How often do you clean your CCD?

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My answer is: never.

 

On cameras that I am the first owner that is. If the sensor has been cleaned before, it will require regular cleanings. In fact you should never clean the sensor.

 

It starts this way: you buy a new camera, the sensor is spotless. After 2-3 months you see a couple of spots in the sky when shooting stopped down. You buy an expensive cleaning kit, you clean the sensor, and after many smears and nail biting episodes, you end up with a sensor that has 8-10 visible spots that you are very satisfied with. Even if you manage to make the sensor really spotless, it will only last 1-2 days. Cleaned sensors attract dust because of electrostatic, so its a lot of effort for very little reward.

 

I never clean the sensor, just use a blower bulb occasionally every couple of months.

 

I agree, but with a tough speck recently, I got mini attachments for my vacuum cleaner - gone!

 

For me, no touching is the way to go (M9) - and carefully go over every file pre-print in Photoshop at 100% to zap anomolies easily

[fotografr]

My answer is: never.

 

Even if you manage to make the sensor really spotless, it will only last 1-2 days. Cleaned sensors attract dust because of electrostatic, so its a lot of effort for very little reward.

 

 

That is vastly different than my experience. I've wet cleaned every removable lens digital camera I've owned for the last 15 years--Nikons, Canons and Leicas--approximately once every 4 to 6 months, with occasional arctic butterfly treatments and a rocket blower in between. When I do tests, I rarely see more than two or three spots, and after cleaning there is nothing for several weeks.

[Jeff S]

FAQ

 

About once a year for me. Two M8.2s allow for less frequent lens changes, mostly before going out for pics. LR spot removal for minor issues in the meantime.

 

Jeff

[NikonJeff]

That is vastly different than my experience. I've wet cleaned every removable lens digital camera I've owned for the last 15 years--Nikons, Canons and Leicas--approximately once every 4 to 6 months, with occasional arctic butterfly treatments and a rocket blower in between. When I do tests, I rarely see more than two or three spots, and after cleaning there is nothing for several weeks.

 

I'm in agreement - I've never had a problem wet cleaning sensors on cameras from Kodak (DCS620), Nikon D1, D1x, D2x, D3, D200, D700, D7000, Leica M8 and now M9.

 

It's a fact of life that dust will be an issue at some point. When I'm going through 500-1000 images for a final wedding edit the clone tool can be quite tedious. I inspect the cameras before every wedding and rarely have to wet clean them, but if necessary it gets done.

 

I'm a computer tech by trade and a wedding photographer by desire - not much intimidates me when it comes to electronics. I use the Delkin Sensor Scope as I mentioned previously and only the scope.

 

Maybe I'm just lucky...

[FlashGordonPhotography]

I clean my sensor regularly. I start with a rocket blower (I will never spray canned air into a camera I own. the propellants are very bad for sensors). Followed with an artic butterfly and then, only if required, wet cleaning with a swab and visible dust sensor solution (an oil pass followed by a water based one). I don't obsess over a spot or two. They're easy to spot oin post. But after a while I'll end up with dozens of spots and that gets tiresome.

 

Gordon

[-Lss-]

Could you kindly share your experiences on how often do you clean your CCD and do you do it yourself?

I use generic blowers (that you can get from drug stores) and the Visible Dust products, and clean the sensor when it gets dirty.

 

Thus far I think I only did one sensor cleaning in 2013, but there have been times when it took a week or two between cleanings. For me, the dust buildup seems fairly random, there is very weak correlation with how dusty or windy the places are, there may be some stronger correlation with the frequency of lens changes. I don't really follow the usual recommendations about changing lenses, other than trying to point the lens mount down. I generally change a lens when I need to; and when there is sand or salty water flying in my face, I don't usually need to change my lens that bad.

[pelagia]

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I clean the M9 sensor when necessary, which is about 2-3 times per year. Although I change lenses often. For cleaning I use Visible Dust swabs and clean methanol. One thing that I have noticed is that there is a lot of loose particles inside the camera, and especially on the bayonet mount. Therefore I always also wet clean these surfaces with a used swab.

[Guest borge]

My answer is: never.

 

On cameras that I am the first owner that is. If the sensor has been cleaned before, it will require regular cleanings. In fact you should never clean the sensor.

 

It starts this way: you buy a new camera, the sensor is spotless. After 2-3 months you see a couple of spots in the sky when shooting stopped down. You buy an expensive cleaning kit, you clean the sensor, and after many smears and nail biting episodes, you end up with a sensor that has 8-10 visible spots that you are very satisfied with. Even if you manage to make the sensor really spotless, it will only last 1-2 days. Cleaned sensors attract dust because of electrostatic, so its a lot of effort for very little reward.

