Dots on my images, Sensor Cleaning?

inlineadam

inlineadam

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Adam
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EDIT: Rocket Blower did almost nothing, it all seems like sticky dust, and alot of it. Anyone know of any good kits for cleaning?




Hi everyone.


Just took a few photo's of the sky and upon examination have quite evidently noticed what appears to be some dots in the photograph(s) and i think that they're due to dust on the sensor.

Any specific kits people recommend for cleaning? ( the sensor)

Thanks in advance.

Here's a couple of pictures - i edited them so they are seen easier :)


Dust on my SENSOR!!! by Inlineadam, on Flickr


DUST ON MY SENSOR!!! by Inlineadam, on Flickr
 
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Put a couple of pictures up for you to see. Pretty evident that it's dust or something as it's consistent in both images. Need some advice for cleaning etc. Cheers
 
thats dust in same place on both pics
becomes more apparent with smaller apatures
if you open the 2nd one in photoshop and select auto levels you will see just how much dust is there
try rocket blower 1st then shoot a test pic
set lens to smallest app around f22 and photograph a white sheet of paper or white wall
use manual focus and it dont need to be in focal at all
then see how much dust is left. better to use auto levels in photoshop
for wet clean there are numerous kits on the market and can be a bit pricey. although not as pricey as getting it done at a shop
i get my stuff from the usa cheap and its here in no time at all

this is the sort of kit i use

http://www.copperhillimages.com/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=71

the wand you use sepends on sensor size
the guy who owns the site is very helpful and a great guy
u will find some sensor cleaning tutorials on there as well
 
Not the worst I've seen when it comes to dust on the sensor, go and get yourself a rocket blower, they only cost a few pounds then just put the camera in bulb mode and open the shutter holding the camera facing down, give the sensor a quick blow and that and gravity should help the dust off your sensor, make sure not to touch the sensor with the blower or close the shutter while cleaning :thumbs:

Matt
 
Thank you guys. So you think getting a rocket blower would do it rather than investing in the whole fluids/brushes ?

Another little thing you might be able to help with - when i look through the viewfinder it seems that its quite dirty - and perhaps the mirror/viewfinder bit needs a good clean. Not sure how to go about doing that?

Cheers
 
MWHCVT said:
Not the worst I've seen when it comes to dust on the sensor, go and get yourself a rocket blower, they only cost a few pounds then just put the camera in bulb mode and open the shutter holding the camera facing down, give the sensor a quick blow and that and gravity should help the dust off your sensor, make sure not to touch the sensor with the blower or close the shutter while cleaning :thumbs:

Matt
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It depends what the "dust" particles are. The blower is only the first stage for loose particles. There may be loads of lubricant stains, particularly in the older gen Canons.
 
daugirdas said:
It depends what the "dust" particles are. The blower is only the first stage for loose particles. There may be loads of lubricant stains, particularly in the older gen Canons.
Click to expand...

Has about 26k shutter acusition by the way - not sure if the previous owner has ever cleaned.
 
inlineadam said:
Thank you guys. So you think getting a rocket blower would do it rather than investing in the whole fluids/brushes ?

Another little thing you might be able to help with - when i look through the viewfinder it seems that its quite dirty - and perhaps the mirror/viewfinder bit needs a good clean. Not sure how to go about doing that?

Cheers
Click to expand...

On my sensor I've only ever needed a blower :thumbs: that includes giving the prism a blow to shift some crud from it :D

daugirdas said:
It depends what the "dust" particles are. The blower is only the first stage for loose particles. There may be loads of lubricant stains, particularly in the older gen Canons.
Click to expand...

This is quite true but for the price of a blower and the fact it's a rather un-invasive cleaning method it's a worthy first option :)
 
I wrote this back when I had a 20D.

Canon only recommend using a rocket blower to shift dust (or they did in the 20D manual if I recall correctly). If it is dust then it should be enough to do it. Don't use canned air as that has propellant that will freeze and or spray the sensor with more spots.
If it is sticky dust like pollen then it may need the wet type clean that I normally do. I have never tried the dry alternatives like static charge brushes so can't comment on those.
 
MWHCVT said:
On my sensor I've only ever needed a blower :thumbs: that includes giving the prism a blow to shift some crud from it :D



This is quite true but for the price of a blower and the fact it's a rather un-invasive cleaning method it's a worthy first option :)
Click to expand...

ANy specific blower?

Had a look on ebay and i'm confused with so many brands! lol
 
I would avoid using any rocket blower, they can stir up more dust already in the camera body. Get a sensor loupe first (a must have for sensor cleaning in my opinion) and lock up the mirror to see how much dust is actually on the sensor. Next use an Artic Butterfly for light dust removal or for heavy dust eclipes sensor cleaning fluid in conjunction with a swap.
with any sensor cleaning a couple of must do rules, first use a clean environment ie kitchen where dust can't be stirred up from a carpet and second don't rush, the biggest sin of all, allow plenty of time . There are many demos on how to do on youtube and worth studying first.

