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HELP (what the hell is this on my sensor)


Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

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I have dust........I can clean (blow that) but what the hell are these other marks and what do I need to buy/use to get rid of it myself??

Any help will be much appreciated

 

Oh by the way this is on my Leica M (240)

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Hairs or threads. Should blow off along with dust - but may require a liquid cleaning (Eclipse sensor cleaning fluid or equivalent, and a swab) if the sensor has not been wet-cleaned before.

 

Expanding a bit - fresh-from-the-factory sensors almost always (in my experience with multiple new cameras) have a faint residue of solvents or some such from the manufacturing process on the glass. They tend to be slightly "sticky" and thus the sensors require liquid solvent cleaning to "unglue" some dust or hairs or such during the first few cleanings.

 

After 1-3 cleanings, the manufacturing residue has been washed away along with the dust, and cleanings become easier and less frequently needed.

 

BTW when I use the word "residue" it sounds worse than it is. It is not as though the sensor glass was not cleaned in manufacturing. But it is shipped with protective packaging, usually plastic which may be out-gassing chemicals (think "new-car smell"), And vapor-deposition coatings (anti-reflective or anti-IR) may have deposited other things that are evenly distributed and thus don't appear in any way in images - but can make the surface slightly more adhesive until a few washings are done. And of course a new camera will also have a certain amount of lubrication vapor inside, acquired while in the "factory-sealed" condition.

 

I've purchased about a dozen new interchangeable-lens digital cameras over the years, (Epson, Canon, Leica) and with every one, there was a break-in period when the sensor was simply more attractive to dust. Which ended after 1-2 liquid (plus blowing and Arctic-Butterfly brush) cleanings.

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS
Hairs or threads

Cheers mate

Just used the Steve Huff method using a blower and all good now..........Panic is over

Thanks

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My M 240 is a dust magnet. I'll clean the sensor then check using the sensor cleaning mode where I hold the camera lens in front of a white surface and hit the shutter button. It usually takes several blows using the Rocket Blower to clean off the surface dust. I also hold the camera upside down while using the blower. And a trick is to hold a vacuum cleaner hose as close to the lens opening as possible. That seems to help getting rid of the dust I've loosened.

 

That said, without changing lenses, a week or two later, I'll see more dust specs screwing the image.

 

I love just about everything about the M except the dust problem.

 

Also, my camera came brand new from the factory with a filthy image sensor. This seems to be a common problem noticed by others posting on this forum. Leica needs to do a better job of inspecting before packaging for shipment. Maybe they need a cleaner evironment.

 

Leica does sell these cleaning swabs that have a sticky end. But I sure wouldn't risk using them, poking them against the sensor.

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I think Adan's post is absolutely correct and reflects my experience. It also negates/explains all the "Leica sold me a dirty sensor" cries. I have found the Arctic Butterfly 724 static sensor cleaner removes more than you would expect from a dry cleaner and is very safe to use.

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After about a years use of my M240 and several wet cleans, it seems like the sensor is attracting a lot less dust and particles than before. I have gone months without cleaning the sensor now, and I change lenses quite frequently (only indoors though, and I hold the camera with the sensor down every time).

 

The first 5000 frames was the worst. Dust, dust, dust, spots and crap... Seemed to come out of nowhere.

It's probably some dust that was left inside the camera after the manufacturing process.

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS
I'm not sure about the utility of holding the lens opening down when cleaning or changing lenses. If you watch dust in sunlight it seems pretty impervious to gravity.

I am not buying that one

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Leica does sell these cleaning swabs that have a sticky end. But I sure wouldn't risk using them, poking them against the sensor.

 

 

If you in any way sense that the way to use them is to 'poke' them at the sensor I agree with you, avoid the sticky pads at all costs.

 

On the other hand if your instinct is not to 'poke' them at the sensor using a silicone type pad like the Eyelead, along with an Arctic butterfly brush, is about all you need for regular cleaning. The point of using them over and above a blower brush is that you know for sure the dust that was on the sensor has been removed from the camera, not re-distributed inside the camera.

 

Steve

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I'm not sure about the utility of holding the lens opening down when cleaning or changing lenses. If you watch dust in sunlight it seems pretty impervious to gravity.

 

I take it YOU don't do the household dusting! ;)

 

Talk to whomever DOES clean house in your abode - about what needs dusting more; the tops of things, or the bottoms.

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I take it YOU don't do the household dusting! ;)

 

Talk to whomever DOES clean house in your abode - about what needs dusting more; the tops of things, or the bottoms.

 

Well yes, but how does dust from the floor get in a camera held open side up?

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