antonroland
Inspector Gadget
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- Anton
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Picked this up at a local shop today and was eager to test it due to my faith in the original lenspen.
I placed a regular lenspen alongside so you can see how slender it is in comparison.
I have used the wet & dry sensor swabs in the past and I wasn't blown away but then it should also be known right away that I am not the most patient person in the history of the world...
My 20D has probably not seen a sensor swab in the last 10 months - say one year - and I change lenses often in what I deem to be the best place at the time as location dictates.
This was the sensor before cleaning:
For those folks who have possibly not done it yet, this is a 800 x 533 px crop of the whole image after having applied Auto levels in CS3.
What impressed me about the sensor pen was the rounded triangular applicator/cleaning tip.
So I had a go at it, mindful to the fact that sensors can be damaged and not particularly wanting to join the club of another distinguished member here...
Obviously this was not my first sensor clean, but I was a bit concerned for this being a totally dry process.
After a few wipes in both vertical and horizontal directions I replaced the lens eager to see results...
Well let's just say I wasn't blown away...the earth didn't move this time for me either, darling...
By the 4th time I achieved this:
A particular gripe with this product is that, despite the slender appearance, you cannot quite get into the corners.
Well I could not and I really tried WITH some patience
Also, in the 20D chamber there are some protruding little plastic bits and bobs which make it no easier to get to the vertical sides of the sensor. I would imagine they have something to do with the mirror mechanism.
This might surely differ from camera to camera but after a sneek peek into my 350 body I am (un)happy to report that it also has those protruding bits.
Even despite the offending bits it is still nearly impossible (for me at least) to get perfectly good contact of the cleaning tip in the corners of the sensor.
See here:
I am rather sure that the corner situation can also be seen in the sensor images.
Oh and DO NOT use the little brush on the sensor!!!:nono:
VERDICT:
It is dog cheap.
I paid a hundred bucks for it and this should translate to about seven or eight quid.
If you are in a really tight fix for a sensor clean then, for sure, they are better than nothing and will get a fair job done.
If the result you want is that perfectly spotless sensor for f/32 landscapes...
Then this is maybe not the answer to your prayers.
They recommend a maximum of 50 cleans and I think this is a bit overly enthusiastic.
I will most likely buy one or two more and toss one in every bag for that unforeseen need.
Bottom line is that I am not bowled over but judge for yourself.
Hope this can help somebody.
I placed a regular lenspen alongside so you can see how slender it is in comparison.
I have used the wet & dry sensor swabs in the past and I wasn't blown away but then it should also be known right away that I am not the most patient person in the history of the world...
My 20D has probably not seen a sensor swab in the last 10 months - say one year - and I change lenses often in what I deem to be the best place at the time as location dictates.
This was the sensor before cleaning:
For those folks who have possibly not done it yet, this is a 800 x 533 px crop of the whole image after having applied Auto levels in CS3.
What impressed me about the sensor pen was the rounded triangular applicator/cleaning tip.
So I had a go at it, mindful to the fact that sensors can be damaged and not particularly wanting to join the club of another distinguished member here...
Obviously this was not my first sensor clean, but I was a bit concerned for this being a totally dry process.
After a few wipes in both vertical and horizontal directions I replaced the lens eager to see results...
Well let's just say I wasn't blown away...the earth didn't move this time for me either, darling...
By the 4th time I achieved this:
A particular gripe with this product is that, despite the slender appearance, you cannot quite get into the corners.
Well I could not and I really tried WITH some patience
Also, in the 20D chamber there are some protruding little plastic bits and bobs which make it no easier to get to the vertical sides of the sensor. I would imagine they have something to do with the mirror mechanism.
This might surely differ from camera to camera but after a sneek peek into my 350 body I am (un)happy to report that it also has those protruding bits.
Even despite the offending bits it is still nearly impossible (for me at least) to get perfectly good contact of the cleaning tip in the corners of the sensor.
See here:
I am rather sure that the corner situation can also be seen in the sensor images.
Oh and DO NOT use the little brush on the sensor!!!:nono:
VERDICT:
It is dog cheap.
I paid a hundred bucks for it and this should translate to about seven or eight quid.
If you are in a really tight fix for a sensor clean then, for sure, they are better than nothing and will get a fair job done.
If the result you want is that perfectly spotless sensor for f/32 landscapes...
Then this is maybe not the answer to your prayers.
They recommend a maximum of 50 cleans and I think this is a bit overly enthusiastic.
I will most likely buy one or two more and toss one in every bag for that unforeseen need.
Bottom line is that I am not bowled over but judge for yourself.
Hope this can help somebody.