DSLR sensor cleaning, which method?

Vtec44 · Jul 16, 2011

It looks like it's time for me to clean my 3 months old D7000, I have a small dirty spot that's visible starting at 35mm. I've used sensor swaps on my old Fujifilm before but a bit nervous doing it with the D7000. How many on here have cleaned the sensor yourself and which method did you use?

Thanks!

tirediron · Jul 16, 2011

Sensor-cleaning. It's easy to do, just be careful!

DON'T be scared of cleaning your camera! All you need are the right tools. I'll repost this just for info:

Contrary to popular belief, cleaning your own sensor is easy, and difficult to screw up. You should have a few tools though. My preference is for the Visible Dust line of products, in particular the Arctic Butterfly; it's a little pricey, but worth it.

Get a Giottos rocket, DO NOT use one of those cheap blower bulbs with a built in brush. They're dust/lint traps. Remove the lens, and holding hte camera at a 45 angle with the lens opening pointing down, thoroughly blow out the mirror chamber. Now, lock up the mirror and clean off the sensor. Once you've blown off the "big chunks" use the Arctic Butterfly to clean off the small stuff following the instructions provided.

If that doesn't work, then you'll need to go to a wet cleaning system, which is a still easy to do. In ten years of digital photography, I've never had to use a wet cleaning system on any sensor.

Remember that you're not actually cleaning the sensor, you're cleaning the low-pass filter in front of the sensor which is usually made of mineral glass or other very tough material. It's actually quite difficult to scratch or damage. It is easy to get streaky if you **** up with a wet-cleaning system, but that's not permanent.

Robin Usagani · Jul 16, 2011

More than likely you don't need wet cleaning. Just use a big air blaster thing and blow on the sensor.

Malone · Jul 17, 2011

On this topic, is the in-camera sensor cleaning actually helpful? Do you guys use this at all?

Compaq · Jul 17, 2011

Digitalrev has s highly scientific video om this matter

Compaq · Jul 17, 2011

Can you somehow blow the sensor out of position with these blowers?

Compaq · Jul 17, 2011

Compaq said:
Can you somehow blow the sensor out of position with these blowers?

edit: sorry for posting double. Oh, iPhone posting is messed up

KmH · Jul 17, 2011

Vtec44 said:
It looks like it's time for me to clean my 3 months old D7000, I have a small dirty spot that's visible starting at 35mm.

?????Visible where?????????

Lens aperture is what makes sensor dust show up in images, not lens focal length. The smaller the aperture used, the more likely sensor dust will be visible in images.

What you are seeing may not be sensor dust.

If you can see it in the viewfinder, it is not on the image sensor, but is on the focus screen, mirror, or lens.

Vtec44 · Jul 17, 2011

Using my 50mm f1.8 lens, I don't see the spot.

Using my 35-70mm at 35mm f2.8, I'm starting to see the blur.

Using my 10-24mm at 10mm f3.6, the spot is sharp and visible right at the top center on all of my images. Obviously I don't care if it in my view finder. lol

joealcantar · Jul 17, 2011

Vtec44 said:
Using my 50mm f1.8 lens, I don't see the spot.

Using my 35-70mm at 35mm f2.8, I'm starting to see the blur.

Using my 10-24mm at 10mm f3.6, the spot is sharp and visible right at the top center on all of my images. Obviously I don't care if it in my view finder. lol

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Normally when I'm looking for spots I go outside and shoot a full frame of blue sky and view the image on computer to see if I spot any dust etc. I try the self cleaning a couple of times and if it takes care of it fine. If not I get that Rocket Blaster (the large one) and lock up mirror then blow off the sensor. At times you can't move the dust over and you can pick it up with SensorVu Cleaner something like this if needed. The first time you can go into your local camera shop and ask if they will show you how to clean it, that way you have the confidence the next time. Buy the stuff from them and it works for both of you, you have to give local business some business.
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‪SensorSweep Cleaning Nikon D7000‬&rlm; - YouTube
Does a little bit too much wiping with the wand for my taste , I normally clean gently accross the sensor a couple of times and that is it. But like most of the folks have said the Rocket Blaster is all you need for the most part and should be part of your gear in the camera bag.
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Good luck and shoot well, Joe

Derrel · Jul 17, 2011

Have you ever heard of the Scotch Tape Method? And yes, I am totally serious. It was being used by numerous Fuji S2 shooters several years ago, using Scotch 511 magic tape formed in to a loop, and simply pressed down on the anti-aliasing filter that covers the sensor front, and then lifting the tape off, pulling with it all the gunk that is so,so,so resistant to blowers. Some interent research on "the Scotch Tape Method" over at dPreview's Fuji SLR/X100 Forum will reveal complete directions for how to do it.

(I myself use an air blower, a small electronic vacccuum unit, and Sensor Swabs or Pec Pads and Eclipse fluid and a special illuminating eyepiece/magnifier kit to do traditional wet cleaning, but that's an expensive route on a per-cleaning basis.

Robin Usagani · Jul 17, 2011

shooting a long shutter to a white wall usually does the trick to see if it is dirty or not.

Vtec44 · Jul 17, 2011

joealcantar said:
‪SensorSweep Cleaning Nikon D7000‬&rlm; - YouTube
Does a little bit too much wiping with the wand for my taste , I normally clean gently accross the sensor a couple of times and that is it. But like most of the folks have said the Rocket Blaster is all you need for the most part and should be part of your gear in the camera bag.

That's a bit too much cleaning for my taste... lol

I used the little blower with a soft brush to gently blow some air and wipe the low pass filter. It looks like the dirty spot is gone.

Thanks guys.

Tony S · Jul 17, 2011

Top rack of the dishwasher, pot scrubber mode.. :drool:

Rocket blaster of air is first try, then another blast or three if it hasn't worked. If that doesn't work, usually it does after several attempts, then it's on to using Sensor Wands with the Sensor Solution from Delkin. If I had one, I would use an Arctic Butterfly, but if it's an oily spot you are only going to spread it around more, that's where a loupe or the Sensor Scope comes in handy as then you can see what's really on the sensor.

If it's just one spot of dust I don't worry about it since they are usually only visible in a solid color area of an image and easy to remove PP.