Sensor cleaning advice please

[Cashie]

The time has now come that I need to clean the sensor in my 30D, I have noticed a couple of dull blotches in this shot of the Kittiwake. Has anyone tried this product & is it any good ?

http://www.cameraclean.co.uk/main/technical/dust_aid.php


Paul

[nigelblake]

I have read a couple of not very complimentary reviews for this product, and like so many sensor cleaning kits it is an outragously rip-off price, £36-95 for 10 pads.

[Cashie]

Thanks for the input Nigel

That's good to know because I want to make sure I get the right thing, I wouldn't like to think it was doing any damage in there, the thought of it makes me cringe!

Cheers

[tdodd]

To see just how severe your problem is take a shot at a plain subject - clear blue sky or pure grey overcast clouds at f/32 or so and that will reveal everything. Wide open apertures can conceal a lot.

Before you attempt any sort of cleaning by physical contact I would first suggest a Rocket Blower, to see whether you can puff the dust out. It may just work and is probably the cheapest and lowest risk option. Once your sensor is clean you should be able to keep it that way with the blower alone. If, however, crud has got caked on (e.g. through humidity within the camera causing dust to stick) then you will have to get physical.

When the blower didn't work for me I used a regular lens brush but first I put it through a full laundry cycle, all by itself, to remove every single trace of grease and other nasties before going anywhere near my sensor. That worked well the first time that the blower alone was insufficient.

On Thursday I went to the zoo, with my 100-400 "dust pump" and made several lens changes through the day. Despite being as careful as I could the sensor was riddled with dust and muck when I got home. This time the blower and brush combo was not enough. I have a USB powered vacuum brush with a builtin inspection lamp and I used this to dislodge and remove the crud. It took half a dozen attempts to finally get the sensor spotless but the results were excellent.

Had that not been enough I would have had to resort to wet cleaning and, I believe, the "Copperhill" method is very highly regarded but I've never tried it. Have a look here - http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning.

Good luck :)

[Sandpiper]

I use Eclipse Cleaning Fluid, Digi-Pads and Pec Pad Photo Wipes available from Warehouse Express. A simple task that only takes a few seconds.

[Keith Reeder]

A Rocket Blower almost always does the job for me...

[Cashie]

Thanks guys, I will look into these things.



Paul

[shoshone]

A Rocket Blower almost always does the job for me...

Keith this is about the word 'almost'....what do you revert to in the apparently rare occasion when the Rocket fails?

The reason I ask is I have one of those 'almost' situations where my trusty rocket has failed no matter how hard I try?

Jamie

[Keith Reeder]

Hi Jamie,

if the blower lets me down, I use my Copperhill SensorSweep brush (http://www.copperhillimages.com/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=1) - which is brilliant - and if that fails (which has happened just once) I use a Sensor swab/Pecpad and Eclipse fluid.

[Sandpiper]

I rest my case ;).

[Geoff Pain]

Where can I get a Rocket Blower and what do they look like?

[shoshone]

Hi Jamie,

if the blower lets me down, I use my Copperhill SensorSweep brush (http://www.copperhillimages.com/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=1) - which is brilliant - and if that fails (which has happened just once) I use a Sensor swab/Pecpad and Eclipse fluid.

Keith & Sandpiper...many thanks for this info. I guess I'll start with the brush first and if necessary move on to the fluid.

I wish I could bookmark these posts for the future..is there a way please?

The reason I am petrified of touching the sensor is that the one and only time I used a blower brush I smeared the sensor and the 5D had to go back to Canon who kindly cleaned it under warranty despite the fact that the manual clearly states NEVER to touch the sensor.

I subsequently discovered from a forum that on the sides of the sensor housing there can be grease and guess what my blower brushing attempt picked some of that up and at the time it seemed like a disaster.

Thanks again for the help folks

Jamie
:clap:

[shoshone]

Hi Jamie,

if the blower lets me down, I use my Copperhill SensorSweep brush (http://www.copperhillimages.com/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=1) - which is brilliant - and if that fails (which has happened just once) I use a Sensor swab/Pecpad and Eclipse fluid.

Keith, Where did you buy the SensorSweep brush? On the link you gave to the web site, they won't ship out of the US & Canada???

Jamie
:-C

[Keith Reeder]

Yep, from that site, Jamie.

It's Eclipse fluid that they won't ship out.

If you look at the top of the page I linked to you'll see the words "This product is available everywhere" - they mean "we'll ship it anywhere"!

;)

[shoshone]

Hi Jamie,

if the blower lets me down, I use my Copperhill SensorSweep brush (http://www.copperhillimages.com/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=1) - which is brilliant - and if that fails (which has happened just once) I use a Sensor swab/Pecpad and Eclipse fluid.

