Sensor cleaning

JohnC6

JohnC6

Messages
10,438
Name
John
Edit My Images
Yes
I want to clean my 5D11 sensor. I'd buy Eclipse fluid ..from WEX..£12.99 but do I really have to pay £49.99 for just 12 sensor-cleaning pads ? Pec Pads are OK for the lens but not the sensor. I read a couple of articles that have given them a big 'No'. Seems nothing else will do though.

www.wexphotovideo.com

Photosol Sensor Swab Ultra for Full Frame - Type 3 (Pack of 12) | Wex Photo Video

www.wexphotovideo.com

I have a blower and I have the 18mm sensor plastic swipe tool. However, I can get it done professionally in Bristol..a 40 minute straightforward drive via M5 and an A road for £30 plus VAT...so £36. I'm thinking that this is probably the best option .I only use the 5D11 for holidays and skies (here)so not that often. The shop at Bristol is called 'Black on White' a long-established, highly regarded one-man business and he's excellent. I've been a few times over the years. It's a two hour wait f(booked time) for a sensor clean. https://www.bonwcameras.co.uk/services.html
 
Have a look on Amazon. Full cleaning kits are much cheaper than Wex.
 
£36 plus the travelling costs and wasted time .... then think how many cleans a packet of wipes will last you ....
 
droj said:
£36 plus the travelling costs and wasted time .... then think how many cleans a packet of wipes will last you ....
Click to expand...
Yes the fuel at £20-30, maybe parking too.
 
JohnC6 said:
I want to clean my 5D11 sensor. I'd buy Eclipse fluid ..from WEX..£12.99 but do I really have to pay £49.99 for just 12 sensor-cleaning pads ? Pec Pads are OK for the lens but not the sensor. I read a couple of articles that have given them a big 'No'. Seems nothing else will do though.

www.wexphotovideo.com

Photosol Sensor Swab Ultra for Full Frame - Type 3 (Pack of 12) | Wex Photo Video

www.wexphotovideo.com

I have a blower and I have the 18mm sensor plastic swipe tool. However, I can get it done professionally in Bristol..a 40 minute straightforward drive via M5 and an A road for £30 plus VAT...so £36. I'm thinking that this is probably the best option .I only use the 5D11 for holidays and skies (here)so not that often. The shop at Bristol is called 'Black on White' a long-established, highly regarded one-man business and he's excellent. I've been a few times over the years. It's a two hour wait f(booked time) for a sensor clean. https://www.bonwcameras.co.uk/services.html
Click to expand...
I like these ones used them many times with no issues.


IMG_9922.jpeg
 
I use Pec Pads wrapped around a slice cut from an old credit card and a drop of Eclipse fluid.. I've used this method since I had my Canon DSLR's.
 
JohnC6 said:
I want to clean my 5D11 sensor. I'd buy Eclipse fluid ..from WEX..£12.99 but do I really have to pay £49.99 for just 12 sensor-cleaning pads ? Pec Pads are OK for the lens but not the sensor. I read a couple of articles that have given them a big 'No'. Seems nothing else will do though.

www.wexphotovideo.com

Photosol Sensor Swab Ultra for Full Frame - Type 3 (Pack of 12) | Wex Photo Video

www.wexphotovideo.com

I have a blower and I have the 18mm sensor plastic swipe tool. However, I can get it done professionally in Bristol..a 40 minute straightforward drive via M5 and an A road for £30 plus VAT...so £36. I'm thinking that this is probably the best option .I only use the 5D11 for holidays and skies (here)so not that often. The shop at Bristol is called 'Black on White' a long-established, highly regarded one-man business and he's excellent. I've been a few times over the years. It's a two hour wait f(booked time) for a sensor clean. https://www.bonwcameras.co.uk/services.html
Click to expand...

I thought I read on the local photography FB page that they were shutting down/scaling down business.....? Might be worth a quick call before you waste a journey. Just in case......
 
I use these - they work for me without issue.
They came from Amazon.
 

Attachments

  • UES.jpg
    UES.jpg
    135.8 KB · Views: 4
Thanks for all the replies. It looks like I can do it myself at a reasonable price after all.

