Sensor Cleaning

Gazbag

Gazbag

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Gary Kirk
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Now I know this has probably been done to death, so forgive me for asking, but........ does anyone have experience with LCE for wet cleaning a sensor. I usually clean my own sensor with a dry cleaning kit (Dust Aid) but do not own or have enough confidence to do a wet clean on the more stubborn dust spots. I have just checked my sensor and it looks like its got measles, before and after a dry clean. Done all the usual rocket blower stuff but it wont shift.

Any help would be helpful... :thumbs: Thanks
 
If you've used a dust aid, then a wet clean IMO is far less dangerous and easier.

Those dust aid things are evil, wet cleaning, nothing can really go wrong, as long as you are sensible.
 
wet clean isnt as daunting as you think. Its very straightforward. Most important thing is doing it in the most dust free area of the house so youre just not letting more dust into the sensor. Sensor swabs work a treat.
 
Thanks for your replies. I have been quoted £30 from LCE to clean and test the camera which includes a 24 hour turn around. I think I will take them up on their offer this time round, but look to getting in the swabs and cleaner to try for myself after that. I wonder how much for a new sensor :lol:
 
Gazbag said:
Thanks for your replies. I have been quoted £30 from LCE to clean and test the camera which includes a 24 hour turn around. I think I will take them up on their offer this time round, but look to getting in the swabs and cleaner to try for myself after that. I wonder how much for a new sensor :lol:
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It's actually impossible to damage the sensor, as it's not the sensor you are cleaning, it's the AA filter in front of it.

You'd really have to go some to break that and then break the sensor too.
 
See, I have again exposed my ignorance. I had,nt realised that there was a clear cover over the sensor which protects it. So, providing I am careful with the swabbing I should be able to clean this cover and cause no damage to the sensor..... :thumbs: Thank you for that.....
 
its not that difficult to scratch the anti aliasing filter though - and if you **** that you will need a new sensor as they come out attached to each other
 
big soft moose said:
its not that difficult to scratch the anti aliasing filter though - and if you **** that you will need a new sensor as they come out attached to each other
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Or you just ignore it. Apparently my AA filter is scratched. Never had any issue in any photos though.
 
Got it cleaned, paid the money and tested the camera,,,,,, dust spots still visible. Expressed my disappointment to the shop and might as well banged my head against a wall. Guess I will buy a wet system and try myself...... any suggestions on wands and liquid :'(
 
big soft moose said:
its not that difficult to scratch the anti aliasing filter though - and if you **** that you will need a new sensor as they come out attached to each other
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You can get the AA filter replaced (without replacing the sensor), it's the same basic technique as doing an infrared conversion...
 
I just used a cotton bud with some alcohol for cleaning tape heads, 1 pass wet then a clean dry pass. Worked every time and didn't damage anything. It might not have been the right way but some people do strange things to get results.
 
I wonder if some of the dust spots (2 x nasty ones) are well and truley welded onto the proctective cover, might be worth considering a change.... is it expensive ?

The idea of using cotton buds and a non recommended fluid kinda worries me.... but if it works for some, go for it.

Eclipse is a fluid I have heard mentioned before, seems to be one of the most talked about!! The Pec Pads are a new one to me, but I am really now at my wits ends and am getting to the points where a bottle brush cleaner will do :lol:. I have to be honest and say that pennies are a real consideration and feeling like I have just chucked 30 quid really annoys me. I saved long and hard for my little camera and although it may not be in the big league, its my one real satisfying hobby.

I will get some eclipse and wands for my size of sensor and go for a very gentle attempt at my first wet clean..... and at the end of it I will either have a clean sensor or a nice camera body that needs a new sensor :bonk:

7155770425_e79534035d.jpg


After the shop clean

Thank you for your very helpful replies :thumbs:
 
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Blimey, it's a good job they cleaned it so well... NOT. I've got a Lenspen Sensorklear kit with a loupe that cost around the same as your clean and does the job excellently.
 
Eclipse and Pecs are a good solution really, my approach was scoffed at by some well meaning friends at the time.

"You'll damage the sensor" I was told, no I won't cos i'm not touching the sensor, anyway I said I used a cotton bud not a Brillo pad, that shut them up.
 
Ash, if you're not confident, as I wasn't, may I suggest www.cameraclean.co.uk. I can't remember the chaps name, but I took my 5d2 down to Wootton Bassett near Swindon and he wet cleaned it while I waited, for £20. Absolutely top guy, really helpful and keen to teach me how to clean it myself for next time.
 
