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Sensor Cleaning

::philcUK
10/29/05 10:24 PM GMT
I managed to somehow make quite a mess of the sensor on my Canon in the foul weather in Scotland - any recomendations for good cleaning kits?
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"Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps"

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MiLo_Anderson
10/29/05 10:52 PM GMT
i had a speck of dust on my sensor so i locked the mirror and shot some of that compressed air in there. I have heard thats not the best way to do it though. Hopefully i never have to again. I will definitly be watching this thread so i can also pick up some tips.
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"A piece of toast with butter always lands butter side down, and a cat always lands on its feet. What happens if a piece of toast is tied butter side down to the back of falling cat? Does it hover above the ground in perpetual indecision?"
::philcUK
10/29/05 11:23 PM GMT
hmm - the general consensus on the net appears to be either ( a ) let a licensed repair shop do it or ( b ) dont do it at all. If you have to use a small blower brush (not air canisters) no closer to the sensor than the camera mount whilst holding the camera inverted to allow the dust particles to drop out.

any advance on that?
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"Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps"
&prismmagic
10/30/05 2:35 AM GMT
I talked to Will ( brphoto) about the same thing. He suggested not to us caned air, it can leave junk on it and damage the sensor . He said to use a small brush air pump and to not touch the sensor with the brush it's self.
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Art is the perception of the creator. Meaning is the perception of the viewer. acceptance is the perception of society.
MiLo_Anderson
10/30/05 6:22 AM GMT
i think the blower brush or the pros is the best from what i have heard aswell. I forgot to mention when i did it with the canned air i was sure to hold the can horizontal. That ussually prevents the chemicals from coming out from what i've heard. I think it can still be risky though.
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"A piece of toast with butter always lands butter side down, and a cat always lands on its feet. What happens if a piece of toast is tied butter side down to the back of falling cat? Does it hover above the ground in perpetual indecision?"
&prismmagic
10/30/05 6:29 AM GMT
I've used them before . but I would hold the upright at a slite angle and hold the camera upside down so not to force the dust babk into the internal parts. but I feel also that the pros do it the right way and will never use a can of nitrogen again.
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Art is the perception of the creator. Meaning is the perception of the viewer. acceptance is the perception of society.
&trisweb
10/30/05 7:32 AM GMT
My Olympus E300 uses an ultrasonic cleaner to shake all dust/dirt off everytime the camera turns on :-D
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brphoto
10/30/05 9:07 AM GMT
A blower brush (or just a squeeze-blower) is the safest way to clean sensors. I use one made by Giottos, called a "Rocket Air Blower", and it works incredibly well. As Phil mentioned; holding the camera upside down and not coming any closer than the lens mount with the blower.

Every 6-8 months I usually take both bodies to Canon for a clean and check, the sensors and focusing screens are cleaned and anything the rocket blower missed is removed.

If the sensor is really dirty (beyond what a squeeze-blower could fix), I would err on the side of caution and have Canon clean it for you.
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"If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera."
Jeffo
10/31/05 4:31 AM GMT
last time i had a problem with this i took a risk and did it my self i took a straw,peice of medical gause and a can of compressed air and it worked fine but i only did it that way because i needed it that afternoon for a job

oh yea and i put the gause on the end of the straw furthest away from the camera and then blew the compressed air into the gause... the straw worked to lessen the PSI hitting the sensor but still let me direct it

though next time i will get Nikon to do it... any one have any ideas how much nikon charges and how long it takes?
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I want something good to die for To make it beautiful to live. D70s w/18-70, 70-300
brphoto
10/31/05 10:06 AM GMT
Nikon's Canadian service centers are in Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto (Mississauga). If your camera is still under warranty, it should be free.

