Sensor wet cleaning

[Shu_downunder]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Apparently the sensor of my M246 need a good cleaning. Lot's of dust on it and the blower is useless for them.

I just need to purchase a couple of 24mm cleaning brush with fluid. Is that correct? Any recommendations please?

[jaeger]

Use a blower first.  Cheap swap will work and then apply the so call solution which is only pure alcohol.  
 

[Shu_downunder]

45 minutes ago, jaeger said:

Use a blower first.  Cheap swap will work and then apply the so call solution which is only pure alcohol.  
 

I see. I tried with my lens brush, and, it left some more marks😵

[Hans-Dieter Gülicher]

vor 41 Minuten schrieb Shu_downunder:

I see. I tried with my lens brush, and, it left some more marks😵

My experience, too. Look for a professional cleaner and pay some money. Its the better way to avoid trouble and should save your nerves.

By the way, ethanol or isopropanol does not solve dirt particles. They will be spread over the surface (the above mentioned marks).

Regards

[jaeger]

7 hours ago, Shu_downunder said:

I see. I tried with my lens brush, and, it left some more marks😵

Skin oil is all over the brush, that's why.  The swap should work, swap and discard (don't do a 2nd run).  2nd swap opposite direction also discard immediately.  The oil should be all gone on its third swap.  After it's oil free, dust cleaning only require 1 swap. 

Edited May 26, 2021 by jaeger

[plaidshirts]

This is what I've used to clean sensors when a blower isn't quite enough. https://www.amazon.com/VSGO-Camera-Cleaning-Sensor-Cleaner/dp/B08D6CVPB4/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3HK9VKI9Y3HCF&dchild=1&keywords=vsgo+full+frame+sensor+cleaning+kit&qid=1622036991&sprefix=vsgo%2Caps%2C235&sr=8-3

[Shu_downunder]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

7 hours ago, Hans-Dieter Gülicher said:

 Look for a professional cleaner and pay some money. Its the better way to avoid trouble and should save your nerves.

 

That's what I though initially. But considering I have 3 sensors to clean, it makes more sense for me to develop this skill.

[Shu_downunder]

1 hour ago, jaeger said:

Skin oil is all over the brush, that's why.  The swap should work, swap and discard (don't do a 2nd run).  2nd swap opposite direction also discard immediately.  The oil should be all gone on its third swap.  After it's oil free, dust cleaning only require 1 swap. 

Thanks. Do you mean do 3 swaps using one new swab each time?

[Shu_downunder]

24 minutes ago, plaidshirts said:

This is what I've used to clean sensors when a blower isn't quite enough. https://www.amazon.com/VSGO-Camera-Cleaning-Sensor-Cleaner/dp/B08D6CVPB4/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3HK9VKI9Y3HCF&dchild=1&keywords=vsgo+full+frame+sensor+cleaning+kit&qid=1622036991&sprefix=vsgo%2Caps%2C235&sr=8-3

Thanks, I placed order.

[jaeger]

41 minutes ago, Shu_downunder said:

Thanks. Do you mean do 3 swaps using one new swab each time?

to remove oil, 1 swap 1 pass, throw away.  A second pass will put the oil back, making sense?  You should see it's clear on the 3rd run. 

[Shu_downunder]

Something I did must be wrong. I tried scarily 14 swaps. One swab each time. I took 4 shots during these 14 swaps. The dots on the shots were initially reducing, but then increasing. 

The only thing which is a relief is that most of the dots on the image are changing each time. IE, not something that cannot be removed.

I dropped 3 big drops or 4 small drops of cleaner liquid to the swab each time.

One thing bothers me is that the sensor is quite deep, and the more towards the end of each swap, the higher the angle the swab to the sensor. It's not possible to keep a 60 degree as per the instruction.

[a.noctilux]

Shu, sorry to hear that the cleaning was not effective with 14 swabs.

Strange !

...

Maybe take the advices from a professional "cleaner", near you.

 

I use since 2007, same type of swab + liquid on my multiple Leica and before that Canon EOS (deeper access to sensor) with 100% success.

Reidl sensor swab + Eclipse liquid

Sometimes, I need two or three swabs but each time with success.

