I'm no longer a sensor-cleaning virgin!

Marcel

Marcel

Kim Jong Bod
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Marcel
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Well, I've had a digital SLR for nearly 2 years, and I've finally gotten round to cleaning my sensor.

I bought the stuff last year from WarehouseExpress.
Pecpads
Eclipse Fluid
and a spatula kindly sent to me by a forum member.

Well today, I'd decided it was high time I actually did it.
My wife was sat in the garden with the kids, playing, so I shut the windows and doors, tripod mounted my camera, and got everything ready. (After taking this shot)

sensor1.jpg


And with auto levels applied

sensor1l.jpg


Was a bit fiddly getting the pecpad to stay still on the end of the spatula, while i taped it all down, but I got there in the end.
Had a bit of a test run on a filter first, then rewrapped a new pecpad round.

Well, **** or bust I thought, and I set the camera to sensor cleaning, and went in. My first thought was "b****r me this is tight", so tight that I couldnt really see what I was doing (to see past my fingers and the extra/redundant area of pecpad)...

Anyway, I went one side, then back again, and ended up with this

sensor2.jpg

sensor2l.jpg


Another pecpad, another clean, another test image, and I got

sensor3.jpg

sensor3l.jpg


So I did it again (giving the correct corner a little bit of back and forth gentle scrubbing), and again....

After the 5th time, this is what it now looks like

sensor5.jpg

sensor5l.jpg


The kids are now in here (the living room) so I'm going to wait until tonight, and I might have one more go, get those last specs away.

It *IS* eaiser than I expected, but my tips of advice would be.
Practise on a filter first, then bin the pecpad.
Watch how much eclipse you use (two drops, three at most)...And take your time...don't worry about the lens being off etc......You'll get quicker as time goes on....Expect it to take a long time at first.
 
Bear in mind too, that those images are at f36 too....
 
Well done :)

(told you so)
 
Marcel - Well done :clap: & what a huge difference :eek:
Paul
 
I agree its a little daunting the first time you start messing in the sensor but after a few times you wonder what all the fuss was about..:)

Common sense is all you need really.;)
 
Kettles on Matt. I'll let you come and do it for me. You'll be here within 20 mins I assume?

Very kind of you to offer :clap: Cheers :D
 
Marcel said:
Kettles on Matt. I'll let you come and do it for me.
Click to expand...

What do you want the kettle on for..........to steam the 2 years-worth of carp off your sensor?
 
I always at the end turn the camera upside down a give a good blow with the rocket just before I close the shutter...Ian
 
hehe I will admit the first year was being an owner of a 350D (which was when I bought the stuff). It just never reeeeally needed cleaning.

And with this 30D, I've never really got round to doing it.

Well. I've just given her another few pecpads worth, and now we're finally at this

sensor6.jpg

sensor6l.jpg


I think that's fine for now. Can't get it completely clean, but hey ho, it's as good as.
 
Nice one bod, was amazed when I did my first clean the other day how simple it was. For some reason I thought everything would be a bit more bends and feel really delicate inside the camera, but its just like cleaning a bit of glass!
 
Argh this reminds me that I'm about due for another clean :|

This will be my third time and I remember my first go being a complete nightmare. Looks like you've done a great job though Marcel. :thumbs:
 
Like all virgins you will take it easy at first. then you will do it more often... and a little harder!

Before you know you will be thinking about doing it when you get home.... and will even let the neighbours watch!

It's a slippery slope..... don't say we didn't warn you!



;)
 
Congratulations Bodders. I've still never cleaned the sensors on either of my cameras. :D
 
CT said:
Congratulations Bodders. I've still never cleaned the sensors on either of my cameras. :D
Click to expand...

Whaaaat????

With all that Blue Tit s**t on it? LOL :D :lol:
 
There's some LTT **** too! :D
 
CT said:
There's some LTT **** too! :D
Click to expand...

Of course...............but don't tell Doug or he'll come and scrape it off.....just to have touched it!! ;) :D :lol:
 
LOL Poor old Doug! :p
 
CT said:
Congratulations Bodders. I've still never cleaned the sensors on either of my cameras. :D
Click to expand...


/ Shakes head in disbelieve..:eek:
 
:lol: I'd love to see that too.

But then again, how often does he take his 500mm off? ;)
 
Marcel said:
:lol: I'd love to see that too.

But then again, how often does he take his 500mm off? ;)
Click to expand...

LOL I'm swappng all the time - mostly between the 500, 100-400L and 180 macro. Small apertures are a luxury I don't get very often, but i'll have to try a coupla test shots.:D
 
Here you go then. Both taken with the 50mm 1.4 at f22.

20D
20D.jpg


1DMK2n
1DMK2n.jpg


Better than I expected tbh. I do get the occasional dust goobar to touch out, but not many, and they're never in the same place long or disappear altogether so they're obviously mostly loose dust moving about. I don't want to add a fluid to the situation till I have to though so I'll monitor the situation and maybe even order the pec pads. :D
 
I've never cleaned the sensor on my 20D in all the time i've had it, mind you.....i've not used it much either :D

I think i'll just buy a new body instead of frightening myself with a test shot :eek:

Looks like you've got your hand in with it now Marcel :thumbs:
 
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