JHAG Posted May 19, 2009 Share #1 Posted May 19, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Never cleaned my sensor, but I've met ugly spots on recent shots on clear background, so I'm due some spring cleaning. I'll go for the Butterfly, but there seems to be two offers : Brite 724 with LED light Combo without light Combo would be my choice, because it's also useful for my Nikon D300. But has no LED. Is the LED really useful, or sheer gadgetry ? Any experience from a distinguished member here ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 19, 2009 Posted May 19, 2009 Hi JHAG, Take a look here Arctic Butterfly. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wda Posted May 19, 2009 Share #2 Posted May 19, 2009 I have the 724 with light. Very useful, particularly after checking the sensor with the VD illuminated magnifier. In theory you can use this with cleaning, but I found it a bit tricky to squeeze the AB into the throat and still keep the magnifier in a working position. I would recommend the 724 with light. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHAG Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted May 19, 2009 Sir, yes, sir ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobbslane Posted May 19, 2009 Share #4 Posted May 19, 2009 I am surprised that you are not considering a wet method. All my experiences with brushes are disastrous as I end up chasing the damn stuff all over the place. I eventually found Sensor Swab which incidentally is claimed by them to be approved by Leica AG - I've no reason to doubt this. Look at their web site (under Just Ltd) as they are a very pro outfit. The kit is expensive but consists of a wet and very very pure cleaning chemical suited to your sensor and swabs that have to be selected for your camera chip size (they are the same width). Operation is very easy and safe. Follow the instructions and use a single wipe to one side of the sensor only - do not rewipe the other way as you will re-deposit the debris. Excellent system as used by most pro's. As an aside here is a little tip for detecting dust on any digi camera. 1. Go to your pc (or Mac) desktop and change the background colour to very pale grey or some other very pale colour. 2. Place the cursor in a plain area in the centre of the screen away from the icons. 3. Hold your camera - better on a tripod or pile of books - so that it focuses on the cursor (that's why its there) such that only the plain background shows up. Not too close though as you'll get Moire patterns. 4. Take the pic and then study it at full screen on your pc. Dust will show up as black dots on the otherwise plain image of screen pixels. Any anomoly stands out like a sore thumb. 5. Clean you sensor and re do the above. (This is when you'll see the dust moved from one place to another when using a brush method) Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHAG Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted May 19, 2009 Gerry, Is this your little friend ? I don't know. To my knowledge, Butterfly is a device that electrically "attracts" dust, it's their trademark system. As for liquids on sensor, I'm always a bit afraid of traces and runoffs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevelap Posted May 19, 2009 Share #6 Posted May 19, 2009 I also have Visible Dust kit........the Artic Butterfly 724 with LED (very useful) and their illuminated Sensor Loupe are both good.......VD also market sensor swabs and fluid for wet cleaning too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted May 19, 2009 Share #7 Posted May 19, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I also have Visible Dust kit........the Artic Butterfly 724 with LED (very useful) and their illuminated Sensor Loupe are both good.......VD also market sensor swabs and fluid for wet cleaning too. I am sure the discussion on sensor cleaning methods will run and run ..... Mine is a pragmatic approach. The AB, once charged by rotation, attracts dust from the sensor and is withdrawn from the camera. The brush is then activated outside the camera shedding dust particles at the same time. While this system works I see no point in engaging wet cleaning solutions unless, in time, my sensor becomes contaminated with sticky deposits. Sensible handling and lens changing in benign environments should reduce that risk considerably. I accept that in some hostile situations, hot humid workshops or street markets for example, more than dust can enter the camera. But why change lenses in those situations? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted May 19, 2009 Share #8 Posted May 19, 2009 The Arctic Butterfly works, but it doesn't always remove everything. My usual cleaning procedure is... Use a bulb air blower. If that doesn't remove all the dust use an Arctic Butterfly. If that doesn't remove everything wet clean. The Arctic Butterfly LED loupe is excellent for inspecting the sensor. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickp13 Posted May 19, 2009 Share #9 Posted May 19, 2009 after a lot of searching and reading, i finally settled on the this visible dust 1.3x travel kit from amazon to get started. (picture below) i didn't get the led magnifier (yet), but am thinking about it. so far, so good. greetings from hamburg rick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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