[Shu_downunder]

Thanks a lot! I ordered the Reidl one just now. Hopefully it worth the additional cost. 
Have nothing else to try anyway, we are in locking down again...

 

[marchyman]

All this talk of sensor cleaning had me feeling smug in that a couple of blast from a rocket blower is all I've ever needed.   You can guess what happened.

Took a shot of a plane in the blue sky today.  Saw several bits of dust in the image.  Large bits of dust.  Large bits of dust that won't blow away no matter how many times I use my rocket blower.  Just order the wet cleaning kit.   It's time.

Comment about the Dust Detection Image shown on my M 262.  The Leica firmware shows a graphic of the lens mounting ring with red alignment dot as well as the sensor and detected dust spots.   However, the spots are in the same location as the images I took.   I know that I need to swap top/bottom to figure out where the dust actually is on the sensor.  I'm surprised the Leica firmware didn't do that for me.

 

[jaeger]

On 5/30/2021 at 8:37 AM, a.noctilux said:

I use since 2007, same type of swab + liquid on my multiple Leica and before that Canon EOS (deeper access to sensor) with 100% success.

Reidl sensor swab + Eclipse liquid

Sometimes, I need two or three swabs but each time with success.

Oh boy why on Earth Reidi cost 70 euros?  I use something 1/10 the price without issues.

On 5/30/2021 at 7:56 AM, Shu_downunder said:

I tried scarily 14 swaps. One swab each time.

should have use the same swab after it's oil free.  did you use compress-air to blow the sensor (and the mount) upside down?  blow the back of the lens?  did you touch the swab?  I only use 1 swab per camera per clean.  Usually 2-3 pass with 1 swab is all it takes.  I use the corner or the swab to pin point cleaning if needed, super light brush thru the spot. 

[Herr Barnack]

@Shu_downunder   Here is what I use to clean my sensors.  I would recommend these:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/259157-REG/Giottos_AA1900_Rocket_Air_Blower.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/127525-REG/Photographic_Solutions_EC_Eclipse_Optic_Lens_Cleaning.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1165567-REG/photographic_solutions_us3box_ultra_swab_type_3.html

I use the blower, then put 3 drops of Eclipse fluid (evenly spaced) on one cleaning edge of the swab, rotate it 180 degrees and put 2 drops  (evenly spaced) on the other edge.  I wait 10-15 seconds for the fluid to evenly wick into the swab, holding the swab cleaning edge up so gravity can help.  Then I start at one edge of the sensor and squeegee to the other side, then reverse the path of the swab, using the unused edge for the return pass. 

This process has always worked well for me.  I remember only 1-2 times in 5 years having to clean a sensor a second time to get it 100% clean.  Air quality and other factors affecting sensors will vary by location, but in my area, I have only had to clean my sensors about twice per year. 

Hope this information will help - give the above process a try and let us know how it turns out.

Edited June 5, 2021 by Herr Barnack

[jmahto]

On 5/25/2021 at 9:24 PM, Shu_downunder said:

Apparently the sensor of my M246 need a good cleaning. Lot's of dust on it and the blower is useless for them.

I just need to purchase a couple of 24mm cleaning brush with fluid. Is that correct? Any recommendations please?

I guess knowing when it is “clean enough” is most important. 
And never use very old swabs. The liquid deteriorates over time. And one last thing. Never be afraid to touch the sensor with swab. A good cleaning requires a firm swipe. 😁

[marchyman]

23 hours ago, jmahto said:

I guess knowing when it is “clean enough” is most important.

Starting point on my M 262

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Not good enough using only a sensor brush

After one back and forth with a wet swab

 

I call that good enough.  

[jmahto]

On 6/19/2021 at 2:38 PM, marchyman said:

I call that good enough.

Of course. I also pay less attention to the spots on top part of sensor. Those are hardly visible in usual landscape pic (image on sensor is upside down). Spots on lower part show up against the sky and may need cleaning. 

Edited June 22, 2021 by jmahto

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[jaeger]

my computer screen is too dusty to display any clean sensor...

JK, yeah it's good enough to me. 

Edited June 22, 2021 by jaeger