Sensor cleaning

[Guest]

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Hi all,

Do you clean your Leica M digital sensors yourself or send to Leica when needed?

I haven’t tried DIY cleaning before, but being without camera for months due to this seems silly.

Which kit makes it simple and easy? And without risk of damaging the sensor. 

Thanks,

Mads

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[jdlaing]

Do a search here and you’ll find a wealth of information on cleaning. 

[PhoToad]

I do it by myself. If removing dust with a rocket blower doesn't help, I use a kit similar to that:

https://www.amazon.com/-/de/dp/B000QUYERE/ref=sr_1_8?crid=3SKQ5C2A2ZX5R&keywords=eyelead+sensor+cleaning+kit&qid=1675703377&sprefix=eyelea%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-8&language=en_US

I have a kit of a different brand that also works well, but Leica recommend the Pentax kit for some reason. In fact, they also provide information on sensor cleaning during their workshops, so they don't really expect people sending their cameras in just for sensor cleaning. There are many video tutorials in the internet demonstrating the cleaning procedure, e.g. this one:

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Leica+camera+australia+sensor+cleaning+youtube&atb=v317-1&iax=videos&ia=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DI6waEMfjnMI.

If done carefully, there is no risk to the sensor. 

For better detecting the dust on the sensor, you may use this one:

https://visibledust.com/products/quasar-r-5x-sensor-loupe-magnifier-with-dark-adaptation-technology/.

Hope this helps.

[jaapv]

Just before I saw this thread I ran an Eyelead gel stick over my SL sensor - 30 seconds and done... Once or twice a year I do a wet clean of all my cameras to get the haze off the sensor. It doesn't take much more time to do so, really. I fail to see what the big deal is; shaving in the morning is more of a hassle.

There is a cleaning "manual" in the FAQ.

[jaapv]

At any rate, even if you cannot run up the courage to clean the sensor yourself, there is no earthly reason to wait months to get your sensor cleaned. Most if not all camera shops run a cleaning service, including Leica stores and Leica Wetzlar, often whilst-you-wait. 

[Herr Barnack]

I have always done my own sensor cleaning and have never had a bad outcome from doing it myself.  Here is a blog entry I wrote for my website regarding sensor cleaning:

 

Digital Camera Sensor Cleaning

Digital cameras have sensors; unless your camera has a built in dust reduction system, sooner or later your sensor will need to be cleaned - it's inevitable.  Then what?? 

It's a lot quicker, easier and less costly to do it yourself - if you follow your camera manual instructions exactly and are careful, you can successfully clean your camera's sensor yourself.  A lot of photographers fear damaging their sensor and will do about anything to avoid cleaning it themselves.  However, there is no reason to be afraid to do this procedure yourself, provided you do it properly.

You will need the right sensor cleaning supplies - I use Eclipse Optic Cleaning Fluid and Photosol Sensorswab Ultra sensor cleaning swabs.  If your camera has a full frame (24x36mm ) sensor, you will need the Type 3 swabs; they are 24 mm wide, as is your sensor.  APS-C and smaller sensors will need smaller swabs.  Photosol's website has information that will help you determine which swab is right for your camera.

One of the most important factors in successful sensor cleaning is to perform this procedure in a clean, dust free environment.  Not many of us have access to a clean room such as computer manufacturers build computers in.  If your home has airborne dust issues you will need to clean your sensor in an environment where dust is less of a problem (you can check for airborne dust by looking through the beam of a bright flashlight at night; if you see a lot of dust particles dancing in the air, you should probably go elsewhere to clean your sensor).  Where would that be?  Try a museum or a library; find a spot away from frequent foot traffic, entries and exits and away from heating and cooling ducts that will cause airflow that will stir up any dust that may be present.. 

Another important point is this - do not use compressed air ("canned air") to blow dust from your sensor before cleaning.  Canned air can spray liquid propellant onto your sensor cover glass, something you do not want to happen.  That liquid can also get behind the sensor and into the electronic components of your camera.  If that happens, you are in for a serious repair bill.  Instead of canned air, use a blower bulb like the Giottos Rocket Blaster, which will safely remove loose dust particles from your sensor.

The sensor swabs I use are dry, which means I need to apply the proper cleaning fluid to them before use.  Too much cleaning fluid can damage the electronics inside your camera, so proceed with caution.  I have found that four drops on the 24mm wide swabs my camera requires is sufficient (two drops on one side and two more drops on the opposite side); apply the fluid at the cleaning edge of the swab and hold it cleaning edge up for 10 seconds to allow the fluid to uniformly wick throughout the cleaning edge of the swab.  Again, follow the directions that come with your swabs and cleaning fluid to the letter.

Each camera has a specific procedure for sensor cleaning; if you precisely adhere to the instructions in your camera manual, you should have a successful sensor cleaning result.  If there are still spots on your sensor after cleaning, you can re-clean the sensor provided your camera manual does not advise against doing so (I once ended up with an eyelash on my sensor that required two cleanings to remove; the first try simply moved it closer to the center of the sensor; this happens sometimes).

