Sensor cleaning

[Dirty Harry]

Those of you who are using digital SLRs in the field, what do you do for sensor cleaning? I am trying to avoid the hours I spend at home cleaning up images in Photoshop because of the dust spots all over the image.

I have tried the Pec Pad, static brush, Microfiber clothes, and blower brushes but none seem to work particularly well.

TSA did not do me any favors when they started confiscating my compressed air canister when I fly. :(

[bigreen505]

I like the static master brushes when I am at home or traveling by car, but don't try to sneak one through an airport. The Visible Dust stuff is overpriced, but generally works as advertised. Sensor Swabs and Eclipse for anything stubborn, but for the cost of a bottle of Eclipse you can go to your local science/lab supply store and buy a lifetime supply of the same stuff.

[Dirty Harry]

I haven't had any problem getting my static master through the airport. The only issue I have is that the model I have is a bit too bulky to really clean the sensor.

I was getting plucked out of line all of the time and finally asked what I needed to do to avoid the hassle. The agent informed me that I was flagged because I had electronics (the camera) and organics (like cleaning solution) in the same bag. I usually toss all of my cleaning stuff in my checked bags now and it seems to have solved the problem.

[jorge]

I use The Arctic Butterfly 724 Sensor Brush from VisibleDust. So far is working very well on keeping the sensor clean on my Nikons D2x.

[Robthebrit]

I tried dust-aid (www.dust-aid.com) and it works well for all sensor sizes and is airport safe and small. Its a special sticky pad, I am in two minds whether its good or bad, I never cleaned the 5D with it but I have clean the old rebel number of times with absolutely no problems.

Rob

[sinuhexavier]

I like sending it to Canon.

[Dirty Harry]

I like sending it to Canon.

I have done this in the past and like this option, but I only have one body to shoot with at this time and I can't go without it for a week this time of year. I get nervous about shipping the body anyway. I had a local place in Reno that did a great job with quick turnaround but I am currently in Rapid City and there is no one local that can do it. No replacement for factory cleaning though.

[bigreen505]

I haven't had any problem getting my static master through the airport. The only issue I have is that the model I have is a bit too bulky to really clean the sensor.

The genuine Static Master brushes have a radioactive element in them. Try to take it through DIA and you will likely discover a new side of our government.:oops:

[DaveInDenver]

The genuine Static Master brushes have a radioactive element in them. Try to take it through DIA and you will likely discover a new side of our government.:oops:
'Tis true. The gen-u-ine Staticmaster has Po-210 (that's polonium) in it to attract dust. I've got a 1" that I use to clean my LPs (are you honestly surprised I still have vinyl records?) and brush negatives before printing or scanning. Mine is from the 1970s and so it's ionizing source has long since gone dead, the half life of Po-210 is about 150 days. But it's still a nice brush and works fine that way.

[DaveInDenver]

Oh, yeah, to Bill's point. Polonium is often alloyed with beryllium to make neutron initiators as triggers for nuclear weapons... Think the TSA screeners know that?

[Dirty Harry]

Oh, yeah, to Bill's point. Polonium is often alloyed with beryllium to make neutron initiators as triggers for nuclear weapons... Think the TSA screeners know that?

Apparently they don't because I take mine with me all time! :arabia:

[sinuhexavier]

I have done this in the past and like this option, but I only have one body to shoot with at this time and I can't go without it for a week this time of year. I get nervous about shipping the body anyway. I had a local place in Reno that did a great job with quick turnaround but I am currently in Rapid City and there is no one local that can do it. No replacement for factory cleaning though.

A good option is Canon Professional Services, if you are a member they will send you a loaner body while yours is cleaned free of charge.

[Dirty Harry]

A good option is Canon Professional Services, if you are a member they will send you a loaner body while yours is cleaned free of charge.

Thank you for the information. I did not know that, I will certainly look in to it. :beer:

[Redline]

You guys think you're getting dust/dirt from lens changing?

I did have a spec of something on my 20D recently and it was removed easily. I was lucky.

[Dirty Harry]

Yes, I think that is is mainly from changing lenses in the field. I recently purchased a 28-300mm lens that should limit the amount of swapping that I need to do, but I really like a wide angle (almost fisheye) for rockcrawling shots like this.

http://www.harrysituations.com/features/caskey.jpg

[Redline]

I like your work and I agree with your approach. Really close/wide rock-crawling shots like this one look great! Great magazine material and punch.

Which 28-300-mm lens are you using? That is a huge focal range, and I assume it is not particularly fast lens?

I was using a 20mm Canon f/2.8 prime on a 20D to get a focal crop factor of 32mm. Not really wide enough to be 'wide' or exciting but I was able to get most shots I needed with this combo, with plenty of compromises.

I recently purchased to a 5D and 24-70L f/2.8 which has provided some much needed flexibility. I use the 24mm a lot and don't plan on removing the lens often. Though this means I will also need to lug around the 20D with a much longer zoom on it for tele coverage (a heavy combo).

