Sensor Swipe Suggestions Sought
Discussion
Been off for a week.....
....now got some 500 odd images to test my RAW workflow techniques out!!!
Anyway, I was quite dismayed at the dust situation WHICH IS APPARENT FROM THE CAMERA MONITOR
So that'll keep me busy too 
Now I always knew this was going to be a "challenge" with a dSLR, especially given the way I ar$e about changing lenses
But how often are you cleaning or getting cleaned up?
Does once every two months seem excessive? (Cos that's how long I have had this baby!)
(Am pretty sure I am going to leave this to a professional - thinking about trying fixationuk.com if not Grays.... so any experiences?)
....now got some 500 odd images to test my RAW workflow techniques out!!!
Anyway, I was quite dismayed at the dust situation WHICH IS APPARENT FROM THE CAMERA MONITOR
So that'll keep me busy too Now I always knew this was going to be a "challenge" with a dSLR, especially given the way I ar$e about changing lenses
But how often are you cleaning or getting cleaned up?
Does once every two months seem excessive? (Cos that's how long I have had this baby!)
(Am pretty sure I am going to leave this to a professional - thinking about trying fixationuk.com if not Grays.... so any experiences?)
Someone with the right links will be along soon...
I mitigate the problem by always switching the camera off to change lenses, and pointing it down to do so. I have one slight splodge near the top of the screen but it rarely shows, and is easy to clone out.
I managed to loosen an earlier splodge (after a taxying P51D Mustang blew half a field into the camera!) by - coincidentally - doing some tabletop work where the camera was pointing sraight down. The vibration of the mirror must have dislodged it.
I mitigate the problem by always switching the camera off to change lenses, and pointing it down to do so. I have one slight splodge near the top of the screen but it rarely shows, and is easy to clone out.
I managed to loosen an earlier splodge (after a taxying P51D Mustang blew half a field into the camera!) by - coincidentally - doing some tabletop work where the camera was pointing sraight down. The vibration of the mirror must have dislodged it.
New keyboard anyone! 
I keep finding dust under the UV filter that i put on from new
When i bought it there was all manner of cleaning equipment available but the guy led me towards the less expensive giant hand squeezy pipet type thing claiming it does the job just as well. I must admit that it hadn't crossed my mind to get the sensor cleaned.
So that would be somewhere under the mirror then?
When i bought it there was all manner of cleaning equipment available but the guy led me towards the less expensive giant hand squeezy pipet type thing claiming it does the job just as well. I must admit that it hadn't crossed my mind to get the sensor cleaned.
So that would be somewhere under the mirror then?
bilko2 said:
I keep finding dust under the UV filter that i put on from new
When i bought it there was all manner of cleaning equipment available but the guy led me towards the less expensive giant hand squeezy pipet type thing claiming it does the job just as well. I must admit that it hadn't crossed my mind to get the sensor cleaned.
So that would be somewhere under the mirror then?
not sure if you're joking or not...! What were you going to clean if not the sensor?
poah said:
I've got a blower, sensor brush and sensor swabs. I use the sensor brush the most. it is expensive but it's worth it.
I was going to buy the sensor brush but then I saw this
http://194.100.88.243/petteri/pont/How_to/a_Brush_Your_Sensor/a_Brush_Your_Sensor.html
Not sure whether to go for the cheap alternative now
Cheers
Ian
simpo two said:
Someone with the right links will be along soon... .
Here you go
Expensive Sensor brush:
www.visibledust.com
The cheap alternative already mentioned by Ian:
http://194.100.88.243/petteri/pont/How_to/a_Brush_Your_Sensor/a_Brush_Your_Sensor.html
Giottos air blower:
www.robgalbraith.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB18&Number=295391&page=5&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=all
Available here:
www.hiltonphoto.co.uk/products/camera_care.html
Scary method:
www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning
Eclipse and swobs available here:
www.crown-digital.co.uk/ishop/883/shopscr233.html
Tips for checking your sensor:
http://images.photoworkshop.com/media/index.html (Link, second from bottom)
What ever you do, do not used compressed air. I have heard horror stories of sensors/filters cracking, especially Nikon:
www.robgalbraith.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB1&Number=320672&Searchpage=1&Main=320672&Words=cracked&topic=&Search=true#Post320672
The best method for stubborn marks is the 'scary' method. It takes a little practice and a steady hand. You may well end up up with streaky marks so you may have to do 3 or 4 times. The Giottos air rocket is great, enough puff to shift the dust with out being dangerous.
Fixation will do clean your sensor while you wait/go have a coffee
HTH
I change lenses like they're going out of fashion, but have only had to clean the camera once in the last 2/3 months.
I use the Rocket most times I use the camera, and have used the "scary" method once, which worked to some extent, but I wasn't brave enough to do it twice in a row
I used the Digi-Pads and Eclipse fluid (available from Warehouse Express), but found that the actual plastic part of the digi-pad wasn't wide enough for the sensor (full frame in the 1DsII), so the cleaning material doesn't have an even pressure and the edges of the pad lift up.
I may try Sensor Swabs next time to see if they are any better, although they are a bit more expensive. The "Cheap brush" method looks interesting though, so I may give this a go too.
If that fails, then I'll just stick the Dyson in there
I use the Rocket most times I use the camera, and have used the "scary" method once, which worked to some extent, but I wasn't brave enough to do it twice in a row
I used the Digi-Pads and Eclipse fluid (available from Warehouse Express), but found that the actual plastic part of the digi-pad wasn't wide enough for the sensor (full frame in the 1DsII), so the cleaning material doesn't have an even pressure and the edges of the pad lift up.
I may try Sensor Swabs next time to see if they are any better, although they are a bit more expensive. The "Cheap brush" method looks interesting though, so I may give this a go too.
If that fails, then I'll just stick the Dyson in there
simpo two said:
Not on the D70. I had a squint in there and there's a 2-3mm gap all round, esp along the bottom.
really? i find that amazing. obviously there isnt a gap all the way around - it must be hinged somewhere? but on the other three sides the mirror is just floating? I thought it must come down and rest on something, otherwise it would jiggle around when you moved the camera? or am I missing something...?
dcw@pr said:
really? i find that amazing. obviously there isnt a gap all the way around - it must be hinged somewhere? but on the other three sides the mirror is just floating? I thought it must come down and rest on something, otherwise it would jiggle around when you moved the camera? or am I missing something...?
Well yes, it's hinged at the top of course and there are obviously ledges it rests on - but heck, other D70 owners, take a look and tell me what you see. That's how I interpret it anyway.
dcw@pr said:
And I'm not sure that sealing the mirror would actually make any difference?
Well it would stop dust blowing in while you're changing lenses. The only reason I can think of for NOT making it seal is that the air pressure might hamper mirror movement at very fast shutter speeds - in the same way that shutting the door on a Griff with the roof on needs considerably more force to overcome the compression in a small space.
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