I’ve been collecting specks of dust on my sensor for a while, it got to a point where something had to be done. I decided to have a go at it myself despite reading of the dire consequences from camera manufacturers, mainly because I didn’t want to lose it for a week or so. Besides research on the web had convinced me that the sensor is covered by glass and the risk of scratching it is somewhat overstated by the camera manufacturers.
I decided to use a vacuum cleaner with a computer cleaning kit someone gave me years ago and never got used. To dislodge stubborn dust I chose a Camel hair artists brush because they have the softest bristles I know of. Good, got the tools, got a plan, let’s do it.
Things progressed nicely, the brush dislodged dust from the sensor and the vacuum cleaner dispatched the dust as expected except for one stubborn speck. Three or four goes later the speck was still there, without thinking I blew on the sensor and… sprayed.
I muttered magical incantations of the kind that don’t often make it into print. Needless to say I was now in a worse position than before I started. Cleaning the mess with a cotton bud wrapped in lint free cloth simply spread it around. Next I cleaned the sensor with a cotton bud wrapped with lint free cloth dipped in methylated spirits. A magnifying glass showed no dust, good. A photo of the fridge at F18 showed a few blurry smudgy lines of residue, dam. I tried again, more blurry smudgy lines in different places. After four goes the magical words became roars of frustration, the dog hid under the bed and the kids decided to go out.
I had read that Canon use 50% Windex and water. So I tried it. The result was clearly visible without the aid of torch or magnifying glass. Let me assure you Windex and water is not a good idea. Stress levels were nudging record levels.
My next step was a visit to the chemist. Partly because I had to get the stress levels down and partly because I wanted to buy some Ethanol.
Using the same technique as before but with Ethanol gave exactly the same result, more blurry smudgy residue marks. Magical incantations gave way to strong urges to panic and visions of an expensive paperweight.
I decide that the cleaning fluid was not the problem, it had to be my technique. I was probably getting to much fluid on the sensor. So I took a plastic disposable kitchen knife, the type you use for parties. I cut the end off square, squared off the sides. I then used wet and dry sandpaper to form a very slight curve to the bottom edge. Finally I smoothed all edges with the same sandpaper.
Taking my home made sensor wiper I wrapped the end with lint free cloth dipped it into the Ethanol then gently wiped it across the sensor. I turned the knife over and wiped again. It looked clean. Stress levels came down just a little. I took a photo of the side of the fridge at F18. I can’t detect a single speck or smudge. Stress levels are returning to normal, the dog wants his dinner and the kids say they will be home tomorrow.
Would you believe it after all that its raining cats and dogs so I can’t give my clean sensor a whirl just yet.
I wrote that a week ago. I’m happy to report that the camera functions perfectly after all my abuse, with nary a blemish or speck to be seen anywhere. Would I do it again. You betcha and I’m confident it wouldn’t take any more than 15 minutes now I know what I’m doing.
I decided to use a vacuum cleaner with a computer cleaning kit someone gave me years ago and never got used. To dislodge stubborn dust I chose a Camel hair artists brush because they have the softest bristles I know of. Good, got the tools, got a plan, let’s do it.
Things progressed nicely, the brush dislodged dust from the sensor and the vacuum cleaner dispatched the dust as expected except for one stubborn speck. Three or four goes later the speck was still there, without thinking I blew on the sensor and… sprayed.
I muttered magical incantations of the kind that don’t often make it into print. Needless to say I was now in a worse position than before I started. Cleaning the mess with a cotton bud wrapped in lint free cloth simply spread it around. Next I cleaned the sensor with a cotton bud wrapped with lint free cloth dipped in methylated spirits. A magnifying glass showed no dust, good. A photo of the fridge at F18 showed a few blurry smudgy lines of residue, dam. I tried again, more blurry smudgy lines in different places. After four goes the magical words became roars of frustration, the dog hid under the bed and the kids decided to go out.
I had read that Canon use 50% Windex and water. So I tried it. The result was clearly visible without the aid of torch or magnifying glass. Let me assure you Windex and water is not a good idea. Stress levels were nudging record levels.
My next step was a visit to the chemist. Partly because I had to get the stress levels down and partly because I wanted to buy some Ethanol.
Using the same technique as before but with Ethanol gave exactly the same result, more blurry smudgy residue marks. Magical incantations gave way to strong urges to panic and visions of an expensive paperweight.
I decide that the cleaning fluid was not the problem, it had to be my technique. I was probably getting to much fluid on the sensor. So I took a plastic disposable kitchen knife, the type you use for parties. I cut the end off square, squared off the sides. I then used wet and dry sandpaper to form a very slight curve to the bottom edge. Finally I smoothed all edges with the same sandpaper.
Taking my home made sensor wiper I wrapped the end with lint free cloth dipped it into the Ethanol then gently wiped it across the sensor. I turned the knife over and wiped again. It looked clean. Stress levels came down just a little. I took a photo of the side of the fridge at F18. I can’t detect a single speck or smudge. Stress levels are returning to normal, the dog wants his dinner and the kids say they will be home tomorrow.
Would you believe it after all that its raining cats and dogs so I can’t give my clean sensor a whirl just yet.
I wrote that a week ago. I’m happy to report that the camera functions perfectly after all my abuse, with nary a blemish or speck to be seen anywhere. Would I do it again. You betcha and I’m confident it wouldn’t take any more than 15 minutes now I know what I’m doing.