Yep, from that site, Jamie.

It's Eclipse fluid that they won't ship out.

If you look at the top of the page I linked to you'll see the words "This product is available everywhere" - they mean "we'll ship it anywhere"!

;)

Keith Many Thanks,

I just went through the checkout regardless, and sure enough they will ship it to me...cheers

Jamie
;)

[Roy C]

I have had a 350D for over two years and a 30D for about 4 months and have never used anything other than a Rocket Blower.

[mjmw]

Where can I get a Rocket Blower and what do they look like?

Its called "Rocket Air" by Giotto and you want a large one. Warehouse Express sell them:

Giottos Rocket at WE (http://www.warehouseexpress.com/?PHOTO/cleaning/Giottos_Rocket.html#PC304698)

[lewis20126]

On Thursday I went to the zoo, with my 100-400 "dust pump" and made several lens changes through the day. Despite being as careful as I could the sensor was riddled with dust and muck when I got home.

Glad to know I'm not the only one who's noticed the 100-400 is a horrendous inhaler of dust. A fair lens but its a fixed 400 for me next time.

I've used Digipads and they got rid of most of the muck on the sensor after a very dusty trip to Ethiopia last year. Owners of the dust-pump better stock up!

Cheers
Alan

[Keith Reeder]

Much the same here, Roy.

I've only had to do one wet clean in over a year. I use the blower after every trip out, whether there's visible dirt on sensor or not, so that nothing gets the chance to "stick".

The only time I didn't - then left the camera untouched for a couple of weeks - I found that I needed to do a wet clean. But if 'd done a blower clean as usual, it probably wouldn't have been necessary.

Prevention is better, smarter - and cheaper - than the wet "cure" IMHO.

The brush is a great "middle ground" though for the odd times when there's been extra crap in there - like when I've changed lenses on a windy beach.

Other than that, I have no dust issues with my 100-400 whatsoever - and I'm on windy beaches with very fine sand (and coal dust) all the time.

[nigelblake]

You might be interested to know that 'Eclipse fluid' £19-95 for 50 ml (I believe) at Warehouse express, is actually neat Isopropanol BP, which is £2-25 for 500ml at the chemists.............. quite some mark up when you consider that makes the little bottles £199-50 for 500ml

[nigelblake]

Whoops misread that £8-45 for 59ml bottles, £19-95 is the price of the digipad pads, however thats still £80 for what is the same amount of fluid that costs £2-25 at the chemists!

[Keith Reeder]

Hi Nigel,

Eclipse is actually "pure" methanol.

Your point is well made, but I just thought I'd mention this before we all pop down to the local chemists..!

;)

[mjmw]

Hi Nigel,

Eclipse is actually "pure" methanol.

Your point is well made, but I just thought I'd mention this before we all pop down to the local chemists..!

;)

Would it actually matter if it was pure Isopropanol or Methanol? I have ignored such stuff since school...so just wondered!

[nigelblake]

Hi Nigel,

Eclipse is actually "pure" methanol.

Your point is well made, but I just thought I'd mention this before we all pop down to the local chemists..!

;)

According to a health a safety sheet for it, it is Isopropanol, however Methanol is so similar chemically (they are both Monohydric alcohols and have just one atom of carbon per molecule difference), that also is available (lots more for lots less money) at the chemist.

[hollis_f]

According to a health a safety sheet for it, it is Isopropanol, however Methanol is so similar chemically (they are both Monohydric alcohols and have just one atom of carbon per molecule difference), that also is available (lots more for lots less money) at the chemist.

Sorry, the chemist in me won't let me skip this.

There are two more carbons in propanol (C3) than in methanol (C1) (the one with just one extra carbon is that family favourite - ethanol). Those extra carbons do make quite a difference - especially to the volatility. Overall methanol would be better to use, but propanol would still be pretty good.

I wonder if they've changed what they put in Eclipse if, as you say, the safety sheet says it's Propanol. A colleague of mine actually ran Eclipse in an NMR spectrometer a couple of years back - it was methanol with a very small amount of an amine (probably used as a detergent).

[Cashie]

Bloody Nora! I only want to clean my sensor, not go on an open university course on chemistry.

[Cashie]

;) ;) ;) ;) :t:

[Keith Reeder]

There are two Eclipse fluids now - one with methanol for most sensors, and Eclipse 2 which is for sensors with an Indium Tin Oxide coating, which pure methanol can hurt, allegedly.

"E2" is made up of methanol, ethanol and isopropanol as far as I'm aware.