I'm not sure about Nikon, but at Canon's service center here in Calgary, they will usually do it while you wait.
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"If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera."
Jeffo
10/31/05 8:42 PM GMT
oh cool.. well thanks for that bit of info... ill have to find out where in mississauga it is because that isnt to far from my place... and yea i still have a good long time on my warranty

Is there something special that they do to clean it? or it is more just the fact that while they are doing it they are responcible to replace it, if it is ruined in the cleaning process
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I want something good to die for To make it beautiful to live. D70s w/18-70, 70-300
::regmar
11/01/05 2:24 PM GMT
Yeah, that is one of the cool things about the Olympus, isn't it. The sensor stays pretty clean, because of the ultrasound cleaning system. Too bad they don't seem to have a very good lens selection.
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ж Regmar ж
+mayne
11/01/05 3:45 PM GMT
E-Bay sales post "One slightly used Canon 20D with scratched sensor" 8/
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Darryl
MiLo_Anderson
11/01/05 4:19 PM GMT
Why in the world would someone want to buy a camera with a scratched sensor? It better be really cheap.
0∈ [?]
"A piece of toast with butter always lands butter side down, and a cat always lands on its feet. What happens if a piece of toast is tied butter side down to the back of falling cat? Does it hover above the ground in perpetual indecision?"
+mayne
11/01/05 5:59 PM GMT
They wouldn't, that is my point. Get it done proffesionally;-)
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Darryl
MiLo_Anderson
11/01/05 7:57 PM GMT
i had a feeling that was what you were getting at after i made my post.
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"A piece of toast with butter always lands butter side down, and a cat always lands on its feet. What happens if a piece of toast is tied butter side down to the back of falling cat? Does it hover above the ground in perpetual indecision?"
&trisbert
11/02/05 3:52 PM GMT
I came across a new sensor-cleaning product recently (well new to me). It's called "Arctic Butterfly" by Visible Dust. It's motorised spinning brush that runs on AAA batteries. You spin the brush for a few seconds, which throws any dust from the last wipe off and electrostatically charges the bristles. Then you wipe the sensor with it, the charge causes the dust to leap onto the brush.

It seams like a good idea to me but a bit pricey at $84 Canadian. Any thoughts on this one guys?
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There are three colours, Ten digits and seven notes, its what we do with them that’s important. Ruth Ross
::philcUK
11/02/05 3:54 PM GMT
yes it does. got a couple of the Giottos Rocket Airs that Will suggested off ebay for six quid each and they worked a treat - cleared the camera body out completely. Marvellous.
0∈ [?]
"Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps"
+mayne
11/03/05 2:18 AM GMT
Lol, Swiffers for cameras. Will actually suggested the Arctic Butterfly to me...I think he has shares though;-)
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Darryl
.brphoto
11/03/05 3:02 AM GMT
LOL, I was telling Darryl about the Visible Dust sensor brushes (the non-motorized version of the Arctic Butterfly), also a good method of cleaning, although the rocket blower is still my preferred technique.

With the brushes, there is still something coming into contact with the sensor. If you happen to touch the brush tip, you've just contaminated it with oils and will end up depositing them on the sensor's glass surface.
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"If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera."
&trisbert
11/03/05 1:53 PM GMT

Well now if Will’s got shares can we do a deal for Caedes members :-)

I saw the sensor brush some time ago and wasn’t to keen on them because I don’t trust canned air. Believe me getting moist stuff of your sensor is a real pain in the behind.

I have to agree with you Will, anything that touches the sensor has to be used with great care. But I still like the idea of removing dust rather than relocating it inside the camera.
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There are three colours, Ten digits and seven notes, its what we do with them that’s important. Ruth Ross
.Jeffo
11/03/05 4:16 PM GMT
Ok question i do have a little spot showing up on my pics but it seems to be only at some ranges (mm) does this mean it is on the lens rather then the sensor?
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I want something good to die for To make it beautiful to live. D70s w/18-70, 70-300
&trisbert
11/03/05 4:24 PM GMT
It’s more likely to be on the sensor. They show up more with small apertures and or uniform surfaces, like polished furniture. If it’s only one don’t even think about cleaning the sensor, wait until they become a nuisance.
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There are three colours, Ten digits and seven notes, its what we do with them that’s important. Ruth Ross
.Jeffo
11/03/05 7:48 PM GMT
Yea I didnt really have any intention to worry about it right now because it is only one spot and very small/in a corner so it is really easy to photoshop
0∈ [?]
I want something good to die for To make it beautiful to live. D70s w/18-70, 70-300

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