Alright I want to buy a sensor cleaning kit soon, but I dont want to buy it in pieces, do you guys know of a place that sells them in a kit?
Also, i want to clean out the glass on top of the mirror, you know where the focus points in the viewfinder resides? Theres pieces of lint stuck on it and its annoying me! Do you think a simple blower can get them out? Is the Rocket Blower really that much better than the smaller generic blowers stores sell? Which size Rocket Blower should I get (I have an XT)? Theres like three sizes plus one rotating head model!
Sorry for all the questions hah, but I know you guys know about this stuff better than me.
Alright I want to buy a sensor cleaning kit soon, but I dont want to buy it in pieces, do you guys know of a place that sells them in a kit?
Also, i want to clean out the glass on top of the mirror, you know where the focus points in the viewfinder resides? Theres pieces of lint stuck on it and its annoying me! Do you think a simple blower can get them out? Is the Rocket Blower really that much better than the smaller generic blowers stores sell? Which size Rocket Blower should I get (I have an XT)? Theres like three sizes plus one rotating head model!
Sorry for all the questions hah, but I know you guys know about this stuff better than me.
Sensor Dust Removal Using Dust-aid
I was at the PMA show in March & met with the developers of Dust-Aid....what a wonderful product....easy to use ....relatively cheap & got my sensor cleaned...that week I shot Nascar at Las Vegas Motor Speedway & I have a dusty 1D....they cleaned it in 3 minutes! I bought a couple of sample kits & used it on my other 5 DSLR bodies & I used only one pad & then threw it out. 12 pads , instructions, cleaning wand is all you need for a long time. Remember you are only cleaning the glass in front of the sensor...not the actual sensor
If you Google around you'll find folks have made their own sticks.
I came across a post that suggested using your card for your cleaning kit. So I used my credit card to order a packet of Pec-Pad and a bottle of Eclipse and cut up my debit card to make my own swab. Saved me a lot of money (I haven’t been able to use my debit card since).
mobile phone image
I read the Copperhill website at least 5 times before I dared touch my sensor for the first time. After a few times you realise that it’s nowhere near as hard to do as the manufacturer would like you to believe.
As soon as I have one speck appear on my picks I’m out there cleaning. I would get a fit if my sensor looked like any of the images shown on this thread.
In the 2 years that I have my D70 I didn’t have to clean the sensor more than 10 times max and I constantly change lenses.
Main points are:
Switch off camera before changing lenses.
Switch lenses quickly.
Keep the back cap on your lens at all times that you don’t use it.
I set my monitor to a pale blue and then set the aperature on my camera to 22. Auto levels in PS reveals a couple dust bunnies
But, for a camera that 13 months old and used 99% of the time outside at dusty horse shows I can't complain too much. I'm very careful about facing the camera down and is turned off during lens changes and I make sure that the lenses' rear caps are always on.
I did order the wet kit from Copper Hill, hopefully they'll get rid of the rest of my bunnies. I leave for Vegas on Wednesday at 4am so I'm sure it won't get here before then, but I'll post my result when I get the kit.
I have a 20D. I have dust or pollen on the %&^$%^#$ sensor.
I bought a GIOTTO ROCKET AIR hand blower thingy and visibledust swabs (visibledust.com) for actually dinking around with the sensor.
I have had the swabs for 2 weeks and look at the everyday; I am trying to build up the courage to use it and touch my sensor...i am going to do it today. It's gotta be done. Al Queda be damned!
SO, Dust on my sensor...devil in my car..letcha know what happens.
I blew out the sensor on my 20D yesterday before going on a shoot and thought I had gotten out all the dust, but andy found a couple of specs on one of my images.
So the question is...if the dots show up in the upper left of an image, where on the sensor are those located? Intuitively, I would think the upper right of the sensor, while looking in the lens mount. But, are images upside down and/or reversed? Just want to know where to look for the offenders.
I first use the Rocket blower & turn the camera so the mirror faces the floor......blow upward....
Then use Dust Aid Sensor Cleaning kit.....I saw it on Ebay for $35.00 plus $5.00 ship.....
Hi JOhn.
I am about to clean my sensor...still haven't done it yet...scared..
It's realy scary going in there. But I promise after you do it once or twice. It will be like riding a bike.
If you want your "wand" to be a little more flexible, just pop it in the microwave for 8-10 seconds. It will soften the plastic a bit so you can have a more gentle touch and still get the same results.