I do mine when necessary and providing these steps are taken there is no mystery/difficulity in cleaning sensors.

Realspeed
 
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There are for sure two differing schools of thought with regards using a blower in the body... 1) It's fine and works a treat on general dust, fibres and hair. 2) Never use a blower in the body, there is the real possibilty of dislodging dust and debris from within the body which may also be contaminated. This can then also find itself blown into places you don't want it and where it's expensive to remove.

Both schools of thought have their point of view and their own experiences.

My view is you shouldn't use a blower, and should use an Arctic Butterfly, however if economics dictate then you should use a quality blower with a filter and known not to contain any release agents etc that can be blown onto the sensor, focus screen etc. And don't get too close to the sensor itself or blow too vigorously.

Just my view of course
 
In those photos they don't actually look like dust spots as such as dust spots usually show up a a dark spot which those arn't, more like fine moisture spots which a blower wouldn't get rid of.

Realspeed
 
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RobertP said:
I wrote this back when I had a 20D.

Canon only recommend using a rocket blower to shift dust (or they did in the 20D manual if I recall correctly). If it is dust then it should be enough to do it. Don't use canned air as that has propellant that will freeze and or spray the sensor with more spots.
If it is sticky dust like pollen then it may need the wet type clean that I normally do. I have never tried the dry alternatives like static charge brushes so can't comment on those.
Click to expand...
Without a loupe to check before and after using as blower, where does the dust go?

NEVER use a blower on a sensor.
 
Pirate! said:
God forbid :cuckoo: It's THE worst thing that can be done. Never mind, if anyone want's to use a blower, then so be it, it's your camera.
Click to expand...

Well surely Canon, must think/know that it won't cause any harm. Otherwise, why would they say that lol:shrug:
 
I've cleaned a sensor many times quite successfully with a blower.

As I said - sticky dirt needs more work but simple dust will come off with a blower.

Your description is pretty much how I do it. open face of camera pointing downwards and blow up towards the sensor with the nozzle just outside the shutter position say 25mm from the sensor.
 
inlineadam said:
Well surely Canon, must think/know that it won't cause any harm. Otherwise, why would they say that lol:shrug:
Click to expand...

RobertP said:
I've cleaned a sensor many times quite successfully with a blower.

As I said - sticky dirt needs more work but simple dust will come off with a blower.
Click to expand...

The problem is all a blower does is move the dust around and can deposit more gunk back on the sensor as it can move the dust elsewhere in the camera to the sensor. I tried a rocket blower once and then spent the next 15 minutes trying to remove the dust I'd deposited back on the sensor with a brush. It now makes for a funky ornament on the corner of my desk!

I use both a cleaned (i.e. washed many times in washing up liquid to remove any stiffener used) synthetic artists brush (I simply refuse to pay Arctic Butterfly prices for something that probably costs $0.02 to produce) and sensor swabs with Eclipse fluid. IME, wet cleaning is the only thing that totally cleans the sensor.

I also think that a sensor loupe, whilst very expensive for what it is, is essential in cleaning the sensor.
 
arad85 said:
The problem is all a blower does is move the dust around and can deposit more gunk back on the sensor as it can move the dust elsewhere in the camera to the sensor. I tried a rocket blower once and then spent the next 15 minutes trying to remove the dust I'd deposited back on the sensor with a brush. It now makes for a funky ornament on the corner of my desk!

<snip>
Eclipse fluid. IME, wet cleaning is the only thing that totally cleans the sensor.

I also think that a sensor loupe, whilst very expensive for what it is, is essential in cleaning the sensor.
Click to expand...

Apart from needing a loupe I wouldn't disagree with most of that. If you have sticky dust it will just change position. Other dust will come off. I take a blower on holiday (or did before the self cleaning 5D2) not wet cleaning kit because it is an easy fix and I've cleaned the sensor in a car park before now.

I've only cleaned the 5d2 sensor once since I got it and that was a wet clean (as ordinary dust would get shaken off by the self clean) just the same as my write up in tutorials linked above.

I know a rocket blower can work on a 20D as i've done it. I also know there is a good chance it will not get it all off and may change the position of some specks but there is no harm in trying (in a low dust environment)
 
RobertP said:
Apart from needing a loupe I wouldn't disagree with most of that. If you have sticky dust it will just change position. Other dust will come off. I take a blower on holiday (or did before the self cleaning 5D2) not wet cleaning kit because it is an easy fix and I've cleaned the sensor in a car park before now.

