Can I please borrow your "Sensor Scope"?

Photog4Christ · September 3, 2009

I don't know where else to post this. Moderators, please feel free to move it.

I have been trying to clean a stubborn dust bunny off my sensor. I used Sensor Swabs, but it is still showing up in shots taken after the cleaning. I do have a "workshop magnifying glass" (one of those BIG magnifying glasses with the fluorescent bulb you get at Lowe's for working on projects, etc..) and I have used that to examine the sensor and I really don't see anything. It must be on the sensor or maybe some other element (mirror??) that is causing this issue.

My local shop wants $75 to clean the camera. If someone happens to have a scope I could borrow, it would be appreciated.

Thank you

Neal

20DNoob · September 3, 2009

If it was on the mirror it wouldn't show in the photos. Have you checked the lens(both front and rear elements)/filter? It could be something as simple as a water spot up front.

Scott_Quier · September 3, 2009

If you have dust-bunnies (DB) showing up in the photo images, that DB is not going to anywhere except on either the sensor filter or on the read-most element of your lens. Nothing you see through the viewfinder will find it's way into the image.

I would think a couple of passes with a Copper Hill cleaning kit should be sufficient to clean just about anything from the sensor filter. At least, I've not had any problems getting rid of grease, dust, dirt, etc. The very first time I cleaned my first 20D, it required about 10 attempts to get it clean, but that was when I was first learning how to do the job. Now, I can take care of the worst looking crop of DBs in a couple or three attempts.

Are you sure you have DBs on your sensor and not something else? An image might help us help you.

Photog4Christ · September 3, 2009

Okay, I know it's not the mirror. I have no idea why I said that. I'm blaming it on working 2nd shift and no sleep.

Here is an image (yes, I know the exposure is off... It was intended for HDR):

The object in the upper left is probably a bird, because it isn't there in any other shot. The "dust bunny" is on the right. Look at the bell tower and then go to the right and you'll see it.

Scott_Quier · September 3, 2009

Photog4Christ wrote:

Okay, I know it's not the mirror. I have no idea why I said that. I'm blaming it on working 2nd shift and no sleep.

Here is an image (yes, I know the exposure is off... It was intended for HDR):

The object in the upper left is probably a bird, because it isn't there in any other shot. The "dust bunny" is on the right. Look at the bell tower and then go to the right and you'll see it.

I'll look at it when I get home this afternoon. My work location has photobucket URLs blocked.

20DNoob · September 3, 2009

Well if we didn't live about a 10 hour drive away from each other you'd be more than welcome to use what I've got.

It's not the Sensor Scope but it does the job for less than half the price.

$35 at Amazon, and it includes the pen also.

Best of luck sorting it out.

20DNoob · September 3, 2009

Not to kick you while your down or anything but it looks as if you may have another one on the right, just above where the pavement meets the grass.

Photog4Christ · September 3, 2009

For $35 I may pick one up.

And yes (now that you pointed it out) I do see the other one.

So, do I spend $35 on a scope and clean myself or $75 to let the local pro shop do the cleaning??

20DNoob · September 3, 2009

Spend the $35, it's an easy enough job to do. I did all four of my bodies within twenty five minutes and it was the first time I ever used anything other than a rocket blower.

That and you won't have to repeat the in store cleaning down the road. Heck, three in store cleanings means another flash.

Photog4Christ · September 3, 2009

Just got a scope on eBay for $23

Cuong · September 3, 2009

I suggest you try the Copper Hill method cleaning kit.

Cuong

Photog4Christ · September 3, 2009

Cuong wrote:

I suggest you try the Copper Hill method cleaning kit.

Cuong

And I suggest you don't.... Copperhill tells you to use a PEC-PAD. The manufacturer of PEC-PAD will tell you NOT to use a PEC-PAD to clean the sensor.

From the website of Photographic Solutions (manufacturer of PEC-PAD):

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]PEC*PAD is NOT recommended for cleaning the CCD. It is not the same material used in the Sensor Swabs. PSI does not approve or warranty the CCD or any camera part from any damage caused by using non approved products. [/FONT]

Here is what I use (also recommended by my local shop).

Scott_Quier · September 3, 2009

As I've heard said, "Opinions vary" ...

With reference to the quote from the PSI site .... may I gently suggest that there may be ulterior motive for that statement?

Consider that the PEC Pad is soft, scrupulously clean, lint free (or nearly so), non-abrasive, and moderately absorbant. Further concider that one is not cleaning a CCD or CMOS chip (I wouldn't use a PEC*PAD for that purpose either

), rather it is a glass filter mounted in front of that chip that is being touched/cleaned. This, mounted on a soft implement and a drop or two of Eclipse (of the right sort for your sensor), and you're in business. A careful rolling motion of the padded cleaning tool will keep debris picked up by the pad from coming into further contact with the sensor filter.

Photog4Christ · September 3, 2009

Okay, I think I just found it. It looks like it was on the rear element of the lens. I do not have time today to do a test shoot, but I'll test it tomorrow.

I'll also have a new (refurb) Tamron 17-50 to test tomorrow if UPS brings it today!

I now have the cleanest sensor in Virginia and I guess I'm the owner of a SensorKlear too.