I cleaned my camera for the first time the other day. Never done it before, followed the instructions, seemed to have worked fine. I'll never be "comfortable" doing this but I don't see how it could go wrong really, as long as you follow the instructions.
It's realy scary going in there. But I promise after you do it once or twice. It will be like riding a bike.
Just a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes...
I may just have to break down and try it myself. The rocket blower works well, but since I do a lot of aviation shoots, those dust spots can really show up against a clear sky. I guess I should give it a good cleaning before air show season.
Would that rocket blower be a good way to get some dust out of my um....prism.? I realize I might be cleaning the sensor again after spreading the dust around.....
Would that rocket blower be a good way to get some dust out of my um....prism.? I realize I might be cleaning the sensor again after spreading the dust around.....
If your going to do both. I'd use the blower then do the sensor cleaning. That's what I do and I have no problems. I also use canned air, but not the way ppl think to use it. I hold the can completely vertical then bend the straw so it's pointed straight up. I then burst the air away from the camera to make sure no liquid comes out of the can then move the camera over it. I also keep the nozzle about 6" away from the body so it's just acting like a constant rocket blower vs. a high pressure stream.
I don't recommend this method. But I've refined the process and feel 100% comfortable w/ it.
I cleaned my camera for the first time the other day. Never done it before, followed the instructions, seemed to have worked fine. I'll never be "comfortable" doing this but I don't see how it could go wrong really, as long as you follow the instructions.
I cleaned mine too -- finally. Still nervous about it. I had to clean it 3 times, and only left one big spot on the side -- it's easy enough to crop out or clone out, so I won't worry about it until the next time I have to clean it.
I read one site where the CCD vibrating cleaning doesn't work on my cam, and that blowing helped but cleaning it worked the best. I tried the CCD vibration cleaning, and blowing (probably the wrong type of blower) and it did not get any dust off that I could see. I paid a local shop to clean the CCD and that worked like a charm. But with changing the lens often, I got more dust. So ordered my kit. Took me almost a month to work up the courage, but once I got it clean I was happy.
1) I bout the dry brush from copper hill... when i use this, it seems i end up leaving MORE dust on my sensor then before
2) THe eclipse method... well this sorta works, i mean i had a pretty clean sensor then cleaned it with this and my sensor was even dirtier. I can't seem to get it really clean with this. i dunno maybe i just don't have a knack for swipping back and forth
3) rocket blower is what i should just stick with, it works and if i do it regularly i keep the dust off
Sooo should i try quetips? (cuetips?) with the eclipse and then blow off the excess strands???
I seem to make a mess with dust when i use the eclipse method by swabbing
No Q-tips! They aren't meant for this use. Keep trying with the Eclipse/PecPad method. At first it does seem to be making a bigger mess, but that's just because you're slowly breaking up sticky goobers & smearing them. After a while it will start to get better. Patience & persistence.
Have you Q-tip naysayers actually tried them? I've heard they work very well.
I did.....both generic and "Q"-tip brand......both to same end result (tons of white hairy sh** all over my sensor cover).....ordering a kit from COPPERHILL and doing it correctly....it took me 4 toatl cleanings with copper hill to get everything off the sensor.....now I do it every month or so whether it needs it or not.....at least it keeps me in practice.
I did.....both generic and "Q"-tip brand......both to same end result (tons of white hairy sh** all over my sensor cover).....ordering a kit from COPPERHILL and doing it correctly....it took me 4 toatl cleanings with copper hill to get everything off the sensor.....now I do it every month or so whether it needs it or not.....at least it keeps me in practice.
Interesting. I guess I got some bad data. Thanks for the input, Art.
I did.....both generic and "Q"-tip brand......both to same end result (tons of white hairy sh** all over my sensor cover).....ordering a kit from COPPERHILL and doing it correctly....it took me 4 toatl cleanings with copper hill to get everything off the sensor.....now I do it every month or so whether it needs it or not.....at least it keeps me in practice.
Im in the same boat Art...just got my copperhill set a few days ago & am going to clean it today. Man are my cameras filthy inside
Ive only had both of my bodies sensors cleaned just once & these days they want frommm $60 (brush clean) to $110 (wet clean) so the copper hill for $80 delivered is the only sensible way to go.
Maybe we should start a 'show your worst sensor dust' thread.
