Effective results with Sensor Brush

robscomputer

I tested out the Sensor Brush today on my 10D. It wasn't too dirty but enough to slightly notice during bright sunny day shots.

Below is the before picture, please note I tweaked the balance to show the dust.



Now, this is after 5 swipes with the Sensor Brush, blowing compressed air each time.



The back ground wasn't the best but I did notice an improvement. Looks pretty decent and I can only find one speck of dust that the brush didn't pick up.

Overall I'm impressed and will test out the generic "sensor brush" next time.

Rob

Skippy

I have the Sensor Brush Too

robscomputer wrote:

I tested out the Sensor Brush today on my 10D. It wasn't too dirty but enough to slightly notice during bright sunny day shots.

Below is the before picture, please note I tweaked the balance to show the dust.
Now, this is after 5 swipes with the Sensor Brush, blowing compressed air each time.
The back ground wasn't the best but I did notice an improvement. Looks pretty decent and I can only find one speck of dust that the brush didn't pick up.

Overall I'm impressed and will test out the generic "sensor brush" next time.

Rob

Hi Rob, I too brought the Sensor Brush kit, being new to digital cameras myself, and not knowing anyone even remotely close who has chosen to do the Copper Hill Method, I figured it might be a better option when your travelling, but I still think at somestage the Copperhill Method will be needed as well.............to remove dust the Sensor Brush is extremely easy to use and this is what I like best about it Skippy (Australia)

OlgaJ

I guess I'm one of very few who do not like the sensor brush. I have better results with the Giotto blower than the sensor brush. It's also easier to carry on trips than to have to either carry or locate an air can with me.

I have no problem using the Copperhill method if I have to. Lately though I haven't had the need for it.

Olga

wxwax

I'm surprised to hear you say that, Olga. I have the same blower, stored in a baggie to keep it relatively dust free. I tried it repeatedly on the sensor. I even resorted to putting the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner close to the opening in the body, in hopes of drawing-out the disturbed dust.

None of that worked. The best I could do was rearrange the dust. I often seemed to make it worse.

By contrast, a few swipes with the sensor brush cleaned things right up. I think the sensor brush is crazy expensive. And I placed a second order to boot, to get a larger brush that better suits the size of my sensor (if you know what I mean.) Plus I find those 15-second bursts of compressed air really go through a can fast.

However, I did my sensor yesterday. From the time I grabbed my tripod and camera, to the time I packed away the brush, took all of 5 minutes. So I'm pretty pleased, despite the horrendous expense. I wish the blower had worked, but I simply couldn't make it do so for me.

mereimage

Glad to see you like the 10D
That chip had never been cleaned-will rarely need it, remember to always keep the opening facing down when changing lenses. Before the sensor brish was available I was too skittish about cleaning it -I just used air from a bulb blower and cloned out any thing left. Now lets see some pictures////Mereimage

OlgaJ

wxwax wrote:

I'm surprised to hear you say that, Olga.

Like I said, Sid, I know I'm in the minority. Perhaps I don't put adequate pressure on the brush. I really do not know.

I used to have a different blower which wasn't worth a darn. I never could understand folks who kept saying that a blower worked for them. So I always used the eclipse method. Cannot remember what made me try the other blower but I'm happy I did.

Olga

Steve Cavigliano

On our trip to Yosemite, Andy showed Gus and I how to clean our sensors. It was a combination of the Giotto blower and I believe the Copperhill method (a spatula with a wipe wrapped around it). It worked OK. But, we did it blind. In that we didn't do a before shot to see where the specks were to begin with Andy did warn us, that we might wind up worse off than we started :uhoh

Well, I've got a "glob" at the 2 o'clock position I don't want to wait for the Copperhill stuff, so I think I'm going to try the Scotch Magic Tape method. Anyone heard/read about this? It seems to be big in some of the Nikon forums. Basically, you use 19x33mm #810 Scotch Magic Tape. You cut a 6 inch long strip, the width is perfect for the sensor, and holding both ends dip the center part down until it contacts the sensor. Then using a flat or rounded piece of plastic/wood press the tape down until it covers the entire sensor. Then remove and repeat if necessary. No residue and it seems to pick up debris better than sweepers. It also removes dirt from the area, rather than just blowing/sweeping it around to other areas near the sensor.