If you follow the directions in your camera manual and in your swab and cleaning fluid to the letter, you should have no problems cleaning your sensor at home (or at your local museum or library, if need be).

 

DISCLAIMER                                                                                                      

The above description of sensor cleaning is simply a description of how I clean my sensor; it is not intended as training or professional advice in sensor cleaning.  Always follow the directions in your camera manual and in your sensor cleaning materials to the letter.  When in doubt, contact your camera manufacturer for advice on sensor cleaning, or return your camera to the manufacturer's repair department for sensor cleaning.  The author accepts no responsibility for any damage resulting from do it yourself sensor cleaning.  When in doubt, contact your camera manufacturer to return your camera to the manufacturer's repair department for professional sensor cleaning.

 

Edited February 7, 2023 by Herr Barnack

[Einst_Stein]

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I do my own cleaning after seeing how the nearby Leica store in San Francisco cleaning it.

Here some important points:

1: The first step is to remove the dust or any dry stuffs. 
    - Do not blow it, as it only leaves the dust s9mewhere in the camera cavity, bound to be back somewhere. 
    - I tried gel and electrified brush. Electric brush works better. At least I do not put much pressure to the sensor at all. 
       It feels particularly better  on sensors with anti vibration which moves it pressed.

    - The electrified brush is merely a brush with spinning motor. You spin the brush first, which put electric charge on the brush, you then brush the sensor surface, literally no pressure on the sensor. The brush than sucks the dirt on it, After removing the brush from the sensor ( out of the camera),  you spin it again to release the dirt. Repeat this several time,

2: The second step is to move oil on the sensor, if any. Using the san call cleaning swab and eye glass cleaning liquid. 
    There are two sizes of swab. Use the large one. The width is about the longer dimension of ASP-C and the shorter of FF. 
    Always use a new one and dispose it after finished.
     I use Zeiss eye glass cleaning liquid, it is basically 5% alcohol. I think you can get a big bottle for $3. 
     You spray the Zeiss cleaning liquid with about half spray directly to edge half of one side of the swab. Not too much.. It should make half of that side wet. You then wipe the sensor at about 45degree across the sensor in one direction. The swab may bend a little,  do not push it all the way. Do not swipe back. It is OK to repeat it several times but always in one direction.

      You should see the sensor surface get wet and quickly dried. If you see the sensor get covered by a thin layer of liquidity, you are using too much cleaner. It is Ok, but try to avoid that.

      You then use the dry side of the swab to further dry the sensor. you do not swipe the liquid off the surface, you merely let the dry swab to suck the liquid so that the sensor can dry faster.

THEN YOU ARE DONE. 
     

[Almizilero]

How often do you clean your sensors? I can‘t seem to get rid of dust. I never had much of a problem with dust on other cameras, but the Leicas, and the M10 especially, seem to be dust magnets. Problem is, I can‘t even see the dust. Usually, I can see at least the larger specs, but no, sensor seems clean, but lots and lots of dots and hairs in the pictures. 

so far, I only used a blower, guess I‘ll have to move to swabs. Which will be a pain during travels, if I have to use it every other day.  

[CSG123]

Does Leica put glass in front of the sensor like other digital cameras?  If so, you're really just cleaning glass.  While I don't have a digital Leica (I shoot an M4), I regularly clean the APS-C sensors in my Fuji and Nikon cameras.  I just use the paddle kits you can buy from Amazon/BH, etc.  The paddles are sized for the sensor and most come with a cleaning solution.  A drop, maybe two on the edge of the paddle.  The technique is shown in countless videos and website.  Couldn't be easier to do.  Just be mindful and focused on the task.

IF Leica DOESN'T have a glass cover over their sensor, do NOT pay any attention to what I just wrote!

 

[Infantasy]

On 2/7/2023 at 8:33 AM, Einst_Stein said:

I do my own cleaning after seeing how the nearby Leica store in San Francisco cleaning it.

Here some important points:

1: The first step is to remove the dust or any dry stuffs. 
    - Do not blow it, as it only leaves the dust s9mewhere in the camera cavity, bound to be back somewhere. 
    - I tried gel and electrified brush. Electric brush works better. At least I do not put much pressure to the sensor at all. 
       It feels particularly better  on sensors with anti vibration which moves it pressed.

