M9reno Posted January 9, 2019 Share #21 Posted January 9, 2019 Advertisement (gone after registration) 3 minutes ago, wlaidlaw said: Can anyone recommend a decent micro vacuum cleaner? I was given this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Keyboard-CrazyFire-Rechargeable-Cordless-Keyboards/dp/B07BKRS19B/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1547030749&sr=8-4&keywords=micro+vacuum+cleaner as a Christmas present. It was so feeble it would not have disturbed the scales on a butterfly's wings and has been returned to Amazon for a refund. I want it for sucking dust out of digital camera chambers, film chambers and around the mounts of lenses, prior to mounting them. If it could also do laptop keyboards, that would be a bonus. Wilson There is this, which is expensive but effective. Given what I said above, I don’t use it on digital Leicas. Kenro Kenair Compressed Air Cleaner for Cleaning Sensitive Surfaces https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001284IE8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_MlDnCb1JE0QG7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 9, 2019 Posted January 9, 2019 Hi M9reno, Take a look here Lost my sensor cleaning virginity today!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
M9reno Posted January 9, 2019 Share #22 Posted January 9, 2019 2 minutes ago, jaapv said: Leica didn't blame it on the users. There was one panicked (by one employee, probably) mail, which was officially retracted within the week. The email seemed to speak for Leica at the time, and was retracted (just in the sense that it was swept under the rug, and replaced by a repair or exchange programme) after the kicking and screaming in this forum got too loud to ignore. It was a bad experience which I’d like to do my best to avoid in the future, and leaving cleaning to Leica helps me in that. Having said that, I can see how my position might not work for other users, especially those who use their digital Leicas much more than I do mine. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 9, 2019 Share #23 Posted January 9, 2019 7 minutes ago, wlaidlaw said: Can anyone recommend a decent micro vacuum cleaner? I was given this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Keyboard-CrazyFire-Rechargeable-Cordless-Keyboards/dp/B07BKRS19B/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1547030749&sr=8-4&keywords=micro+vacuum+cleaner as a Christmas present. It was so feeble it would not have disturbed the scales on a butterfly's wings and has been returned to Amazon for a refund. I want it for sucking dust out of digital camera chambers, film chambers and around the mounts of lenses, prior to mounting them. If it could also do laptop keyboards, that would be a bonus. Wilson I've been using this one for years. Works flawlessly. green clean vacuum cleaner Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 9, 2019 Share #24 Posted January 9, 2019 Just now, M9reno said: The email seemed to speak for Leica at the time, and was retracted (just in the sense that it was swept under the rug, and replaced by a repair or exchange programme) after the kicking and screaming in this forum got too loud to ignore. It was a bad experience which I’d like to do my best to avoid in the future, and leaving cleaning to Leica helps me in that. Having said that, I can see how my position might not work for other users, especially those who use their digital Leicas much more than I do mine. Well, it IS a bit overdone for me to fly into London a few times a year for a five-minute chore... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M9reno Posted January 9, 2019 Share #25 Posted January 9, 2019 I excerpt the relevant parts of the email of 24 November 2014, with my added bold type: “...We think that any potential damages of the sensor surface can occur due to cleaning the sensor and can lead to corrosion. We, therefore, advice to clean the sensor without touching it or in a dust-free environment such as in Leica Customer Care. We don’t want to convey the impression that you are not able to clean the sensor yourselves. If you are confident performing a sensor cleaning yourself, you may do so. But please be aware that the risk, when using wet cleaning solutions in the field, is higher. At Leica, we use “Isopropanol” (isopropyl alcohol) and the following tools to clean the sensor, in the production as well as by the Customer Care: Pentax Image Sensor Cleaning Kit, O-ICK1:Sensor Cleaning Kit Cleaning swabs made by ‘Visible Dust’:Camera sensor cleaning — Arctic Butterfly sensor brush, loupe, swabs, liquids With great care and attention, you may also use these for cleaning the sensor yourselves. Essential for not damaging the sensor is to painstakingly observe the manufacturers’ instructions and only work with new and unsoiled