Sensor cleaning solutions

[badknees]

Moderator note: split from Tonights Lightning 8-28-09

James,

You need to clean your sensor.

[Sotol Vista]

James,

You need to clean your sensor.

I saw that. i looked at it last night and there were a few boulder sized dust specs. there are 3 more still in there i need to get with some optical cleaning solution

James

[badknees]

James,

You need to clean your sensor.

I saw that. i looked at it last night and there were a few boulder sized dust specs. there are 3 more still in there i need to get with some optical cleaning solution

James

http://www.copperhillimages.com/index.php?pr=Copper_Hill_Products

[iCe]

James,

You need to clean your sensor.

I saw that. i looked at it last night and there were a few boulder sized dust specs. there are 3 more still in there i need to get with some optical cleaning solution

James

There's lots of good cleaning systems available now. At the moment I'm partial to Visible Dust products. It took me over a year to finally pony up and try their Arctic Butterfly (stupid name, great product). For most dust situations it's amazing. It's a dry device. No solution. No streaks. No stress.

That's not to say that I don't have their swabs and solution as well. Sometimes the lubricants that come from the factory can make a mess and if you put off cleaning too long the dust will adhere as well. They make different solutions for different problems. Their pads are good and they make a few different sizes. I really like their little corner pads. Just like everyone else's pad (I've probably tried them all), theirs may leave a stray fiber... or may not. They also make a great lighted magnifier to view the sensor. It lights the sensor (with LED's) from an angle so that the dust is easier to see (I have another mfg's version and it lights straight on. The Visible Dust version works better).

[tjavery]

Reading this just reminded me of something that happened at church. I watched some lady pop a contact out, put it in her mouth, and then put it back in her eye. Uck! Talk about a dirty cleaning.

IMO, all the sensor cleaning products are just expensive overkill.

Get a plastic knife, break it at the widest section, file the edge smooth, and then double-fold a Pec pad (or similar) over the edge and affix it with a rubber band. Put a drop or two of Eclipse solution (or similar) and wipe your sensor in one pass. Repeat whole process a few times if necessary.

Oh, blow the whole mirror box out (with the shutter open) with a good blower first, like a Giottos Rocket Blower.

I've been doing that for years and have been happy. It doesn't get the sensor 100% clean, but it works good enough so that I don't notice spots during my normal shooting (I don't shoot the sky at f/22 to check). The materials are cheap and you can do it in the field if you need to.

[badknees]

Reading this just reminded me of something that happened at church. I watched some lady pop a contact out, put it in her mouth, and then put it back in her eye. Uck! Talk about a dirty cleaning.

IMO, all the sensor cleaning products are just expensive overkill.

Get a plastic knife, break it at the widest section, file the edge smooth, and then double-fold a Pec pad (or similar) over the edge and affix it with a rubber band. Put a drop or two of Eclipse solution (or similar) and wipe your sensor in one pass. Repeat whole process a few times if necessary.

Oh, blow the whole mirror box out (with the shutter open) with a good blower first, like a Giottos Rocket Blower.

I've been doing that for years and have been happy. It doesn't get the sensor 100% clean, but it works good enough so that I don't notice spots during my normal shooting (I don't shoot the sky at f/22 to check). The materials are cheap and you can do it in the field if you need to.

I agree with using a blower first. For me it takes care of most everything. However if you ever get a stubborn spot, Eclipse + Pec pads is absolutely the way to go. The link to Copperhill has a kit that has Eclipse, Pec Pads and a "spatula" made of a soft rubber. It works very well and is flexible to get corners. Buying the premade wipes is a waste of money as they are very expensive. I've had a bottle of Eclipse and a pack of Pec-Pads for 3 yrs now and have only used it twice. Make sure you keep the cap on the Eclipse REAL TIGHT or it WILL evaporate.

[beemerchef]

Cooperhill does work best. I try to find a Library or a Friend's house (kitchen or bathroom) to do it.
The best is not to change lenses in the field. I only use two lenses with a full frame camera (16~35 2.8 "L" and 24~70 2.8 "L") and have managed to get 2 identical cameras. Scratching a sensor a while back taught me that lesson! Pricey!
I do have Adobe Lightroom software and there is a spot remover step that is just too awesome! Worth it.

Be well... Ara & Spirit