A plug for Artic Butterfly 724 and Sensor Loupe

[stunsworth]

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I've just bought these from a UK supplier and I'm very impressed. The Loupe made identifying the dust a breeze and the brush made removing it easy too. Highly recommended products IMHO - and a forum sponsor.

 

Their mark-ups must be tremendous though.

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[guywalder]

 

Their mark-ups must be tremendous though.

 

hmm, I thought that as well! I was also surprised how big the artic butterfly is!! I reckon it should be half the size...

Guy

[ho_co]

Guy--

Butterflies have to be quite large to be able to withstand the arctic cold.

 

(And to get that deep into your pocket...)

 

--HC

[chris_tribble]

I'm also really happy with this combination - I've said elsewhere that with both Canon DSLRs and 2 M8 bodies I've never needed to use wet sensor cleaning - always used Visible Dust brushes... Now I've got the loupe it's even easier.

[ho_co]

Help me here, please:

 

How does one approach the Arctic Butterfly If one has both a D200 with a 3/2 crop factor and an M8 with a 4/3 crop factor?

 

That is, the company recommends different models for those two sensor sizes. If I want to buy and use a single Arctic Butterfly for both, would it be better to buy the one recommended for the smaller sensor, or the one recommended for the larger sensor?

 

Thanks!

 

--HC

[colorflow]

My 724 only succeeded in adding dust to the sensor. Never used it a second time. Perhaps it is affected by ambient conditions such as humidity?

 

Alan

[wlaidlaw]

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I am wondering about an Arctic Butterfly, especially if I go to Namibia in October. What worries me is that the reported results seem at such odds with each other. Some say they work brilliantly and others say they actually make the sensor dirtier. The sensor loupe seems a really good idea to me. I have been trying to use a 10x slide loupe reversed but the lack of illumination makes it of questionable value. I do have DustAid stikkies but the one time I used them, I seemed to get a very faint line left on the sensor, which took three PecPad wands and E2 to remove, so I have not used since. This might have been because the sensor was very oil spotted at the time. If you had a very dusty/sandy sensor, DustAids might still make sense, in order to remove the dust with no wiping action, prior to using PecPad wands.

 

Wilson

[carstenw]

I have been using my Arctic Butterfly for months now, with only positive results. If the sensor ends up worse than when you started, either it wasn't used correctly, or it has been contaminated. When used correctly, the dust leaves the brush before use.

[Baxter]

Artic Butterfly and the Sensor Loupe work really well together as I have stated on other threads. It is an easy, quick and very effective set up and I do not regret the initial expense at all.

 

It isn't the complete solution for cleanliness, since a wet system is also needed for oil/grease marks which arise less frequently. I use the sensor swabs and fluid which were packaged with the Artic Butterfly kit (from Warehouse Express), soon learning that it is ok to press quite hard on the sensor for effective cleaning with one swab. First attempt took 3 swabs and I was not looking forward at all to funding the rigmarole!

 

When I showed the Sensor Loupe to staff at Robert White's, they were immediately impressed and will be stocking them soon.

[colorflow]

I have been using my Arctic Butterfly for months now, with only positive results. If the sensor ends up worse than when you started, either it wasn't used correctly, or it has been contaminated. When used correctly, the dust leaves the brush before use.

 

I followed instructions - spinning it before use, and it is brand new so shouldn't be contaminated. So how do I use it correctly???

 

Alan

[wlaidlaw]

I followed instructions - spinning it before use, and it is brand new so shouldn't be contaminated. So how do I use it correctly???

 

Alan

 

I did wonder if you used an Arctic Butterfly on an oil spotted sensor, would that not contaminate the brush?

 

Wilson

[carstenw]

That would, yes. Spinning it too shortly also doesn't add enough static to pick up dust. If there is a lot of dust in the housing, it might also be relocated. I once had to use my brush several times, perhaps as much as 10, before it finally got the rest out. One just has to be patient and keep at it. I much prefer the brush to other solutions because it is so gentle. I have not had oil on my sensor yet, knock on wood.

[wlaidlaw]

That would, yes. I have not had oil on my sensor yet, knock on wood.

 

Another big blob from the oil fairy today. Two wands to clean it off. I had hoped now I am over 2,000 images it might have stopped but it seems not.

 

Wilson

[colorflow]

That would, yes. Spinning it too shortly also doesn't add enough static to pick up dust. If there is a lot of dust in the housing, it might also be relocated. I once had to use my brush several times, perhaps as much as 10, before it finally got the rest out. One just has to be patient and keep at it. I much prefer the brush to other solutions because it is so gentle. I have not had oil on my sensor yet, knock on wood.

 

Not trying to discredit the Arctic Butterfly, but I tried repeatedly 5 or 6 times and it still left dry dust. I finally gave up and blew the dust off with the Giotto, a much faster solution when the chamber itself is not too dusty. I suspect humidity probably affects how easily it charges up.

 

Alan

[gravastar]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this before but one way of getting oil on the sensor is from particles of human skin. Initially they look like ordinary dust but if left for some days they become surrounded by a dark diffuse patch as the oil migrates from the skin. If you're quick you can blow or brush them off but they sometimes leave a patch behind and I've found wet cleaning is the only way to remove the residue.

 

Bob.