1x, 1.3x and 1.6x sensor cleaning

[sportysnaps]

during the Summer my wife and i work most weekends at events and as we have three cameras i find myself cleaning a sensor on a camera 2-3 times a month (each sensor maybe once a month).
now in the past we have had 1.6 crop sensors, 1.3 crop sensors and full size sensors and I find by far that the full size sensors are the hardest to get clean (when you need to wipe not just blow) - i suspect it is due to the lack of spare space around them as in many cameras the full size sensor is stuffed into a crop body - i wonder have other people had this problem?

following on from this i have also found it easier to clean any given sized sensor with a smaller sized brush / wipe - even if you make your own...

any thoughts? :shrug:

 

[simonkit]

Wow, once a month - that sounds an unusually regular amount of sensor cleaning, do you change lenses in harsh environments etc ?

simon

 

[sportysnaps]

Wow, once a month - that sounds an unusually regular amount of sensor cleaning, do you change lenses in harsh environments etc ?

simon

no but we take lots of photos maybe 2000 in a weekend - i have done 7000 in one day. i messed up a few years ago with sensor dust so i have a test that I carry out before any paying shoot - if it fails the test the sensor gets cleaned as it's too late afterwards. cloning out dust is ok for a few shots - for 500 it's just not funny

 

[CScottMcQueen]

oh bring back film, each frame a new sensor

but developing 500 shots in one go

 

[simonkit]

but developing 500 shots in one go

Yes, takes me hours to process about 30 :bonk:

Guess when you're taking that many shots you're forced to be a bit careful with sensor dust

simon

 

[Anorakus]

I think the limiting factor with a full-frame sensor is the size of the camera. Full-frame SLRs are basically the same dimensions as their 35mm counterparts, where there was never any reason to delve inside the mirror box.

Short of making a SLR with medium-format proportions to make accessing the sensor easier, I'm not sure what else could be done.

Perhaps a solution to sensor cleaning would be a piece of glass in front of the sensor designed to be removeable, so you could take it out, give it a thorough clean with E2 fluid etc. and replace.

A.

 

[1DMARKII]

Martin I purchased a Dust Aid Wand kit for £20.

Comes with fluid - 50 wipes - 3 "spatulas" for each sensor size.

Linky: http://www.cameraclean.co.uk/acatalog/Dust_Aid_Wet.html

Only problem I have is effectively folding the clothes to the right shape however that will come with time. For the money and doing some tests it is a really nice bit of kit.

 

[cowasaki]

I still haven't cleaned the sensor on either my camera or my wife's which are both a year old (other than removing one stray hair!).

What do you use. I was thinking of getting one of those spinnny round brush things or is there something better. Just how fragile are the sensors?

 

[33L]

dont forget the sensors are protected by the uv filter i beleive. so you are actually cleaning this and not the sensor. I use the sensorklear pen and i have to put some pressure on it to get best results no damage so far!

 

[Anorakus]

I was thinking of getting one of those spinnny round brush things or is there something better

Basically three ways of cleaning your sensor:

1. Rocket blower. Not ideal as it's just as effective at blowing dust around the mirror chamber as it is at blowing dust off the sensor.

2. Arctic Butterfly or other dry dust removal method. Works by attracting dust to statically-charged bristles - you charge up the brush by spinning it. Works well, but be careful to keep the bristles clean (don't touch them!) and away from the sides of the mirror chamber, otherwise it can smear grease over the sensor.

3. Wet clean using fluid and wipes. The most effective way of removing dust, but fiddly and awkward - especially with full-frame sensors, where there's no space between the sides of the mirror chamber and the sensor.

A.

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

For the harder to clean stuff (i.e. not dealt with by a rocket blower), I found the LensPen to be very effective.

 

[MisterE]

Wow, once a month - that sounds an unusually regular amount of sensor cleaning, do you change lenses in harsh environments etc ?

simon

Unusually regular? I have to clean my 5D daily (when it's being used daily, obviously). And yes, I do take care when changing lenses, and no, it's not always a dusty environment.

 

[Craikeybaby]

I give my sensor a quick brush with the Arctic Butterfly each time I get my kit ready for a shoot, it takes less than a minute and gets all but the worst off...