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Sensor loupes - any expereinces?


marcg

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I'm looking at sensor loupes.

 

There are two which appeal.

Opteka SSC-85 which has a 10x magnification and sells for £29.66

Visible Dust Quasar Sensor Loupe which has 7X magnification and sells for £72

 

If you ignore the "Quasar" marketing fluff, has anyone any experience of either of these - or some other better one?

 

Are they any use?

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I have an earlier version of he Visible Dust product and find it meets my needs. It certainly helps to identify particle contamination prior to dry or wet cleaning. Having said that, I remember it was needed rather more in the early days with my M8; rather less so with the M9. I have yet to replace the battery1

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I am not able to compare products. As to magnification, you are looking for contamination invisible to the unaided eye, so 7x is about right and a useful compromise on utility and magnification. I have just checked and mine is 7X. It is a bilious green colour, but I ignore that fact! It spends most of its time bagged and out of sight.

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imho, one doesn't need to spend that sort of money on an illuminated loupe to use for inspecting a camera sensor. I use this one: Amazon.com: Carson® 5x MiniBrite LED Lighted Slide-Out Aspheric Magnifier with Protective Sleeve (PO-55): Sports & Outdoors

 

Cleaning a sensor properly really isn't rocket science. I think that most of the materials sold by 'sensor cleaning' vendors are way overpriced. None of them 'invented' sensor cleaning and all of them sell products that can be effectively substituted with lesser cost to the consumer.

 

Although I sometimes wish I had started a company like Visible Dust. They're making a pretty good profit. :)

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Stereo dissecting or operating microscopes are very good for this: 10x to 20x magnification and a good working distance.

 

Jaapv is a dentist so has access to the latter; I don't, but bought a Prior UK dissecting microscope at a camera fair a few years ago for less than the cost of the Visible Dust Quasar Sensor Loupe.

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I have a Visible Dust Sensor Loupe. On the Canon 5D when I set it on the flange, the sensor is in good focus. On the M9 I have to lift it off the flange a little to focus on the sensor. Different cameras have different flange focal distances (see here). I noticed that the Sensor Check by Photographic Solutions has adjustable focus which mine does not - but it is only 5x magnification. I have been happy with the Visible Dust Sensor Loupe.

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