Sensor/lens cleaning?

mountain wilderness · 02-07-2008, 04:11

This is going to sound a bit silly but..... i was wondering how everyone cleans there DSLR sensor?-i know you can send them in and get it done but have heard there are products available where this can be done yourself, my question is do many of you clean your own? and what products do you use/recommend as being the best way?-also to add to this i would like to know how most of you clean your camera lens?, i do not have much luck with this and nearly always end up with streaks on my lens/filters after cleaning-i would love to know how to clean expensive lens and filters safely and end up with a clear clean result without streaks/haze etc?

* I have been using lens cleaner and lens tissues from a camera shop!

fgates · 02-07-2008, 06:05

So far I have only used the cleaning program of the camera (its about 1 year old). I think that the best practice is to avoid dust in the first place by thinking when changing lenses and storing the camera in a low dust environment.

On lenses dust is best blown off, I use those blower brushes. Occasionally, when something splashes the lens, I also use the cleaner fluid and tissues, but it always seems to leave a few streaks. There are less streaks if you use less fluid and don't try to clean the whole lens (just lift the dirt off). Also always move the tissue towards the outer edges of the lens.

Thanks for raising the topic, as I would also be interested in knowing what others do.

**Markulous** · 02-07-2008, 06:49

For my Sigma SD10 I bought a SensorBrush as the Sigma has just a "naked" sensor with no antialias filter stuck on the front, like most other cameras - and that's served me very well over the years. For the more stubborn dust (pollen's a particular villain which seems to get glued on), I have used (and continue to use on my 350D) Pec Pads and Eclipse fluid as per CMOS - CCD Sensor Cleaning - Canon EOS 10D Digital SLR

BTW, there were suggestions that sensor dust sources included the card and battery accesses, as well as through the more obvious lens route. Personally, I've never worried about it (I'm no intention of modifying my shooting habits for fear of a bit of dust)

mountain wilderness · 02-07-2008, 07:33

Thanks fgates, its nice to know im not the only one left with streaks after using lens cleaner

as a rule i seam to be very good at getting my lens an filters very dirty an wet-often i am out in the rain or wind and also shoot alot of sea coast shots (like about 2hrs ago when i covered my polarizer with salt sea spray an rain!

) i am wondering if a lens cloth like people use on there glasses would be a better option for me?-i am just about at the point of burning my lens tissues as i can never get clean clear results from them-i also use a blower brush before using them, i do seam to have most of my problems with filters-i just cant for the life of me get them nice an clear again and i only buy good(expensive!) filters as i am of the opinion you should only cover good optics with other good optics!, anymore advice or suggestions from others about this would be greatly appreciated...

**Markulous** · 02-07-2008, 07:43

For lenses/filters (which are pretty tough) I use water..... and a lens cloth, with a dry cloth to wipe away any smears. Works for me in wind, rain, snow and dust!

mountain wilderness · 02-07-2008, 07:53

Thank you also Mark for the link i think i will look into getting some of those products and cleaning my own sensor (its dirty as well!) i think i am a bit hard on my gear sometimes and tend to ask alot of it-i always try to keep lens clean (but never manage to!) i will confess that when i was using film on my minolta system i would just clean the lens with the bottom of my shirt

and never really worried about it because the lens would "look" clean after it....since i moved to canon and digital and have started buying L lens and good filters i have been forced to have a rethink about my cleaning habits as i have no wish to damage lens coatings or ruin filters by improper cleaning methods......this is something i am struggling with but need to learn how its done properly

mountain wilderness · 02-07-2008, 07:57

Water?....well thats something i have not tryed.....i will give that a go, thanks mark!

**stepheno** · 02-07-2008, 07:58

Have a look at the Copperhill site. I always use Sensor Wand, Pecpads and Eclipse.

mountain wilderness · 02-07-2008, 08:12

Cheers stepheno-i will take a look...(is that you in your photo?

)

**stepheno** · 02-07-2008, 08:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountain wilderness

is that you in your photo?

Yes......it's been a hard life

mountain wilderness · 02-07-2008, 08:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by stepheno

Yes......it's been a hard life

Starting to wounder about this place.....

Rob Barron · 02-07-2008, 08:50

You've been a member since March 2007 and you are only STARTING to wonder about this place???

