Did you know that registration to Fighter Control is completely free and brings you lots of added features? Find out more....
Sensor cleaning
Sensor cleaning
Hi Folks,
Any advise on cleaning sensors, I have two Canon 5d 11's and I think they could do with a spring clean, DIY or camera shop?
Thanks in advance.
Cheers
Pune
Any advise on cleaning sensors, I have two Canon 5d 11's and I think they could do with a spring clean, DIY or camera shop?
Thanks in advance.
Cheers
Pune
If you can keep your head whilst all around are losing theirs, you have probably completely misread the situation!!
-
- Posts: 883
- Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:22 pm
Re: Sensor cleaning
Not recommended for those blessed with fat fongers. How are are the spots on your pictures?.
- Black Mike
- Posts: 263
- Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2010 9:51 pm
- Location: LFA17
Re: Sensor cleaning
I've been cleaning my own sensors for 10 years. Scary the first few times you do it but quite easy once you get the hang of it. Just watch the many videos on YouTube.
Re: Sensor cleaning
I noticed quite a few small spots on one camera recently, usually when cropping, the other one has a few big spots..Dave Smith wrote: ↑Sun Mar 13, 2022 2:43 pmNot recommended for those blessed with fat fongers. How are are the spots on your pictures?.
If you can keep your head whilst all around are losing theirs, you have probably completely misread the situation!!
Re: Sensor cleaning
Thanks Mike, what is your chosen method?Black Mike wrote: ↑Sun Mar 13, 2022 5:47 pmI've been cleaning my own sensors for 10 years. Scary the first few times you do it but quite easy once you get the hang of it. Just watch the many videos on YouTube.
If you can keep your head whilst all around are losing theirs, you have probably completely misread the situation!!
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 48920
- Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:11 am
- Location: Norfolk - Mundford - YG-BSM
Re: Sensor cleaning
I have dust spots
Just purchased
Camera APS-C Sensor Cleaning Kit - 6 to 12 cleanings - 12x 12mm Swab - Dust-free & vacuum-packed - 15ml- Liquid cleaner
On Amazon for £16.90 arrives tomorrow
Watched the YouTube tuition and it looks a doddle - what can go wrong?
Just purchased
Camera APS-C Sensor Cleaning Kit - 6 to 12 cleanings - 12x 12mm Swab - Dust-free & vacuum-packed - 15ml- Liquid cleaner
On Amazon for £16.90 arrives tomorrow
Watched the YouTube tuition and it looks a doddle - what can go wrong?
- andygolfer
- Posts: 577
- Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2010 8:56 pm
- Location: Rayne, Essex - 12 miles east of Stansted
Re: Sensor cleaning
rust spots!! I hope you meant dustslogen51 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 14, 2022 5:24 pmI have rust spots
Just purchased
Camera APS-C Sensor Cleaning Kit - 6 to 12 cleanings - 12x 12mm Swab - Dust-free & vacuum-packed - 15ml- Liquid cleaner
On Amazon for £16.90 arrives tomorrow
Watched the YouTube tuition and it looks a doddle - what can go wrong?
I'm taking my 80D into a camera shop tomorrow to get the sensor cleaned as I have some dust spots that won't shift with the auto sensor clean. I have tried the kits in the past but somehow once put a scratch on the sensor which cost around £180 to replace so have steered clear of doing it myself since. It will cost me £30 so almost double the kit cost but it's a case of once bitten twice shy.
Having said that I know a lot of people who do clean the sensors themselves without issues so maybe I was just very unlucky (I had done it several times without issues).
Andy
admin on the sister forum, http://www.civilianaviation.co.uk
but being old and grey I like a bit of the military stuff too !
co-owner of UK Light Aviation Enthusiasts google group and Stansted Aviation Enthusiasts google group:
but being old and grey I like a bit of the military stuff too !
co-owner of UK Light Aviation Enthusiasts google group and Stansted Aviation Enthusiasts google group:
Re: Sensor cleaning
Thanks guys, much food for thought, I must dig deeper I think
If you can keep your head whilst all around are losing theirs, you have probably completely misread the situation!!
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 48920
- Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:11 am
- Location: Norfolk - Mundford - YG-BSM
Re: Sensor cleaning
Rust !! Edited
I probably should take the camera to get it professionally cleaned but if it is a general purpose shop assistant doing the job then are they any more qualified than you having watched YouTube? I suppose the shop would be insured / responsible for any scratches?
You do have to use an airblower before touching the sensor
I probably should take the camera to get it professionally cleaned but if it is a general purpose shop assistant doing the job then are they any more qualified than you having watched YouTube? I suppose the shop would be insured / responsible for any scratches?
You do have to use an airblower before touching the sensor
Re: Sensor cleaning
Thanks Slogen51, all info' very much appreciatedslogen51 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 14, 2022 10:22 pmRust !! Edited
I probably should take the camera to get it professionally cleaned but if it is a general purpose shop assistant doing the job then are they any more qualified than you having watched YouTube? I suppose the shop would be insured / responsible for any scratches?
You do have to use an airblower before touching the sensor
If you can keep your head whilst all around are losing theirs, you have probably completely misread the situation!!
Re: Sensor cleaning
FYI
I have used swabs that are the width of the sensor so that there isn’t a “join” mark to consider.
“Rust” spots seem to be inevitable given the rust present in most homes.
