inTempus
TPF Noob!
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2008
- Messages
- 3,692
- Reaction score
- 4
- Location
- Indiana
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
I've struggled with sensor cleaning for some time. I prefer to do it myself vs. sending my camera to someone else to do it. It's really not technically difficult and you really run very little risk of damaging your sensor if you can follow very simple instructions.
The problem, I've found, it actually getting all of the dust off the sensor! I use the Sensor Swabs from Photographic Solutions (the PEC*PAD people) usually. These swabs cost $4 each and you can only use them once. But I've found that it takes several tries to get all of the dust off of your sensor. It's a time consuming task of swabbing, going outside and shooting the sky, loading the images into Lighroom and looking for dust, swabbing again, shooting against, you get the idea.
There had to be an easier way.
I found the Delkin Sensor Scope online though Google. I thought it might be a bit hokey but I found several reviews that gave it favorable marks. So I ask for it for Christmas.
Today I talked the wife into opening one present each... I'm good at that. The package I got to open was this new tool.
I grabbed the 5D because I knew from a photoshoot last week that it had some pesky dust on the sensor (despite being cleaned just before the shoot). I dropped the Sensor Scope on the camera body and was I ever amazed. I could see the dust speck!!!
The kit comes with a bunch of sealed sensor swabs and cleaning solution. I opened one, hit the sensor, took a peek, saw the dust was still there, hit it again and poof it was gone. Wow. Was that simple!
The device comes with the sensor scope, cleaning solution, swabs and this little vacuum. I tried the vacuum on the dust spot first and honestly, it's useless. Neat idea, but it not only didn't get the original dust spot but after using it I found that two new dust spots were present.
I don't mind, I didn't want the kit for the vacuum anyway. The scope is made of plastic and isn't what I would call super high quality. It's of good quality and the view it gives you of the sensor is amazing. Sharp, clear and in focus. It has a built in LED light system that perfectly illuminates the sensor. It's calibrated to be in focus on Canon and Nikon bodies. On other bodies it may not be perfectly in focus, but you can lift it ever so slightly and bring the sensor into focus pretty easily.
Here's a quick shot I took of the device after I opened it.
Here's a shot of what you see through the scope. This isn't my sensor, this is the simulated sensor that's on the packaging (box) that the device comes it. It's the same size and a real sensor so it worked well for this demonstration.
Sorry for the crumby pictures, but I didn't have time to take studio shots tonight.
I would say that for the $80 the system costs at Amazon.com it seems to be worth it. I can't tell you how valuable it is to actually see your sensor when you're cleaning it.
The problem, I've found, it actually getting all of the dust off the sensor! I use the Sensor Swabs from Photographic Solutions (the PEC*PAD people) usually. These swabs cost $4 each and you can only use them once. But I've found that it takes several tries to get all of the dust off of your sensor. It's a time consuming task of swabbing, going outside and shooting the sky, loading the images into Lighroom and looking for dust, swabbing again, shooting against, you get the idea.
There had to be an easier way.
I found the Delkin Sensor Scope online though Google. I thought it might be a bit hokey but I found several reviews that gave it favorable marks. So I ask for it for Christmas.
Today I talked the wife into opening one present each... I'm good at that. The package I got to open was this new tool.
I grabbed the 5D because I knew from a photoshoot last week that it had some pesky dust on the sensor (despite being cleaned just before the shoot). I dropped the Sensor Scope on the camera body and was I ever amazed. I could see the dust speck!!!
The kit comes with a bunch of sealed sensor swabs and cleaning solution. I opened one, hit the sensor, took a peek, saw the dust was still there, hit it again and poof it was gone. Wow. Was that simple!
The device comes with the sensor scope, cleaning solution, swabs and this little vacuum. I tried the vacuum on the dust spot first and honestly, it's useless. Neat idea, but it not only didn't get the original dust spot but after using it I found that two new dust spots were present.
I don't mind, I didn't want the kit for the vacuum anyway. The scope is made of plastic and isn't what I would call super high quality. It's of good quality and the view it gives you of the sensor is amazing. Sharp, clear and in focus. It has a built in LED light system that perfectly illuminates the sensor. It's calibrated to be in focus on Canon and Nikon bodies. On other bodies it may not be perfectly in focus, but you can lift it ever so slightly and bring the sensor into focus pretty easily.
Here's a quick shot I took of the device after I opened it.
Here's a shot of what you see through the scope. This isn't my sensor, this is the simulated sensor that's on the packaging (box) that the device comes it. It's the same size and a real sensor so it worked well for this demonstration.
Sorry for the crumby pictures, but I didn't have time to take studio shots tonight.
I would say that for the $80 the system costs at Amazon.com it seems to be worth it. I can't tell you how valuable it is to actually see your sensor when you're cleaning it.
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