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How much does your dealer charge for an M240 sensor clean?


andybarton

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@wda (and others),

 

Can you please elaborate on using the Arctic Butterfly and the results you have gotten with it?  I am not at all impressed with the reviews it has gotten online:     http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=712189&gclid=CPTPvq7BicsCFYg-aQodsx8M_Q&is=REG&ap=y&m=Y&A=details&Q=

I am quite reluctant to spend $143 USD on this product in light of the reviews it has been given by users.

 

Thank you...

The Arctic Butterfly only lifts lose dust, not moderately sticky dust that an Eyelead could take off, nor oil. It works by using a mild static charge made by making the bristles oscillate back and forth. You can either wipe the very soft bristles across the surface of the sensor or sometimes you will see dust jump off onto the bristles when they get close. I chose to brush the surface. So an Arctic Butterfly fills the niche of a quick maintenance clean, the Eyelead (or similar) fills the need for a regular thorough clean, and a wet cleaning kit is nowadays least used but is essential for removing very sticky dust or oil. There is the option of a blower, but I remain sceptical, it may move lose dust but you have no way of knowing where that dust went to, all the other methods ensure the dust is removed from the camera.

 

It is impossible to say which is the single essential method, a lot of people have had a wet cleaning kit for years so think nothing of it should the camera need a wet clean. But I'd say that the Eyelead can be most useful overall, the Arctic Butterfly comes second for a quick session just before setting out on an expedition, and the wet cleaning method could be left to the dealer, but you've heard the good and the bad side of having somebody else wet clean the sensor.

 

Steve

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Having looked at dirty sensors using a surgical microscope, I found that there are little spots of oil occasionally, but the majority of sticky dust was either pollen or skin flakes. Another major component were pieces of eye lashes. I think the skin flakes etc. are caused by people hanging over the camera peering at the sensor, and it may even explain some of the "grease" spots, which may well be minuscule spatters of sweat mixed with skin oils.

 

Moral:  don't hang over the camera when cleaning; humans shed.

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For me, I love my Artic Butterfly but it's for maintenence cleaning not serious scrubbing.

 

When my sensor is really grimy the right tool varies. I don't beleive there's just one perfect way to clean a sensor.

 

My basic proceedure is:

 

1. Rocket blower. I was told to turn the lens mount downward and keep going util your hand starts to get tired.

2. Artic Butterfly to remove last of dust and sand.

3. Eyelead sticks. Mostly this is all I need but if there's oil or something......

4. Swabs. I keep both oil and water based for when I need them.

 

Then every week I use the rocket blower and Artic Butterfly to keep the dust at bay. I find this helps prevent dust attracting moisture and becoming sticky.

 

Generally I clean each camer once every two months.

 

Gordon

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Well if people think the Leica M is a pain they should try cleaning the sensor on the Sony A7rII which because of the IBIS system is mounted on gimbals and can move slightly when touched. First time is not for the faint hearted and makes cleaning the M seem like a less nerve wracking experience  :)  

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This thread is making me neurotic I just checked my "Dust Detection"  it looks like Van Gogh's Starry Night ....how will I sleep tonight?

I never check the Dust Detection as no matter how clean your sensor is it tells you that it is dirty. Now I wait until I notice dust spots on my images and only then undertake cleaning procedures. My M240 seems to have less trouble with dust than its predecessor - an M9.

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I never check the Dust Detection as no matter how clean your sensor is it tells you that it is dirty. Now I wait until I notice dust spots on my images and only then undertake cleaning procedures. My M240 seems to have less trouble with dust than its predecessor - an M9.

 

 

Now that is a great piece of advice!

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I never check the Dust Detection as no matter how clean your sensor is it tells you that it is dirty. Now I wait until I notice dust spots on my images and only then undertake cleaning procedures. My M240 seems to have less trouble with dust than its predecessor - an M9.

+1

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I never check the Dust Detection as no matter how clean your sensor is it tells you that it is dirty. Now I wait until I notice dust spots on my images and only then undertake cleaning procedures. My M240 seems to have less trouble with dust than its predecessor - an M9.

+ 1 from me too.

 

After my initial wet cleaning (in first few months I guess), mine had remained remarkably clean. Every few months I do take a picture of the uniform sky at f16 for my own record keeping. Recently I noticed that my sensor had became dirty enough to be annoying at f5.6 (still usable though by touching up spots in LR) and took out my cleaning kit. First I used the rocket blower and it cleaned enough that I didn't bother to use the wet swipes. This was after more than 6 months between rocket blower... and I do change lens a lot.

 

I think it totally depends on the kind of photography people do (wide aperture vs narrow aperture) and how much one has accepted it as fact of life.

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Well if people think the Leica M is a pain they should try cleaning the sensor on the Sony A7rII which because of the IBIS system is mounted on gimbals and can move slightly when touched. First time is not for the faint hearted and makes cleaning the M seem like a less nerve wracking experience  :)  

 

 

Sony and Olympus specifically state that the user should not attempt to clean an IBIS sensor themselves. It could void your warranty if you do so.

 

Having said that, I clean my Sony A7R2 sensor as well and totally agree. The M sensor is a doddle in comparison.

 

Gordon

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Besides a couple of blows with my rocket blower, I've actually never had to clean the M240 sensor.
​I had to do wet cleaning fairly often on the MM1 and M9-P however.
If I have to do wet cleaning I have loads of swabs, pec pads, Eclipse fluid, and other things to do it with.. But knock on wood, haven't had to touch the wet cleanin stuff for about two years!
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Hi all,

 

I recently bought the Visible Dust Arctic Buterfly. Just an horror ! I strictly respected the IFU (did not touch the brush with my fingers, did not leave it without cap, etc.), and at first use I got some "greasy" traces on my sensor. Did anybody have the same poor experience with this system ?

 

regards,

stef.

I had exactly this issue some years ago with Arctic Butterfly.   Some poeple swear by it.  I swear at it.  I had to do a wet clean to get the grease off, after which I tossed the Butterfly.  I bought the Eyelead system, but haven't had to use it as an occasional use of a Giottos Rocket blower seems to suffice.  Fingers crossed.

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Thanks to all for the cleaning advice.....After a year of not cleaning my 240 and as I said my sensor looked like Starry Night. 

I have only ever wet cleaned my Nikon which must spit a lot oil. It's very hard to get and keep clean. I was looking to this esteemed group to give me the confidence to do wet clean on the Leica.
As you all suggested I went the simplest method first Rocket Blower...not expecting much. 
To my surprise my test revealed not a speck of dust. Many have said that this sensor was easy to keep clean...and you were correct.
 I would especially like to thank FlashGordenPhotography  for sharing his progressive method of dust management It was helpful to see cleaning as a complete thought
What a pleasant  surprise that the M sensor will be easy to keep clean
It will be nice to use f/11 again
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