I've read that Pec Pads own Sensor Swabs and it was suggested that they would put out that Pec Pads weren't to be recommended because they'd rather sell a pack of sensor cleaners for £40 rather than Pec Pads for £14. On Amazon they sell "lint-free" Pec Pads,I see. That was supposed to be the problem with the regular ones..ie the lint.
 
This thread needs resurrected, i need help. Better to ask here instead of starting a new thread I suppose?
I bought a Sony a6000 and the sensor is dirty af.
I bought the camera with the kit lens for £300 which I believe is a good price?
So instead of returning I think I’ll ask the seller to refund some money for the cleaning kit if she refuses then I might consider returning it.
So what would you recommend? I need to know the price before I text her. I’ve already tried the blower but unfortunately the small dust particles don’t come off the sensor.

Thx
Marino
 
It's been reputed that press photographers of old, who tended to wear a tie because along with a press pass it was a passport to anywhere, used to use the broad ends of their ties to polish the front elements of their lenses. I suggest that, if indeed you have a tie, the technique can be translated into the digital era for sensors - but use the narrow end because it's a tight space to poke a finger into. If you don't have a tie, just use your finger. But whichever, spit on the tie or the finger first - that'll help to shift the muck.

Not that I have any truck with such antiquated methods myself - I use an old paintbrush & WD40. The results make attempts at ICM redundant, so that's two hits in one.

;-)
 
I’ve got a few bits of dust on my sensor and I only see them when I do a special exposure to see it I have them.
 
Marino said:
This thread needs resurrected, i need help. Better to ask here instead of starting a new thread I suppose?
I bought a Sony a6000 and the sensor is dirty af.
I bought the camera with the kit lens for £300 which I believe is a good price?
So instead of returning I think I’ll ask the seller to refund some money for the cleaning kit if she refuses then I might consider returning it.
So what would you recommend? I need to know the price before I text her. I’ve already tried the blower but unfortunately the small dust particles don’t come off the sensor.

Thx
Marino
Click to expand...

Send a worse case photo with your 'claim' and post it here so we can see just how bad it is.
 
Just buy a kit from Amazon or e.bay and do it you will only use a couple of swabs so tons left for future use .it literally takes less than 5 minutes to do as well .then use your bargain camera
 
I’ve tried @droj ’s advice but with my father in law’s tie, since I’m not a suit type person. It removed most of it but didn’t do the job…Is that why old camera lens are full of haze, because of the tie situation?
.
.

Here @LeeRatters IMG_3593.jpeg
Is this a bad case or am I too fussy :)?
It looks pretty bad in the pictures.
.
.
the black fox said:
Just buy a kit from Amazon or e.bay and do it you will only use a couple of swabs so tons left for future use .it literally takes less than 5 minutes to do as well .then use your bargain camera
Click to expand...
Ok, I’ll grab one from Amazon then. It’s fine though, I can still use my super duper bargain camera.
 
As with memory cards, I'd only buy swabs & fluid from a 'reputable source'. I wouldn't want the chance of anything abrasive being in the swabs ... and a kit will last you years.
 
GreenNinja67 said:
Please tell me you didn't seriously use a tie to clean your sensor?

And that sensor is filthy.
Click to expand...
I don't think the sarcasm in @droj 's post was clear for novices, a danger of such forums. Those who know, get the joke. Those who don't are at risk of falling foul to it.
 
droj said:
As with memory cards, I'd only buy swabs & fluid from a 'reputable source'. I wouldn't want the chance of anything abrasive being in the swabs ... and a kit will last you years.
Click to expand...
That’s why I’m asking, I’m not sure if there’s a difference between cheap and more expensive kits. But other members said they used cheaper kits and all is good…
Apparently there’s glass in front of the sensor so I imagine I would have to try hard to scratch it somehow.
But hey, thx for the tie tip, I’ll carry one on me in case my lens needs cleaned. But I’ll ignore your advice using saliva to clean my cameras :wacky:
.
.
So it is filthy then, it’s not just me haha.
.
.
It’s fine I was only joking, I didn’t use a tie. Just my Tshirt :banana:
 
Marino said:
That’s why I’m asking, I’m not sure if there’s a difference between cheap and more expensive kits. But other members said they used cheaper kits and all is good…
Apparently there’s glass in front of the sensor so I imagine I would have to try hard to scratch it somehow.
But hey, thx for the tie tip, I’ll carry one on me in case my lens needs cleaned. But I’ll ignore your advice using saliva to clean my cameras :wacky:
.
.
So it is filthy then, it’s not just me haha.
.
.
It’s fine I was only joking, I didn’t use a tie. Just my Tshirt :banana:
Click to expand...
Unsure if that's humour as well but please don't put anything near the sensor (or covering filters) unless you have a swab kit with sensor fluid.
 
