Sensor cleaning tips?

Thoie

I bought a sensor cleaning kit at the exhibition thing in Croke Park earlier in the year, but haven't got around to doing it yet. I've got youtube tutorials lined up to watch, and have read the instructions etc, but just wondering if anyone has any personal tips from experience?

Using a silly example - you can read all the instructions in the world on hanging curtains, but none of them mention things like "you might need a third arm at stage 3", or "it might be helpful to have a friend support the weight of the fecking curtains as you climb a step ladder trying to balance a long pole with one hand"

So - any tips like the amount of clear space you'll need around you, or if you'll need a torch or anything?

kjt

Make sure to have that step ladder ready!!

Na, it's pretty simple imo. Just make sure your battery is fully charged, somewhere without too much dust would be the best place. A kitchen for example and just take your time - it should only take 5-30 seconds to clean her.

qwertz

Don't use force.

Don't use cheap canned air because most of them contain "dirty air".

Make sure you bought the correct cleaning kit for your camera.

Also, some of the camera shops will give your camera a basic clean for free if you ask nicely.

Thoie

Battery charging - see now I'm glad I asked the stupid question! Had meant to charge it the other day (it's pretty low), but got distracted!

CabanSail

I ussually take a reference photo to start. Take a shot of something with no features (a painetd wall is good or the sky), out of focus with the aperture shut right down. This will let you see where the dirt is on the sensor. Repeat this after the cleaning to check you have done the job properly.

Move the swabs from one side of the sensor to the other in a single sweep.

Thoie

More help wanted! Only just getting around to doing this today (social butterfly that I am). And it appears that my camera is fecking manky - I'm so embarrassed. Anyway, here's the reference shot - can anyone see any I've missed?



Also another question (another dumb one) - taking the circle on the bottom right corner as an example. Where will that be as I'm looking into the camera? Bottom left?

Thoie

I took the leap and went for it anyway - what do you think - should I have another go at the remaining spots or leave well enough alone for now?

stcstc

DONT USE canned air at all, they contain moisture and will blow stuff onto the sensor

there is a tin that is design for the job, but a much better way is to get a good quality rocket blower.

Thoie

stcstc wrote: »

DONT USE canned air at all, they contain moisture and will blow stuff onto the sensor

there is a tin that is design for the job, but a much better way is to get a good quality rocket blower.

I used a rocket blower for most of the stuff, then used a swab with liquid to remove the others. As you can see I'm left with 3 spots (that I can see, but point out more if you spot them). I'm wondering should I try another swab, or just leave those bits for now and try and get them next time around.

whyulittle

Two of the three left on it don't seem to be on the first one, so surely shouldn't be that hard to remove with blower?

Thoie

I've still got three, just in different places again now. Am I doing this right? I'm opening the mirror with the camera turned upside down (so that the sensor is facing the floor) and then peering up into it and blowing (with the rocker blower).

stcstc

one little trick is, blow the blower a few times before blowing the sensor as you will blow dirt from the blower into the camera otherwise


i have an artic butterfly brush which works very well for general cleaning then use the swabs for more intense cleaning

Thoie

I'll have to have another go later. Right now I have an entire house to clean, rather than a one inch square bit of metal

But cleaning the camera is a lot more fun than doing the housework *sigh*

Borderfox

First time I did the 5d it took ages to clean.

AnCatDubh

I think it may have been steve (stcstc) that previously posted another tip on another thread - careful if the blower that you use is old. The rubber bulb on them may fail after some time and begin to breakdown depositing particles on anything its pointed at.