Wet cleaning SL2 sensor

[SrMi]

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4 hours ago, Eclectic Man said:

Regarding my Rocket blower (though this may affect other makes).  I just tested it by taking a piece of sellotape(R) and using the blower on it.  The result is quite disturbing:

It seems that instead of cleaning the sensor, it is actually depositing little bits of debris on the sensor. Before (sellotape is clean):

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And after blowing with the Rocket:

At lest two large particles at centre bottom and just right of centre top after blowing.  No wonder my sensor needs cleaning.

 

Any suggestions for a clean blower?

When using Rocket Blower, you may have lifted dust surrounding the tape which then landed on the tape. I have some blowers with filters at air-intake, but find them too much a hassle. Remember to hold the camera upside down when using the blower.

[jaapv]

On 11/27/2019 at 7:08 PM, thighslapper said:

I would have thought that wet cleaning would actually be the recommended option after the obligatory blast with a Rocket Blower.

The usual Leica sticky lollipop requires some pressure to remove dust and it sticks alarmingly to the sensor cover glass. I would have thought that was much more potentially damaging to a floating sensor mechanism than a gentle wipe with a wet swab.

However it does survive being jiggled about in a camera bag, knocked and bumped, so maybe we are attributing too much fragility to a mechanism that has to be fairly robust to survive normal usage. 

If it sticks you are using the wrong (and risky) technique of pulling the blob straight up. You must wobble it off, it won't stick.

[Eclectic Man]

On 11/27/2019 at 6:08 PM, thighslapper said:

The usual Leica sticky lollipop requires some pressure to remove dust and it sticks alarmingly to the sensor cover glass.

Hi, you refer to "the usual Leica sticky lollipop", but what product do you mean? I cannot find a Leica sensor cleaner on the Uk Leica site.

[pedaes]

15 minutes ago, Eclectic Man said:

Hi, you refer to "the usual Leica sticky lollipop", but what product do you mean? I cannot find a Leica sensor cleaner on the Uk Leica site.

Leica don't sell them. Suggest https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eyelead-SCK-1-Cleaning-Olympus-Assorted/dp/B0046VBEE0/ref=sr_1_63?crid=3KGO0MFSGRBV3&dchild=1&keywords=sensor+cleaner&qid=1602529282&sprefix=sensor+cl%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-63

[jaapv]

That is not the right type. For thin stack Leica sensors you need the Sony type. Leica uses the Pentax lollipop. 

[michali]

I would be very wary of anything that sticks to the sensor, unless you're a Leica technician. Especially with IBIS & a moving sensor. Plenty horror stories about how many people have damaged their sensors due to user error or product being stickier than expected or not sticky enough.  There are safer options.

I've previously posted the wet cleaning method which I've used over the past 10 months that I've had the SL2.

For ease of reference I repeat it below:

 1. Insert a fully charged battery.

 2. Turn IBIS OFF. 

 3. Power Saving > Auto Power set to OFF. 

 4. Camera ON  -make sure my  fingers are nowhere near the shutter button. (Camera ON is important as it locks the sensor into place & there's no sensor movement. I've briefly experimented with the camera OFF  & can feel the sensor moving).

 5. A few blows with the Rocket Blower.

 6. Several passes with about 3 Visible Dust Green Swabs  and   Smear Away liquid sensor cleaning solution -not too much pressure, that's why I use more swabs than normal.

 7. A few more passes with 3 more Visible Dust Green Swabs with Sensor Clean liquid sensor cleaning solution - to remove any streaks left by the Smear Away.

 8. A few more blows with the Rocket Blower & then sweep with Arctic Butterfly (optional).

 9. All clean.

10. Turn IBIS & Auto Power back ON. 

I use approx. double the amount of swabs than I would have normally used on the M10, Monochrom or SL601, as I apply less pressure for fear of damaging the sensor. 

[SrMi]

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8 hours ago, michali said:

I would be very wary of anything that sticks to the sensor, unless you're a Leica technician. Especially with IBIS & a moving sensor. Plenty horror stories about how many people have damaged their sensors due to user error or product being stickier than expected or not sticky enough.  There are safer options.

I've previously posted the wet cleaning method which I've used over the past 10 months that I've had the SL2.

For ease of reference I repeat it below:

 1. Insert a fully charged battery.

 2. Turn IBIS OFF. 

 3. Power Saving > Auto Power set to OFF. 

 4. Camera ON  -make sure my  fingers are nowhere near the shutter button. (Camera ON is important as it locks the sensor into place & there's no sensor movement. I've briefly experimented with the camera OFF  & can feel the sensor moving).

 5. A few blows with the Rocket Blower.

 6. Several passes with about 3 Visible Dust Green Swabs  and   Smear Away liquid sensor cleaning solution -not too much pressure, that's why I use more swabs than normal.

 7. A few more passes with 3 more Visible Dust Green Swabs with Sensor Clean liquid sensor cleaning solution - to remove any streaks left by the Smear Away.

 8. A few more blows with the Rocket Blower & then sweep with Arctic Butterfly (optional).

 9. All clean.

10. Turn IBIS & Auto Power back ON. 

I use approx. double the amount of swabs than I would have normally used on the M10, Monochrom or SL601, as I apply less pressure for fear of damaging the sensor. 

Good suggestions. I make an additional attempt/step before using wet cleaning (step 6.):

5.1 A swipe or two with Arctic Butterfly 

Other points:

- Remember to check if the sensor is still dirty before proceeding to the next step of cleaning.

- Turn on the electronic shutter (to prevent accidental mechanical shutter operation).

- Keep the camera upside down when using Rocket Blower.

 

 

[Eclectic Man]

I asked the Leica store in London via e-mail.  Their reply states:

"We can provide sensor cleans in our UK workshop on systems cameras (with interchangeable lenses) and you are entitled to two complimentary sensor cleans per calendar year (from the 1^st of January to the 31^st of December). From the third sensor clean onwards, the charge is £50 inc. VAT."

Only got the e-mail this evening, so don't know how long it takes etc. And I guess this only applies in the UK, as other jurisdictions will use different currency at the least.  I don't know whether the number of cleans per year is per camera (I have SL2 and CL) or just per owner

(Checking my Canon 5DIII, an SLR with mirror and shutter between the open lens mount and the sensor when I change lenses, there is dust on that, despite the auto dust removal vibration on start-up and shut down. So it is not just mirrorless cameras that suffer, and vibrations do not always completely clean the sensor.)