M8 dust risk and camera back-up strategy ?

[erl]

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An obvious, but often overlooked, tip that made a huge difference for me is to make sure that the sensor is pointing at the ground while the lens is off the camera.

 

After all, they didn't invent gravity for nothing! ;-))

 

I guess we all fell for that!

[wbesz]

As JC has already mentioned, cleaning with an electrostatic charged brush is routine and easy.

 

The new version is called Arctic Butterfly, not cheap but worth having.

 

"they didn't invent gravity for nothing!"

Gravity does not apply so much in the case of the electronic image sensor because when in a charged state it attracts dust like a magnet, regardless of gravity.

 

These special brushes are charged in the opposite polarity, so just a simple swipe does the trick!

 

See here: http://www.visibledust.com/

 

Cheers, William

[sean_reid]

As JC has already mentioned, cleaning with an electrostatic charged brush is routine and easy.

 

The new version is called Arctic Butterfly, not cheap but worth having.

 

"they didn't invent gravity for nothing!"

Gravity does not apply so much in the case of the electronic image sensor because when in a charged state it attracts dust like a magnet, regardless of gravity.

 

These special brushes are charged in the opposite polarity, so just a simple swipe does the trick!

 

See here: http://www.visibledust.com/

 

Cheers, William

 

I second the Visible Dust suggestion.

 

I spent much more time dusting off negatives with a Staticmaster brush than I spend cleaning sensors. One way or another in photography, one ends up dealing with dust on the "emulsion" (even a virtual emulsion). The Olympus system does help a lot but it doesn't completely eliminate the need to clean periodically.

 

Sean

[dhsimmonds]

I can confirm that the DMR sensor does not seem to attract dust like the Canon DSLR's but it is very easy to access and clean if (when?) you do.

 

You do not need to return the DMR to Leica for sensor cleaning as there is a section in the manual with step by step instructions on how to clean the sensor and Leica recommended cleaning tools.

 

The latest R zoom lenses are terrific and would reduce the need to change too often but I know of pro's using the DMR who have not cleaned sensors in over a year! I think that the viewfinder screen is likely to attract more dust!

 

Cheers, Dave

[marknorton]

It's good to maintain a cleanliness regime - always use lens and body caps, vacuum out your camera bag, turn your back to the wind when changing lenses.

 

Because of the electrostatic thing, it's also as good idea to turn off the camera before changing lenses.

 

But, at the end of the day, the Artic and Sensor Swabs will do a fine job.

[masjah]

It's good to maintain a cleanliness regime - always use lens and body caps, vacuum out your camera bag, turn your back to the wind when changing lenses.

 

Because of the electrostatic thing, it's also as good idea to turn off the camera before changing lenses.

 

But, at the end of the day, the Artic and Sensor Swabs will do a fine job.

 

Mark

 

Would you (or anyone else for that matter) by any chance know how long it might take for accumulated charge to leak away after switching-off? If reasonably short, your suggestion to switch-off before changing lenses is an admirable one - I'm sure static charge has a lot to do with it. (Just look at the dust on the front of a CRT!)

[marknorton]

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A weak electrostatic field will exist on the surface of the sensor by virtue of the electrical activity - and especially the DC bias voltages used to drive the chip - happening on the other side. A microscopic distortion of the electrical equilibrium which exists at the sub-atomic level but overall enough to attract particles which have themselves become charged through friction with the air.

 

It's also been suggested that microscopic particles from the shutter itself may find their way on to the sensor.

 

I don't have any proof that switching the camera off makes a difference but I do maintain this cleanliness regime, I do switch my cameras off before changing lenses and I'm not greatly troubled by dust.

 

I think some sort of contact cleaning is essential. Using a blower just moves it around and some dust - like pollen - is sticky and adheres to the sensor. For me, a quick wipe with a sensor swab is all it needs.

[sean_reid]

A weak electrostatic field will exist on the surface of the sensor by virtue of the electrical activity - snip.

 

I also am one who always switches my cameras off before changing lenses.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[fotografr]

An obvious, but often overlooked, tip that made a huge difference for me is to make sure that the sensor is pointing at the ground while the lens is off the camera.

 

After all, they didn't invent gravity for nothing! ;-))

 

That's good advice. With the M8, I'd also suggest keeping the rear element of all lenses clean and pointing the camera toward the ground when changing lenses.

 

I've used Sensor Swabs and Sensor Brushes to clean sensors on my digital cameras for many years and have never had a problem. Kinetronics makes a product called SpeckGRABBER that is useful for getting larger pieces of grit or dust off the sensor. Keep in mind you are not actually touching the silicon when you do the cleaning. The sensors all have a thin glass shield over the silicon. It can be scratched if you're careless but is also pretty easy to effectively clean.