[shoshone]

There are two Eclipse fluids now - one with methanol for most sensors, and Eclipse 2 which is for sensors with an Indium Tin Oxide coating, which pure methanol can hurt, allegedly.

"E2" is made up of methanol, ethanol and isopropanol as far as I'm aware.

Keith et al....Dare I contemplate using Jessops 'Lens cleaning fluid' which claims .. 'contains isopropyl alcohol'

:h?:

[Keith Reeder]

I wouldn't, Jamie - I've no doubt that as a solvent it'll be fine, but the point of using Eclipse is that it is as near as dammit pure methanol which leaves the absolute smallest amount of residue when it flashes off (evaporates).

This is extremely important for the sensor, because you can't keep polishing away at it like you can with a lens...

[shoshone]

I wouldn't, Jamie - I've no doubt that as a solvent it'll be fine, but the point of using Eclipse is that it is as near as dammit pure methanol which leaves the absolute smallest amount of residue when it flashes off (evaporates).

This is extremely important for the sensor, because you can't keep polishing away at it like you can with a lens...

I won't Keith!! Thanks

>>>If they won't ship from the US, where did you but your eclipse??<< ignore I'm just wasting bandwith!

Jamie

[Keith Reeder]

I'll tell you anyway Jamie - I got my Eclipse from Warehouse Express.

[mjmw]

Thanks for the chemistry lesson! ;)

As no-one has mentioned it, I use dry lens pens...if you google hard you can find the instructions for free or purchase them from various sources.

[Duke Leto]

One of the nicest tutorials I founds on CCD / CMOS cleaning can be viewed at
http://www.copperhillimages.com/index.php?pr=Tutorials

[Leif]

I use Eclipse Cleaning Fluid, Digi-Pads and Pec Pad Photo Wipes available from Warehouse Express. A simple task that only takes a few seconds.

Me too. Make sure you first clean the mirror chamber (using a brush and rocket blower) but DO NOT touch the mirror or focus screen (use MLU if possible).

See here if not already posted:

http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning

[Leif]

Ooooh ... Duke Leto snuck in while I was writing ... sneaky ... :).

[Leif]

You might be interested to know that 'Eclipse fluid' £19-95 for 50 ml (I believe) at Warehouse express, is actually neat Isopropanol BP, which is £2-25 for 500ml at the chemists.............. quite some mark up when you consider that makes the little bottles £199-50 for 500ml

It does not smell like isopropyl alcohol, so I doubt that. I thought it was methanol?

Anyway is it the same level of purity? I bought high purity isopropyl alcohol from Maplins (spray can) and it left deposits on the sensor. So I moved to Eclipse. It is somewhat of a rip off price wise.

But for lenses Eclipse is useless and isopropyl + water is excellent.

[mjmw]

It does not smell like isopropyl alcohol, so I doubt that. I thought it was methanol?


All is revealed in the posts after the one you quote ;)

[Leif]

All is revealed in the posts after the one you quote ;)

Yes, it's easy to miss posts when a thread starts to get long.

[christineredgate]

If anyone is thinking of using the wet cleaning method,there are some cleaning swabs ,sold by www,cameraclean.com for just £4-95 per 10.these same swabs were sold by Intemos(now available from camera dealers,and NOT Intemos direct-do NOT order from the company itself),for £18-95 for 10.If you go to the Intemos online site(think it is still running-have not checked for a while),there is a small video which explains how to use these swabs,but if you phone cameraclean,the guy will sell you these in packs of 10 for £4-95.Not advertised seperately on the website ,but as part of a kit.He also sells the SensorSwabs as recommended for wet cleaning.But you can use the cheaper ones for both dry and wet clean.I use the dearer ones for a wet clean,then wipe over with the cheaper ones just to remove any residue.May take a couple of goes,but I have never damaged the sensor.

[gmax]

If anyone is thinking of using the wet cleaning method,there are some cleaning swabs ,sold by www,cameraclean.com for just £4-95 per 10.these same swabs were sold by Intemos(now available from camera dealers,and NOT Intemos direct-do NOT order from the company itself),for £18-95 for 10.If you go to the Intemos online site(think it is still running-have not checked for a while),there is a small video which explains how to use these swabs,but if you phone cameraclean,the guy will sell you these in packs of 10 for £4-95.Not advertised seperately on the website ,but as part of a kit.He also sells the SensorSwabs as recommended for wet cleaning.But you can use the cheaper ones for both dry and wet clean.I use the dearer ones for a wet clean,then wipe over with the cheaper ones just to remove any residue.May take a couple of goes,but I have never damaged the sensor.

