Sensor cleaning

[fish]

I blew out the sensor on my 20D yesterday before going on a shoot and thought I had gotten out all the dust, but andy found a couple of specs on one of my images.

So the question is...if the dots show up in the upper left of an image, where on the sensor are those located? Intuitively, I would think the upper right of the sensor, while looking in the lens mount. But, are images upside down and/or reversed? Just want to know where to look for the offenders.

Confused in the valley,
fish

[patch29]

I blew out the sensor on my 20D yesterday before going on a shoot and thought I had gotten out all the dust, but andy found a couple of specs on one of my images.

So the question is...if the dots show up in the upper left of an image, where on the sensor are those located? Intuitively, I would think the upper right of the sensor, while looking in the lens mount. But, are images upside down and/or reversed? Just want to know where to look for the offenders.

Confused in the valley,
fish

If you could look through the back of the camera/sensor your image would be upside down and flipped horizontally. Imagine in photoshop the image is correct, though the back of the camera you would just do a 180 deg rotate.

I would think the dust in your case would be in the lower left of the sensor as you look into the front of the camera.

[wxwax]

FWIW, my experience is that using a blower just rearranges the dust. I've tried many times, including with the addition of a hand-held vacuum cleaner. I've since concluded that the sensor itself has to be wiped down. I've used the dry brush method once, and it seemed to work.

[Andy]

www.pbase.com/copperhill

oh and fish, i have the same trouble feeding letterhead or photo paper into a printer :scratch :lol3

[marlinspike]

Copperhill method is the best. Nuf said.
Richard

[dkapp]

Has anyone tried the sensor brush?

I've read good things so far.

Some reading Material
Luminous Landscape Review (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/visible-dust.shtml)
Product Homepage (http://visibledust.com/index.htm)
Rob Galbraith Review (http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-6460-7296).

The price has kept me away so far.

Dave

[fish]

oh geez...it may just be easier to keep cloning them out of sky shots. This is fugly.


http://coyfish.smugmug.com/photos/15332026-L.jpg


I guess that's just one of the perils of swapping lenses. :cry

[Andy]

oh geez...it may just be easier to keep cloning them out of sky shots. This is fugly.



I guess that's just one of the perils of swapping lenses. :cry

i agree with waxilodeon, the blower blows. get some eclipse, and a spatula and wipes from copperhill, and do it proper. usually one or two swipes is all it takes.

and no more fugly!

[ShebaJo]

i agree with waxilodeon, the blower blows. get some eclipse, and a spatula and wipes from copperhill, and do it proper. usually one or two swipes is all it takes.

and no more fugly!
:D another dumb question...is the sensor (22.5 x 15.0mm) on the 20D? I just went to the eclipse site...need to know which sensor size to order 14, 16 or 18mm
thanks

[fish]

i agree with waxilodeon, the blower blows. get some eclipse, and a spatula and wipes from copperhill, and do it proper. usually one or two swipes is all it takes.

and no more fugly!

I just turned the body upside down, gave it a big honkin' blowjob with the Giotto rocket, snapped a sky shot, and boom! All the spots are still there. :wxwax

Another solution is to not shoot sky at f29. :lol3

I read a bunch of reviews on the Sensor Brush...sounds like a miracle. But $90 USD for two paint brushes?!

[John Mueller]

Has anyone tried the sensor brush?

I've read good things so far.

Some reading Material
Luminous Landscape Review (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/visible-dust.shtml)
Product Homepage (http://visibledust.com/index.htm)
Rob Galbraith Review (http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-6460-7296).

The price has kept me away so far.

Dave The sensor brush is the only thing that touches my sensor.
Yeah its pricey,but it will last a long time.I been through swab method,bolwing etc.The brush WINS hands down.
If it gets junk on it that the brush wont pull off,then yeah a wet method.I clean it every 2 weeks or so and havent needed to do that.

