[fingerz]

I know next to nothing about cleaning and would really appreciate a beginners guide (think absolute beginner here) if anyone could see their way to giving me some tips.

Firstly, the sensor. I've got a few spots on it so I want to clean it. What do I use, where do I buy it and how much should I pay? I know nothing at all so tell me everything.

Secondly, lenses and everyday type cleaning. I've currently got a little booklet of lens cleaning tissues but they don't seem great and I often find myself using the cloth that came with my sunglasses. But I also keep noticing little bits of dust around the edges of the front bit of glass (or around the edge of the metal filter ring when it's attached). What's the best way to get lenses clean and keep them clean? And should I clean the back of the lens? What with (it's quite a deep hole to get fingers into)?

http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning

That contains all you need to know about cleaning your sensor, and is regarded as *the* way to do it. Some people recommend blowers et al, but with those you're still going to have dust in the cavity, just temporarily shifted off the sensor.

You can buy the stuff from warehouseexpress
I think Matt, one of our members is a dab hand at doing this now, and may offer some words of wisdom.

Lenses. I occasionally use my lens pen for little marks (the occasional contact with my finger....it does happen), or to get bits of dust off.
I also use the cloth I got with my glasses.
What you (and I) really need is a proper lint free cleaning cloth.

The back of the lens, and the deep hole?
Move the focal length on your lens and watch that glass ride magically to the surface
As for cleaning the back, be wary, as dont forget, when you put that on your camera, that is the bit that is exposed to the chamber in your camera with the sensor, so if there's any bits of dust and dirt on there, then they are likely to make their way into the camera.

Same with the body caps

Regards

[CT]

Jamey, I still have to clean my sensor, so I'll leave that someone who knows what they're talking about. I thought Matt had done a 'HowTo' on it though?

As for general lens/camera cleaning..

Lenses.

My own approach with lenses is to gently breath on the lens and remove any slight marks gently with a very soft lint free cloth. Fingerprints on the glass need attending to ASAP as they can chemically etch into the multi coating on the lens. Stubborn marks can be tackled with a proprietory lens cleaning fluid, but whatever you do don't apply it straight to the lens - you could damage the coating - apply it to a soft cloth and then to the lens. I've never found the need to use this stuff.. ever. I'd be very careful of trying to clean the rear element if it's well recessed, you could do more harm than good reaching down in there. Any slight dust spots will probably be having no adverse effects on your pics whatsoever, so I'd leave well alone, unless it's particuarly bad, when you might want to consider having it professionally cleaned.

Camera body.

A wipe over with a slightly damp cloth is usually all that's required to remove the greasy smears you get from handling. Some small brushes are great for removing dust from around buttons and switches. The ladies make up counter at Boots etc. is a good source of suitable brushes.

Camera Interior.

The less you do the better. Sensor cleaning is a necessary evil now and again, but apart from that there's not really much you can do. The mirrors are often surfaced on the front rather than the rear and you shouldn't touch them under any circumstances or you can permanently mark them.

The same with the underside of the focusing screen they're easily scratched. Dust and debris can become visible on the screen over time and it's annoying, but best ignored as it doesn't appear in your shots. If you really can't live with it then a professional clean is the best answer. You can try to dislodge stuff with a puffer brush, but then it tends to get blown around everywhere inside the camera so I'm not a fan of those. I can't emphasise enough that you can do more harm than good messing around inside the camera!

Prevention is the best remedy - always replace lens and body caps straight away - never leave them off unrecessarily for any length of time.

Hope that helps mate.

Originally Posted by CT

You can try to dislodge stuff with a puffer brush, but then it tends to get blown around everywhere inside the camera so I'm not a fan of those. I can't emphasise enough that you can do more harm than good messing around inside the camera!

Prevention is the best remedy - always replace lens and body caps straight away - never leave them off unrecessarily for any length of time.

This man speaketh the truth.

There is another thread in here started by me entitled 'Dusty sensor?' or something like that.

Anyway, I managed to get it sorted in the end, but now as an upshot, I try to be as anal as possible about dust getting into my body.
I know it's going to happen one day, but thanks to the wise words (and whingeings ) of our very own Steve, I have learnt my lesson.
Lens changes, I line up the next lens sat on its end, with the cap loosened, and the white dot lined up. I then hold the camera point downwards, thumb on the dot, finger pressing the release button.
I Take the lens off, put it down, quickly shift the loose cap from one lens to the other, and put the new lens on, all the while looking at the new lens for signs of dirt and dust. The process, once ready, is a merely a couple of seconds of chance for dust to get in my body at most.

[IanC_UK]

Matts posts re cleaning the sensor are here

[CT]

Well done Ian.

[IanC_UK]

Originally Posted by CT

Well done Ian.

perhaps we should make them into a tutorial (if Matt is ok with that) , with a disclaimer obviously !

[CT]

I tried to blow a spec of dust off the mirror of a brand new Nikon F4 once - straight out of the box, and succeeded in splothering all over the mirror and screen. It dried out and left an awful mess.I really should have known better :eyesup:

I took it to a repair guy I know who cleaned it up for me and did an ace job, leaving no trace at all. He didn't charge me for it, but the ****** taking I had to endure from him for ages afterwards was more than enough punishment!

[fingerz]

Thanks guys.

Is there much difference between using Digi-Pads and using a SensorSwipe/PecPads apart from the price?

If not I think I'll buy Digi-Pads because my spatula-modification skills are probably going to be laughable.

[KenCo1964]

I followed Matts guide after purchasing the digipads and eclypse fluid from warehouse express (next day delivery). It really is good stuff, I used one pad and cleaned my sensor as described. I was amazed at how good it worked and no longer do I worry about dirt on the sensor. Expensive stuff (I think anyway) but well worth it.

[Gandhi]

dunno why, but I've never bothered that much about dust and sand etc inside my 35mm cameras. But then again I've always used el cheapo old school, manual everything slr's like 70's minoltas and prakticas. They've been dropped, been to the beach, got wet and have all worked fine. That was until my minolta died in scotland, but that was the take up spool, and the plastic has basically just perished and it snapped into two pieces.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't look after your kit, just that it's possible to becme too anal about stuff. If you're in a constant state of duress about the smallest spec of dirt then it's gonna hamper the creative the process somewhat. I personaly don't think that a bit of grime visible through the finder, be it on the mirror or screen is gonna stop me taking a good picture.

Having said this, I do try not to fingerprint my lense surfaces and I always use a skylight filter to protect the final element.


Oh yeah, NEVER buy any second equipment off me!

[fingerz]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think film SLRs have brushes to remove dirt from the film when you wind it on to the next shot, so as long as the lens is clean it's not such an issue. I think.

Anyway I agree... It is possible to get too obsessed about these things. And you can remove a fair amout of crud in photoshop if you have to.

Edit - that said, however, I have just ordered some Eclipse fluid and Digi-Pads from Warehouse Express

[Gandhi]

Originally Posted by fingerz

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think film SLRs have brushes to remove dirt from the film when you wind it on to the next shot, so as long as the lens is clean it's not such an issue. I think.

They do indeed, but if you get any sand in them they'll put nice scratches along a whole roll of film (oh, the hours I've spent in photoshop gettin rid of those)
It's the same with the film cannisters themselves, they have a hairy gate (OO-errr!) that seems to trap all sorts of crud. Pity it's taken me 14 years to work out why the sealabubble cannisters where such a good idea

[fingerz]

Nicely corrected. Ta.