 

I never clean the sensor, just use a blower bulb occasionally every couple of months.

 

That is the opposite of my experience. When my Monochrom was new it attracted dust and spots like crazy for the first couple of months / thousands of shots - even without lens changes.

 

After a couple of wet cleans I have now used the camera for 3-4 months without any cleaning what-so-ever, including lens changes, and over 3-4 months I have gotten 1 small speck of dust on the sensor. That's a drastic change from when the camera was new.

 

I have cleaned the sensor of all my cameras for the last 7 years. Wet and dry. And never had any issue what-so-ever.

 

A blower bulb helps getting rid of dust then and there, but it only blows the dust somewhere else INSIDE the camera / sensor housing. Which basically means that this dust will most probably be back on the sensor rather quickly. You need to get the dust OUT of the camera. Wet cleaning helps here, but so does vacuuming the camera / sensor housing itself and also keeping the lenses clean and dust-free as well.

[gjames9142]

The guy who runs the company that can custom-refit cameras with monochrome sensors said never use liquid cleaners. All of them leave residue on the sensor. I have a couple of 9's and an M, and I only use a blower now. The truth is that when making a print it takes no time to remove spots from the sky. And if you are not making a print, it doesn't really matter.

[ayewing]

I found that I needed to wet clean the sensor of my M9 two or three times in the first year but since then the occasional use of the blower is all that is required. I am not sure if I am getting less dust on the sensor or perhaps becoming more tolerant of the occasional dust spot. I certainly do not do test shots looking for dust unless I become aware of a problem during normal photography.

[pico]

When my sensor gets dirty I just throw the camera away.

[Olsen]

I clean my M9 and Canon 1Ds III about three - four times a year. I don't do it myself, but have a professional service shop do it for me. This is what the camera producers prefer you to do. A good pro shop has far better cleaning equipment than any photographer I know.

 

I am sceptical to all those who do the cleaning themselves and I am 'absolutely sure' that problems like 'cracked sensor protection glas'; a frequent problem with M9, is a direct consequence of amateur cleaning.

 

I only use blower myself, never touching the sensor.

[jdlaing]

When my sensor gets dirty I just throw the camera away.

 

My shipping address is 490.........

 

 

Never mind ... Who wants a dirty camera.

[wattsy]

I am 'absolutely sure' that problems like 'cracked sensor protection glas'; a frequent problem with M9, is a direct consequence of amateur cleaning.

 

I have never cleaned the sensor in my M9P but it still cracked. How do you explain that one, Sherlock?

[Phil U]

I have never cleaned the sensor in my M9P but it still cracked. How do you explain that one, Sherlock?

 

indeed, it's quite a three pipe problem

[NikonJeff]

 

I am sceptical to all those who do the cleaning themselves and I am 'absolutely sure' that problems like 'cracked sensor protection glas'; a frequent problem with M9, is a direct consequence of amateur cleaning.

 

 

Hogwash! I change my own oil in the car as well... It's a comfort issue and if you're not comfortable then don't do it, I've been shooting digital since 1999 and have yet to have any damaged sensors and I can't perceive any reside or spotting even with the Sensor scope.

 

To each his/her own.

 

I've been to events where NPS (Nikon Professional Services) are doing inspections and sensor cleanings for member free of charge. The "equipment" they use to clean the sensor is either a blower brush or canned air plus a bottled solvent with a stick and Pec Pad type materials. They also have a loupe they look through.

[swamiji]

Once too often, it's now on its way to NJ for a new sensor. Which is a real bummer as my other M9 is also there because of a cracked sensor. So I guess I'll just have to survive with my M7 and my Monochrom

 

Oh my first M9, the sensor cracked when I went from a hot climate to a cold one, sometime during the flight it cracked. I have photos before and after, it was in my bag the entire time.

[wattsie]

At least "spotting" is much easier these days!

[erl]

At least "spotting" is much easier these days!

Yeah. Just stand under a statue or city building.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Guest borge]

I am sceptical to all those who do the cleaning themselves and I am 'absolutely sure' that problems like 'cracked sensor protection glas'; a frequent problem with M9, is a direct consequence of amateur cleaning.

 

I only use blower myself, never touching the sensor.

 

With a blower all you are doing is moving the dust from one place inside the camera to another place inside the camera.

 

And let me tell you: The professionals are MUCH rougher with your sensor surface than you probably would EVER be yourself if you did the cleaning.

 

Sensor cleaning is not some magic thing. It's rather extremely simple. Anyone paying $100 for a sensor clean is in my book a retard that probably can't even clean their own clothes. You need some alchohol and some cheap pecpads and some stickers or rubberbands, thats it! Changing the oil on a car is much more risky.