[fish]

The sensor brush is the only thing that touches my sensor.
Yeah its pricey,but it will last a long time.I been through swab method,bolwing etc.The brush WINS hands down.
If it gets junk on it that the brush wont pull off,then yeah a wet method.I clean it every 2 weeks or so and havent needed to do that.
ordered. :uhoh

[digismile]

I like the copperhill method for two reasons:

1) It has done a perfect job so far for me on the sensor cleaning part.
2) You can use the same pads & fluid on your lenses. I have been way happier with the Pekpads & Eclipse for cleaning my glass. Not sure what's different about the Pads (or the Eclipse for that matter), but cleaning has been noticably better than the standard stuff sold in my local photo stores.

I hadn't even heard about the Sensor Brush until I saw a local news report! It turns out I work just a few blocks away from them. It is a little pricey, but when you consider how much a lot of us have invested in our gear, I don't think it's a lot to pay ...

That being said, I already have a method that is working just fine, so no need to change.

My 2 cents.

Brad

[Andy]

ordered. :uhoh

you spend money like a sailor just in port after six months at sea :lol3


... said the pot to the kettle ....

[gus]

What do you lot recon your shirt is for ?

[John Mueller]

What do you lot recon your shirt is for ?

:rofl:rofl:rofl

[wxwax]

Has anyone tried the sensor brush?

I've read good things so far.

Some reading Material
Luminous Landscape Review (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/visible-dust.shtml)
Product Homepage (http://visibledust.com/index.htm)
Rob Galbraith Review (http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-6460-7296).

The price has kept me away so far.

Dave

Yup. Worked fine for me.

[fish]

... said the pot to the kettle ....
since you've been jomommatized, that would be "PKB".

[fish]

Yup. Worked fine for me.

you bought one? worked good, huh? there's just something that gives me shivers when i think about using liquid and swabs on a cmos sensor. of course, if it doesn't work, then I can blame you and the nikon deadbeat. :rofl

[fish]

What do you lot recon your shirt is for ?
keeping bbq sauce off my belly? :dunno

[wxwax]

you bought one? worked good, huh? there's just something that gives me shivers when i think about using liquid and swabs on a cmos sensor. of course, if it doesn't work, then I can blame you and the nikon deadbeat. :rofl
No, no, when I say dry brush, I actually mean dry brush. :evil

[Mitchell]

you bought one? worked good, huh? there's just something that gives me shivers when i think about using liquid and swabs on a cmos sensor. of course, if it doesn't work, then I can blame you and the nikon deadbeat. :rofl
It took a lot of nerve and a steady hand, but the Copperhill method worked for me. Blowers and brushes are probably not the way to go. Just get up your nerve and do it the right way.

mitch

[wxwax]

brushes are probably not the way to go.
Why? :ear

[ian408]

you bought one? worked good, huh? there's just something that gives me shivers when i think about using liquid and swabs on a cmos sensor. of course, if it doesn't work, then I can blame you and the nikon deadbeat. :rofl
You can mitigate the dust by turning the camera off before you swap
the lens. Something about ESD.

Ian

[wxwax]

You can mitigate the dust by turning the camera off before you swap
the lens. Something about ESD.

Ian
:nod I think it basically turns the sensor into a dust magnet.

[Andy]

It took a lot of nerve and a steady hand, but the Copperhill method worked for me. Blowers and brushes are probably not the way to go. Just get up your nerve and do it the right way.

mitch

is to use one of the methods. sensorbrush has a fine following... i've not tried it, only because i started with copperhill... i've heard good things about sensor brush though.

[lynnma]

is to use one of the methods. sensorbrush has a fine following... i've not tried it, only because i started with copperhill... i've heard good things about sensor brush though.Ever since I received my eclipse and enough swabs to last life time all my dust motts have dissapeared.. works great.. just leave it on the shelf and poof.. no more motts.. maybe it was the lenses.. which are now gone..:scratch

[DoctorIt]

:nod I think it basically turns the sensor into a dust magnet.indeed. and actually, in an ideal situation, you should give it a second to discharge after shutting it off. I know the Drebel actually shots off when you disconnect the lens, would imagine most dslr's do, but still, its a charged sensor, and those electrons do take a split second to all depart.

