Cleaning your DSLR's sensor

Doug b · May 15, 2012

Usually this is all you'd ever need to clean your sensor.

http://appraisercentral.com/cleanscreen.swf

If for some reason that doesn't work, read on

I guess this can be a rolling thread, and in fact, I'll likely write a blog for the MF's, documenting how to clean ones DSLR sensor. I'll go through the dry and wet methods that I feel most comfortable with. For now, I'll just post a couple of vids that I thought were decent enough to follow if you have the need to do a sensor cleaning.

Some pro's say dry cleaning is mostly all you'd need, and that wet cleaning only needs to be done in extreme circumstances. Other's say that dry cleaning is a waste of time. I say that there's a time and place for both.

Here's a wet method, kind of no frills and to the point once he gets it going.

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

Then here's the guys from lensrentals.com (very popular and reputable source) swearing that dry cleaning is king.
DSLR Sensor Cleaning (The LensRentals.com Method) - YouTube

But if it IS oil/grease, a dry cleaning won't cut it, period.

Doug

McYukon · May 17, 2012

So yeah, I got brave enough to try the SensorBrush I already told you about.
Brushed the sensor 3 times and all spots gone except the big one I can see in all aperture settings $:\$

Guess it's something else than dust. Now to decide if I want to get a wet clean kit or just try and ignore it ( Which I already know will be impossible

)

LOL at the "sensor cleaner"

Doug b · May 17, 2012

McYukon said:
So yeah, I got brave enough to try the SensorBrush I already told you about.
Brushed the sensor 3 times and all spots gone except the big one I can see in all aperture settings $:\$

Guess it's something else than dust. Now to decide if I want to get a wet clean kit or just try and ignore it ( Which I already know will be impossible )

LOL at the "sensor cleaner"

Could you please post a sample of the "other than dust" spot? You shooting a white background out of focus?

Doug

McYukon · May 18, 2012

Ok, here's the best white/out of focus background I could make. The "other than dust" thing is arrowed.
From my recent photos it appears to appear in the f7+ range

Turns out there are quite a bit more spots still there, but they are so small/invisible that they shouldn't ever appear on a normal photo.

I may be going a little overboard with my dust hunt

Hrm, what happened to the auto-scale to fit screen script? Not working for me.

Doug b · May 18, 2012

Yep. Uniform spots like that = grease/oil. You'll need a more cutting type of wet cleaner. More, solvent like. Shouldn't be an issue.

Doug

McYukon · May 18, 2012

Ok, thanks for that info. Any wet cleaners you can recommend/have good results with?

Doug b · May 18, 2012

This video covers it all, is very easy to follow and recommends another great brand for cleaning. I'd say this one is the one to go to:

The Wet Method of Cleaning a Digital SLR Sensor - YouTube

Cleaning Digital Sensors, Cleaning Digital Cameras - Photographic Solutions, Inc. - Digital & Photographic Cleaning Solutions - Photographic Solutions

Delkin Devices Sensor Scope with Bag DDSS-SINGLE2 B&H Photo

Doug

P.S. I've never used their stuff, but have heard good things: http://www.copperhillimages.com/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=48&=SID#MOREINFO

Dysfunction · May 19, 2012

I use copperhill's stuff. Works really well and the company is great to deal with.