How do you clean you sensor?

[scotty7]

What is the easiest and safeest way to clean your image sensor?

[bolantej]

a blower bulb. do not use compressed air. do a search for the copperhill method for a kit with swabs designed for this sort of thing. it's really easy.

[Livinthalife]

bulb blower
heres the link http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=259157&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

I use a different brand but it works. its easy and simple.

[shutterghost]

yup, rocket air blowers are super popular around here and seem to work well. One problem I read about earlier is that it may just end up blowing dust around, but then I was thinking just have a handy light weight vacuum nearby to create a draft.

Anyhow, if that's not enough, this is an easy and affordable method of cleaning the sensor (which is also very popular): http://www.copperhillimages.com/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=3

[polvoronn]

blower is easiest, and cheapest method for getting and vagrant bits of dirt out. I've heard a lot of good things about the "copperhill method". A search should yield some results

[rklepper]

I use the rocket air blower and then proceed to the Copperhill method for stubborn things.

[ddelallata]

Rocket Blower and CopperHill Method seems to work just fine for me.

[Tsmith]

I use the rocket air blower and then proceed to the Copperhill method for stubborn things.

ditto

[wanderer]

Static brush. - quick, easy, safe, much more effective than blowing.
Buy a cheap nylon brush. Clean it well with detergent and water. Let dry and charge with compressed air. Lightly pass over the sensor and repeat several times with recharging between passes.
http://www.prime-junta.net/pont/How_to/a_Brush_Your_Sensor/a_Brush_Your_Sensor.html

or - you could buy the Arctic Butterfly - http://www.visibledust.com/products.php?PID=201 . It works and is handy for travel

[peterdoomen]

Copperhill works for me.

P.

[stevieboy378]

Rocket Blower. If that don't shift it then its time for the Eclipse fluid & Pec pads . . .

[volleybrad]

Try a blower first. Test again. If there is still dust, then you may want to resort to copperhill or a kit from visibledust.com (http://www.visibledust.com/products.php).
There was just a smArticle on Shootsmarter.com where they praised the visibledust.com kit.

[Seefutlung]

Remember over the sensor is a glass filter ... it is the filter that you are cleaning (that info tends to make people less squeamish on the first time).

[pturton]

Anybody tried this? http://www.birdsasart.com/lenspens.htm

[Tee Why]

I know Seefutlung, and other than an occassional spit and rubbing with a shirt sleeve, he doesn't clean his gear. :)

Anyway, there is a glass element over the sensor, so you are actually cleaning that glass and not the sensor itself. Hmmmm I wonder how Windex would do...

I've had to clean my sensor two or three times so far. First I try the blower, but often times it's not enough, so if blowing doesn't work, I goto the eclipse method and that usually does the trick.

[clipper_from_oz]

bulb blower
heres the link http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=259157&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

I use a different brand but it works. its easy and simple.


Bulb blower just blows dust around and redistributes it.!..Trust me Ive done it.....Eventually the sensor needs swabbing. It just depends on how often you change lenses and in what conditions. Bottom line is if you change lens on a regular basis the sensor needs to be "wiped/swabbed"

[Livinthalife]

Bulb blower just blows dust around and redistributes it.!..Trust me Ive done it.....Eventually the sensor needs swabbing. It just depends on how often you change lenses and in what conditions. Bottom line is if you change lens on a regular basis the sensor needs to be "wiped/swabbed"

I`m not trying to start a battle about what way is better. That`s MY way along with many other people. It seems to suit allot of people, maybe you arn`t using it the same way as me. I turn my camera upside down, then give a burst of air. The small amount of dust just falls out. It has done fine for me thus far. Though I`m sure eventually I will need to use the swab method when the dust is really stuck.

[22littlereasons]

I'm inclined to agree with the bulb blower only. Never had cause to do more. (looking for some wood to knock on!) *s*

[narlus]

i was surprised to see copperhill's site recommend sensor cleaning every two weeks. that seems excessive.

then again, i've had my camera for 5 months and haven't cleaned the sensor yet (i don't think it's needed it).