[marlinspike]

Something about the copperhill method. Be careful. I was a bit, er, heavy handed, and I managed to bend down the metal frame that's around the CMOS on my drebel on the left side. It didn't do anything to the pictures, but you know, still, it kinda sucks that it bent down.
Richard

[ian408]

Something else. While it's important to take great care when working
inside the camera you should also know that the CMOS sensor is not
totally unprotected it does have a thin glass layer over it. You do need
to be careful with the amount of fluid on the swab--don't get it all
over the inside of the camera--that will be bad.

When you're using the rocket to blow the dust out. Turn the camera
off. Raise the mirror (if needed) and face the camera down at >45
degree angle and blow--don't stick the tip of the rocket inside the
body.

So far, I haven't had to clean the sensor except using the rocket
blower.

Ian

[fish]

So far, I haven't had to clean the sensor except using the rocket
blower.

Ian

Same here, so far. Do me a favor, please? Go shoot the sky at your smallest aperture, process with autolevels and lets see the result. Don't blow off your sensor first. Just curious...

[gus]

So when i get a DSLR...

i will have to clean the thing inside...start using raw & look through the viewfinder instead of the LCD screen to shoot with :huh

This is getting deeper & deeper.

[wxwax]

So when i get a DSLR...

i will have to clean the thing inside...start using raw & look through the viewfinder instead of the LCD screen to shoot with :huh

This is getting deeper & deeper.
You may also have to use Photoshop or Elements or paintShopPro to get the best out of your shot.

Dunno what the 20D or D70 are like, but the 1D and mkII provide a rich basic material that still needs to be shaped into an excellent photo. Things like saturation, contrast, sharpening need to be done to make the shots sing.

[gus]

You may also have to use Photoshop or Elements or paintShopPro to get the best out of your shot.

Dunno what the 20D or D70 are like, but the 1D and mkII provide a rich basic material that still needs to be shaped into an excellent photo. Things like saturation, contrast, sharpening need to be done to make the shots sing.
OI....sid







over here mate....dont take anything i say too seriously

[wxwax]

OI....sid







over here mate....dont take anything i say too seriously
:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl










Like that?:evil

[Mitchell]

Why? :ear
From what I have read, the CCD still has an electrostatic charge even with the camera off. Brushes and blowers alone will generally just push the dust around and not really remove them. The eclipse solution and the pads can decrease the charge by wetting action and help to dislodge/remove the dust.

mitch

[ian408]

Same here, so far. Do me a favor, please? Go shoot the sky at your smallest aperture, process with autolevels and lets see the result. Don't blow off your sensor first. Just curious...
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/15390777-M.jpg

They are there. No bout-a-doubt it.

Ian

[pathfinder]

From what I have read, the CCD still has an electrostatic charge even with the camera off. Brushes and blowers alone will generally just push the dust around and not really remove them. The eclipse solution and the pads can decrease the charge by wetting action and help to dislodge/remove the dust.

mitch


Michael Reichman has reviewed using Eclipse Methyl Alcohol solution and Sensor Swabs and has a good description of the technique on the Luminous Lancscape. He lso recently reviewed the Visible Dust removal Brushes from Canada. http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/visible-dust.shtml

I have cleaned my sensors with Eclispe and Sensor Swabs several times without incident, but from what I am reading on the web the brushes from visibledust.com are more effective and certainly seem safer than scrubbing your antialiasing filter with a firm pressure on a Sensor Swab.
Reichman is very emphatic that the VisibleDust brush is his preferred method at this time. There have been extensive discussions of sensor cleaning in the forums on his website, much of it led by Didger who put a big scratch on the sensor in his 1D with a sensor swab and Eclipse. He was not a happy camper. Go to visibledust.com I own three of their brushes.
One yuo use the Visibledust brush it will be very rare that you will need to use Eclipse and Sensor Swabs unless you sneeze into you DSLR while cleaning the sensor :D

[marlinspike]

BTW, I mentioned I bent down the sidewall around my sensor with a swab. Looks like when I had the AF calibrated canon fixed that (though I know that didnt cause the miscalibration since the af was off before that). Now the mirror mechanism is broke of course, but that's another matter alltogether.
Richard

[fish]

From what I have read, the CCD still has an electrostatic charge even with the camera off. Brushes and blowers alone will generally just push the dust around and not really remove them. The eclipse solution and the pads can decrease the charge by wetting action and help to dislodge/remove the dust.

mitch
Theoretically, the Sensor Brush also neutralizes the charge to remove the dust.

