Jump to content

Best equipment for sensor cleaning


jackal

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

never done this before and its not usually a problem as i shoot almost exclusivley wide open or 1 sometimes 2 stops down

 

but if i ever go hyperfocal there are seemingly thousands of grease spots on the picture

 

whats the idiots foolproof kit for cleaning teh M8 sensor

 

regards

 

R

Link to post
Share on other sites

I think that the visible dust arctic butterfly is a waste of money space and weight.

They seem to work only if you take pictures at wide apertures:rolleyes:

Their sensor swabs are really good, but I prefer to use them with E2 after blowing off the sensor with a rocket blower.

-bob

Link to post
Share on other sites

This issue is re-posted so often and always the forum members unfailingly offer good advice. But therein lies the problem. There is so much advice on this subject and its spread all over the many pages of the forum!

 

Sensor cleaning must be the single most-repeated post.

 

I asked once before (but to deaf-ears) if this might be a rare, but appropriate case for a sticky post? Particularly if someone would dump all the thousands of excellent existing responses into the sticky!

 

What do people think?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Sensor cleaning must be the single most-repeated post.

 

I asked once before (but to deaf-ears) if this might be a rare, but appropriate case for a sticky post? Particularly if someone would dump all the thousands of excellent existing responses into the sticky!

 

What do people think?

 

 

A dump of the posts is not very helpful being too much "noise' to wade through also I have to doubt that all the thousands are excellent ;) As usual there is no consensus on what is "best". Already we see the for and against Arctic Butterflies soon there will be only Rockets are best then the wet men will wade in :)

When the dust settles :) we will be left with another thread where the questioner will have to make up their own mind.

For my contribution it depends on what the contaminant is. Early on (first 1,000 or so clicks) the shutter lubricant appears to be the main culprit and and a wet clean is indicated (worked for me but scientifically an n=1 trial so not a significant result) later "dry' dust appears to take over so puffing and blowing and perhaps dry wiping is called for.

I presume the upgrade will include a sensor clean so perhaps that should be factored into the value costing. Having a pro do it is not a cheap exercise and that is an option few posters recommend.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Rather than risk the ire of other people, can I add a question.

 

Today I lost my wet cleaning virginity, it was all tremendously exciting to start with and as it turned out afterwards a bit anti-climactic (sounds like something many of my ex-girlfriends have said).

 

Moving away from the analogy. I still have a few spots left, when you wet clean do you end up with a pristine sensor or are a couple ok to be going on with. the clone tool is my best friend so I'm thinking for a couple of spots who cares?

 

Opinions?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Rather than risk the ire of other people, can I add a question.

 

Today I lost my wet cleaning virginity, it was all tremendously exciting to start with and as it turned out afterwards a bit anti-climactic (sounds like something many of my ex-girlfriends have said).

 

Moving away from the analogy. I still have a few spots left, when you wet clean do you end up with a pristine sensor or are a couple ok to be going on with. the clone tool is my best friend so I'm thinking for a couple of spots who cares?

 

Opinions?

When I clean my sensors I always end up with a SPOTLESS sensor. Otherwise what's the use of cleaning it.

It may take 1-2-3-4-5 WET cleanings to get it squeaky clean but then I don't need to do it for some time.

I've also found that the Sensor Loupe from VisibleDust comes in real handy. I don't use any other product from them. I'm a Eclipse 2+PecPad on a Copperhill images wand kind of guy.

Link to post
Share on other sites

gareth

 

do you know what size swab you used

 

im looking here and have no idea what size to order:

 

Photographic Solutions Cleaning Products (Eclipse Cleaning Fluid, PEC-PAD Photowipes, E-Wipes) - warehouseexpress.com

 

I bought some 1.6 sensor swabs, only because they were cheap bouhgt from a guy who no longer had a 1.6 crop sensor and was anal retentive about it I guess.

 

I have owned a canon 300D, 20D, 5D and now the M8 and today was the first time I had ever wet cleaned a sensor.

 

As Ed said, blow it first. Use a rocket blower, do not, I repeat do not, blow into it or use canned air.

 

After that just wipe it with roughly the same pressure you would to write something with your finger on a window with condensation on it (a great example that I just htought of and will definitely use again now that I am an expert).

 

I took 3 test pictures and the last one had two spots on it, no big deal to me, I'm not that much of a clean freak, I wear a pair of jeans two days in a row...............

 

There's a whole bunch of products out there but I've had my M8 10 months and it had spots from the get go, maybe due to the oil residue from the shutter blades, I eally don't know if that is urban myth or truth.

 

Don't overthink it, the only part that is rocket science is this.

 

Rocket-air

Link to post
Share on other sites

i bought both the Artic Butterfly and the Visible Dust Wet Clean package as a bundle.

 

tried the Artic Butterfly and it removed almost all of my dust particles. Luckily they were all dust and not grease spots because Artic Butterfly, I think, would just smear the grease rather than pick up.

 

didn't find the need to use the wet kit as of yet.

 

if its just dust, i highly recommend Artic butterfly. if its grease, wet cleaning is the way to go.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I have a three step strategy.

 

1. I use a hurricane blower to dislodge any dust - this works most of the time.

 

2. If that doesn't work I use an Arctic Butterfly to try to remove any dust.

 

3. If _that_ doesn't work I use the Arctic Butterfly wet system. Remember that you'll need the swabs for a sensor with a 1.3 crop factor. It may take more than I swab to remove any deposits on the sensor.

 

I also use the Arctic Butterfly loupe to examine the sensor, I've found this very useful.

 

My only problem in all of this is trying to calculate Arctic Butterfly's mark ups. They must be tremendous <grin>.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Although this thread comes up often, I still like reading people's experiences, ..always something to learn!

 

I use the Actric Butterfly kit, and the latest one that I have is the 724 Travel Kit, the 1.3X version for my M8.

(This has both the wet & dry)

Link to post
Share on other sites

I have a three step strategy.

 

1. I use a hurricane blower to dislodge any dust - this works most of the time.

 

2. If that doesn't work I use an Arctic Butterfly to try to remove any dust.

 

3. If _that_ doesn't work I use the Arctic Butterfly wet system.n>.

 

Mine is two step:

 

1. I use a hurricane blower to dislodge any dust - this works most of the time.

2. Send it in to Solms.

 

I did # 2 after a year's use. It came back in 3 weeks, sensor cleaned, shutter release adjusted, firmware updated. Cost: for free :D

 

Wonder though if that will work all the time :rolleyes:

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...