Good advice Christine, thanks, I'd like to get in touch with them just to check whether they'd deliver the swabs to Italy, but couldn't find an e-mail .. any suggestion?
Max

[Dean Eades]

Check this out

http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/03/13/tfttf185-video-discofilm

        

[Leif]

Check this out

http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/03/13/tfttf185-video-discofilm

        

It takes a long time to do ..

That 'honey' looks to be the same stuff as was once sold for cleaning lenses, but in the latter case it was sold in small bottles, and cost a fortune. Who says photographers aren't a target for rip offs? BTW if anyone tries the 'honey' on lenses, do make sure you do not get it into the edges, as it could seep in to the gap between the lens and the lens cell. I learnt that the hard way about 15 years ago.

The wet swab route is quicker.

[christineredgate]

Good advice Christine, thanks, I'd like to get in touch with them just to check whether they'd deliver the swabs to Italy, but couldn't find an e-mail .. any suggestion?
Max

Max,sorry,I only ever remember half the website details.The website is www.cameraclean.co.uk (http://www.cameraclean.co.uk) They are the UK distributor for the Photographic Solutions Inc.think they could be American.The guy who runs this company is very helpful.He has even offered to come and clean my cam sensors for me the next time he and his wife visit the lake District(will cost me a pub lunch!!!).
If you do contact him do ask re the packs of swabs for £4-95.They are not advertised on the website in packs,only as part of the kits.
I will go and see if the Intemos site is running and return to this thread.

[christineredgate]

i have just checked,and yes the site www.intemos.com (http://www.intemos.com) is still running.At the bottom of their homepage is a blue bar mentioning a demo cleaning video.If you click onto it and on the next page there is a demo of how their sensor cleaning swabs are used.Only takes around 1 min to play.On the www.cameraclean.co.uk (http://www.cameraclean.co.uk) these same swabs are called Flexi Swabs and are only shown in the kits .But they can be purchased in the packs of 10 for just £4-95,ie as I originally mentioned £18-95 from a dealer who now sells the Intemos stuff(not the dealers fault).So if ordering from cameraclean,you do need to ask specifically to buy the flexiswabs in a pack.They are only shown as part of the kit on the website.This really is a massive saving.Yes,Max,this guy does ship abroad,as he mentions that cleaning fluid cannot be sent by airmail,only road/sea.
Any probs ,you can always mention my name and location,he will remember me,as I had to ask him 3 times how much the Flexiswabs were,I was somewhat in shock having paid £18-95 for the same items.I may add the original dealer did give me a complete refund.

[stephenB]

The time has now come that I need to clean the sensor in my 30D, I have noticed a couple of dull blotches in this shot of the Kittiwake. Has anyone tried this product & is it any good ?

http://www.cameraclean.co.uk/main/technical/dust_aid.php


Paul

Hi

I'm a bit late to this thread, but I just wanted to point out I had posted advice on this subject on the main camera & photography forum quite recently - to see my post click here (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=86011). This was based on my first experience of DSLR sensor cleaning, and linked to a page on my website which had pics of the various stages of improvement I obtained. To see this click here (http://www.stephenburch.com/sensclean/index.htm).

I found the pre-prepared digipads very convenient and easy to use. Also I ordered all I needed from a UK-based website.

Happy cleaning!

StephenB

[Cashie]

Hi

I'm a bit late to this thread, but I just wanted to point out I had posted advice on this subject on the main camera & photography forum quite recently - to see my post click here (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=86011). This was based on my first experience of DSLR sensor cleaning, and linked to a page on my website which had pics of the various stages of improvement I obtained. To see this click here (http://www.stephenburch.com/sensclean/index.htm).

I found the pre-prepared digipads very convenient and easy to use. Also I ordered all I needed from a UK-based website.

Happy cleaning!

StephenB

Your site is realy interesting Stephen, I have just ordered a giotto q ball blower from warehouse express so I will take your advice & just use that to start with to see how it goes.

Maybe one day I will get brave & try the wet method, but I'm very reluctant at the moment, it would have to get realy dusty for me to attemp it, anyway thanks for that Stephen, and all the best.

Cheers

paul :t:

[lewis20126]

HI all

Just tried cleaning a dusty 30D sensor using blower only - took a trial photo and still have some dust on there; was going to use the blower again but the camera menu won't give me a sensor cleaning option now! Is it rationed?!

Ta, Alan

[andrew_s]

It will only let you at the sensor cleaning if the battery is fully charged, or nearly so.
They use quite a bit of battery power holding the mirror up and the shutter open whilst you are cleaning, and if the battery failed and allowed the shutter to close and the mirror to drop whilst you'd still got a brush or whatever in there, it would be pretty expensive.