Im in the same boat Art...just got my copperhill set a few days ago & am going to clean it today. Man are my cameras filthy inside
Ive only had both of my bodies sensors cleaned just once & these days they want frommm $60 (brush clean) to $110 (wet clean) so the copper hill for $80 delivered is the only sensible way to go.
Maybe we should start a 'show your worst sensor dust' thread.
Thanks Gus, I ordered the kit today from the same place you did http://www.qualitycamera.com.au/index.php?cPath=33
Very nice man ... I had to ring him to change my order.
It's been dispatched now, and I should have it on Monday.... Skippy
.
another for Copper Hill. Great guy and the kit comes with very good directions. Cleaned both my D70 and D200 in less than 15 minutes.
I never knew -- until I started seeing stuff and started researching that we needed to be cleaning the sensors regularly. I ordered the Copper hill stuff and man did it take a while. It took several times before I was satisfied....
I think that it would be cool to start a " show me your dirty sensor thread." Might make some of us feel better.
Thanks Gus, I ordered the kit today from the same place you did http://www.qualitycamera.com.au/index.php?cPath=33
Very nice man ... I had to ring him to change my order.
It's been dispatched now, and I should have it on Monday.... Skippy
.
Wow talk about fast delivery !!!
I ordered my kit from QualityCamera and got it before the 24hrs was up
Thank you Stu for fixing my order that I stuffed up too ... opps
I was not expecting the delivery to be so fast ... Skippy
.
Comments
Why take the chance???????
Also, i want to clean out the glass on top of the mirror, you know where the focus points in the viewfinder resides? Theres pieces of lint stuck on it and its annoying me! Do you think a simple blower can get them out? Is the Rocket Blower really that much better than the smaller generic blowers stores sell? Which size Rocket Blower should I get (I have an XT)? Theres like three sizes plus one rotating head model!
Sorry for all the questions hah, but I know you guys know about this stuff better than me.
http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning
http://www.chrislaudermilkphoto.com/
Am I the first person to clean the hell out of the shutter curtain and wonder why the dust bunnies were not going away?
Finally realized what I was doing, and one pass with the CopperHill method got every one of the nasties. :ivar
Here is another link that I found a bit more readable.
TomsProPhoto
I was at the PMA show in March & met with the developers of Dust-Aid....what a wonderful product....easy to use ....relatively cheap & got my sensor cleaned...that week I shot Nascar at Las Vegas Motor Speedway & I have a dusty 1D....they cleaned it in 3 minutes! I bought a couple of sample kits & used it on my other 5 DSLR bodies & I used only one pad & then threw it out. 12 pads , instructions, cleaning wand is all you need for a long time. Remember you are only cleaning the glass in front of the sensor...not the actual sensor
Larry
tpsfoto@aol.com
I came across a post that suggested using your card for your cleaning kit. So I used my credit card to order a packet of Pec-Pad and a bottle of Eclipse and cut up my debit card to make my own swab. Saved me a lot of money (I haven’t been able to use my debit card since).
mobile phone image
I read the Copperhill website at least 5 times before I dared touch my sensor for the first time. After a few times you realise that it’s nowhere near as hard to do as the manufacturer would like you to believe.
As soon as I have one speck appear on my picks I’m out there cleaning. I would get a fit if my sensor looked like any of the images shown on this thread.
In the 2 years that I have my D70 I didn’t have to clean the sensor more than 10 times max and I constantly change lenses.
Main points are:
Switch off camera before changing lenses.
Switch lenses quickly.
Keep the back cap on your lens at all times that you don’t use it.
I set my monitor to a pale blue and then set the aperature on my camera to 22. Auto levels in PS reveals a couple dust bunnies
But, for a camera that 13 months old and used 99% of the time outside at dusty horse shows I can't complain too much.
I did order the wet kit from Copper Hill, hopefully they'll get rid of the rest of my bunnies. I leave for Vegas on Wednesday at 4am so I'm sure it won't get here before then, but I'll post my result when I get the kit.
SmugMug Support Specialist - www.help.smugmug.com
http://www.phyxiusphotos.com
Equine Photography in Maryland - Dressage, Eventing, Hunters, Jumpers
I have a 20D. I have dust or pollen on the %&^$%^#$ sensor.
I bought a GIOTTO ROCKET AIR hand blower thingy and visibledust swabs (visibledust.com) for actually dinking around with the sensor.
I have had the swabs for 2 weeks and look at the everyday; I am trying to build up the courage to use it and touch my sensor...i am going to do it today. It's gotta be done. Al Queda be damned!
