How hard is it to clean a sensor

Crotal Bell

Crotal Bell

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I spotted a spec on a sensor in a couple of pictures on fleabay and messaged the seller.
It was just over half an hour when I had a reply to say thanks and that the seller has cleaned it off.

So is cleaning a sensor fairly easy if you know what you're doing ?
 
Crotal Bell said:
I spotted a spec on a sensor in a couple of pictures on fleabay and messaged the seller.
It was just over half an hour when I had a reply to say thanks and that the seller has cleaned it off.

So is cleaning a sensor fairly easy if you know what you're doing ?
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In general, yes!

But what do you mean that you could see a spec on the sensor in the 'sale' pictures?

Were they pictures of the inside of the camera i.e. the actual sensor or are you talking about example pictures (claimed to be) taken by the camera?
 
Crotal Bell said:
I spotted a spec on a sensor in a couple of pictures on fleabay and messaged the seller.
It was just over half an hour when I had a reply to say thanks and that the seller has cleaned it off.

So is cleaning a sensor fairly easy if you know what you're doing ?
Click to expand...
Cleaning a sensor is very easy, understanding your question is rather more difficult.
 
Crotal Bell said:
I spotted a spec on a sensor in a couple of pictures on fleabay and messaged the seller.
It was just over half an hour when I had a reply to say thanks and that the seller has cleaned it off.

So is cleaning a sensor fairly easy if you know what you're doing ?
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A sensor can be cleaned in 1/2 hour with no problem IF you have access to the necessary cleaning equipment.
However if it is just loose dust then an air blower might easily shift it in seconds.
Ask how it was cleaned.
 
It`s easy enough with the correct kit (size of swabs etc). Also if you have IBIS, turn it off in the menu first :)
 
Box Brownie said:
In general, yes!

But what do you mean that you could see a spec on the sensor in the 'sale' pictures?

Were they pictures of the inside of the camera i.e. the actual sensor or are you talking about example pictures (claimed to be) taken by the camera?
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L320Rio said:
Cleaning a sensor is very easy, understanding your question is rather more difficult.
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I mean I could see a spec ON THE SENSOR, so on the actual sensor. Hope that clarifies.
 
Perhaps it is one of those things that's not quite as perilous as it appears.
I had the impression that the sensor was incredibly delicate, maybe not quite so easily damaged if your sensible and light handed.

Thanks for the advice.
 
Crotal Bell said:
Because the picture on Fleabay was a picture of the sensor, and I could see a spec on the sensor.
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If you could see it on a picture of the sensor...... initial thought was it must have been big and possibly more likely to be some lint or dust lump due to it being left without a body cap too long.

As suggested above I would ask the seller what method he used to clean it? If the sort of sensor dirt I surmise he only needed a rocket blower.

But if the body has been so IMO poorly cared for there may likely still be dust bunnies that are not visible to the naked eye....unless the seller tells you they did a thorough wet clean. So you may yet see dust/dirt by doing a sensor check image!

PS is the seller an individual selling a single camera or a trader selling many cameras?
 
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A sensor is pretty easy to clean. It's one of those things where the thought of doing it is worse than actually doing it.

Saying that, some marks can be pretty stubborn to remove so it's not like a simple, single wipe & all is perfect.
 
Box Brownie said:
If you could see it on a picture of the sensor...... initial thought was it must have been big and possibly more likely to be some lint or dust lump due to it being left without a body cap too long.

As suggested above I would ask the seller what method he used to clean it? If the sort of sensor dirt I surmise he only needed a rocket blower.

But if the body has been so IMO poorly cared for there may likely still be dust bunnies that are not visible to the naked eye....unless the seller tells you they did a thorough wet clean. So you may yet see dust/dirt by doing a sensor check image!
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Yeah I think you're right as the picture of the sensor wasn't super close and you could easily make out the spec.
I'm surprised he didn't notice when he was checking the camera for sale and posted the photos.
 
LeeRatters said:
A sensor is pretty easy to clean. It's one of those things where the thought of doing it is worse than actually doing it.

Saying that, some marks can be pretty stubborn to remove so it's not like a simple, single wipe & all is perfect.
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I'm probably showing my lack of experience here as I thought the face of the sensor was ultra delicate.
I guess the fact that you can use brushes on them shows they are able to stand up to a careful clean.
 
