Blower?

FIGHT ON

Hi. I still have my nikon d70 and I figured out how to clean the sensor using some swabs I bought from Sammys Camera shop. The guy gave me too wide ones so I cut them with scissors to make them fit in that well. When I ran out I went back and found narrow ones!
What I am wondering is that maybe I should be using one of those blowers instead of swabbing it every time I see dust. I saw a u tube video with a guy using a blower. Maybe I should use that first instead.
Which one should I use? What is the best one? Also is that lens pen better than drops and a cloth? Could it be used on sun glasses?
Thanks in advance for any info.

FIGHT ON!

Allen

FIGHT ON wrote:

Hi. I still have my nikon d70 and I figured out how to clean the sensor using some swabs I bought from Sammys Camera shop. The guy gave me too wide ones so I cut them with scissors to make them fit in that well. When I ran out I went back and found narrow ones!
What I am wondering is that maybe I should be using one of those blowers instead of swabbing it every time I see dust. I saw a u tube video with a guy using a blower. Maybe I should use that first instead.
Which one should I use? What is the best one? Also is that lens pen better than drops and a cloth? Could it be used on sun glasses?
Thanks in advance for any info.

FIGHT ON!

I'd recommend ALWAYS use a blower first. Safest method and works most times.

cmason

I use a Rocket Blower sometimes, holding my camera lens opening down, blowing up into the cavity. I do this more to dislodge any large dust scraps from the viewfinder and mirror. Not sure of the impact to the sensor, since I do not blow directly on the sensor (I do not raise the mirror). Rocket blower is nice for lenses as well. Rocket blowers have an internal filter, so they blow filtered air (or thats what they claim)

For the sensor, I use the dry method frequently, and the wet method less frequently. For wet I use the CopperHill method, using Eclipse and PecPads.

For dry, I use a static charged brush, the Sensor Sweep. I charge with my Rocket Blower. I brush fairly often, maybe a few times a month. I use the wet method perhaps a few times a year, or when I really see bad dust.

Here is the brush and Rocketblower, which you can find most anywhere. This is a link to Copperhill, and I have bought from them before and can recommend.

Scott_Quier

Allen wrote:

I'd recommend ALWAYS use a blower first. Safest method and works most times.

A blower, as long as it's not too forceful, will be the safest as it doesn't touch the sensor filter (too forceful and you risk damage to the shutter assembly). However, I never use a blower anymore - I've never had any success with them. On the other hand, I don't clean it much any more. The dust bunnies are most visible with small apertures. If I KNOW that I won't be shooting above f/8, then I test at f/8. If I don't see anything, all is good. Very rarely do I shoot above f/8.

But, other people, as seen above, have had great success with blowers and brushes and such, so this really is a case of YMMV.

Photoskipper

I found the blower is rather safe.

It is not only used to clean the sensor once a while, I try to use it everytime before I change the lens. The dust get into the lens barrel and the sensor during the changing lens. Blow away the loose particules around the lens and camera body may reduce the chance (no guarantee).

just wonder any one try the computer keyboard vaccum cleaner powered by USB. I got one and used it to clean the body and the exterior of the camera. It is cheap and fast, no need to squeeze the blower and blow the dust from one lens to the other.

FIGHT ON

cmason wrote:

I use a Rocket Blower sometimes, holding my camera lens opening down, blowing up into the cavity. I do this more to dislodge any large dust scraps from the viewfinder and mirror. Not sure of the impact to the sensor, since I do not blow directly on the sensor (I do not raise the mirror). Rocket blower is nice for lenses as well. Rocket blowers have an internal filter, so they blow filtered air (or thats what they claim)

For the sensor, I use the dry method frequently, and the wet method less frequently. For wet I use the CopperHill method, using Eclipse and PecPads.

For dry, I use a static charged brush, the Sensor Sweep. I charge with my Rocket Blower. I brush fairly often, maybe a few times a month. I use the wet method perhaps a few times a year, or when I really see bad dust.

Here is the brush and Rocketblower, which you can find most anywhere. This is a link to Copperhill, and I have bought from them before and can recommend.

