How does Canon Clean the Sensor?

[Brian Mackey]

I have seen lots of post about pads, and swipes to clean the Sensor in the 10D. does anyone know how Canon does it?

[robertwgross]

Do you ask how the Canon Service Center cleans a sensor?

Some users have the mistaken idea that the camera has the capability of cleaning its own sensor.

I know how I clean the sensor in mine. Primarily, I use a Q-tip (cotton swab). First, I simply rub the affected area with a dry Q-tip. If that does not get the necessary result, then I put a fraction of a drop of lens cleaner on the Q-tip and try again. I've never had a speck that didn't disappear as a result of this.

---Bob Gross---

[justme_dc]

Canon uses a giant dishwasher. Didn't you read in the manual where it sez that the 10D is top rack dishwasher safe? Add a little jet-dry and you're in business. ;)

After numerous phone conversations with canon on this subject among others. They basically told me "none of your business", and quoted the blower blub techinque from the manual. I suspect they use swabs and fluid but so far they are keeping pretty tight lipped.

[Brian Mackey]

justme_dc wrote:
Canon uses a giant dishwasher. Didn't you read in the manual where it sez that the 10D is top rack dishwasher safe? Add a little jet-dry and you're in business. ;)

After numerous phone conversations with canon on this subject among others. They basically told me "none of your business", and quoted the blower blub techinque from the manual. I suspect they use swabs and fluid but so far they are keeping pretty tight lipped.

Yep that's the response I got too :)

[John-M]

Brian Mackey wrote: Does anyone know how Canon does it?

Very Carefully? ;)

[Belmondo]

justme_dc wrote:They basically told me "none of your business", and quoted the blower blub techinque from the manual.

It stands to reason that they won't share this information. If they are using some kind of mechanical cleaning method that utilizes swabs and solution, they certainly don't want to give encouragement to ham-fisted clods like me that might decide to undertake such a project using household products (Brillo Pads and acetone). Then, too, there's the obvious: they make money doing it, so why kill the golden goose?

Tom

[Gibmeister]

Bob,

Thanks for the information on cleaning the Sensor on my Canon 10D. Can you actually see the dirt or dust on the sensor of are you just cleaning the entire sensor and then rechecking.

Gib

[gsrossano]

I agree. The aswer is very carefully.

I can tell you how some delicate space optics are cleaned. By blowing dry nitrogen or CO2 while simultaneously vacuuming the flow. The gas dislodges the dust and and the vacuum keeps it from just landing somewhere else. This is usually done in a clean room. For stuff that is stuck on a solvent is needed.

[defordphoto]

Canon definitely does not use a clean room. They just clean them at the tech's normal work area where they do everything else. Nothing special.

Also, just because you have Canon clean it does not mean it's going to come back any cleaner, and in most cases they'll leave you a few surprises to deal with when you get your camera back.

I suggest getting the Eclipse solution, PecPads and cleaning it yourself. It's not that difficult to do.

[Joytek]

I have had my 10d cleaned here in seoul (south korea) and have seen it done through a window into the service work area. they use pec-pad like wipes on wooden spatulas and dip them into a sponge (probably soaked in a cleaning fluid). no high tech. i was disappointed and have since done it myself several times with great success.

w.

[Belmondo]

justme_dc wrote:
Canon uses a giant dishwasher. Didn't you read in the manual where it sez that the 10D is top rack dishwasher safe? Add a little jet-dry and you're in business.

Ooooh. I think I might have screwed up.
1. I used the 'potscrubber' setting on the dishwasher, and.....
2. I forgot to lock the mirror in the up position. Now it's missing.

I will say, though, that the little bit that's left of the camera is really, really clean. Good tip!! :eyes :p

[dejal]

http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning

Your mileage may vary

[defordphoto]

belmondo wrote:
justme_dc wrote:
Canon uses a giant dishwasher. Didn't you read in the manual where it sez that the 10D is top rack dishwasher safe? Add a little jet-dry and you're in business.

Ooooh. I think I might have screwed up.
1. I used the 'potscrubber' setting on the dishwasher, and.....
2. I forgot to lock the mirror in the up position. Now it's missing.

