Sensor cleaning
 

Have any of you guys cleaned your own sensor's? If so what have you used and would you recommend DIY sensor cleaning? I have started seeing a few spots, mainly in bright sky shots, (and no I haven't been drinking) on the D80.
Or is it better to get it done at dealer? Any thoughts?
Lello

Yes, did my first clean early 2004 on my Canon 300d, used Eclipse Fluid and Digi-Pads. Still using the same method as I find it works perfectly.

Harry

http://www.reidlimaging.eu/

Yes, if you have a steady hand, don't think twice. Full and good instructions at
http://www.copperhillimages.com/index.php?pr=tutorials
I have bought equivalent materials from Just in UK; forget the dust blowing stuff, as it is condensation globs that are the problem and they do need a swab

Hi Lello, yes, twice. But it is not something I would recommend unless you have a steady hand and confidence to do it yourself. I found this site most helpful <http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/index.html>. I have a Delkin Sensor Scope which works well and all the necessary swabs and fluids. The advantage of a sensor scope is that it can also tell you 1) you need a clean 2) I looks like a job for a professional!

Its probably the most daunting operation to have to do initially. Once you have studied how to do it and pluck up courage to actually to it you'll sit back and wonder what all the fuss was about.

Since 2003, like Harry I have been using eclipse fluid and digipads. This method was recommended by Fuji, the camera I had at the time. Nikon suggest their cameras should be returned to a service centre as it is a non user procedure.

The digipad method is simple and very effective. Other methods and techniques have filtered into the market but digipads are the most simple and I dare suggest problem free.

I clean my sensor only when dirty enough to warrant it, when it has about 10 noticeable dust spots. Aviation photography is particularly sensitive to dust as 75% of the frame is flat sky. On average mine is cleaned twice a year about 4-6000 exposures.

This morning I received my second bottle of Eclipse fluid

Blimey! I have had my bottle since 2003, cleaned pilots charts with it also and its only 15% gone!

I've only cleaned my 20D once with eclipse fluid and digi-pads. It was very straight forward and worked first time.

Dave

It evaporates if the lid isn't on really:( tight!

I've done my 20D several times. I bought the kit from Copperhill.

It goes even quicker if you use it for lighting Christmas puddings and fortifying Port :D

for those stubborn stains ive always found
Best Universal Grit Grime & Effluent Remover works best

if Omo dont whiten it and Daz dont brighten it B.U.G.G.E.R it.

sorry coudnt resist

Thanks for all the feedback guys, I can only see about 3 spots on sky shots,
I will order the kit and then maybe wait until either a few more spots become apparent or get to the point where is really winds me up:D By then I might have the courage to have a go :)

Very good Lucy :D

Where did you get it from? http://www.copperhillimages.com/shop...delvar=-+&=SID
As these guys won't ship to England :(

Warehouse Express

Sounds like a car service. :D

I have had my D2X for 18 months and not quite at 6000 yet. Give it a fairly regular go with a blower but not needed to go further than that yet. I think I might be a bit nervous when the time comes to do a full clean.

Don

As Foxy said

"Its probably the most daunting operation to have to do initially. Once you have studied how to do it and pluck up courage to actually to it you'll sit back and wonder what all the fuss was about".

Just website for cleaning stuff, next day as I recall, Eclipse liquid, pecpads & 1 wand (to suit your camera, but I have a 14mm one, which can be used across & down); they were offering a kit including carry case when I got mine, which is quite useful & goes into front pocket of Lowepro TLZ2 for travel packing:

http://www.cameraclean.co.uk/acatalo...ing_Tools.html

If you return to the CopperHill tutorials, you will see they tell you to take a sheet of white paper or a blank image on your screen at f22 & that shows up the trouble spots better than a sky; also you may need to repeat a couple of times, so this is also the test.

I wish I had bought an Olympus.
 

:) Never cleaned at all ever.:)

could some kind guy clarify what whether digi-pads are something different from pec-pad (75x75 cloth) wrapped round a spatula?

the latter worked the few times I did Canon 350D, but have just had 4 successive goes on Nikon D80 with less impressive result. On the last 2 tries there were also small fibres newly arrived. Fortunately a blower shifted that.

While waiting for the fluid to arrive I had a go with the blower, All spots gone apart from one on the top edge. so I won't both to clean until More spots appear, Hope the fluid doesn't evaporate before I get to use it :D

Chris, If you inspect the material on the digi-pad and a Pec-Pad you will see that they appear to be identical. The material wrapped around the spatula has the edges sealed with "Selotape" so as to stop the small fibres falling off.

Lello I've been using Eclipse fluid for almost 4 years and so long as you keep it sealed when not in use it will not evaporate. I still have some in the original bottle.

Harry

thank you Harry; will use more tape next time to contain the whole edge
(there was a little gentel ribaldry about why Eclipse might go down fast earlier on;) )

Missed that post Chris :) :)

Harry