cleaning aids. We kindly ask you for your understanding that sensors showing visible mechanical scratch marks occurring from improper cleaning attempts cannot be covered by the warranty and goodwill arrangement. This is also the reason why we offer to perform cleaning at the Leica Customer Care, free of charge and as often as needs to be. Should you be considering an upgrade to a Leica M or M-P (Type 240), Customer Care will make you an attractive offer as a part of our goodwill arrangement. JJ Viau - Digital Marketing with Stefan Daniel - Director Product Management Photo Leica Camera” Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 9, 2019 Share #26 Posted January 9, 2019 Yet - in practice not one corrosion/scratch sensor was refused guaranty. Of course such a disclaimer must be included, there might be an extreme case. Please quote subsequent mails too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M9reno Posted January 9, 2019 Share #27 Posted January 9, 2019 Advertisement (gone after registration) Yes, Jaap, I agree it’s important and fair to provide the whole context. The full to-do was reported here: https://lavidaleica.com/content/new-leica-ccdgate-scandal-afoot I remember that Pop also assembled a thread with the full set of communications by Leica. If not a sticky, it is probably in the M9 section of the Forum. I’ll try to find it. In sum, I can see both sides of this question, and for many people it might be impossible or impractical to proceed the way I do. Just speaking only for me and for the reasons above, cleaning of my own Leica sensor is thankfully a thing of the past since 2014. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted January 9, 2019 Share #28 Posted January 9, 2019 1 hour ago, M9reno said: There is this, which is expensive but effective. Given what I said above, I don’t use it on digital Leicas. Kenro Kenair Compressed Air Cleaner for Cleaning Sensitive Surfaces https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001284IE8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_MlDnCb1JE0QG7 I don't like canned butane/propane blowers, as I feel squirting chemical gas into a camera cannot be a good thing . A month or so ago, I bought this one from Amazon, to have a refillable air blower, using compressed air. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00YF7Q1TI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 - completely useless. As Jeremy Clarkson said about the air conditioning on a Lamborghini - feebler than a flatulent mosquito. I have a HEPA filter version of a Rocket blower which works just fine but I have the feeling that blowers just blow the dust around instead of removing it, hence my search for a vacuum. I will have a look at Jaap's suggestion of a green clean vacuum cleaner. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaidshirts Posted January 9, 2019 Share #29 Posted January 9, 2019 (edited) 3 hours ago, Exodies said: Re blowers: it’s four tiny specks of dust. Cant be interested where they are as long as it’s not on the sensor. My sentiment exactly. Blower first then wet swab. I did that for my Fuji and M240 (practiced on Fuji first). Stressful during the process, but easier than what I’d imagined. We forget there is a piece of glass that cover the sensor - it’s sturdier than you think. Edited January 9, 2019 by plaidshirts 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodies Posted January 9, 2019 Share #30 Posted January 9, 2019 (edited) The particle moving property of a vacuum must be several orders of magnitude less than that of a jet of air. Edited January 9, 2019 by Exodies 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted January 9, 2019 Share #31 Posted January 9, 2019 (edited) I wonder if this might be the best vacuum answer https://www.espares.co.uk/product/es1768057?utm_source=google+shopping&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=google+shopping&mkwid=sGt4jns3i&pcrid=174054713172&kword=&match=&plid=&pdv=c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqrTlu-3g3wIV1-F3Ch1PVwWMEAQYAiABEgLg3vD_BwE . We have Miele cleaners in both UK and France, where you can regulate the suction by motor speed from fierce to quite gentle. I tend to do a wet sensor clean in my bathroom after running the shower for a few minutes on max hot. I think this would clear a lot of dust out of the air. This is particularly important at my French house where the humidity is often very low (<40% at mid summer) and being at the end of a 70km long valley coming east from Aix-en-Provence at the top of a cliff, windy and dusty. Wilson Edited January 9, 2019 by wlaidlaw Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaidshirts Posted January 9, 2019 Share #32 Posted January 9, 2019 3 hours ago, wlaidlaw said: Can anyone recommend a decent micro vacuum cleaner? I was given