SO, Dust on my sensor...devil in my car..letcha know what happens.
-v
It's about time you cleaned-up that pig sty.
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
Then use Dust Aid Sensor Cleaning kit.....I saw it on Ebay for $35.00 plus $5.00 ship.....
Works great.
Hi JOhn.
I am about to clean my sensor...still haven't done it yet...scared..
Seems to have worked! I was a bit hesitant at first...
They also gave me a random rainbow slinky....not sure why...but I thought it was hilarious!
-Kevin
Kevin
www.rightangleimages.com
If you want your "wand" to be a little more flexible, just pop it in the microwave for 8-10 seconds. It will soften the plastic a bit so you can have a more gentle touch and still get the same results.
Cheers,
www.ivarborst.nl & smugmug
Just a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes...
I may just have to break down and try it myself. The rocket blower works well, but since I do a lot of aviation shoots, those dust spots can really show up against a clear sky. I guess I should give it a good cleaning before air show season.
http://www.moose135photography.com
Kevin
www.rightangleimages.com
I don't recommend this method. But I've refined the process and feel 100% comfortable w/ it.
I cleaned mine too -- finally. Still nervous about it. I had to clean it 3 times, and only left one big spot on the side -- it's easy enough to crop out or clone out, so I won't worry about it until the next time I have to clean it.
I read one site where the CCD vibrating cleaning doesn't work on my cam, and that blowing helped but cleaning it worked the best. I tried the CCD vibration cleaning, and blowing (probably the wrong type of blower) and it did not get any dust off that I could see. I paid a local shop to clean the CCD and that worked like a charm. But with changing the lens often, I got more dust. So ordered my kit. Took me almost a month to work up the courage, but once I got it clean I was happy.
http://www.twitter.com/deegolden
1) I bout the dry brush from copper hill... when i use this, it seems i end up leaving MORE dust on my sensor then before
2) THe eclipse method... well this sorta works, i mean i had a pretty clean sensor then cleaned it with this and my sensor was even dirtier. I can't seem to get it really clean with this. i dunno maybe i just don't have a knack for swipping back and forth
3) rocket blower is what i should just stick with, it works and if i do it regularly i keep the dust off
Sooo should i try quetips? (cuetips?) with the eclipse and then blow off the excess strands???
I seem to make a mess with dust when i use the eclipse method by swabbing
www.adamdaley.com
www.fdphotos.net
http://www.chrislaudermilkphoto.com/
Link to my Smugmug site
I did.....both generic and "Q"-tip brand......both to same end result (tons of white hairy sh** all over my sensor cover).....ordering a kit from COPPERHILL and doing it correctly....it took me 4 toatl cleanings with copper hill to get everything off the sensor.....now I do it every month or so whether it needs it or not.....at least it keeps me in practice.
Interesting. I guess I got some bad data. Thanks for the input, Art.
-joel
Link to my Smugmug site
Ive only had both of my bodies sensors cleaned just once & these days they want frommm $60 (brush clean) to $110 (wet clean) so the copper hill for $80 delivered is the only sensible way to go.
Maybe we should start a 'show your worst sensor dust' thread.
Thanks Gus, I ordered the kit today from the same place you did
Very nice man ... I had to ring him to change my order.
It's been dispatched now, and I should have it on Monday.... Skippy
.
Skippy (Australia) - Moderator of "HOLY MACRO" and "OTHER COOL SHOTS"
ALBUM http://ozzieskip.smugmug.com/
:skippy Everyone has the right to be stupid, but some people just abuse the privilege :dgrin
My blog: HERE
I never knew -- until I started seeing stuff and started researching that we needed to be cleaning the sensors regularly. I ordered the Copper hill stuff and man did it take a while. It took several times before I was satisfied....
I think that it would be cool to start a " show me your dirty sensor thread." Might make some of us feel better.
Be patient and keep cleaning.
Rene`
http://memoriesbyrene.com
Wow talk about fast delivery !!!
I ordered my kit from QualityCamera and got it before the 24hrs was up
Thank you Stu for fixing my order that I stuffed up too ... opps
I was not expecting the delivery to be so fast
.
Skippy (Australia) - Moderator of "HOLY MACRO" and "OTHER COOL SHOTS"
ALBUM http://ozzieskip.smugmug.com/
:skippy Everyone has the right to be stupid, but some people just abuse the privilege :dgrin