And FWIW, CCD = A charge-coupled device (CCD), is an integrated circuit containing an array of linked, or coupled, capacitors. Under the control of an external circuit, each capacitor can transfer its electric charge to one or other of its neighbours. CCDs are used in digital photography and astronomy (particularly in photometry, optical and UV spectroscopy and high speed techniques such as Lucky imaging).

[fish]

They are there. No bout-a-doubt it.

Ian
thx for taking the time. oh, and :bad

[fish]

BTW, I mentioned I bent down the sidewall around my sensor with a swab. Looks like when I had the AF calibrated canon fixed that (though I know that didnt cause the miscalibration since the af was off before that). Now the mirror mechanism is broke of course, but that's another matter alltogether.
Richard
What a drag, Richard. Now's a good time to upgrade to a 20D. :D

[wxwax]

From what I have read, the CCD still has an electrostatic charge even with the camera off. Brushes and blowers alone will generally just push the dust around and not really remove them. The eclipse solution and the pads can decrease the charge by wetting action and help to dislodge/remove the dust.

mitch
According to the dry brush kids, the canned air you blow on the brush deals with that. Lots and lots of canned air. Seemed to work for me.

I'd hesitate to recommend against a method without having tried it myself.

[marlinspike]

What a drag, Richard. Now's a good time to upgrade to a 20D. :D
If I do upgrade (I should say when, since it's just a matter of my gathering together the money), it will be to a 1D. In the mean time, some super nice FM'er has offered to lend me his spare 10D while my rebel's being fixed so I don't miss the games I was going to shoot :D:lust:thumb:bow:super:smile6:clap
Richard

[pierce]

And FWIW, CCD = A charge-coupled device (CCD), is an integrated circuit containing an array of linked, or coupled, capacitors.
FWIW, the Canon DSLR's mostly use CMOS rather than CCD sensors. Now, CMOS sensors got a bad reputation because the worst of the cheapest tv cameras and webcams use CMOS sensors that aren't as good as CCD, however the high end sensors in the Canon 10D, 300D, and 20D are, as everyone should know by now, awesome.

[fish]

FWIW, the Canon DSLR's mostly use CMOS rather than CCD sensors.
I never said they did.

Nonetheless, they both gather and accumulate charges, therefore they are both susceptible to ESD and have similar dust attracting properties.

In a CCD device, the charge is actually transported across the chip and read at one corner of the array. An analog-to-digital converter turns each pixel's value into a digital value. In most CMOS devices, there are several transistors at each pixel that amplify and move the charge using more traditional wires. The CMOS approach is more flexible because each pixel can be read individually. (from how stuff works)



Hey pierce :wave

[Aaron Wilson]

How offten should the lense be cleaned? How does dust get inside? Does dust get in during lense changes or will dust get in even if you dont change a lense?

[Andy]

How offten should the lense be cleaned? How does dust get inside? Does dust get in during lense changes or will dust get in even if you dont change a lense?

after a day outside, changing lenses, i shoot the sky at f/22 before the light's gone. then i check in photoshop, do autolevels on that shot, you'll see if you need to do a cleaning :D keep in mind, that *alot* of stuff you'll see in that f/22 sky pic with autolevels will not show up in most pics.

the other indicator is if you see lots of spots in the skies of your landscape pics.

