Dust in SL with M lenses

[orc999]

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I have a terrible amount of dust in my SL. How is your experience regarding this?

 

My M lenses are attached with a Kipon adapter. Would the original Leica adapter protect it better from dust getting inside? 

 

Since the canon 5d (v1) I haven't seen such a dirty sensor. Leica claims to have cleaning mechanism, from what I see that does not seem to work.

 

Everytime I switch lenses I blow the lenses and the sensor with a rocket.

[steppenw0lf]

I usually leave the M to L adapter on the camera. And I have almost no dust in the camera.

But I do not think this is related to the adapter. Just that I am extremely careful - holding the camera always front down when exchanging lenses.

 

You blow the sensor (?!) - this gives me a shiver. How do you know the air is clean ? Better leave the sensor alone, as much as possible.

A bug specialist (entomologist) showed me how to clean sensible things: Never blow, always suck. (The "balloon" (have no better name for it) can be used for blowing or for sucking). (blowing air out or sucking air in.)

[meerec]

That is a big mistake I've made once. I used the blower on my SL sensor. I ended up blowing onto it unimaginable amount of dust particles that happen to be around in the air. I ended up wet-cleaning the sensor and now just keep it protected as much as possible, till the next time I will wet-clean it.

[orc999]

thanks guys, that makes sense!

will have to wet clean it then and try that way then.

 

At first I had a very wobbling adapter for M lenses, certainly also not dust prove. The Kipon feels very fit, sure not dust prove as well but might be a bit better.

I will try to handle it the way steppenwolf and meerec explained.

 

Any reason not to use the vacuum cleaner?

[250swb]

 

Any reason not to use the vacuum cleaner?

 

Good advice not to rely on a Rocket blower, you don't know where the dust is going, it could be deeper inside the camera, so the best bet is to remove the dust by carrying out and away from the sensor. But not all dust is loose dust, some of it will be sticky which is why a vacuum cleaner won't work. So there are two main options which can be combined, wet cleaning for stubborn dust or oil, and something like an Arctic Butterfly brush or an Eyelead sticky pad which both lift the dust off the sensor and deposit it outside the camera.

[chris_tribble]

My experience is the reverse.  1. Check the sensor with Sensor Loupe.  2. Rocket blower for any hairs or obvious dust bunnies (never compressed air) with the camera inverted.  3. Arctic butterfly.

 

I was also a bit perturbed by the presence of the naked sensor with no protecting physical shutter (like with the M), but I'm finding this works.  Makes me appreciate the auto-clean function on my Canon 5D3!

[LocalHero1953]

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I find the rocket blower useful as a first clean. Pollen and other sticky stuff isn't removed, and I also need the Arctic Butterfly and a swab with solvent. I used the sticky pads for a while, but a bit of carelessness left a stubborn streak which required a professional clean to remove.

[meerec]

Guys what are you talking about? Do you live in dust free rooms? I certainly don't !!

This means every time I blow the rocket blower, it first sucks the air from the air around, with hundreds of dust particles.

I was watching the ray of light from my skylight in the ceiling today in the morning. I could clearly see an ocean of dust particles floating – scary! I will never ever blow air from the rocket blower onto my lens or certainly not inside my camera!! The compressed air in a can is probably a safer option, although it wouldn't do it either.

Philip Bloom (UK based cinematographer) blogged recently about cleaning sensors as he does it regularly. While it is easy to remove dust spots from stills in post, it is not a trivial thing for video footage!! He wet cleans his sensors in cameras used for video daily. I learnt from him so suggest you watch his vlog on the topic.

[ramarren]

I hadn't cleaned my SL sensor in many months. I checked it just now: two tiny specs. A moment's puff with the Rocket blower and they are gone. 

 

I don't know what I'm doing right, but I'm going to keep doing it. 

[orc999]

be carefull with the cans, now and then they spit some liquid, which can be very sticky.

[orc999]

I hadn't cleaned my SL sensor in many months. I checked it just now: two tiny specs. A moment's puff with the Rocket blower and they are gone. 

 

I don't know what I'm doing right, but I'm going to keep doing it.  

 

 

I have to admit I was working in very dusty conditions. 

[adamdewilde]

I blow the dust off of the SL with a rocket blower as well. If it helps I can explain the process.

 

Turn on sensor cleaning mode. Inspect camera for dust. Turn the camera upside down (sensor facing the floor) blow vigorously a few times with blower. Inspect again for dust and repeat until clean. 99% of the time all the dust is gone in one or two attempts. I do this with all my cameras. It's most effective with mirrorless ones though. 

 

Some M lenses suck in dust more then others. My 75APO was notorious for this. You could hear/feel it sucking the air in if you turned the focusing ring quickly. 

[LocalHero1953]

Guys what are you talking about? Do you live in dust free rooms? I certainly don't !!

This means every time I blow the rocket blower, it first sucks the air from the air around, with hundreds of dust particles.

I was watching the ray of light from my skylight in the ceiling today in the morning. I could clearly see an ocean of dust particles floating – scary! I will never ever blow air from the rocket blower onto my lens or certainly not inside my camera!! The compressed air in a can is probably a safer option, although it wouldn't do it either.

Philip Bloom (UK based cinematographer) blogged recently about cleaning sensors as he does it regularly. While it is easy to remove dust spots from stills in post, it is not a trivial thing for video footage!! He wet cleans his sensors in cameras used for video daily. I learnt from him so suggest you watch his vlog on the topic.

Well I use the rocket blower because it works i.e. I see dust on the sensor before, and less afterwards - just the sticky stuff left - and smears. I find I rarely need to clean  - usually when, for some reason, I've stopped down for a batch of shots and the dust bunnies become too annoying.