Anyone heard any negative feedback about this method?


Thanks,
Steve

wxwax

I read that thread with great interest. No-one said they got burned, but not a lot of people tried it, either.

Before I tried it on my sensor, I'd try it on glasses, my computer monitor, crystal, a clean mirror -- something that would let me see if it did leave a tiny deposit. Because if it does, getting the deposit off will be very delicate and difficult.

I'm not brave enough to try that method.

robscomputer

I have also tried using the blower idea but for me this did nothing to remove the dust. While I haven't tired the Copper Hill method my the actual sensor I did tried it out cleaning a filter. From what I experienced the Eclipse solution was streaking even after I letting the filter air dry. I also tested out Visible Dust's sensor cleaning solution and found that their solution does not leave any streaks like Eclipse's soltion does.

Rob

ShebaJo

robscomputer wrote:

I tested out the Sensor Brush today on my 10D. It wasn't too dirty but enough to slightly notice during bright sunny day shots.

Below is the before picture, please note I tweaked the balance to show the dust.The back ground wasn't the best but I did notice an improvement. Looks pretty decent and I can only find one speck of dust that the brush didn't pick up.

Overall I'm impressed and will test out the generic "sensor brush" next time.

Rob

I just ordered the CopperHill Ultimate Kit...has the "Sensor Swipe" brush kit included. His version of the Sensor Brush.

BTW... I tried the "brush" method, using an old paint brush that is pretty much the same as the other brushes... It cleaned really well, charged with canned air. So well, I decided not to pay for the sensor brush. But, when I saw the new Copperhill kit... that extra $10 sounded very good.

SteveF

Sensor cleaning
Hello,

This topic often seems to generate such varied opinions.

My solution, which I have had great (fantastic, wonderful) results with is a combo of the gitto rocket blower and the visible dust SBF brush.

The SBF brush is their "single filament" brush. It is fan shaped, as wide as the sensor, but only a couple of bristles "thick".

The main difference with this and the thicker ones is that you can use a rocket blower to charge it. So, if I'm out taking pictures or on a trip I can carry everything I need to clean the sensor - no need for compressed air. I've done it enough times that it has become about as big a deal as changing a lens or battery.

One other thing which I used at home before I got the above setup was a foot pump - one of those plastic accordion type ones you use to blow up a raft or the like. About $10 at Target. I put a couple pec-pads as a filter over the air intake valve and then had a clean air sensor blower. This also took care of just about all dust particles.

If you want to read more there is

Cleaning Digital camera Site

wholenewlight

Steve Cavigliano wrote:

the Scotch Magic Tape method. Anyone heard/read about this? It seems to be big in some of the Nikon forums.

Let us know how your cleaning goes.

I noticed that the http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/ website isn't a fan of the tape method. I've seen posts on the nikon forums from proponants of the method but I'm nervous that I'd make my dust problem worse with a big glob of adhesive.

philspace

I'm finally getting the hang of it as well. After I bought the Copperhill cleaning kit and and tried to clean up an artist brush I broke down and bought the sensor brush.

I still had some artifacts from condensation from outdoor subzero shooting - never just take your camera outside of the car warm and change lenses in the cold :bluduh

In any event, this was the first shot you can see the chunks of dust courtesy of the Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains.



This is after a quick sensor brush swipe - the more opaque spots are what is left over from my winter mess.



I used the Copperhill swab a couple times and then the sensor brush to bayonett the wounded and it came out pretty good. The first time I did this it was frustrating and we won't say how many times I did it. This time from start to finish - 8 passes. I also found that using an Ott light with a built in magnifying loop really helps to actually see things on the sensor before and after. This saves a lot of time, no more trial an error with the sensor brush or swab.

gus

Steve Cavigliano wrote:

so I think I'm going to try the Scotch Magic Tape method. Anyone heard/read about this?