[wxwax]

How offten should the lense be cleaned? How does dust get inside? Does dust get in during lense changes or will dust get in even if you dont change a lense?
As Andy said, changing lenses. The site owner, Baldy, once wrote that when he got his D60 and 70-200 f2.8 IS, he was never going to take the lens of the camera, so as to keep the dust motes away. :lol3

[marlinspike]

Often, dust is on the sensor when you buy the camera too. I have dust on my sensor right now, but I don't care since I don't shoot f/22...heck, I don't shoot f/16. I'll clean it when it gets covered in dust (yes, this happens for me, I change lenses a lot).
Richard

[luckyrwe]

Remember to clean the inside of the rear lens cap, dusts gets there too, then goes from there to the lens and from the lens to the sensor. Sheesh, sounds like sensorily transmitted disease! :uhoh

[Aaron Wilson]

when are they going to invent a self cleaning camera? They do that with ovens but not at first!! lol

[marlinspike]

when are they going to invent a self cleaning camera? They do that with ovens but not at first!! lol
Already exist. Olympus E-1.
Richard

[wmsnyder]

[QUOTE=fish]I just turned the body upside down, gave it a big honkin' blowjob with the Giotto rocket, snapped a sky shot, and boom! All the spots are still there. :wxwax

Another suggestion that I have used successfully is a foot pump like you use to inflate a raft or air mattress.

[ian408]

FWIW, my experience is that using a blower just rearranges the dust. I've tried many times, including with the addition of a hand-held vacuum cleaner. I've since concluded that the sensor itself has to be wiped down. I've used the dry brush method once, and it seemed to work.
Not if you go to the gas station :D

Only kidding. But based on fishy's feed bag, I went ahead and ordered
one of the visible dust thingies. More when it arrives.

Ian

[wxwax]

[QUOTE=fish]I just turned the body upside down, gave it a big honkin' blowjob with the Giotto rocket, snapped a sky shot, and boom! All the spots are still there. :wxwax

Another suggestion that I have used successfully is a foot pump like you use to inflate a raft or air mattress.
Have you done a test shot afterwards? If you think about it, you're pumping in air that also has dust motes, and moving things around in there. But you're not actually removing anything. At least, that was my frustrating experience. That's why I bought the Sensor Brush stuff, which worked well.

[ian408]

Have you done a test shot afterwards? If you think about it, you're pumping in air that also has dust motes, and moving things around in there. But you're not actually removing anything. At least, that was my frustrating experience. That's why I bought the Sensor Brush stuff, which worked well.
There's a definte art to blowing dust off the sensor. Doesn't always work but I think done properly, it definetly gets rid of most of the visible mots.

Ian

[wmsnyder]

There's a definte art to blowing dust off the sensor. Doesn't always work but I think done properly, it definetly gets rid of most of the visible mots.

IanCheck out the following web site for info on cleaning your sensor.
http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/

[wxwax]

Check out the following web site for info on cleaning your sensor.
http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/
Yup, that's the 'wet' method. I'm happy with the dry, so far anyway.

[fish]

Yup, that's the 'wet' method. I'm happy with the dry, so far anyway.

Glad to hear that, since I've got a $90 brush on its way to me :wxwax


Waxy, can you show us yer dust? Obviously it's dark outside, but you should be able to get the same effect by shooting something of consistent light color, like a wall at f22, then autolevels, and let's see it (just out of curiosity, of course...and no cheating with the clone brush :lynn)

[wxwax]

Glad to hear that, since I've got a $90 brush on its way to me :wxwax


Waxy, can you show us yer dust? Obviously it's dark outside, but you should be able to get the same effect by shooting something of consistent light color, like a wall at f22, then autolevels, and let's see it (just out of curiosity, of course...and no cheating with the clone brush :lynn)

2 things. One, I'm at work and will be for another two hours. Long day. 2/ It's been over a month since I cleaned the sensor, so whatever shot I made wouldn't be a fair representation of the cleaning. I'd have to clean it first, then show you.

[wxwax]

I got the standard brush kit. I think I'll buy the larger brush. It's closer to the size of my sensor, and will make cleaning a snap - fewer swipes.

