cleaning sensor

[den9]

so i had a couple specs of dust on my sensor, got bored and decided to use a dusting brush to clean it. long story short, how much would it cost to get it cleaned at a local shop?

[BustedUjoint]

Originally Posted by den9

so i had a couple specs of dust on my sensor, got bored and decided to use a dusting brush to clean it. long story short, how much would it cost to get it cleaned at a local shop?

hhhaaaaaaaa. That sucks. I have been there before, just not with cameras. Good luck with that.

[MVPhoto]

uh oh, what's the story? what did you do? Honestly, you dont need to take it to a shop. Check out what i did.

I dealed with sensor dust waaay too long. Check this picture out.



i read in a honda tuning about cooperhill images product, spend $35 and it was great. Instructions with helpful people online.




You can actually see the streaks on the sensor in that pic.

note i actaully MADE streaks across my sensor, and thats where i thought i screwed myself. But i emailed them and he said i probably picked up lubricant from the sides and it would come off after a few cleanings. It did.

[den9]

I know about the swabs, but if it costs 25 bucks to have someone else do it, I'm all for it.

[MVPhoto]

it's more expensive that $25

[den9]

well if you know, how much is it? thats why im posting this.

[djb5118]

I had my sensor cleaned in NZ at a camera shop for around $30, which was a very good price. I think in the US it may be closer to $60. The swabs work well, but it's definitely not for the feint of heart. The kit that my friend uses generally runs around $60 or more I believe, but remember that you can get multiple uses out of one kit.

[grimm]

one thing we all need to remember is, when cleaning the "sensor" you are really cleaning a cover over the sensor. it's still a very sensitive thing, but it's not as crazy as some make it out to be. I've cleaned the sensor in my 40d twice, i think i spent $35 or so for 3 wet and 3 dry swabs.

[den9]

Expensive for what it is, but I have no choice. Wish I had 2 cameras, 1 for each lens. Do the swabs have solution on them or does it come with a bottle?

[MVPhoto]

Prices depend on who you go to, which takes about 10 minutes research on google.

http://www.copperhillimages.com/index.php?pr=Tutorials

[grimm]

Originally Posted by den9

Expensive for what it is, but I have no choice. Wish I had 2 cameras, 1 for each lens. Do the swabs have solution on them or does it come with a bottle?

the swabs i got are individually wrapped and sealed, the wet ones have solution on them, and are meant to be used first, the dry ones are meant to be used after the wet ones, to wipe/dry any extra or remaining solution. They both are meant to be used as a swap, and to wipe the sensor. they are not meant to have lots of pressure put onto it, or scrub the sensor. that could cause damage to the sensor.

you will obviously need to be able to lock your mirror in the up position to clean the sensor.

[den9]

called new york camera since its the closest shop, he said like 60 for the kit, ridiculous. he said he recommends that they do it, for 60 bucks, with a 3 day turn around time. he made it sound ridiculously hard, and i dont think it should take more than 10 minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFUzk...eature=related

what do you guys think?

edit, just called allens camera, 22 bucks for the swab kit, im gonna give it a try.

the thing is, i used to have 3 dust specs on the sensor, i decided to rub a lens brush on the sensor and its really messed up now, i think theirs oils on the sensor, you think i messed it up or is it cleanable?

[grimm]

it could be damaged, in the future try using a bulb blower first, then go to a swab. The "lens" brush is filled with dust and crap from dusting off a lens. That was a poor choice to use on your sensor. they do make sensor brushes that are electrostatically charged. Personally i don't trust puttng any brush with bristles inside my camera body for fear a bristle my snag or fall out. that and who knows what other contanaments/dust might be on the bristles.

i would try a wet swab (follow the directions closely) make sure there is no moving air and no major dust in the room. if that doesn't fix it, you'll have to send it in to get the sensor cover replaced. which could be expensive.

also there is a thread about cleaning the sensor if youwant more in dept reading. (i'll try to find it)

camera maintenance and care

[den9]

ny camera and video said 60 bucks to have it cleaned, but they also wanted 60 for a 22 dollar kit. im sure allens can do it for 40 if i manage to not be able to clean it. i didnt have a blower so i used a careful forceful blast of air from my mouth. i know its bad but it was a last resort, didnt work anyway.

[grimm]

yea i learned not to even try to clean camera equipment unless i have the proper tools the hard way as well. I had dust on my focusing screen took it out and tried to clean it. end result not so good. I purchased a new focusing screen. Lucky for me thats a $40 part. your sensor cover... will most likely be in the hundreds if it needs to be replaced.

good luck.

[MVPhoto]

do you have streaks on your sensor? If it's the lubricant from the sides, then it might not come off even after 1 proper cleaning. In fact, it took my about 3 or 4 cleanings before it came off.

Their lubricant is really stubborn, just don't force anything.

Did you check out the link i've posted? I wouldnt have posted it if i didnt think it would help.

[YellowMSP]

i always use the sensor swabs that come individually wrapped and the eclipse cleaning solution. i think it cost me about 60 bucks for like 12 swabs and the bottle of cleaning stuff from allens camera. they work great whenever i use them, just gotta take your time

[den9]

picked up a kit from allens, 22 bucks and a 15 dollar rocket air blower. i have 4 swabs and some solution, hopesfully it works out.

[MVPhoto]

only 4 swabs? So is one swab for one cleaning?

[den9]

yeah i guess, i just did it and it seemed to work fine, when i looked there seemed to be alittle dirt but i dont see it on the pictures so im not messing with it anymore. i asked the guy if these were for a 1.6x crop sensor and he assured me they were, needless to say i was wiping downwards twice because they were too wide. i wiped multiple times with the same swab and it seemed like lint was coming off the swab, these things are way too expensive for what they actually are. little peices of clothe rubber banded to a plastic stick, oh well. i actually poured some methanol directly on the sensor once, i also dabbed the swab to try and pick up a peice of dust. if this was a expensive camera i wouldnt have the balls to do this.