this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Keyboard-CrazyFire-Rechargeable-Cordless-Keyboards/dp/B07BKRS19B/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1547030749&sr=8-4&keywords=micro+vacuum+cleaner as a Christmas present. It was so feeble it would not have disturbed the scales on a butterfly's wings and has been returned to Amazon for a refund. I want it for sucking dust out of digital camera chambers, film chambers and around the mounts of lenses, prior to mounting them. If it could also do laptop keyboards, that would be a bonus. Wilson I use this when cleaning out cameras, lenses and desktop area. With proper adapters, it'll reach small areas and give you plenty of suction. Probably an overkill, but effective. https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Vacuum-Mount-Gallon-Horsepower/dp/B0022MFPOK/ref=dp_ob_title_hi?th=1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sml_photo Posted January 9, 2019 Share #33 Posted January 9, 2019 Ha! Coincidence! Look what popped up on #LeicaSociety on YouTube just now: I just wonder why my clean Eyelead rubber stamp sometimes leaves a residue or mark....?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibbo Posted January 9, 2019 Author Share #34 Posted January 9, 2019 Does it do that if you use it on a piece of glass? Like a filter or similar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 9, 2019 Share #35 Posted January 9, 2019 1 hour ago, sml_photo said: Ha! Coincidence! Look what popped up on #LeicaSociety on YouTube just now: I just wonder why my clean Eyelead rubber stamp sometimes leaves a residue or mark....?? If it picks up grease from the sensor and you don't notice it will smear, although I find that the sticky paper is somewhat effective in removing the grease from the stamp. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted January 9, 2019 Share #36 Posted January 9, 2019 I have stopped using the Eyelead as it often left lines on the sensor. These clean off quite easily with either IPA or Smear Away. I don't know if the Pentax ones which Leica apparently use, have a different formulation of "jelly" on the stick or the sticky on the paper strips used to clean the jelly. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted January 9, 2019 Share #37 Posted January 9, 2019 11 hours ago, jaapv said: Leica didn't blame it on the users. There was one panicked (by one employee, probably) mail, which was officially retracted within the week. There is not one instance of Leica refusing guaranty on sensor corrosion by user error. On the contrary, even corroded sensors that exhibited clear scratches were replaced under the guaranty scheme, without exception. Not only during the warranty period but well past the end of it. A very stellar gesture. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sml_photo Posted January 9, 2019 Share #38 Posted January 9, 2019 4 hours ago, jaapv said: If it picks up grease from the sensor and you don't notice it will smear, although I find that the sticky paper is somewhat effective in removing the grease from the stamp. To put things in context.... I used the Eyelead (the one recommended for Leica and Sony) first with this cleaning episode because I saw some prominent, easy to reach spots. However, I also saw some streaks while checking. After trying the Eyelead on the spots, there were marks on the surface that were left behind, so I had to go right to wet cleaning (green swabs...going back and forth with "Sensor Cleaner" and "VDust" solutions). That took care of the spots AND the streaks. Now, I'm thinking the streaks may have been the culprit that affected the sticky surface...who knows what those were from!? As of now, all is well. And I'll clean the Eyelead tip by stamping on the paper before I try it again. My guess is that all will be fine. In the meantime, what's that vacuum device in the Leica video? Looks like a worthwhile tool!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibbo Posted January 9, 2019 Author Share #39 Posted January 9, 2019 11 minutes ago, sml_photo said: In the meantime, what's that vacuum device in the Leica video? Looks like a worthwhile tool!! Indeed, that looks like a handy piece of kit and may be exactly what Wilson is looking for! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted January 9, 2019 Share #40 Posted January 9, 2019 (edited) By the sound, I suspect cleaning device is a laboratory vacuum pump and then one of the soft tips from the Green Clean range. I have bought a set of micro vacuum tools to use with a regular vacuum cleaner but I will also buy some Green Clean soft tips. If the micro tools vacuum kit is no good, it was only £6. Wilson Edited January 9, 2019 by wlaidlaw Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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