Cuong · September 3, 2009

Scott_Quier wrote:

... With reference to the quote from the PSI site .... may I gently suggest that there may be ulterior motive for that statement?...

Good catch, Scott. PSI seems to play up people's fear to market the product. Many people have used PecPads for years without any adverse effect.

Cuong

Photog4Christ · September 3, 2009

Yes, I am aware that you are not actually touching the sensor when you do a cleaning. But when the manufacturer of a product tells you NOT to use their product for a specific task, then I'm going to listen. YMMV

hgernhardtjr · September 3, 2009

Photog4Christ wrote:

But when the manufacturer of a product tells you NOT to use their product for a specific task, then I'm going to listen. YMMV

They HAVE to tell you that ... for insurance and liability purposes. I've used PecPads for years on a plethora of digital sensors, lenses, and other optical and electronic devices — and will continue to do so with no adverse effect.

Scott_Quier · September 3, 2009

How to find the dust bunnies!
Neal,

Rather than guessing about where you have dust bunnies, there's a way to find them all:

Zoom to about 80mm
Set to Av
Set aperture to the smallest you have
Set camera to shoot JPG - no need for RAW for this exercise
Set ISO to 100 (ish)
Open a white screen on your computer monitor
Turn off AF
Focus to infinity
Hold lens close to monitor
Take a shot - it'll be a long exposure, but blur don't matter for this as there is no detail in the shot
Load the shot into CS and execute an Auto-Levels on it
There's all your dust bunnies!

Shooting a blank sky (or blank wall or anything else of a consistent and light color) works as well, but the monitor is there during the evaluation of the shot so why not use it.

Ric Grupe · September 7, 2009

Honestly, those spots are nothing! Clone them out.

If you must clean...remember to clean the chamber around the sensor thouroughly before cleaning the sensor itself.

Spots are going to be there from time to time...so...don't obsess over them.

Photog4Christ · September 7, 2009

Ric Grupe wrote:

Honestly, those spots are nothing! Clone them out.

If you must clean...remember to clean the chamber around the sensor thouroughly before cleaning the sensor itself.

Spots are going to be there from time to time...so...don't obsess over them.

How about these spots?

I'm going to take the camera to a local authorized Nikon Repair Center. I've tried Sensor Swabs and I've tried using a Giottos Rocket. Next stop... Nikon Repair Center.

Ric Grupe · September 7, 2009

Photog4Christ wrote:

How about these spots?

Yuck!

Photog4Christ · September 7, 2009

Ric Grupe wrote:

Yuck!

Yup!

Scott_Quier · September 7, 2009

Photog4Christ wrote:

How about these spots?

I'm going to take the camera to a local authorized Nikon Repair Center. I've tried Sensor Swabs and I've tried using a Giottos Rocket. Next stop... Nikon Repair Center.

Seriously, that's just a couple of minutes with the Copper Hill cleaning method. There's nothing there that should be a terrible amount of trouble to get rid of.

Cuong · September 7, 2009

From what I've heard, cleaning by a service center doesn't always mean the camera will come back with a spotless sensor screen. I'd rather take the time cleaning it myself than dealing with the cost of time and expenses having someone else doing it without the guarantee of a better result.

Cuong

Scott_Quier · September 7, 2009

Cuong wrote:

From what I've heard, cleaning by a service center doesn't always mean the camera will come back with a spotless sensor screen. I'd rather take the time cleaning it myself than dealing with the cost of time and expenses having someone else doing it without the guarantee of a better result.

Cuong

- I know I will do it right but I have seen others who get their camera back from a service center and it's a crap shoot as to whether it was better going in or coming out.

Ric Grupe · September 7, 2009

Scott_Quier wrote:

- I know I will do it right but I have seen others who get their camera back from a service center and it's a crap shoot as to whether it was better going in or coming out.

I cut an old credit card to the proper width of the sensor put an e wipe over it added another drop of eclipse...ran it across the sensor...flipped it over and went back the other way and presto...a clean sensor.

Don't obsess...it ain't hard or DANGEROUS. For people with common sense, that is.

The best way to KEEP your sensor clean is not to expose it unnecessarily.

Pupator · September 7, 2009

Just another voice for Copper Hill. I had much larger dust bunnies than you've got and I'm probably far less skilled and more clumsy than you are. Still, in 10 minutes I was done (and that was after obsessing over the video a few times to make sure I'd do it right!). It was easy as pie.

Photog4Christ · September 9, 2009

The CopperHill method is no different than the SensorSwab (other than PEC-PAD vs. SensorSwab), which I already did (twice) and it still isn't coming clean. I took the body to an authorized Nikon repair center yesterday and we'll see what it looks like when I get it back.

Cuong · November 24, 2009

Photog4Christ wrote:

The CopperHill method is no different than the SensorSwab (other than PEC-PAD vs. SensorSwab), which I already did (twice) and it still isn't coming clean. I took the body to an authorized Nikon repair center yesterday and we'll see what it looks like when I get it back.

So what happened?

Cuong

Photog4Christ · November 24, 2009

Cuong wrote:

So what happened?

Cuong

I took it to an authorized Nikon repair center and had it professionally cleaned. It works fine.

Can I please borrow your "Sensor Scope"?

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