[ian408]

Glad to hear that, since I've got a $90 brush on its way to me :wxwax


Waxy, can you show us yer dust? Obviously it's dark outside, but you should be able to get the same effect by shooting something of consistent light color, like a wall at f22, then autolevels, and let's see it (just out of curiosity, of course...and no cheating with the clone brush :lynn)
Waxy, make him show his first :D

ian

[fish]

2 things. One, I'm at work and will be for another two hours. Long day. 2/ It's been over a month since I cleaned the sensor, so whatever shot I made wouldn't be a fair representation of the cleaning. I'd have to clean it first, then show you.
And obviously working hard too! :lol3 I know, a sherpa's work is never done.

How about shooting a before and after? That should really show how effective the sensor brush is, right? :ear

[fish]

Waxy, make him show his first :D

ian

I already showed mine earlier in the thread, you troublemaker. :lynn

[wxwax]

And obviously working hard too! :lol3 I know, a sherpa's work is never done.

How about shooting a before and after? That should really show how effective the sensor brush is, right? :ear
We'll see.

I'm wasting time waiting for my talent to get done with his show, so we can finish recording a track for a doc. A complete waste of two hours when I could be at home doing the same thing. :lol3 Bummer is, I oughter be in bed by 11pm for tomorrow morning's workout. Be lucky to be home by midnight.

[ian408]

I already showed mine earlier in the thread, you troublemaker. :lynn
That was so two days ago...:rofl

[luckyrwe]

That was so two days ago...:rofl
Yea, technology changes!!!

[fish]

So my cute, but expensive, Sensor Brushes showed up yesterday. There are two brushes...a thick "sensor brush" and a thin "SBF fan brush." The website does not seem to indicate which brush should be used for what. The qtime movies show both brushes being used on sensors.

I just sent off a WTF email to visibledust. Those of you well-versed in SensorBrush technology care to give this n00b a clue?

tia

[fish]

So my cute, but expensive, Sensor Brushes showed up yesterday. There are two brushes...a thick "sensor brush" and a thin "SBF fan brush." The website does not seem to indicate which brush should be used for what. The qtime movies show both brushes being used on sensors.

I just sent off a WTF email to visibledust. Those of you well-versed in SensorBrush technology care to give this n00b a clue?

tia
Just got the following info from visibledust.com:

The fan shape is used where
A) there is only one or two spots on the sensor, kind of touch up brush
B) when you are out of canned air or can not take canned air, so you recharge it with bulb blower
C) to clean the mirror and focusing optics in order for the sensor to stay clean longer due to less filaments and thinner handle fan shape sensor brush is ideal.
If you have anymore questions please let me know.
Thanks
Lisa


I've got to run off to a meeting, but I'll try it this afternoon and post the results.

[ian408]

Just got the following info from visibledust.com:
The fan shape is used where
A) there is only one or two spots on the sensor, kind of touch up brush
B) when you are out of canned air or can not take canned air, so you recharge it with bulb blower
C) to clean the mirror and focusing optics in order for the sensor to stay clean longer due to less filaments and thinner handle fan shape sensor brush is ideal.
If you have anymore questions please let me know.
Thanks
Lisa


I've got to run off to a meeting, but I'll try it this afternoon and post the results.
On your way home, don't forget the canned air.

Mine came yesterday as well. You'd think they'd enclose some directions
with the brush set. But you need to visit the site and grab the pdf file.

What's not so obvious is that you need to have canned air and you use it
for each swath of the sensor: 1) Spray the brush. Step 2) brush the sensor.
Step 3) repeat as required to clean the sensor.

I need to go to Fry's for something else so I guess I'll get the canned air
at the same time.

Ian

[fish]

On your way home, don't forget the canned air.

Mine came yesterday as well. You'd think they'd enclose some directions
with the brush set. But you need to visit the site and grab the pdf file.

What's not so obvious is that you need to have canned air and you use it
for each swath of the sensor: 1) Spray the brush. Step 2) brush the sensor.
Step 3) repeat as required to clean the sensor.

I need to go to Fry's for something else so I guess I'll get the canned air
at the same time.