Seriously, the one thing you must NOT do is believe all the scare story hype that the camera companies put out there to convince you that if you clean your sensor you'll destroy the camera, invalidate the warranty and cause World War 3! Cleaning the sensor is a VERY EASY job. You approach it with the same common sense you would use for any other job (except the washing up which we men do deliberately badly so our respective partners will not bother asking us..... errrr..... we do all do it don't we guys?

) and follow the one key rule that IS important: make sure you have a freshly charged battery as you don't want the shutter suddenly closing on you.

Follow the guidelines you can find on Copperhill, Sensor Wand, Pecpads, etc websites and it is a two minute job. There are a couple of tutorials here on Pixalo as well so you might like to check those out.

Cheers,
Rob

**Dabhand16** · 02-07-2008, 09:29

Rob beat me to it regarding the sensor cleaning tutorials (in the Tutorials Forum), but for lens cleaning I use a blower and/or a proper lens cloth and some Hhhhrrrr which is freely available after taking a deep breath!

My cloth of choice is a Selvyt, but I think there are microfibre cloths produced by camera accessory companies and others.

mountain wilderness · 02-07-2008, 09:37

Cheers Rob-i have been a member since then, but only really refound this site early this year after a major computer crash destroyed everything on my hard drive last year (yes i lost alot of photos!) needless to say i have a BETTER system for backing up my shots now!-think i will order some of those products and do as they say rather than follow my impatient instincts and take to the camera with a cotton bud and some methanol-as far as washing up goes you should try dating an American lady who spent half her life in Hawaii.....i wont go into details suffice to say it does my head in!

"You've been a member since March 2007 and you are only STARTING to wonder about this place???"

Sounds like i have come to the right place then!

02-07-2008, 04:11	#1 (permalink)
mountain wilderness Been here a while Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 283	Sensor/lens cleaning? This is going to sound a bit silly but..... i was wondering how everyone cleans there DSLR sensor?-i know you can send them in and get it done but have heard there are products available where this can be done yourself, my question is do many of you clean your own? and what products do you use/recommend as being the best way?-also to add to this i would like to know how most of you clean your camera lens?, i do not have much luck with this and nearly always end up with streaks on my lens/filters after cleaning-i would love to know how to clean expensive lens and filters safely and end up with a clear clean result without streaks/haze etc? * I have been using lens cleaner and lens tissues from a camera shop!

02-07-2008, 06:05	#2 (permalink)
fgates Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 724	Re: Sensor/lens cleaning? So far I have only used the cleaning program of the camera (its about 1 year old). I think that the best practice is to avoid dust in the first place by thinking when changing lenses and storing the camera in a low dust environment. On lenses dust is best blown off, I use those blower brushes. Occasionally, when something splashes the lens, I also use the cleaner fluid and tissues, but it always seems to leave a few streaks. There are less streaks if you use less fluid and don't try to clean the whole lens (just lift the dirt off). Also always move the tissue towards the outer edges of the lens. Thanks for raising the topic, as I would also be interested in knowing what others do.

02-07-2008, 06:49	#3 (permalink)
Markulous Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peak District Posts: 10,173	Re: Sensor/lens cleaning? For my Sigma SD10 I bought a SensorBrush as the Sigma has just a "naked" sensor with no antialias filter stuck on the front, like most other cameras - and that's served me very well over the years. For the more stubborn dust (pollen's a particular villain which seems to get glued on), I have used (and continue to use on my 350D) Pec Pads and Eclipse fluid as per CMOS - CCD Sensor Cleaning - Canon EOS 10D Digital SLR BTW, there were suggestions that sensor dust sources included the card and battery accesses, as well as through the more obvious lens route. Personally, I've never worried about it (I'm no intention of modifying my shooting habits for fear of a bit of dust) __________________ ~CanonCreativity + SigmaSurReality~ by ΜΛЯΚ

02-07-2008, 07:33	#4 (permalink)
mountain wilderness Been here a while Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 283	Re: Sensor/lens cleaning? Thanks fgates, its nice to know im not the only one left with streaks after using lens cleaner as a rule i seam to be very good at getting my lens an filters very dirty an wet-often i am out in the rain or wind and also shoot alot of sea coast shots (like about 2hrs ago when i covered my polarizer with salt sea spray an rain!) i am wondering if a lens cloth like people use on there glasses would be a better option for me?-i am just about at the point of burning my lens tissues as i can never get clean clear results from them-i also use a blower brush before using them, i do seam to have most of my problems with filters-i just cant for the life of me get them nice an clear again and i only buy good(expensive!) filters as i am of the opinion you should only cover good optics with other good optics!, anymore advice or suggestions from others about this would be greatly appreciated...

