Walker Posted November 14, 2006 Share #1 Posted November 14, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) This is probably a very basic kind of problem, but I have a lot of small blotches turning up irrespective of lenses used. It must be the sensor, which I have tried brushing with a special brush dedicated for this kind of thing. Still, quite a few of them persist (have been there from I received the camera). Do I have to send it to some Leica service center to get it cleaned, or is there any other method to apply? I must say I am terrified of ruining the whole thing. Any suggestions appreciated. And by the way: apart from the spots (not easy to see except when looking for them) the camera is returning beautiful colours and sharpness. The colour cast may be provoked though, as the banding. But those issues have not bothered me yet. Willy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 14, 2006 Posted November 14, 2006 Hi Walker, Take a look here Any ideas on M8 sensor cleaning?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jonoslack Posted November 14, 2006 Share #2 Posted November 14, 2006 Hi Willy When I get new camera, it always has a dirty sensor, and my M8 is no different. I think the close distance between the sensor and the lens probably makes it worse. I've been using a compressed CO2 squirty thing (kept at a good distance from the sensor). This seems to clean most of the gunk off - but I suspect one may need to resort to sensor swabs in the end. Still - at least you can get at the damn thing (try a Nikon D1x sensor for size!). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker Posted November 14, 2006 Author Share #3 Posted November 14, 2006 Hi Jono, Many thanks, just what I needed to know. I do not know what to do without this forum. This digital thing is new territory for me. By the way: had a look at your site and what you have done with the M8. Both beautiful and catching - I liked them a lot. Willy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chouhsin Posted November 14, 2006 Share #4 Posted November 14, 2006 I've been using a compressed CO2 squirty thing (kept at a good distance from the sensor). This seems to clean most of the gunk off - but I suspect one may need to resort to sensor swabs in the end. Now we know where all those CO2 came from and why there is green house effect... cheers, Hsin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotografr Posted November 14, 2006 Share #5 Posted November 14, 2006 Visible Dust, Visible Dust, Visible Dust!!!!!!! Don't use anything but Visible Dust brushes and cleaners. Just my 2 cents. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted November 14, 2006 Share #6 Posted November 14, 2006 I have to agree - all my experience so far has been with Canon series DSLRs (waiting for my M8 to come through) but the Visible Dust solution (+ their chamber cleaning liquid + swabs) has been foolproof. I've had friends who've tried liquid based approaches (and canned air) and done damage. Best Chris Tribble Christopher Tribble: documentary photography, training, education, linguistics Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagarwal Posted November 15, 2006 Share #7 Posted November 15, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) Visible Dust, Visible Dust, Visible Dust!!!!!!! Another endorsement for Visible Dust products. I've got great results using them on the Nikon D100, after trying, unsuccessfully, to clean with PecPads wrapped around a 'customized' spatula and dipped in methanol. I suppose fat fingers had a big role to play in the initial failure as well. The Visible Dust brush I used managed to remove a stubborn spot that the PecPad combo couldn't. Visible Dust (I was about to use the abbreviated initials of the name, then decided otherwise) recommends the "Pro 1.3x Kit with SD" for the Leica M8 here: Digital Camera Sensor Cleaning with VisibleDust Products - Testimonials Now all I need is my M8 to test it with. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalina Posted May 18, 2009 Share #8 Posted May 18, 2009 Another endorsement for Visible Dust products. I've got great results using them on the Nikon D100, after trying, unsuccessfully, to clean with PecPads wrapped around a 'customized' spatula and dipped in methanol. I suppose fat fingers had a big role to play in the initial failure as well. The Visible Dust brush I used managed to remove a stubborn spot that the PecPad combo couldn't. Visible Dust (I was about to use the abbreviated initials of the name, then decided otherwise) recommends the "Pro 1.3x Kit with SD" for the Leica M8 here: Digital Camera Sensor Cleaning with VisibleDust Products - Testimonials Now all I need is my M8 to test it with. Yay! I ordered Visible Dust products as a result of this thread. Regarding Pec Pads, my photo profs all recommend using that to clean chemical wash stains from film HOWEVER my experience has always been that Pec Pads do more harm than good. We were told to wipe in one direction across the film using Pec Pads with Pec-12. This would always cause scratches on my film no matter how gently I wiped! Pec Pads are crap! