Sensor Cleaning - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

fnaqzna · 10-19-2008, 04:34 PM

Saw this on quote MixedMedia's St. Petersburg thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mixedmedia

...and, that's right, I haven't had my sensor cleaned, yet...not to mention, now I think there is sand in my camera.

Got me to thinking. Does anyone else clean their own sensors? Right now, for quick cleaning, I use a Giotto Rocket. Seems to get largest particles out of the way.

If that doesn't work, my second line of defense is a Visible Dust Arctic Butterfly brush. I use this often and I feel very safe with it.

My last line of defense is what's called the "Copperhill Method". Using lint free PecPads and Eclipse (methanol), it's a wet cleaning procedure. This is by far the most thorough method of cleaning the sensor. This is also the most hazardous. I think I've done this a half-dozen times or so in the past two years. It always makes me nervous, but it works.

Thoughts?

mixedmedia · 10-23-2008, 09:04 PM

Not too many thoughts, yet...I might try a couple of these. I had printed out the packing slip to send it out to Nikon, but have yet to do so. Something about boxing it up and mailing it away makes me nervous...so I procrastinate.

Of course, I would have to actually know where my sensor is to clean it, I suppose...

dogzilla · 10-24-2008, 01:02 AM

I cleaned the sensor once on my Digital Rebel using Eclipse (methanol), and a clean lens cleaning cloth wrapped around a thin strip of plastic and had no problem.

My 40D has an autoclean function that vibrates the sensor when I turn the camera on and off. That seems to work since I've had the camera for a year and still don't see any sensor dust in any pictures.

I have read that newer cameras have a different coating on the sensor that can be ruined if you use the old methanol formulations. There's also supposed to be a new formulation that works with newer cameras and the Copperhill method.

RangerJoe · 10-25-2008, 02:13 PM

I just stumbledupon this site. Thought it might be useful.

Cleaning Digital Cameras - Introduction

And, I have yet to clean my sensor.

10-23-2008, 09:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
mixedmedia has all her shots. Location: Florida	Not too many thoughts, yet...I might try a couple of these. I had printed out the packing slip to send it out to Nikon, but have yet to do so. Something about boxing it up and mailing it away makes me nervous...so I procrastinate. Of course, I would have to actually know where my sensor is to clean it, I suppose... __________________ Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

10-24-2008, 01:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
dogzilla Junkie Location: New York	I cleaned the sensor once on my Digital Rebel using Eclipse (methanol), and a clean lens cleaning cloth wrapped around a thin strip of plastic and had no problem. My 40D has an autoclean function that vibrates the sensor when I turn the camera on and off. That seems to work since I've had the camera for a year and still don't see any sensor dust in any pictures. I have read that newer cameras have a different coating on the sensor that can be ruined if you use the old methanol formulations. There's also supposed to be a new formulation that works with newer cameras and the Copperhill method.

10-25-2008, 02:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
RangerJoe Addict	I just stumbledupon this site. Thought it might be useful. Cleaning Digital Cameras - Introduction And, I have yet to clean my sensor.