Is anyone's sensor ever "perfectly" clean?

[Vistech]

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I've successfully cleaned DSLR sensors for years, but find it next to impossible to get my M11 Monochrom speck free.

After trying several brands, I've had the most "success" using Sensor Swabs and Eclipse, and a filtered hand blower, but inevitably find a few specks of lint remain. I'm guessing that most of us settle for cleaning up work in post, but was wondering if anyone has actually found a system or methodology that leaves nothing behind. 

Edited August 9, 2024 by Vistech
Spelling correction

[SrMi]

How do you determine that the sensor is clean or not?

[Viv]

1 minute ago, SrMi said:

How do you determine that the sensor is clean or not?

Shoot a white background at f./16.

Edited August 9, 2024 by Viv

[Pieter12]

Shoot an even-tone (if possible) subject--like the sky or a wall or even a sheet of mat board. Make sure it is out of focus.

[Vistech]

I shoot a photo of the sky at f/16. Import it into Lightroom, and use the visualize spots tool. It's a great tool that show spots instantly. The camera is certainly usable. I was just wondering if anybody had a cleaning tool or methodology that really left no dust or lint behind.  

[SrMi]

I use a Sensor Loupe and if I do not see significant dust pieces, I consider the sensor clean enough. The f/16 method with visualize spots may be too picky 😁.

[Pieter12]

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52 minutes ago, Vistech said:

I shoot a photo of the sky at f/16. Import it into Lightroom, and use the visualize spots tool. It's a great tool that show spots instantly. The camera is certainly usable. I was just wondering if anybody had a cleaning tool or methodology that really left no dust or lint behind.  

The dealer or a reputable camera shop or technician. Otherwise, a Pec-Pad moistened with Aeroclipse. Those sticky probe works well to remove a few obvious dust specks, too.

 

[Vistech]

I actually tried the Pentax O-ICK1 sticky probe. I'm aware that others happily use them, but for me they left a residue. The residue was eventually removable with a swab and Visible Dust Sensor Cleaner, but issues of residual lint were reintroduced by the swab. If there is another sticky probe brand that somebody can recommend, I'd give it a try.

[jaapv]

Years ago I used a surgical microscope. I did indeed get the sensor completely dustfree, but after 5 minutes some small dust particles reappeared. 

[Ko.Fe.]

Most of all DSLRs and mirrorless have sensor with high frequency shaking to keep particles not sticking.

Every time camera turns on and off. 

You wet clean it, dry it and sensor gets shacked twice to remove the rest, before your first test shot after cleaning.

M doesn't have it. 

Also I never had any luck with Eclipse or overpriced swabs. Just ninety something percent alcohol , fresh bottle.

And dedicated for cleaning tissues I discovered at engineering departments in tv stations. Green and white box. Forgot the name.

I saw how alcohol was evaporating after few seconds without leaving any smearing , not what Eclipse could do.

[Pieter12]

1 hour ago, Ko.Fe. said:

Most of all DSLRs and mirrorless have sensor with high frequency shaking to keep particles not sticking.

Every time camera turns on and off. 

You wet clean it, dry it and sensor gets shacked twice to remove the rest, before your first test shot after cleaning.

M doesn't have it. 

Also I never had any luck with Eclipse or overpriced swabs. Just ninety something percent alcohol , fresh bottle.

And dedicated for cleaning tissues I discovered at engineering departments in tv stations. Green and white box. Forgot the name.

I saw how alcohol was evaporating after few seconds without leaving any smearing , not what Eclipse could do.

Kim Wipes.

[jankap]

What about moving with your family into a cleanroom?

Edited August 10, 2024 by jankap

[pgk]

None of my cameras have particularly clean sensors. I brush them when the spots become too tedious to deal with in Photoshop, but generally I think that some dust has to be lived with (or it does if you change lenses as often as I do).

[marchyman]

21 hours ago, Vistech said:

I've successfully cleaned DSLR sensors for years, but find it next to impossible to get my M11 Monochrom speck free.

If I don't need to clean up dust spots when post processing images the sensor is clean enough.  Sure, If I shoot a light background at f/16 I'd likely see some spots.  But until I see them in images I'm editing I'll not bother trying to get the sensor perfect.

[Vistech]

Seems reasonable and practical. 

[JefreyL]

If it doesn’t show at f8 it is not there.

“And remember it is not a lie if you believe it.”

[M11 for me]

Am 9.8.2024 um 23:04 schrieb Vistech:

and use the visualize spots tool

Just as a matter of interest: What tool do you mean?

[Derbyshire Man]

Is there a method of using a spot heal macro in Lightroom? I appreciate they'd like need a tweak but they only show up with a closed aperture and in sky 99% of the time and it would really speed up the process. Obviously they're in the same place every time and although the background may vary most will be fine.

[Lelmer]

On 8/10/2024 at 12:54 AM, Vistech said:

I actually tried the Pentax O-ICK1 sticky probe. I'm aware that others happily use them, but for me they left a residue. The residue was eventually removable with a swab and Visible Dust Sensor Cleaner, but issues of residual lint were reintroduced by the swab. If there is another sticky probe brand that somebody can recommend, I'd give it a try.

I have experienced the same problem with the square design Visible Dust swabs, but I get a clean sensor with the triangular ones.

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[Vistech]

Not sure about all versions of Lightroom. I use Lightroom Classic.

If you scroll to the bottom of https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/healing-tool.html you will find "Cleaning up a photo with the Visualize Spots feature".

It works extremely well, but can also be an exercise in frustration. As I and others have learned, visualizing all spots does not necessarily mean you will successfully remove all spots.