Ian

I've got several cans. Want one? :)

I haven't had a chance to work on it yet...I'll try tonight if the kids stop bugging me about making them some shells and cheese. :rolleyes

[ian408]

I've got several cans. Want one? :)

I haven't had a chance to work on it yet...I'll try tonight if the kids stop bugging me about making them some shells and cheese. :rolleyes
I'm good. Got a couple at Fry's :huh

Ian

[wxwax]

On your way home, don't forget the canned air.

Mine came yesterday as well. You'd think they'd enclose some directions
with the brush set. But you need to visit the site and grab the pdf file.

What's not so obvious is that you need to have canned air and you use it
for each swath of the sensor: 1) Spray the brush. Step 2) brush the sensor.
Step 3) repeat as required to clean the sensor.

I need to go to Fry's for something else so I guess I'll get the canned air
at the same time.

Ian
The first and only time I did it, I used an entire can of air! I ordered too-small brushes, had to make many swipes. And I was paranoid, so I blasted the heck out of the brush with the canned air. I ordered a larger brush lat week, should be able to clean the sensor in one or two passes. That would be dandy and quick.

[fish]

Here's the before shot:

http://coyfish.smugmug.com/photos/15332026-L.jpg


after:

http://coyfish.smugmug.com/photos/15994546-L.jpg


:bash

I just tried it again with similar results. Did I just flush $90? :bluduh

[philspace]

Thank ewe. I'm now much more comfortable with my decision to go the other way. My kit from Copper Hill showed up last week.

[John Mueller]

Fish,how many passes did you do? If this is the 1st time you have cleaned the sensor,it may take several tries.Also if its not doing the job,you may have to do the wet method.Then use the brush on a regular schedule.
I had a set of brushes before I got my new cam and used them 2 weeks after use.
I have 3 specks that they wont pick up and do not see them until I use auto level @ f22
I dont use auto levels on my images @ f22 so I live with the 3 spots.
BTW,I do see improvement on the images.

[wxwax]

Fish,how many passes did you do? If this is the 1st time you have cleaned the sensor,it may take several tries.Also if its not doing the job,you may have to do the wet method.Then use the brush on a regular schedule.
I had a set of brushes before I got my new cam and used them 2 weeks after use.
I have 3 specks that they wont pick up and do not see them until I use auto level @ f22
I dont use auto levels on my images @ f22 so I live with the 3 spots.
BTW,I do see improvement on the images.

That sounds reasonable. The first cleaning could be the most challenging, if there are imbedded motes. Once past that problem, regular cleaning with a brush might be the simplest solution. I didn't save my last before/after images. I will this time. Should be interesting.

[fish]

Fish,how many passes did you do?
Lots.

If this is the 1st time you have cleaned the sensor,it may take several tries.Also if its not doing the job,you may have to do the wet method.Then use the brush on a regular schedule.
That's what I was thinking...dang, I shouldn't have sneezed into the camera. :thwak

I sent an email off to Lisa, the friendly tech support person at visibledust.com and here's her response:

HI David

The images look like you have liquid spots on your sensor that the brushes canot remove by themselves. You will need to do a wet cleaning so I would recommend that you order the Sensor Clean and Chamber Clean. Here are the links for you to take a look at as to what they can do.
http://www.visibledust.com/sensorclean.htm
http://www.visibledust.com/chamberclean.htm

If you have any more questions please let me know.

Thanks
Lisa


Well, I don't have the patience to wait another week for their wet stuff to show up, so I bought a box of Sensor Swabs and Eclipse fluid at K&S (along with a Domke bag...geez...I just can't stop!). Here's the sensor after going through three swabs. Pretty damn good at this point, and I think I'll just live with this. I'll use the brush regularly (boy, it sure works great on the mirror), and do the wet thing once in awhile. I'm satisfied at this point.

http://coyfish.smugmug.com/photos/16008522-L.jpg

[fish]

Just to prevent the n00bies from getting their knickers in a twist over this, here's the after shot prior to autolevels (remember...this is at f22):

http://coyfish.smugmug.com/photos/16009191-L.jpg

[John Mueller]

Great.:thumb I have their swabs and sensor clean also and I wouldnt recommend that.Swab with eclipse is the best.