02-07-2008, 07:43	#5 (permalink)
Markulous Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peak District Posts: 10,173	Re: Sensor/lens cleaning? For lenses/filters (which are pretty tough) I use water..... and a lens cloth, with a dry cloth to wipe away any smears. Works for me in wind, rain, snow and dust!

02-07-2008, 07:53	#6 (permalink)
mountain wilderness Been here a while Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 283	Re: Sensor/lens cleaning? Thank you also Mark for the link i think i will look into getting some of those products and cleaning my own sensor (its dirty as well!) i think i am a bit hard on my gear sometimes and tend to ask alot of it-i always try to keep lens clean (but never manage to!) i will confess that when i was using film on my minolta system i would just clean the lens with the bottom of my shirt and never really worried about it because the lens would "look" clean after it....since i moved to canon and digital and have started buying L lens and good filters i have been forced to have a rethink about my cleaning habits as i have no wish to damage lens coatings or ruin filters by improper cleaning methods......this is something i am struggling with but need to learn how its done properly

02-07-2008, 07:57	#7 (permalink)
mountain wilderness Been here a while Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 283	Re: Sensor/lens cleaning? Water?....well thats something i have not tryed.....i will give that a go, thanks mark!

02-07-2008, 07:58	#8 (permalink)
stepheno Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,848	Re: Sensor/lens cleaning? Have a look at the Copperhill site. I always use Sensor Wand, Pecpads and Eclipse.

02-07-2008, 08:12	#9 (permalink)
mountain wilderness Been here a while Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 283	Re: Sensor/lens cleaning? Cheers stepheno-i will take a look...(is that you in your photo?)

02-07-2008, 08:50	#12 (permalink)
Rob Barron Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset Posts: 5,388	Re: Sensor/lens cleaning? You've been a member since March 2007 and you are only STARTING to wonder about this place??? Seriously, the one thing you must NOT do is believe all the scare story hype that the camera companies put out there to convince you that if you clean your sensor you'll destroy the camera, invalidate the warranty and cause World War 3! Cleaning the sensor is a VERY EASY job. You approach it with the same common sense you would use for any other job (except the washing up which we men do deliberately badly so our respective partners will not bother asking us..... errrr..... we do all do it don't we guys? ) and follow the one key rule that IS important: make sure you have a freshly charged battery as you don't want the shutter suddenly closing on you. Follow the guidelines you can find on Copperhill, Sensor Wand, Pecpads, etc websites and it is a two minute job. There are a couple of tutorials here on Pixalo as well so you might like to check those out. Cheers, Rob __________________ Rob Barron robbarron@aol.com If you look down on other people, don't expect them to look up to you!

02-07-2008, 09:29	#13 (permalink)
Dabhand16 Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dunstable Bedfordshire UK Posts: 9,785	Re: Sensor/lens cleaning? Rob beat me to it regarding the sensor cleaning tutorials (in the Tutorials Forum), but for lens cleaning I use a blower and/or a proper lens cloth and some Hhhhrrrr which is freely available after taking a deep breath! My cloth of choice is a Selvyt, but I think there are microfibre cloths produced by camera accessory companies and others.

02-07-2008, 09:37	#14 (permalink)
mountain wilderness Been here a while Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 283	Re: Sensor/lens cleaning? Cheers Rob-i have been a member since then, but only really refound this site early this year after a major computer crash destroyed everything on my hard drive last year (yes i lost alot of photos!) needless to say i have a BETTER system for backing up my shots now!-think i will order some of those products and do as they say rather than follow my impatient instincts and take to the camera with a cotton bud and some methanol-as far as washing up goes you should try dating an American lady who spent half her life in Hawaii.....i wont go into details suffice to say it does my head in! "You've been a member since March 2007 and you are only STARTING to wonder about this place???" Sounds like i have come to the right place then!