "engine oil" onto the sensor, my Monochrom is in a class by itself. But it gets better over time. For those who have a new Monochrom and have blobs of "schmutz" show up on their sensor, be assured that over time it happens less often. In the meantime, and thank you to all who have, on this thread, offered advice without being censorious over those who have trouble cleaning sensors, I can attest that the Eyelead sensor gel stick -- which I learned about on this thread, back in late March -- is the one thing I have used that really has cleaned up my Monochrom's sensor. Thanks for that tip. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted June 10, 2014 Share #117 Posted June 10, 2014 I can attest that the Eyelead sensor gel stick -- which I learned about on this thread, back in late March -- John, where did you get yours? Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted June 10, 2014 Share #118 Posted June 10, 2014 I can attest that the Eyelead sensor gel stick -- which I learned about on this thread, back in late March -- is the one thing I have used that really has cleaned up my Monochrom's sensor. Thanks for that tip. The Eyelead is very good, especially with the MM as you say, but also the M240 which throws off much less oil than the M9 did (but take nothing for granted). In reference to the previously mentioned idea that the Eyelead leaves smears, well yes it will if you twist it as you lift it off, by even a tiny bit. But dob the Eyelead back onto the smear and it lifts right off without leaving a trace. And the especially good thing about the Eyelead is that it doesn't drag anything across the sensor, so limiting the slight possibility of scratches with other systems, and it takes the dust out of the camera and removes it 100%. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
friedeye Posted June 10, 2014 Share #119 Posted June 10, 2014 After getting the sensor cleaned yesterday at a reputable camera repair place (it took a few hours and then some more) they said it was difficult to clean however charged me the standard rate. Today I took some test shots at the fading sun and after three shots a big blob appeared. Why would the camera throw up material such as this. I purchased the camera new three weeks ago. Any clues? As said above: new Leicas will have lots of dust in the body. This is unfortunately normal. You'll clean the sensor… and two days later, it'll be dirty again. Eventually, after repeated cleanings -- and this will be over the course of a year or so -- your camera body will become fairly dust free and you'll only have to clean the sensor every couple of months. This is why you should learn to clean it yourself. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbuckley Posted June 11, 2014 Share #120 Posted June 11, 2014 John, where did you get yours? Jeff Jeff - just replied to your PM, but as others may be interested, I went to the eBay link. It arrived from Hong Kong pretty quickly, for something like $38 US. JB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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