I have used swabs that are the width of the sensor so that there isn’t a “join” mark to consider.
“Rust” spots seem to be inevitable given the rust present in most homes.
C24.
493d/48th - Grim Reapers Supporter.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/charlie-two-four/ FuzzyFastjetFotos, incorporating "HazyHelos"
There's no "go-round" in a glider.
493d/48th - Grim Reapers Supporter.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/charlie-two-four/ FuzzyFastjetFotos, incorporating "HazyHelos"
There's no "go-round" in a glider.
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 48920
- Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:11 am
- Location: Norfolk - Mundford - YG-BSM
Re: Sensor cleaning
You can buy swabs specifically for the sensor size
Re: Sensor cleaning
Thanks guys
If you can keep your head whilst all around are losing theirs, you have probably completely misread the situation!!
Re: Sensor cleaning
Try the swabs if you feel confident, plenty on youtube to watch. Done mine for around 20 years with no hicups, have seen many send off the camera only to get it back with dust spots still and some cases worse then when it went in. Spots tend to appear when your appeture goes over F12 plus. The higher the more it shows. If your into shooting manuel f8 sweet spot person you do not tend to get the dust spots so much showing. Try taking a blue sky set at f22 and then same shot on f8. You will see any dust at f22. Maybe not on f8.
Re: Sensor cleaning
Camera shops are as rare as rocking horse poo in my area so I had to send a camera away for a sensor clean. Full-frame clean plus insured postage both ways left me with little change out of £90, plus I was without the camera for around 10 days. Will definitely go down the DIY route next time!
Re: Sensor cleaning
Thanks Richard, that is really helpfulRichard B wrote: ↑Tue Mar 15, 2022 10:22 amTry the swabs if you feel confident, plenty on youtube to watch. Done mine for around 20 years with no hicups, have seen many send off the camera only to get it back with dust spots still and some cases worse then when it went in. Spots tend to appear when your appeture goes over F12 plus. The higher the more it shows. If your into shooting manuel f8 sweet spot person you do not tend to get the dust spots so much showing. Try taking a blue sky set at f22 and then same shot on f8. You will see any dust at f22. Maybe not on f8.
If you can keep your head whilst all around are losing theirs, you have probably completely misread the situation!!
Re: Sensor cleaning
Same here, I'm drifting towards DIY, but previous info' very interesting..daggerfan wrote: ↑Tue Mar 15, 2022 10:40 amCamera shops are as rare as rocking horse poo in my area so I had to send a camera away for a sensor clean. Full-frame clean plus insured postage both ways left me with little change out of £90, plus I was without the camera for around 10 days. Will definitely go down the DIY route next time!
Thanks for response
If you can keep your head whilst all around are losing theirs, you have probably completely misread the situation!!
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 48920
- Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:11 am
- Location: Norfolk - Mundford - YG-BSM
Re: Sensor cleaning
DIY sensor cleaning complete
Pretty simple really - purchased the CMOS sensor kit £16 on Amazon - comes with about 12 swabs and I used 4 swabs.
Watched a YouTube for cleaning the D7200
A) take a picture of something white at f/16 and see the dust spots ( I took a picture of the freezer door - **** loads of dust spots!l
B) lock mirror up - menu option ( full battery required for the menu item to be active)
C) use a blower ( not your mouth) to get rid of any loose dust
D) following the instructions - use one swab ( one sweep each way turning the swap over at the end of the first pass) to sweep over the top and bottom of the sensor - discard the swab
E) release mirror - photograph the fridge door again - if happy and no spots go to the end
F) spots still visible then put two drops of the sensor cleaning fluid on a FRESH swab and repeat D and E
G) repeat D with a FRESH dry swab to remove any excess liquid - there won't be any but this step is in the instructions
H) switch off camera to release the mirror
END
Pretty simple really - purchased the CMOS sensor kit £16 on Amazon - comes with about 12 swabs and I used 4 swabs.
Watched a YouTube for cleaning the D7200
A) take a picture of something white at f/16 and see the dust spots ( I took a picture of the freezer door - **** loads of dust spots!l
B) lock mirror up - menu option ( full battery required for the menu item to be active)
C) use a blower ( not your mouth) to get rid of any loose dust
D) following the instructions - use one swab ( one sweep each way turning the swap over at the end of the first pass) to sweep over the top and bottom of the sensor - discard the swab
E) release mirror - photograph the fridge door again - if happy and no spots go to the end
F) spots still visible then put two drops of the sensor cleaning fluid on a FRESH swab and repeat D and E
G) repeat D with a FRESH dry swab to remove any excess liquid - there won't be any but this step is in the instructions
H) switch off camera to release the mirror
END
- jasonT1981
- Posts: 767
- Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2017 6:40 pm
- Location: Northern Ireland
- Contact:
Re: Sensor cleaning
I left my D2000 into Jessops last week for a sensor cleaning, was ready in an hour and cost £40. Had to travel over an hour to get to the shop, it was the closest place to me.
Bit too nervous to try my own clean as hands are not that steady.
Bit too nervous to try my own clean as hands are not that steady.
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 48920
- Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:11 am
- Location: Norfolk - Mundford - YG-BSM
Re: Sensor cleaning
I took a few pictures in the garden but a morning at an airfield will be a proper test
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 19 guests