Getting a camera cleaning

photoAmante · August 18, 2007

My one year warranty with Nikon has expired and I purchased a 5 year extended warranty through a company. They told me to find a local place to clean my camera and send them the estimate. But I do not know where in Utah is a good place for camera cleaning. Any one from out here know of a good place?

How many times do you get your camera cleaned?

My ccd seems to get dirty easy with all the lens switching I do during a shoot!

Scott_Quier · August 19, 2007

Dust-bunnies on a DSLR sensor is a fact of life. I evaluate the condition of mine before every major shoot (wedding, engagement, etc). If I can see anything when I stop down to f/8, then it's time to clean it. But, I don't take it anywhere. I do it myself and save myself the time and frustration of dealing with others.

It usually takes under an hour to do the job on both my bodies.

In this long thread (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=8350) there's a short description that I posted about 1.5 years ago (http://www.dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=244195)

There's a few holes in this description so here's the step-by-step:

Mount your lens on your camera (a standard zoom, like a Tammy 28-75 works well). Set to AV mode. Set aperture to the maximum it will go. I think this is f/32, but whatever...
Set photo "type" to JPG, large/fine (the best jpg that will be generated)
Set focal length to 75mm
Set focus to infinity
On your computer, load up Notepad, maximize the window
Put lens right up to but not against the screen, release shutter while moveing the lens around the screen
Turn off camera. Mount on tripod. Remove memory card. (OK, you can do that in whatever order you wish)
Copy the JPG file to your computer and open it with Photoshop
Apply auto-levels (Image -> Adjustments -> Auto Levels, or Ctrl-Shift-L)
If you have no spots, you're done. If the spots you do have don't worry you, then your done (looking at the second link above, if you have something that looks like the second image, you're done)
Remove the lens from the camera
Set camera menu to sensor cleaning mode, move the indicator to "OK" or whatever it is, but don't push the "Set" button yet
Create your swab.
If this is the first time through, go to step 23
Put 1 or 2 drops MeOH on the swab - there is such a thing as too much of a good thing here
Gently scrub the "sensor" - remember, what you are actually cleaning is the IR filter over the sensor and it's made of hard glass
End with a gentle swipe across the sensor with the intent to wipe it all clean, once and back, hoping to push all the scum either off the sensor sides or onto the swab
Remove swab from mirror box
Turn off the camara
Remount the lens
Re-insert the memory card
Go to step 3
Put 3 or 4 drops of MeOH on the swab - this is too much for later, but this will help float the hard scum.
Open the shutter by pressing on the "Set" button.
Blow into the mirror box at the sensor - this will remove a lot of loose stuff and save you some time. If you have a CLEAN, high volumn syringe that would work as well. There can be NO lubricants in the syringe as that will atomize/vaporize and condense on your sensor and then you have lots of fun ahead. A clean bulb blower will work well also. But, I just "put my lips together and blow."
Wipe once in each direction, very gently to get rid of the hard stuff.
Turn off the camera
Go to step 12 - believe me, this will save you 20 minutes

photoAmante · August 20, 2007

Thanks...
Hey thanks for the steps, I will say I am intimidated to enter into the "camera cave". I will print off the instructions and try it!

Thank you much!

Scott_Quier · August 20, 2007

photoAmante wrote:

Hey thanks for the steps, I will say I am intimidated to enter into the "camera cave". I will print off the instructions and try it!

Thank you much!

Just wear a sweat band around your head to protect your eyes from the nervous sweat and take your time. It's not hard - there's just a lot of hype out there that makes it seem daunting.

OH, I forgot all the standard disclaimers:

YMMV
Following these instructions may void your warrantee
If you damage your camera, don't come running to me.
Buyer beware
cavet emptor
And, anything else that will protect me from lawyers:D

sirsloop · August 20, 2007

plz dont hate... but this is how far I have to drive to get to canon's service center.... and they clean bodies for free :ivar

1.6 mi – about 2 mins

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=CR-522%2FRidge+Rd+%4040.372600,+-74.460190&daddr=CR-535%2FCranbury-South+River+Rd+%4040.355700,+-74.474760&mrcr=0&mra=pr&sll=40.364891,-74.468036&sspn=0.022889,0.040169&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=15&om=1

photoAmante · August 24, 2007

ha ha
well arent you lucky!

sirsloop wrote:

plz dont hate... but this is how far I have to drive to get to canon's service center.... and they clean bodies for free :ivar

1.6 mi – about 2 mins

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=CR-522%2FRidge+Rd+%4040.372600,+-74.460190&daddr=CR-535%2FCranbury-South+River+Rd+%4040.355700,+-74.474760&mrcr=0&mra=pr&sll=40.364891,-74.468036&sspn=0.022889,0.040169&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=15&om=1

dangin · August 27, 2007

sirsloop wrote:

plz dont hate... but this is how far I have to drive to get to canon's service center.... and they clean bodies for free :ivar

1.6 mi – about 2 mins

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=CR-522%2FRidge+Rd+%4040.372600,+-74.460190&daddr=CR-535%2FCranbury-South+River+Rd+%4040.355700,+-74.474760&mrcr=0&mra=pr&sll=40.364891,-74.468036&sspn=0.022889,0.040169&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=15&om=1

it'll take me over 12 hours in vain... i shoot nikon.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=CR-522%2FRidge+Rd+%4040.372600,+-74.460190&daddr=CR-535%2FCranbury-South+River+Rd+%4040.355700,+-74.474760&mrcr=0&mra=pr&sll=40.364891,-74.468036&sspn=0.022889,0.040169&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=15&om=1

Getting a camera cleaning

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