Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Digital Cameras & Shooting Techniques => Topic started by: BradSmith on April 08, 2018, 09:30:22 pm

Title: What to Use for Sensor Cleaning
Post by: BradSmith on April 08, 2018, 09:30:22 pm
For the first time, I've found what I assume to be dust on my sensor and need to clean it.  What are you using?  Is something special needed, or do Q tips and some general liquid work?
thanks
Brad
Title: Re: What to Use for Sensor Cleaning
Post by: Jeffrey Saldinger on April 08, 2018, 09:42:31 pm
https://www.lynda.com/Photography-tutorials/Understanding-how-clean-sensor-dust/119012/384737-4.html
Title: Re: What to Use for Sensor Cleaning
Post by: stever on April 08, 2018, 11:01:21 pm
what kind of camera?  if it's a recent model with sensor cleaning you probably have something more stickier than dust and need something like eclipse fluid and a sensor swab.  newer cameras with stabilized sensors caution against manual cleaning and i have not yet needed to try.

don't use Q tips they are abrasive and can leave particles
Title: Re: What to Use for Sensor Cleaning
Post by: langier on April 09, 2018, 12:00:30 am
One of the more comprehensive sites for info & tools:

http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com

ByThom.com also has good info for Nikon sensors but on one of his older pages.
Title: Re: What to Use for Sensor Cleaning
Post by: Rhossydd on April 09, 2018, 07:09:44 am
As a first step, just try a hurricane bulb blower. Cheap, very low risk and often surprisingly effective.

After that you'll need specialised kit, don't use q tips or air cans AT ALL. If it's very rare occurrence it may be easiest to get a specialist to do it for you. Cleaning sensors is frankly a horrible job and likely to take much longer than you expect.
Title: Re: What to Use for Sensor Cleaning
Post by: elliot_n on April 09, 2018, 08:26:30 am
It is indeed a horrible job. I've only done it once with my Nikon D800. It took two hours and 30 swabs (with Eclipse fluid).
Title: Re: What to Use for Sensor Cleaning
Post by: BradSmith on April 09, 2018, 10:40:28 am
thanks for the good info.
Brad
Title: Re: What to Use for Sensor Cleaning
Post by: Telecaster on April 09, 2018, 04:15:30 pm
I start with a rubbery blower bulb. If that doesn't do it I move onto an old VisibleDust rig that includes different-sized brushes for different sensors. If the brushes don't do it I get out the swabs & cleaning fluid. Usually the bulb is all I need.

-Dave-
Title: Re: What to Use for Sensor Cleaning
Post by: Rhossydd on April 10, 2018, 04:38:13 am
If the brushes don't do it
I've wasted too much money on useless brushes in the past to ever think of recommending them. Hopeless things that just move dust around and add more. AVOID