Gazbag said:
I wonder if some of the dust spots (2 x nasty ones) are well and truley welded onto the proctective cover, might be worth considering a change.... is it expensive ?

The idea of using cotton buds and a non recommended fluid kinda worries me.... but if it works for some, go for it.

Eclipse is a fluid I have heard mentioned before, seems to be one of the most talked about!! The Pec Pads are a new one to me, but I am really now at my wits ends and am getting to the points where a bottle brush cleaner will do :lol:. I have to be honest and say that pennies are a real consideration and feeling like I have just chucked 30 quid really annoys me. I saved long and hard for my little camera and although it may not be in the big league, its my one real satisfying hobby.

I will get some eclipse and wands for my size of sensor and go for a very gentle attempt at my first wet clean..... and at the end of it I will either have a clean sensor or a nice camera body that needs a new sensor :bonk:

7155770425_e79534035d.jpg


After the shop clean

Thank you for your very helpful replies :thumbs:
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Hi, Gary, I would take that back and ask for a full refund and possibly free clean for such shabby service.

I cleaned mine a month or so ago...I was a tad anxious but worked really well. I can't believe most of this can't be removed with a damn good blower.

Good luck.

Cheers.
 
Again, thank you all for your comments and input. I have a cheap blower so perhaps a good quality rocket blower might just help at this point.

Andy, I have been in touch with the shop who say they cannot be sure if since getting the camera back, I have been changing lens in a dust environment!! They assured me that it was louple tested before handing it back, and I did not test it as I took their word it was clean..... once bitten twice shy :)

I might give this cameraclean chap a call and see what he can do for me. I know I seem rather obsessed with this sensor thingy, but it really niggles me :dummy:
 
Gary, I have no idea why I called you Ash, I'm sorry! That sensor of yours isn't just a niggle, it's bordering in unusable. The chap at Camera Clean said to me that a sensible approach is to be realistic, a sensor that dirty will take forever to be made mint, and it isn't necessary to expect it to be so. Mine was equally dirty, and he did a fantastic job leaving just a couple of tiny bits outside the image area. I was shooting cars in a white studio the next day, and never saw any evidence of the remaining dirt. If I'd used the camera as it was, it'd have been a mess.
 
Shine On said:
Gary, I have no idea why I called you Ash, I'm sorry! That sensor of yours isn't just a niggle, it's bordering in unusable. The chap at Camera Clean said to me that a sensible approach is to be realistic, a sensor that dirty will take forever to be made mint, and it isn't necessary to expect it to be so. Mine was equally dirty, and he did a fantastic job leaving just a couple of tiny bits outside the image area. I was shooting cars in a white studio the next day, and never saw any evidence of the remaining dirt. If I'd used the camera as it was, it'd have been a mess.
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:thinking: but thats what you are paying for... if you just wanted a moderate clean leaving a few spots to clone out you could do that yourself.

The few times mine has got so dirty that i can't shift it with blower and arctic butterfly ive used the 'Fixation' while you wait service and its been spotless afterwards - it takes about an hour , and the main hazard is that you spend the hour browsing their stock and spend four or five times the cost of the sensor clean on bits and bobs

and that sensor shot gazbag put up is completely unacceptable - I don't believe that they've cleaned that at all , other than maybe giving it a quick squirt with an air blower
 
Excellent post and instructions on cleaning. I guess that is the way I am going to go. Thanks Robert.
 
ecniv said:
Did it work?

Just bought some pre done pads on sticks and a small bottle of cleaner.

Four pads later the spots are still there on the sensor:/
I have another five swabs to keep trying.
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I did mine and cleaned off all the dust... You do have to press fairly firm..?
 
posiview said:
I did mine and cleaned off all the dust... You do have to press fairly firm..?
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About pencil pressure usually.
 
ecniv: I have not tried to clean it yet, still waiting for pay day:lol:. As soon as I have some wonga I will give the guy a cameraclean a call and see if they can book me in for a "clean while you wait". It does'nt help that I am a bit of a woose when it come to confronting people, so the shop response is no more than I expected. I do know that I will never use my branch of LCE again for a clean, but have to say they have been good for my other purchases. My new rocket blower has been ordered and I hope this will help me keep it a bit cleaner than it is now. I will post a piccy of the sensor when I finally get around to getting it cleaned again. Thank you for all the help and advice:clap:
 
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