Crotal Bell said:
Yeah I think you're right as the picture of the sensor wasn't super close and you could easily make out the spec.
I'm surprised he didn't notice when he was checking the camera for sale and posted the photos.
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I don't want to sound too cynical but I have doubts about the seller and/or origins of the camera?
 
Sensor cleaning is easy to do if you have the right kit and knowledge and can be disastrous if you don't!

I'm guessing it was a mirrorless camera otherwise you wouldn't see the sensor. The seller could have of course locked the mirror up on a DSLR and taken a photo of the sensor with the shutter open but that would be the first I'd heard of anyone taking a photo of the sensor when selling a camera.

Personally for me the issue isn't that the seller has cleaned the sensor but that you're buying off eBay. Thats the only place I've been ripped off as its a complete minefield. Usually an eBay sellers good or excellent condition is quite far off my good or excellent condition. Much better to buy on here or second hand from a camera shop.
 
Crotal Bell said:
I'm probably showing my lack of experience here as I thought the face of the sensor was ultra delicate.
I guess the fact that you can use brushes on them shows they are able to stand up to a careful clean.
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Not really.

I'm gonna make some people cringe I expect. But I had a stubborn mark on my Sony sensor that a 'wipe' wouldn't remove so I decided to 'scrub' (I'm not sure that's the exact word, but I think it gives the best visualisation of what I done) at it to remove it which worked with no consequences.

But, do so at your own risk :)
 
Crotal Bell said:
I'm probably showing my lack of experience here as I thought the face of the sensor was ultra delicate.
I guess the fact that you can use brushes on them shows they are able to stand up to a careful clean.
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That aren't so delicate that they can't be touched but it should be done gently with the correct tools. Sensors can be scratched, well the thin glass in front of the sensor) by incorrect cleanings you have to be careful.

Back in 2013 I used to clean the sensor on my Nikon D7000 as it regularly got oil splatters on the sensor from the shutter. I was happy to clean my nikons but I haven't cleaned any mirrorless cameras with IBIS.

I wrote about sensor cleaning on a blog post in 2013:

express.adobe.com

Sensor Cleaning- DIY or Professional Clean?

See the story
express.adobe.com express.adobe.com
 
Sensors have a glass over them so they do have some protection and you're not cleaning the sensor you're cleaning the glass over it but of course the glass can be damaged. However, I must have cleaned my sensors dozens or even a hundred times or more over the years without incident.

I used Pec pads and Eclipse fluid and the process from testing to see the contamination to testing and seeing it's gone can take just minutes.

BTW.
A good way to test for contamination is to set minimum aperture (f16 or whatever the lens will go to,) focus at infinity and take a picture of a white door or white piece of paper, Aim to have a shutter speed into seconds and move the camera about as the shutter is open. This will prevent any detail on the white surface being recorded sharp. All you should be left with is a grey image with any contamination present showing as black specks. Remember that the image is flipped top to bottom so a speck on the top right of the picture is really on the bottom right as you view the sensor.
 
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woof woof said:
Sensors have a glass over them so they do have some protection and you're not cleaning the sensor you're cleaning the glass over it but of course the glass can be damaged. However, I must have cleaned my sensors dozens or even a hundred times or more over the years without incident.

I used Pec pads and Eclipse fluid and the process from testing to see the contamination to testing and seeing it's gone can take just minutes.

BTW.
A good way to test for contamination is to set minimum aperture (f16 or whatever the lens will go to,) focus at infinity and take a picture of a white door or white piece of paper, Aim to have a shutter speed into seconds and move the camera about as the shutter is open. This will prevent any detail on the white surface being recorded sharp. All you should be left with is a grey image with any contamination present showing as black specks. Remember that the image is flipped top to bottom so a speck on the top right of the picture is really on the bottom right as you view the sensor.
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That’s what I use the Pec pads and Eclipse fluid
I used to clean the sensor on my Canon 7D 2 regularly with no problems, although I’ve found since going mirrorless (R5) I haven’t yet needed to clean the sensor
I’m not sure if mirrorless is less prone to dust or I’m just changing lenses more carefully I’m not sure
 
rob-nikon said:
Sensor cleaning is easy to do if you have the right kit and knowledge and can be disastrous if you don't!

