DSLR sensor cleaning?

[steveb]

Do you clean DSLR sensors?

[ramblinray]

The camera manual should tell you how to clean the sensor. I believe most people use a puffer bulb to blow any dust particles off the sensor and mirror.

[The Loft Studios]

Take it in to get done by a Professional.....It'll be worth it in the end

[josphy]

Originally Posted by The Loft Studios

Take it in to get done by a Professional.....It'll be worth it in the end

Ha! That's what I thought. Sensor came back exactly as dirty as when I sent it to them. I used Havel Camera in San Antonio. What a joke.

Just buy the basic kit from Copperhill and read the really good tutorial on their website. The price of the kit is very resonable and it's easy as pie. Don't be intimidated by it.

[a2rob]

Originally Posted by josphy

Ha! That's what I thought. Sensor came back exactly as dirty as when I sent it to them. I used Havel Camera in San Antonio. What a joke.

Just buy the basic kit from Copperhill and read the really good tutorial on their website. The price of the kit is very resonable and it's easy as pie. Don't be intimidated by it.

Agreed! Been doing this for years and no problems yet. Imagine having the camera cleaned everytime you get a dust bunny.......

Also, you may want to get one of these dusters, contain no chemicals: http://americanrecorder.com/catalog/...5dbe482bc1e8a6

[oldguy]

Precision does have a filtered air system and will blow off your sensor for free as they did mine. Not sure if they clean or not.

[Precision Camera]

We just got in a new Sensor cleaner by Delkin. It has a Sensoe Scope to see where the dust is, then a small vacuum to first try to suck it up. Then if that does not work, it comes with sensor swabs and solution.
I just got back fromthe Imaging USA show in San Antonio and we sold 30 of thewe for $169 each.
Gregg

[Patti Edens]

I've used the Copperhill method and the LensPen. I think the Lens Pen is the best way to go - no liquids and a heck of a lot cheaper.

I always just try the bulb first. If that doesn't get it, then the Lens Pen. I've been using one for over a year on my 20D with no problems.

I have one Lens Pen that I dedicate to just cleaning my sensor. I have others for my lenses, glasses, whatever.

I bought the first one at a local camera store, but I have not been able to find them since then so I just order them here...

http://www.lenspen.com/

This is the one I get: http://www.lenspen.com/?cPath=1&prod...=LP-1&tpid=146

Patti

[lextalionis]

I use the coperhill method on my 30D...it's weird...i don't remove the lens much and I still find that I need to clean the sensor every 2-3 weeks. I think knowing about it makes me want to take the blue sky f22 shot at the end of each set. I also use a service vacumm with tygon tubing in our lab to first bulb and vac and then use the pec-pad with eclipse fluid...checking after a round of this yields zero dust at f22...why the heck it comes back in 2-3 weeks...must have had a shipped dirty 30D?

Roy

[iCe]

Originally Posted by Precision Camera

We just got in a new Sensor cleaner by Delkin. It has a Sensoe Scope to see where the dust is, then a small vacuum to first try to suck it up. Then if that does not work, it comes with sensor swabs and solution.
I just got back fromthe Imaging USA show in San Antonio and we sold 30 of thewe for $169 each.
Gregg

I've got that thing. I like the scope. You can't see every spec of dust but it helps. The vacuum cleaner is a joke. I DO NOT like their solution. It leaves a film. Use pure methanol. No residue. The swabs that came with the kit leave "lint" behind but in all fairness I haven't found a swab that didn't leave something behind (and I've tried no less than 3 mfgs).

[iCe]

Originally Posted by Patti Edens

I've used the Copperhill method and the LensPen. I think the Lens Pen is the best way to go - no liquids and a heck of a lot cheaper.

I always just try the bulb first. If that doesn't get it, then the Lens Pen. I've been using one for over a year on my 20D with no problems.

I have one Lens Pen that I dedicate to just cleaning my sensor. I have others for my lenses, glasses, whatever.

I bought the first one at a local camera store, but I have not been able to find them since then so I just order them here...

http://www.lenspen.com/

This is the one I get: http://www.lenspen.com/?cPath=1&prod...=LP-1&tpid=146

Patti

I can't remember which bulb I bought but a couple of puffs from it covered my sensor in dust I wasn't too impressed with it to tell the truth. The only thing I can think of is that it blew dust that was in the camera back up on the sensor.

[Hogleg 44]

Canon Europe on sensor cleaning. 2 Pages...http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/...e.do#container

[123canon]

i guess i have been extremely lucky and never had a dust problem. i try to avoid changing lenses as much as possible and then always have the camera facing down and clean the lense befor i install it. so far a light puff of canned air with the body upside down has taken care of cleaning. had the 20d since 7/05! love the camera.

[fran reisner]

So the trick is to buy a camera to go with each one of your lenses. I've thought about that!

Any of you folks in the Dallas area who want to have your sensors cleaned by a professional can bring your camera by my studio during my workshop on Sept 16 and 17. My friend Scott Helberg from CropLines will be here. Read more here...
http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...5&postcount=45
PM me for pricing.

He actually does a great job of showing you how to clean your own sensor. The method he uses for "seeing" the dust is to breath lightly into the camera, fogging the sensor with condensation. The condensation clears first right around the dust particles, so they're easy to see. Take a few gentle swipes with the sensor cleaner and breath on it again. Just repeat this process until no more spots appear. Does that make sense??

[iCe]

Originally Posted by fran reisner

So the trick is to buy a camera to go with each one of your lenses. I've thought about that!

I've had the training for the "Scott method" but I'm probably going to let him clean mine again.

Let's see... just yesterday I would have needed 3 bodies... If I had a body for all of my lenses I would need 9 bodies? or 10? That number grows every year... It wouldn't be so bad but I use almost all of them frequently... actually it would be bad no matter what... I think I'll continue to change lenses and clean my sensor...