    - The electrified brush is merely a brush with spinning motor. You spin the brush first, which put electric charge on the brush, you then brush the sensor surface, literally no pressure on the sensor. The brush than sucks the dirt on it, After removing the brush from the sensor ( out of the camera),  you spin it again to release the dirt. Repeat this several time,

2: The second step is to move oil on the sensor, if any. Using the san call cleaning swab and eye glass cleaning liquid. 
    There are two sizes of swab. Use the large one. The width is about the longer dimension of ASP-C and the shorter of FF. 
    Always use a new one and dispose it after finished.
     I use Zeiss eye glass cleaning liquid, it is basically 5% alcohol. I think you can get a big bottle for $3. 
     You spray the Zeiss cleaning liquid with about half spray directly to edge half of one side of the swab. Not too much.. It should make half of that side wet. You then wipe the sensor at about 45degree across the sensor in one direction. The swab may bend a little,  do not push it all the way. Do not swipe back. It is OK to repeat it several times but always in one direction.

      You should see the sensor surface get wet and quickly dried. If you see the sensor get covered by a thin layer of liquidity, you are using too much cleaner. It is Ok, but try to avoid that.

      You then use the dry side of the swab to further dry the sensor. you do not swipe the liquid off the surface, you merely let the dry swab to suck the liquid so that the sensor can dry faster.

THEN YOU ARE DONE. 
     

I also had this idea some times ago but didn't know how to realize the idea. Would you describe more, if possible with sketch, how to mount and electrify the brush. Thank you in advance.

[jimofnyc]

I have an M8 (new in 2007) and an M10 (new in 2017) and I have never touched the sensors.  I never leave the cameras without a body cap or lens attached.  I only switch lenses in a clean environment and have the cameras facing down during lens changes. The M8 has a nice oily blob on its sensor - direct from the factory but it only shows up at small apertures.  I photoshop away any specks or oil shadows.  I never want to get near the delicate sensor or shutter curtains unless absolutely necessary.

[pippy]

As it happens I'm just about to clean the sensors on the MD and MM as they both have accumulated rather too many spots for my liking and retouching is now a right-royal PITA. I'll do the usual routine; Rocket-Blower (with camera-body facing downwards) first-off then check to see whether a wet-clean is required. I suspect there will be a need. Usually one or two passes with the swab-stick suffices but on occasion I've done up to five to get the things really spotless.

There has been one time where, for some unknown reason, I couldn't shift quite a fair amount of crud and so took the body in for a pro-clean. I was slightly apprehensive because it was the M-D which needed treatment and to get access to the cover-glass is very different from The Norm so I printed-out the instructions for the repair-person's benefit. Came back perfect so needn't have worried at all.

Philip.

Edited June 6, 2023 by pippy

[charlesphoto99]

24 minutes ago, jimofnyc said:

I have an M8 (new in 2007) and an M10 (new in 2017) and I have never touched the sensors.  I never leave the cameras without a body cap or lens attached.  I only switch lenses in a clean environment and have the cameras facing down during lens changes. The M8 has a nice oily blob on its sensor - direct from the factory but it only shows up at small apertures.  I photoshop away any specks or oil shadows.  I never want to get near the delicate sensor or shutter curtains unless absolutely necessary.

Ok, you be you, but if I had to only switch lenses in a 'clean environment' and constantly spot out dust and oil on everything, I would have given up on photography (or M's) a long time ago. It's important for users to learn how to clean their own sensors, and the M's sensors are more robust than many seem to think. 

[jimofnyc]

I am me for sure.  I actually never had to spot out dust, just that oil spot on the M8's sensor.  If I did have to spot out dust that would mean that dust is getting past the shutter and if I had that problem enough that I had to clean the sensor a lot that would mean to me that there must be a constant incursion of dust into the delicate workings of the camera.  I have worked on quite a few delicate instruments during my career and my experience is that the less I exposed them to dust in the first place the better it will be for the life of that mechanism.   I know I will probably have to get down and dirty with cleaning the sensor at some point but until then I try not to be the bull in the china shop.

[FotoMonkey]

Thanks for the Pentax link! I just got a M10 this week and downloaded my first images. Man, this thing has 3-4 spots with 1 of them being pretty big.  I was looking forward to going out and shooting a lot but I'll have a lot of dust removal to do in post. Fortunately, Amazon will have the kit to me overnight.

[Stevejack]

12 hours ago, FotoMonkey said:

Thanks for the Pentax link! I just got a M10 this week and downloaded my first images. Man, this thing has 3-4 spots with 1 of them being pretty big.  I was looking forward to going out and shooting a lot but I'll have a lot of dust removal to do in post. Fortunately, Amazon will have the kit to me overnight.

Yep, I feel your pain - I picked up a well used M10-D recently and the sensor is incredibly dirty, with a haze film over the surface which is clearly visible when I shine a light on it. I don't think it has ever been cleaned. A rocket blower didn't shift any of the major spots so I'll be doing a wet clean this weekend as well. 

[FotoMonkey]

@Stevejack Man, sorry to hear that. Sounds like you definitely need a wet clean for that. I seriously lucked out. I got the kit and blower overnight and gave it about 3-4 solid puffs which seemed to clear everything up. I'm totally stoked I didn't have to touch the sensor. Good luck with your cleaning. 🤞for an easy job so you can get out and enjoy it. The 10-D is gorgeous.