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted May 18, 2009 Share #9 Posted May 18, 2009 Willy, buy a special illuminated magnifier so that you can see clearly what the problem is. Check before and after cleaning. Mine in from Arctic Dust. Next I used a Giotto big blower which worked quite well; but where was the dust going? Almost certainly some dislodged dust would resettle in the camera body to contaminate the sensor again. So, on advice from the forum, I bought an Arctic Butterfly and couldn't believe the improvement. I bought the one with in-built LEDs which aid positioning and can strongly recommend it. (The blower is still useful for cleaning externals, computer keyboards etc.) At present I have not suffered from oily contamination so have not had to resort to wet cleaning. I hope that situation remains. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 18, 2009 Share #10 Posted May 18, 2009 Hi WillyWhen I get new camera, it always has a dirty sensor, and my M8 is no different. I think the close distance between the sensor and the lens probably makes it worse. I've been using a compressed CO2 squirty thing (kept at a good distance from the sensor). This seems to clean most of the gunk off - but I suspect one may need to resort to sensor swabs in the end. Still - at least you can get at the damn thing (try a Nikon D1x sensor for size!). You like living dangerously I see These compressed CO2 cans are notorious for squirting gunk onto sensors that is all but impossible to remove. May I recommend the use of the Giotto Rocket Blower - most insistently? As for cleaning, you have three options: the Visible Dust system, the Visible Dust system and the visible Dust system. There is no reason to be scared of (wet) cleaning your sensor. You are not cleaning the sensor itself, but the protective glass in front of it, and that is coated with coatings that are far more resilient than any filter surface. As long as you do not drag grains of sand over it it is all but impossible to damage the thing. So always blow the sensor clean before swabbing it ( or use the Arctic Butterfly brush) and you will be fine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalina Posted May 19, 2009 Share #11 Posted May 19, 2009 You like living dangerously I see These compressed CO2 cans are notorious for squirting gunk onto sensors that is all but impossible to remove. May I recommend the use of the Giotto Rocket Blower - most insistently?As for cleaning, you have three options: the Visible Dust system, the Visible Dust system and the visible Dust system. There is no reason to be scared of (wet) cleaning your sensor. You are not cleaning the sensor itself, but the protective glass in front of it, and that is coated with coatings that are far more resilient than any filter surface. As long as you do not drag grains of sand over it it is all but impossible to damage the thing. So always blow the sensor clean before swabbing it ( or use the Arctic Butterfly brush) and you will be fine. The rocket blower is great. Don't place it near a small child, though. My son loves the look of it. I think the big problem some people, including myself, have with sensor cleaning is so many people tell me in the Nikon forums, "Oh, you don't want to clean the sensor of your D300 yourself! Take it to a camera service place for cleaning!" and that advice has been ingrained into our heads for as long as owned DSLRs. Maybe the advice is more applicable to DSLRs where the sensor is harder to reach. I don't know. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JasonG Posted May 19, 2009 Share #12 Posted May 19, 2009 Hiho, Eclipse E2 and their swabs work just fine for the M8. Blow any loose muck out with a rocket blower (not CO2) with the body facing downwards first. Tra Jason Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 19, 2009 Share #13 Posted May 19, 2009 The rocket blower is great. Don't place it near a small child, though. My son loves the look of it. I think the big problem some people, including myself, have with sensor cleaning is so many people tell me in the Nikon forums, "Oh, you don't want to clean the sensor of your D300 yourself! Take it to a camera service place for cleaning!" and that advice has been ingrained into our heads for as long as owned DSLRs. Maybe the advice is more applicable to DSLRs where the sensor is harder to reach. I don't know. Well, I dunno... I started cleaning sensors with the Canon 10D. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
burkey Posted May 19, 2009 Share #14 Posted May 19, 2009 Hi Folks, As I posted on another thread yesterday, my M8 is on the way to Steve's Camera based on the smears left on the sensor after attempting a cleaning with Eclipse E2 and their swabs. Most likely the swab picked up some oil or whatever on the edge of the sensor but it looked like a bad window cleaning job after multiply cleanings. Two small but visible dots noticeable in the sky area of the image were what prompted the cleaning to begin with. (I used canned air prior to the cleaning but didn't notice any propellant coming out.) Hopefully I'll hear back from Steve today regarding the situation. I'm a bit nervious to say the least. :-( . . . David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.