GreenNinja67 said:
Unsure if that's humour as well but please don't put anything near the sensor (or covering filters) unless you have a swab kit with sensor fluid.
Click to expand...
I’m only joking. I didn’t start it it’s @droj ‘s fault.
 
Yeah, that's pretty grubby! You could try for a few quid back to cover the cost if there wasn't photos of the sensor in the listing I guess.

But a cleaning kit and learning how to do it will be worthwhile in any case so.....
 
Hmmm have you tried washing up liquid good for dust bunnies ;):banana::headbang:
 
remember it's upside down - if you see a mark at the top of the f16 image against the white wall that you created, it's at the bottom of the sensor
 
After I started this thread and was told that (A) The camera repair shop in Bristol..36 miles away.. may have closed and (B) It's a waste of time and money going there..ie do it myself, I bought a 100 pack of Pec Pads..(I couldn't find a smaller pack) and a 59ml bottle of Eclipse optic cleaning fluid. £31. I made sure it was ok for a camera sensor. They came from Amazon Prime so no delivery charge and from Jack-the-Hat. Took 5 days. In the comments section an American had written that they are half the price in the US and the guy..Jack..probably buys them from there and marks them up. If so, I take my hat off to Jack the Hat for his entrepreneural wherewithall .
 
JohnC6 said:
After I started this thread and was told that (A) The camera repair shop in Bristol..36 miles away.. may have closed and (B) It's a waste of time and money going there..ie do it myself, I bought a 100 pack of Pec Pads..(I couldn't find a smaller pack) and a 59ml bottle of Eclipse optic cleaning fluid. £31. I made sure it was ok for a camera sensor. They came from Amazon Prime so no delivery charge and from Jack-the-Hat. Took 5 days. In the comments section an American had written that they are half the price in the US and the guy..Jack..probably buys them from there and marks them up. If so, I take my hat off to Jack the Hat for his entrepreneural wherewithall .
Click to expand...

Yeah I read on the local FB photo group that Black & White was closing. It seemed a pretty popular place for repair work too.
 
LeeRatters said:
Yeah I read on the local FB photo group that Black & White was closing. It seemed a pretty popular place for repair work too.
Click to expand...

Yes...it was your good-self I was referring to,Lee. I went several times and it was like walking back into the 60's. A very studious-looking 'John' was the man who ran it. I'm not sure if the lady- assistant was his wife or not. She was just like him..out of the 60's. I'd leave my camera and on another occasion my 24-105mm lens and park up in a street nearby with a flask of coffee and a newspaper..Lol. It made me chill out for an hour and a half or so which can only be a good thing.
 
that photo of the sensor dirt doesn't look too much of a problem to clean up
this is my kit that has served me well. bought it at the old "focus on imaging" event many years ago

P1002072.jpg

from the top
butterfly brush. spins to build up static charge. stop it spinning and the brush passed over the sensor attracts the dust to it. To the right the loupe from Visable dust with built in lights.
Then the standard air blower looking like a rocket ( this could stir up more dust within the camera body, so hold the camera upside down).
lower in the picture swabs ,spade and round end. I only use once then chuck out, hence so many , but ideal for cleaning a small section of sensor . And the sensor fluid bottles. Little tip using the fluid, put a small drop onto a work surface and dip the swap into it. this way you don't flood the swap making it harder to wipe away excess fluid on the sensor

Ok question of cost and is it worth getting?
yes and no, it depends how often you change lenses as how often the sensor may collect dust. One has to think long term and time without a camera having sent it away for cleaning.

what I would say is don't rush doing the cleaning allow plenty of time as it may take several goes to clean thoroughly and be gentle if the dust/dirt doesn't get removed first time. it may well be stuck hard on the sensor

All I can say it has been well worth getting for me and saved me several hundred of pound over the last 10-15 years let alone the hours without a camera.
hope this may help those wanting to clean their own sensors

Warning
don't ever use a cotton bud you will put more fine hair on the sensor than taking off
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top