I've only cleaned the 5d2 sensor once since I got it and that was a wet clean (as ordinary dust would get shaken off by the self clean) just the same as my write up in tutorials linked above.

I know a rocket blower can work on a 20D as i've done it. I also know there is a good chance it will not get it all off and may change the position of some specks but there is no harm in trying (in a low dust environment)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice Robert :)

I was at a rally event about 2 weeks ago which was very dusty, and think i may have got some of the dust from there - so hopefully its not sticky dust, because it was a bone dry day and the rest of it just brushed off ( off the external parts )

:)
 
Rocket Blower did almost nothing, it all seems like sticky dust, and alot of it. Anyone know of any good kits for cleaning?
 
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inlineadam said:
Rocket Blower did almost nothing, it all seems like sticky dust, and alot of it. Anyone know of any good kits for cleaning?
Click to expand...
NEVER use a blower on the most sensitive part of your camera . . . . http://www.digipad.co.uk/epages/es1...3_es123460326978/Categories/"Sensor Cleaning"

If you require E2 fluid, email or phone them to check if the current line is OK for all sensors or not if they're just out of stock. And FWIW, do read my 'how to' guide to wet cleaning and you'd better order yourself a loupe and sensorpen whilst you're at it. It's all in the write-up which has the link posted at least a couple of time on this thread.
 
Chris Primadona said:
It could well be oil from the shutter if its not wanting to budge with the blower. It might be worth handing in to a local repair center for a quick clean (and while its there, calibrated with your fave lens!).
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Problem is, i live on an island and we don't have any shops of such lol.

To get it into a a shop i'd have to travel up to Glasgow which would cost £40 alone, never mind the cleaning cost!



Mark -

I've already read your post on Sensor Klear.

Is it really worth £40?

ANd for the £40 what exactly do i get - the loupe, a sensor pen ?

But even then the sesnor pen alone won't remove sticky spots?
 
inlineadam said:
Problem is, i live on an island and we don't have any shops of such lol.

To get it into a a shop i'd have to travel up to Glasgow which would cost £40 alone, never mind the cleaning cost!

Mark -

I've already read your post on Sensor Klear.

Is it really worth £40?

ANd for the £40 what exactly do i get - the loupe, a sensor pen?

But even then the sensor pen alone won't remove sticky spots?
Click to expand...
Which is why you have a two part cleaning kit. Digipad wet cleaning kit removes the sticky sports and you clean up after inspecting with the loupe. Yes overall it'll cost about £75.00, but you'll save that after the first 2 cleans. And buy extra swabs as well. Also, the Eclipse and E2 have been replaced with a new formula which they are already selling and have it in stock.

http://www.digipad.co.uk/epages/es1...3_es123460326978/Categories/"Sensor Cleaning"

If in doubt, send it in for a pro clean and see if you get any change from £100.00.

I've just bought another Sensorklear II sensorpen (SK1-A) and a Lenspen (LP-1) cleaning pen/brush for my lenses and inside the lens chamber.
 
I'm completely new to sesnor cleaning incase you haven't guessed already.

Are these digipads the same width as my sensor? So i just go across, across?

And in terms of the loupe, why not just take a shot and view on photoshop lol
 
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inlineadam said:
HI Mark.

You've managed to convince me to get the sensorklear kit.

Just to clarify, it comes with the loupe and sensor brush?

And in terms of wet cleaning, where can i find E2 Fluid?
Click to expand...
Ahoy!

There are various kits you can buy, but you only really need the Loupe and a Sensorklear II pen.

You can buy a full kit: (SKLK-1), or separates (as I did) by just getting a Loupe (SKL1) and the angled Sensorklear II pen (SK1-A).

In addition, both the Eclipse and Eclipse E2 fluids have been re-formulated into a single fluid for all DSLR sensors which is available via Digipad if you want to buy a wet kit as well. Just tell them what camera you have at checkout and they will send you the correct size swabs.

Hope that answers your questions fully :shrug:
 
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15 Digipads + 15ml of Eclipse fluid ordered. Forgot to tell them camera make/model but emailed them straight after.

Still considering loupe though...
 
I use a 7x VisibleDust loupe, it is useful in as much that you can check between sweeps to check where you should be concentrating on and keep track of progress without having to reshoot a test frame every 30 seconds. So yes you can do without one but it is def easier with one.
 
Might just by a pen, don't really wan't to spend £45 on a loupe.


So on it's way is.

SensorPen.
15 pads.
15ml fluid.
 
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inlineadam said:
Might just by a pen, don't really wan't to spend £45 on a loupe.


So on it's way is.

SensorPen.
15 pads.
15ml fluid.
Click to expand...

Not used a pen, I use an arctic butterfly. But I know a great number of people use the pens to good effect.
 
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