This sounds good! Is this the way you do it?
1. open the mirror and blow the sensor first.
2. charge the brush and brush the sensor.
3 then blow the sensor again?
Thanks for all your help!

cmason

FIGHT ON wrote:

This sounds good! Is this the way you do it?
1. open the mirror and blow the sensor first.
2. charge the brush and brush the sensor.
3 then blow the sensor again?
Thanks for all your help!

I never blow the sensor.

I blow into the mirror box, at the most. This means that I blow with the mirror down:

Take the lens off. Hold the camera so that the opening where the lens goes (mirror box) is facing down to the floor. Hold the blower so that it is facing up into mirror box. Blow a few times. Hopefully loose dust will fall OUT of the camera. If I notice dust in the viewfinder, it means dust in the viewfinder, so I blow up into it, above the mirror.

For the sensor, again, never blow on it. Blow the brush with the blower a few times. This is to statically charge the brush. (by the way, never TOUCH the brush with your fingers). Flip up the mirror, and gently, very gently, brush with the charged brush. You are trying to get the now statically charged brush to get dust to cling to it, more than you are trying to dislodge anything. Stuff that is really stuck on must be removed with the wet method.

FIGHT ON

cmason wrote:

I never blow the sensor.

I blow into the mirror box, at the most. This means that I blow with the mirror down:

Take the lens off. Hold the camera so that the opening where the lens goes (mirror box) is facing down to the floor. Hold the blower so that it is facing up into mirror box. Blow a few times. Hopefully loose dust will fall OUT of the camera. If I notice dust in the viewfinder, it means dust in the viewfinder, so I blow up into it, above the mirror.

For the sensor, again, never blow on it. Blow the brush with the blower a few times. This is to statically charge the brush. (by the way, never TOUCH the brush with your fingers). Flip up the mirror, and gently, very gently, brush with the charged brush. You are trying to get the now statically charged brush to get dust to cling to it, more than you are trying to dislodge anything. Stuff that is really stuck on must be removed with the wet method.

cmason,
Thanks again.
Please look at this utube link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huOdzpl534k

What do you think of his method?
What is wrong with blowing right on the sensor? More risk of damage?
I want to buy one of those brushes.
Does it come with the blower or do you have to buy it separately?
Thanks again.
FIGHT ON

cmason

FIGHT ON wrote:

What do you think of his method?
What is wrong with blowing right on the sensor? More risk of damage?
I want to buy one of those brushes.
Does it come with the blower or do you have to buy it separately?
Thanks again.
FIGHT ON

I for one don't think you should blow on the sensor like that, but that is my opinion only. I worry that it will force dust under the filter (there is a filter over the sensor), or perhaps force dust or other foreign object at highspeed. Maybe it won't, but as I said, that is my opinion. But, I also have not found this to be effective, having tried it before I ordered the brush and Copperhill. This is my opinion and experience talking here, there is nothing to stop you from giving it a go and see how it turns out.

The blower is a Giottos Rocket Blower, nearly any camera shop (decent camera shop) sells them. The brush I have is the SensorSweep from CopperHill, and it is available separately. They also sell it with the blower. You can find something similar from B&H and other places. Some are VERY expensive, offering fancy spinning and electric static creation. My experience is they are not any more effective than a simple brush.

FIGHT ON

cmason wrote:

I for one don't think you should blow on the sensor like that, but that is my opinion only. I worry that it will force dust under the filter (there is a filter over the sensor), or perhaps force dust or other foreign object at highspeed. Maybe it won't, but as I said, that is my opinion. But, I also have not found this to be effective, having tried it before I ordered the brush and Copperhill. This is my opinion and experience talking here, there is nothing to stop you from giving it a go and see how it turns out.

The blower is a Giottos Rocket Blower, nearly any camera shop (decent camera shop) sells them. The brush I have is the SensorSweep from CopperHill, and it is available separately. They also sell it with the blower. You can find something similar from B&H and other places. Some are VERY expensive, offering fancy spinning and electric static creation. My experience is they are not any more effective than a simple brush.

I bought it! blower.
What you have said makes sense. Using the brush to lift dust off seems better than using the blower.
Blow it with the rocket with the mirror closed first then use the brush.
Thanks!

FIGHT ON

Thank you to everyone that responded to my question!

kdog

cmason wrote:

I for one don't think you should blow on the sensor like that, but that is my opinion only. I worry that it will force dust under the filter (there is a filter over the sensor), or perhaps force dust or other foreign object at highspeed.