Thanks,
Steve

Like getting white cat hair off a black shirt Mate your a braver man than me to try this.

Keep us posted

Gus

robscomputer

Humungus wrote:

Like getting white cat hair off a black shirt Mate your a braver man than me to try this.

Keep us posted

Gus

I'm still a bit confused about the logic of using tape to remove dust. In order to take off every bit of dust you would need to press down the tape in all areas, including the edges. This still leaves a small area where your extended tape is held for removing. Even if you do make a good solid contact there is still bound to be dust remaining, not to mention spots from water or other liquid particles.

Just as an example, it would be trying to clean your monitor with scotch tape instead of using a cleaner and some towels. I'm sure most of the dust would be gone but some would be left over. Not to mention the risk of having glue residue.

I have never applied this method myself but just thinking about seems dengerous to the sensor. I wouldn't dare clean my SLR mirror with anything but a fine brush for reasons of scratching the surface, let alone using tape.

Rob

gus

robscomputer wrote:

I'm still a bit confused about the logic of using tape to remove dust. In order to take off every bit of dust you would need to press down the tape in all areas, including the edges. This still leaves a small area where your extended tape is held for removing. Even if you do make a good solid contact there is still bound to be dust remaining, not to mention spots from water or other liquid particles.

Just as an example, it would be trying to clean your monitor with scotch tape instead of using a cleaner and some towels. I'm sure most of the dust would be gone but some would be left over. Not to mention the risk of having glue residue.

I have never applied this method myself but just thinking about seems dengerous to the sensor. I wouldn't dare clean my SLR mirror with anything but a fine brush for reasons of scratching the surface, let alone using tape.

Rob

I could see myself trying it & the sensor coming off with the tape :uhoh

Wouldnt it leave a residue to attract more dust but this time stick the dust on ?

Steve Cavigliano

Guys, you are thinking of that old cellophane tape. This stuff uses adhesive that is more like what's used on Post Its. You ever stick a Post It to your hand or arm? There's not supposed to be any adhesive residue unless the tape is used on a window and is sun baked, or something similar. I still haven't gotten to the store to get some. But, I really don't see it as all that risky

It does have to be flattened over the entire sensor, using something flat and something that's not sharp or too hard. Like the end of a plastic fork or knife.

I'll keep you all posted

Steve

ian408

Steve Cavigliano wrote:

Anyone heard any negative feedback about this method?


Thanks,
Steve

Don't do it. The spooge (technical term) from the tape will be much harder to
get off the sensor than the dust bunny. Before you say it, I know they mean
turn the tape to it's non-sticky side.

In some sense, tape, plastic ball point pen caps and the sensor brush work
the same way. They rely on static electricty to remove dust. The sensor
brush uses compressed air to charge the bristols (and clean them).

If you could charge the tape and hold it near the sensor without touching
anything, that might work but you're better off with a rocket blower or
nothing rather than the tape.

Ian

ian408

philspace wrote:

Hey Phil,

My sources in the Air Force tell me that's not dust but a flight of Alien
beings making its way across the US.

Say hello to the Spacewife.

Ian

Steve Cavigliano

Uh.......Nevermind

ian408 wrote:

Don't do it. The spooge (technical term) from the tape will be much harder to
get off the sensor than the dust bunny. Before you say it, I know they mean
turn the tape to it's non-sticky side.

In some sense, tape, plastic ball point pen caps and the sensor brush work
the same way. They rely on static electricty to remove dust. The sensor
brush uses compressed air to charge the bristols (and clean them).

If you could charge the tape and hold it near the sensor without touching
anything, that might work but you're better off with a rocket blower or
nothing rather than the tape.

Ian

As Roseanna Roseannadanna used to say......lol

OK, Ian you convinced me. Anyone, who can so easily toss around technical terms like "spooge" and "dust bunny" has my full attention

Thank you very much for your offer of help


See ya in a few,
Steve