I will say, though, that the little bit that's left of the camera is really, really clean. Good tip!! :eyes :p

I'm kind of a leaf-blower kinda guy myself. All that water makes me nervous. Just crank up the old Echo backpack blower and go for it. Takes care of the dust-gerbils in the keyboard too.

[Belmondo]

RFMSports wrote:I'm kind of a leaf-blower kinda guy myself. All that water makes me nervous. Just crank up the old Echo backpack blower and go for it. Takes care of the dust-gerbils in the keyboard too. Jim.....I kinda' figured you for a 'spit on the handkerchief and rub real hard' type.

[Brian Mackey]

RFMSports wrote:
belmondo wrote:
justme_dc wrote:
Canon uses a giant dishwasher. Didn't you read in the manual where it sez that the 10D is top rack dishwasher safe? Add a little jet-dry and you're in business.

Ooooh. I think I might have screwed up.
1. I used the 'potscrubber' setting on the dishwasher, and.....
2. I forgot to lock the mirror in the up position. Now it's missing.

I will say, though, that the little bit that's left of the camera is really, really clean. Good tip!! :eyes :p

I'm kind of a leaf-blower kinda guy myself. All that water makes me nervous. Just crank up the old Echo backpack blower and go for it. Takes care of the dust-gerbils in the keyboard too.

can you elaborate on what speed setting you use on the Echo? I have the echo also ;)

[Belmondo]

Brian Mackey wrote:can you elaborate on what speed setting you use on the Echo? I have the echo also ;)


I'll bet the answer is "WFO." He's a racing enthusiast.

[defordphoto]

belmondo wrote:
Brian Mackey wrote:can you elaborate on what speed setting you use on the Echo? I have the echo also ;)


I'll bet the answer is "WFO." He's a racing enthusiast.


You nailed it Tom! :)

[MrChevy]

dejal wrote:
http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning

Your mileage may vary


I use the spatula setup with our D60 & 10D with pec-pads and Eclipse Fluid.

Takes just a few minutes and works great for me.

Ken

[mrbobco]

i'm with ken on this one...

the instructions at the pbase link are amazing...i think the most important thing to remember is don't worry about how many swabs you have to use (and don't reuse them of course). i already had purchased the sensor swabs to clean my 1ds (which had a rather SPECTACULAR amount of dust at the time i needed to clean it) but i quickly made a spat-u-swab tool...it works perfectly...

so don't be scared...and don't use canned air or blowers (generally a waste of time and potentially harmful to your sensor)

after 7 tries...i had cleaned it perfectly...just take your time...work in good (strong) light...and be patient...

(i.e. don't get rambunctious and start scrubbing :)

and avoid the potscrubber cycle in your dishwasher (for the record, electrosol works better for the 10d sensor)

good luck...

bob

[dtrayers]

I was just throwing the camera in the wash with the whites ;) :D Tide worked best!

Now I use the PBase method and it works well for me. Two spatulas at Target for $0.98!

[Brian Mackey]

dtrayers wrote:
I was just throwing the camera in the wash with the whites ;) :D Tide worked best!

Now I use the PBase method and it works well for me. Two spatulas at Target for $0.98!

does anyone make the whole kit? spatulas and all?

[rdenney]

robertwgross wrote:
Do you ask how the Canon Service Center cleans a sensor?

Some users have the mistaken idea that the camera has the capability of cleaning its own sensor.

I know how I clean the sensor in mine. Primarily, I use a Q-tip (cotton swab). First, I simply rub the affected area with a dry Q-tip. If that does not get the necessary result, then I put a fraction of a drop of lens cleaner on the Q-tip and try again. I've never had a speck that didn't disappear as a result of this.

---Bob Gross---

I use a Q-tip also, after blowing all the loose dust around with a bulb blower.

The notion that one must send the camera back to Canon for cleaning is nuts. I found on my recent trip to the Northwest that I had to clean the sensor at least every two days. Dust happens, especially if you change lenses a lot (which I do) and shoot in remote desert areas (which I do).

And after cleaning, I test with a lenseless photograph of a gray card, viewed at full magnification on the LCD screen.

And I don't use the "sensor clear" setting either. I just put the camera on Manual, the shutter speed on B, and make damn sure I don't let go of the button.

Rick "who hasn't scratched his sensor yet" Denney