I would like to point out that blowing is the only sensor cleaning method that Canon (and I believe Nikon) recommends. I don't think they would recommend it if there was even the slightest chance that dust could be blown between the actual sensor and filter.

I always start with blowing the sensor because I've found in many cases that's all I need. It almost always gets the large particles off, which is all I really care about.

I have the Copper Hill sensor brush and have never had particularly good results with it. I'm sure it's my technique, but I've found it's a difficult technique to master. The problem is that the brush must be perfectly clean to begin with. If there's a spec of dust on the brush, it's almost certain to get deposited right back on the sensor. One thing that happened to me is that the brush picked up a spec of internal camera lubricant near the sensor and I ended up with a lubricant smear across my sensor. That of course required a pass with wet cleaning. I never used the brush after that because I was never confident enough in my ability to clean it. Cleaning the brush is an opaque experience. By that I mean there's almost no way to know if it's clean, or harboring some contamination that is just waiting to scratch or smear your sensor.

I do like wet cleaning as an alternative when blowing the sensor doesn't cut it. The great thing about wet cleaning is that you use a brand-new, surgically clean wipe each time on your sensor. Nothing to clean, and it works every time for me. Just my opinions too of course.

FIGHT ON

kdog wrote:

I would like to point out that blowing is the only sensor cleaning method that Canon (and I believe Nikon) recommends. I don't think they would recommend it if there was even the slightest chance that dust could be blown between the actual sensor and filter.

I always start with blowing the sensor because I've found in many cases that's all I need. It almost always gets the large particles off, which is all I really care about.

I have the Copper Hill sensor brush and have never had particularly good results with it. I'm sure it's my technique, but I've found it's a difficult technique to master. The problem is that the brush must be perfectly clean to begin with. If there's a spec of dust on the brush, it's almost certain to get deposited right back on the sensor. One thing that happened to me is that the brush picked up a spec of internal camera lubricant near the sensor and I ended up with a lubricant smear across my sensor. That of course required a pass with wet cleaning. I never used the brush after that because I was never confident enough in my ability to clean it. Cleaning the brush is an opaque experience. By that I mean there's almost no way to know if it's clean, or harboring some contamination that is just waiting to scratch or smear your sensor.

I do like wet cleaning as an alternative when blowing the sensor doesn't cut it. The great thing about wet cleaning is that you use a brand-new, surgically clean wipe each time on your sensor. Nothing to clean, and it works every time for me. Just my opinions too of course.

Ya the wet cleaning is the only way I have done it with my nikon d-70.
I actually brought it into Sammys and they gave me a set of them which were too wide. So I cut them with scissors so they would be narrow enough to fit into the well where the sensor is.
When I ran out I went back and asked if they by chance made narrower ones and sure enough they did!
Crazy.
I guess I've been lucky. Everyone I talk to says they would not do it themselves and recommend sending it to Nikon.
Thanks again everyone.
I like all the different opinions.
This forum is great.
You can really learn stuff!

Code Blue

on the topic of equipment cleaning, has anyone used the Carson LENSPEN?

here's the link:
http://www.opticsplanet.net/carson-lenspen-cleaning-tool.html

its the model 99 or whatever

A family member gave it to me, not sure if its worth using at all

FIGHT ON

Ya I saw those too.
Has anyone ever used one before?
Thank you for any advice.

leaforte

Code Blue wrote:

on the topic of equipment cleaning, has anyone used the Carson LENSPEN?

here's the link:
http://www.opticsplanet.net/carson-lenspen-cleaning-tool.html

its the model 99 or whatever

A family member gave it to me, not sure if its worth using at all

Personally, I use mine quite often. It seems to be on hikes with me, because its easy to transport, though you can collapse your blower and stuff it into a corner of your pack, or even use it as padding for a lens or body. The brush works well to knock particles off any parts of the camera body, and I've found that the round 'squeegee' end works wonders on grease (fingerprints, etc,) on the lens, if it is obvious. But, don't ever use the squeegee end over the top of a particle on your lens, which for me means, don't use it to clean dust off your lens. A very possible chance of scratching.