Arctic Butterfly - What Do I Need?

[markmullen]

I've just been quoted £50 inc VAT from my local camera shop for a sensor clean, and with two bodies that will add up to the price of an Arctic Butterfly kit.

I've got a 1Ds (full frame) and 1D Mk2 (1.3), as such what do I need to do the job? I saw the pro kit which looks good, then I saw the travel kits, then the loupe, and to be honest I don't know how much kit I need.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[grumpybadger]

I use smaller swabs that FF even on a 1DsII as you run the risk of getting oil from the shutter box on the sensor. I also use a loupe as it is great to see problems without needing a test shot.

For the brush, I use a 1.6x brush on FF/1.3x/1.6x cameras with no trouble.

 

[gramps]

The Arctic Butterfly SL-700 (around £50) is good at removing dust and easy/safe to use. Many use the Rocketblower but I'm not sure if that really removes the dust or rather blows it inside the housing to re-appear later.

 

[lensflair]

I have a loupe with LEDs, and use rocket blower and a cheap soft nylon paint brush that I hit with canned air to charge/clean it. Then wet clean if I have to with alcohol. Works fine.

 

[DucDuc]

I got the full kit with the butterfly, loupe, swabs and more. It only lacks all in one storage. The butterflies come in different sizes for FF, APS-C, other, so get the one you need. I've head from others (Nikon owners), but not had the experience myself, when their sensor was cleaned the brush pulled grease on to the sensor so the swabs were required to finish the job. Partly why I went for the full kit

 

[Dogfish_magnet]

Have a read of this first re grease before getting one - i used to have one but always ended up needing a wet clean so sold it and just use swabs now.

 

[Oggy]

The Arctic Butterfly SL-700 (around £50) is good at removing dust and easy/safe to use. Many use the Rocketblower but I'm not sure if that really removes the dust or rather blows it inside the housing to re-appear later.

There is intelligent life here.

Have a read of this first re grease before getting one - i used to have one but always ended up needing a wet clean so sold it and just use swabs now.

Agreed, and not just applicable to any one camera. Worst case - you clean a greasy sensor with a Butterfly then use it on another camera. You now have two greasy sensors. Butterflies are only good for dry dust.

A loupe comes in handy, but you can manage without one. Simply take a photo of the sky at F13 or smaller which will emphasise the dust (bear in mind that the picture is upside down, so if there is dust in the top left of the photo, it is on the bottom right of the sensor). Remove any apparent dust and repeat the process until all clean.