I'm guessing it was a mirrorless camera otherwise you wouldn't see the sensor. The seller could have of course locked the mirror up on a DSLR and taken a photo of the sensor with the shutter open but that would be the first I'd heard of anyone taking a photo of the sensor when selling a camera.

Personally for me the issue isn't that the seller has cleaned the sensor but that you're buying off eBay. Thats the only place I've been ripped off as its a complete minefield. Usually an eBay sellers good or excellent condition is quite far off my good or excellent condition. Much better to buy on here or second hand from a camera shop.
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I didn't buy it, I agree with you and I am extremely cautious of ebay.
There's a couple of camera traders on there have excellent feedback and a few good deals, plus they take the cameras back if you're not satisfied.
I do prefer the main stores and dealers though, with a minimum 6 months warranty.
 
woof woof said:
Sensors have a glass over them so they do have some protection and you're not cleaning the sensor you're cleaning the glass over it but of course the glass can be damaged. However, I must have cleaned my sensors dozens or even a hundred times or more over the years without incident.

I used Pec pads and Eclipse fluid and the process from testing to see the contamination to testing and seeing it's gone can take just minutes.

BTW.
A good way to test for contamination is to set minimum aperture (f16 or whatever the lens will go to,) focus at infinity and take a picture of a white door or white piece of paper, Aim to have a shutter speed into seconds and move the camera about as the shutter is open. This will prevent any detail on the white surface being recorded sharp. All you should be left with is a grey image with any contamination present showing as black specks. Remember that the image is flipped top to bottom so a speck on the top right of the picture is really on the bottom right as you view the sensor.
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Glad that was mentioned :)

The glass covering the sensor is the IR filter (hot mirror) or the US "dust shaker"

I tried to remove the coating from a hot mirror I had removed from a G3 when converting it to full spectrum, and I could not damage it.

Mirrorless cameras do get more dust on the "sensor".

I use a pinhole lens to check for dust, show it much better than stopping down a lens.

I also tend to be very careful with a blower, as it is very easy to blow the dust into the shutter mechanism.

Best not to use any alcohol based fluids.


"Remember that the image is flipped top to bottom so a speck on the top right of the picture is really on the bottom right as you view the sensor."

Shouldn't the "is really on the bottom right" be "is really on the bottom left" ??
 
Sangoma said:
Shouldn't the "is really on the bottom right" be "is really on the bottom left" ??
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Well, check next time you do a clean but remember that you effectively flip the L/R when you turn the camera around to look at it from the front.

Anyway. I'm pretty sure that a speck at the top right will be on the bottom right as you look at the sensor but as with all things... I could be wrong :D

I'm not sure that mirrrorless is more to contamination as although the sensor is exposed you don't have the flappy mirror mechanics spraying oil and debris all over so maybe things balance out or maybe it's that newer cameras whatever they may be have better anti contamination coatings and measures than they did years ago? Whatever the reason my more modern mirrorless cameras suffer very very much less contamination than the Canon DSLR's I had, 300D, 10D, 20D and 5D. The 5D in particular was a total disgrace when it came to dust bunnies.
 
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@Crotal Bell

Are you sure the mark was actually on the sensor and not a blemish on the photograph of the sensor.
 
I could never manage to clean the edges of my sensors properly. It only makes more mess. I rather let professional handle it. That's about once per 2 years. The newer canon EF bodies were good; I'm actually very scared of the idea of dusty mirorless
 
IMHO thinking about it is more worrying than actually doing it.
FWIW I do the following:
-Select min available ISO, f22,aperture priority to result in slow shutter speed. Point camera at light coloured, emulsioned wall, and press shutter whilst moving camera to ensure that any mark on the wall is not misinterpreted as sensor dust
-Rocket blower
-Recheck
Arctic Butterfly
-Recheck
-Swab with Eclipse fluid

Job done - never failed me over the last 10 years
 
yzfmike said:
IMHO thinking about it is more worrying than actually doing it.
FWIW I do the following:
-Select min available ISO, f22,aperture priority to result in slow shutter speed. Point camera at light coloured, emulsioned wall, and press shutter whilst moving camera to ensure that any mark on the wall is not misinterpreted as sensor dust
-Rocket blower
-Recheck
Arctic Butterfly
-Recheck
-Swab with Eclipse fluid