[fish]

Great.:thumb I have their swabs and sensor clean also and I wouldnt recommend that.Swab with eclipse is the best.
Thanks MHJS. I guess it's just an unavoidable consequence of swapping lenses, and I didn't buy a dSLR to just leave one lens on it.

[philspace]

Home with a bum tendon so I figured I would take the time to clean the 20D up a little. This is what it looked like after I tried just blowing it off with a rocket bulb.

http://philspace.smugmug.com/photos/16045721-L.jpg

Did realize how funky it was. It took a while to get used to the sensorswipe, but it worked out OK - still getting used to the swipe and the white knuckled experience of messing around with the sensor, but after the first try, not bad.

http://philspace.smugmug.com/photos/16045718-L.jpg

There is only one little spot that I can still detect, but for now, this is as good as it gets - heck, I've been shooting with it dirty all along and didn't even realize it until I stopped it down and took a test shot.

[wxwax]

Phil, sorry to see you damaged your sensor on the first cleaning.

http://philspace.smugmug.com/photos/16045718-S.jpg





























:bad

[philspace]

Phil, sorry to see you damaged your sensor on the first cleaning.




:bad Cute, my heart started beating hard when I got the email notification..... I would have expected that from the finned one, but not you - good one :thumb

[fish]

Cute, my heart started beating hard when I got the email notification..... I would have expected that from the finned one, but not you - good one :thumb
Don't get too happy, phil. Open your original sky shot (assuming you shot it at minimum aperture) in photoshop and do an autolevels adjustment on it. I think you'll find dark spots all over it. Go check and post the results. :):

[wxwax]

Cute, my heart started beating hard when I got the email notification..... I would have expected that from the finned one, but not you - good one :thumb
:rofl :rofl :rofl

[John Mueller]

Good one Sid :rofl:rofl

I stay away from the blower! In the past, it has put dust on the view screen and that is not so easy to remove.

[philspace]

Good one Sid :rofl:rofl

I stay away from the blower! In the past, it has put dust on the view screen and that is not so easy to remove.
I also found that out the hard way - last time I ever listen to anyone at Penn Camera :bluduh

And yes, ain't that Sid is an evil bastige :smooch

[fish]

And yes, ain't that Sid is an evil bastige :smooch

Yes, he is. So ya got that auto-level shot ready to post yet? :ear

[ChrisJ]

I found this thread very enlightening. It was a complication with my new dSLR that I did not expect. Film constantly cycles, the sensor obviously does not!

I purchased the Visibledust Econo Kit and some canned air and followed the easy instructions from the web site. I checked every 2 swipes and there was definite improvement each time. It took about 6 swipes total for me to be satisfied. But the gunk that was on the camera from picture #1 (and all the rest) is now gone! :clap

Chris

[Andy]

petteri sulonen's site (http://194.100.88.243/petteri/pont/How_to/a_Brush_Your_Sensor/a_Brush_Your_Sensor.html)

[wxwax]

petteri sulonen's site (http://194.100.88.243/petteri/pont/How_to/a_Brush_Your_Sensor/a_Brush_Your_Sensor.html)
Terriific link. What does he mean about a store "sizing" an artist's brush? :scratch

[philspace]

petteri sulonen's site (http://194.100.88.243/petteri/pont/How_to/a_Brush_Your_Sensor/a_Brush_Your_Sensor.html)
That was cool, great web site. After doing the Copper Hill thing, I really think a brush will get most of the standard stuff. I balked at paying $100 for a set of brushes, but the Cotman 777 I can get locally for $11 and for the extra money saved I am more than happy to wash the brush a couple times to get the coating off :thumb

I was out in sub zero weather shooting landscapes and I noticed a spot that wouldn't budge, probably from condensation. The wet method was still the only way it would go away.

[clicket]

Has anyone tried the sensor brush?

I've read good things so far.

...
The price has kept me away so far.

Dave
I have, and found it most effective. Expensive ? Utterly, but I now offer my friends to clean their sensors. Friendship has no price... :wink