James



Yes, I think that is is mainly from changing lenses in the field. I recently purchased a 28-300mm lens that should limit the amount of swapping that I need to do, but I really like a wide angle (almost fisheye) for rockcrawling shots like this.

http://www.harrysituations.com/features/caskey.jpg

[sinuhexavier]

I recently purchased to a 5D and 24-70L f/2.8 which has provided some much needed flexibility. I use the 24mm a lot and don't plan on removing the lens often. Though this means I will also need to lug around the 20D with a much longer zoom on it for tele coverage (a heavy combo).

James

You are going to love that lens... 70% of everything I shoot is with that one lens.

[Redline]

I'm sure you are correct. I already love it!

Years ago I was going to buy the 28-70 f/2.8 but started using and liking other film cameras more than my Canons, so I never took the plunge. I got by with a cheap, consumer, slow 28-105mm when I needed a my Canon SLR.

I'm glad to have the extra 4mm of width. Not quite as wide as the 20mm prime but wide enough to look a little wide if I get close enough and do my part. This lens is very new to me and is just starting to get worn-in.


You are going to love that lens... 70% of everything I shoot is with that one lens.

[Dirty Harry]

Which 28-300-mm lens are you using? That is a huge focal range, and I assume it is not particularly fast lens?

I was using a 20mm Canon f/2.8 prime on a 20D to get a focal crop factor of 32mm. Not really wide enough to be 'wide' or exciting but I was able to get most shots I needed with this combo, with plenty of compromises.


It is a f/3.5-5.6L L lens. Not the quickest (nor the lightest) but I really appreciate the range when shooting events. With the image stabilization I have found it to be fast enough for most situations.

I don't understand why you don't just bring your longer lens and leave the 20D body at home though???

[Redline]

I will sometimes. But as we all know, sensors likely get 'dirty' when changing lenses in the field, and avoiding the dirty sensor issue is nicer than having to clean one or send off for cosmetic DSLR surgery.

The 20D is a nice match for my f/2.8 70-200L lens, effectively making this lens a 112-320-mm with its 1.6X crop-factor. I think the jump from the 24-70 on the 5D to 112-mm with the 20D is a nice spread. And of course, having a back-up body is nice should one fail.

But you're right, much of the time I could just take the 70-200 'just in case' then I have it if I need it.




I don't understand why you don't just bring your longer lens and leave the 20D body at home though???

[Dirty Harry]

I think that makes a lot of sense to leave the longer lens on another body if you are going to be close to the vehicle. I just got done lugging my 8 pound 1DS and 7 pound lens up to 12,700 feet this weekend trying keep up with my girlfriend so it is hard to think about carrying MORE right now. I think when the time comes to get another body though I will likely do the same thing that you do. Do you carry them both in one bag or have seperate bags for each?

[pwc]

I had a conversation with my boss about sensor cleaning jsut thing morning. I get two nice spots on a bunch of wedding shots after I cleaned the sensor perfectly before the trip. Changing lenses does it and not always from outside dust. There is plenty inside that chamber from moving parts (mirror).

I use the VisibleDust stuff and it is too price for what it is, but it works. Funny thing though, I got something wet or oily on my brush last time and smeared it on the sensor :Wow1: I then bit the bullet and did what all the non-experts on the planet will tell you not to do.....I breathed on it to fog it up and used a Q-tip(r) to scrub it. Off came the goop. So yes, in most minds i made two mistakes. But the sensor is really stronger than you think and doesn't need to be super babied as people proport (people who have never manufactured a sensor in their life). I've done this before on other cameras and as long as you take care to make sure the q-tip is free of bad things and use light pressure, you can get smears off this way. the brushes are still more useful for dust, unless it's in the corner.

[Redline]

I agree size/weight is an issue and I would rather only carry one lens and camera. I have a medium size camera backpack that I never use that would handle both cameras and lenses (and more stuff) but other than this pack I don't have a bag that will fit both combinations. The 5D & 24-70 combo are only several weeks new to me so I don't have it all figured out :-) Obviously I would prefer to only carry this combo, but I be limited on tele range when I do.



I think that makes a lot of sense to leave the longer lens on another body if you are going to be close to the vehicle. I just got done lugging my 8 pound 1DS and 7 pound lens up to 12,700 feet this weekend trying keep up with my girlfriend so it is hard to think about carrying MORE right now. I think when the time comes to get another body though I will likely do the same thing that you do. Do you carry them both in one bag or have seperate bags for each?

[bigreen505]

Funny thing though, I got something wet or oily on my brush last time and smeared it on the sensor

The mirror box and the area surrounding the sensor is usually greasy. That is why you need a brush for the mirror box and another for the sensor. Be extremely careful not to contaminate the sensor brush.