Job done - never failed me over the last 10 years
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Yes I think you have a point.
When you look at your first "serious" camera and think about cleaning the sensor you start to shudder at the thought of wrecking your precious possession, but from what people are saying it's not so dangerous if you do it properly with the right stuff.
I had an air rifle that was too loud for home garden target use, and one solution was to cut down the barrel a bit and have a custom silencer made for it. there were all kinds of horror stories about wrecking the barrel by cutting the crowned end. Finally I cracked on, cut the barrel and re-crowned the end, and fitted a custom made silencer.
It's as accurate as it was before, so I guess sometimes you have to have more faith in yourself and crack on.
 
WHOA … forget all the waffle replies above (sorry lads) no one has sussed the fact that if the seller has exposed the sensor to take a advert photo then ,that in itself will have exposed the sensor to a lot more dust gathering .. unless it was taken under clean lab conditions ..
The only time you should expose the sensor is lens changing and that should be done with camera facing down and done in a couple of seconds if possible .

So please do not buy this camera as it honestly sounds like the seller may be shady .. and b.t.w how can you be sure he didn’t just clone it out in subsequent photos ?
 
the black fox said:
WHOA … forget all the waffle replies above (sorry lads) no one has sussed the fact that if the seller has exposed the sensor to take a advert photo then ,that in itself will have exposed the sensor to a lot more dust gathering .. unless it was taken under clean lab conditions ..
The only time you should expose the sensor is lens changing and that should be done with camera facing down and done in a couple of seconds if possible .

So please do not buy this camera as it honestly sounds like the seller may be shady .. and b.t.w how can you be sure he didn’t just clone it out in subsequent photos ?
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To be honest the spec of dust was enough to put me off, hardly a good advert for selling a camera.
A lot of sellers take still images of the sensor, it does seem a risky business.
Why do we need to place the camera face down? What if the surface you put it on has dust on it?
 
Crotal Bell said:
To be honest the spec of dust was enough to put me off, hardly a good advert for selling a camera.
A lot of sellers take still images of the sensor, it does seem a risky business.
Why do we need to place the camera face down? What if the surface you put it on has dust on it?
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Yup. I'd never do that. But that's not what's meant.

What's meant is that you should point the camera downwards whilst changing lenses, not place the camera down on a surface.

This is what I do when changing lenses...

Loosen the end cap of the lens that's going on.
Get the end cap of the lens that's coming off ready and if at all possible place it on a flat surface.
Point the camera down and remove the lens.
Place it onto its end cap.
Pick up the new lens and remove the loosened end cap.
Mount it on the camera.
Put the old lens away.
 
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I have done it on both my 80D (bought new by me) and a SH 5D.

The 5D was much cleaner than the 80D, despite the fact that I know the full history of the 80D and that I never left it without a lens or body cap. I'm guessing the 5D's weather sealing kept more out.

What I found very useful was to connect it (them) to my PC and set up a studio session. Every shot I took was imported with huge contrast added, so it was immediately clear when there was dust.

You can only use each swab once, and I went through a pack trying to ensure I got all the specs and that I didn't leave any drips of fluid on it - which I did several times.

There were definitely times I really wished I hadn't started doing it. Especially when I was getting towards the end of my stack of swabs.

But I'm pleased I persevered.
 
Crotal Bell said:
Why do we need to place the camera face down? What if the surface you put it on has dust on it?
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You don't put the camera down, you just hold it aperture down when you change the lens.

It's slightly more fiddly, and I think makes it more likely you'd drop the lens as you can't see what you're doing as easily.
 
LongLensPhotography said:
I could never manage to clean the edges of my sensors properly. It only makes more mess. I rather let professional handle it. That's about once per 2 years. The newer canon EF bodies were good; I'm actually very scared of the idea of dusty mirorless
Click to expand...

I cleaned a D800, got it dirtier and marked the sensor. Sometimes I got it good but never as good as a pro who does it as their 9 to 5.

Canons seemed better at keeping spots away than Nikon's and the 645z is the ultimate dust magnet, that is until you go mirrorless.
 
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