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sensor cleaning
dotgsf1
Posted 10 years ago
Hi all, I used a sensor cleaning kit to clean the sensor in manual mode and it just made the spots worse. Any suggestions? Has anyone else experienced this problem.
Dr Blind
Posted 10 years ago
If you sensor was as bad as mine the cleaning kit helped a little but I had to take it in and have a shop clean it professionally. Its worth the $35 (look for specials at your local shops).
Hi,
This is my workflow for cleaning my sensor, posted it in another group aswell, so might aswell post it here.
(ideas and suggestions are allways welcome)
Cameras, Canon 70D and Canon 40D
Testlens, Canon 18-135 STM IS ect. (or grab whatever lies in front of you)
Using: Blower (cheapness one and the Giotto Rocketblower), Artic Butterfly and Sensor Swabs. Small or big specs use a Speckgrabber or a gelstick (a good one)
- Clean the camera Camera and lens (outside) so you clean off any dust or dirt that can otherwise fall into the camera
- Clean the Lens for the same reason. (very important with the 100-400mm Mk I with pushpull zoom)
- f32 (highest aperture possible), iso 100 (av mode)
- aim at a wall (white or other smooth light color)
Move during shooting with the IS off, This way you can see the dustparticles better. If in doubt use the equalize function in in DigiKam (or photshop or the Gimp)
- make a shot and check for dust (hint, there is allways some dust)
- mirror up
- clean
- camera on and off
- make a shot and clean if nessecary, repeat, repeat, repeat, ect...
- if you get sensor smear (bit of oil which offcourse will go all over the sensor... the irony is not lost on me) use Sensor swab.
- Make a shot and check ect.
- if needed repeat, and repeat.
What I use often is the Artic Butterfly (old version) which works pretty well but gives senor smear every now and again. A little bit of oil or grease hangs on the Artic and goes all over your sensor (oh, the irony), had that happen with my 40D and with my 70D.e sensor smear. This means cleaning the Artic... again... with an alchol solution I'm using Iso propyl alcohol and then let it dry... and start with sensor swabs ect..
It does take a while, it can take me about an hour cleaning 2 camera and 3 or 4 lenses (ergo the stuff I use doing airshows) On the other hand, you got to take good care of your tools :-)
This is my workflow for cleaning my sensor, posted it in another group aswell, so might aswell post it here.
(ideas and suggestions are allways welcome)
Cameras, Canon 70D and Canon 40D
Testlens, Canon 18-135 STM IS ect. (or grab whatever lies in front of you)
Using: Blower (cheapness one and the Giotto Rocketblower), Artic Butterfly and Sensor Swabs. Small or big specs use a Speckgrabber or a gelstick (a good one)
- Clean the camera Camera and lens (outside) so you clean off any dust or dirt that can otherwise fall into the camera
- Clean the Lens for the same reason. (very important with the 100-400mm Mk I with pushpull zoom)
- f32 (highest aperture possible), iso 100 (av mode)
- aim at a wall (white or other smooth light color)
Move during shooting with the IS off, This way you can see the dustparticles better. If in doubt use the equalize function in in DigiKam (or photshop or the Gimp)
- make a shot and check for dust (hint, there is allways some dust)
- mirror up
- clean
- camera on and off
- make a shot and clean if nessecary, repeat, repeat, repeat, ect...
- if you get sensor smear (bit of oil which offcourse will go all over the sensor... the irony is not lost on me) use Sensor swab.
- Make a shot and check ect.
- if needed repeat, and repeat.
What I use often is the Artic Butterfly (old version) which works pretty well but gives senor smear every now and again. A little bit of oil or grease hangs on the Artic and goes all over your sensor (oh, the irony), had that happen with my 40D and with my 70D.e sensor smear. This means cleaning the Artic... again... with an alchol solution I'm using Iso propyl alcohol and then let it dry... and start with sensor swabs ect..
It does take a while, it can take me about an hour cleaning 2 camera and 3 or 4 lenses (ergo the stuff I use doing airshows) On the other hand, you got to take good care of your tools :-)
I turn my 40d off when I'm not using it and turn it back on when I'm going to use it. The sensor cleans automatically.
muddygreywolf
Posted 3 years ago
Despite the claims made by the camera makers and the wonders of self cleaning either by manual or automatic settings built into the camera I have found the best way to clean the sensor / mirror is to pay for it to be cleaned by the professionals.