Success cleaning 30D sensor with Rocket Blower

[TMR Design]

I just got my Rocket Blower and like most people wit a brand new 30D had some dust on the sensor. I just used the Rocket Blower and it seems to have been 99% successful. I did the procedure twice, not knowing exactly what is would take I think I under-did it the first time. After the second time I could already see in the LCD that most of the spots were gone. After careful inspection on the computer I still saw some very minute spots. I did the sensor cleaning one more time and I can't see any dust. If it is there it would never be seen. So I don't see the need to buy a cleaning kit or wet clean it at this time. If it ever gets to the point that the RB doesn't cut it then I will do a more thorough cleaning. I just made the RB part of my kit. I love it because unless there is a smudge or water drop on a lens the RB can just blow the dust away and your ready to rock again.

[Curtis N]

If you want an anxiety complex, try testing for sensor snot by putting a 2x teleconverter on a lens and shooting the sky at f/64. ;)

[TMR Design]

Oh man I don't even want to think about that. I am anal enough as it is..LOLOLOL

[Kenji]

Oh man I don't even want to think about that. I am anal enough as it is..LOLOLOL


Great news Robert, it is nice when someone is a happy bunny.

But without getting neurotic about it, please run a test as Curtis suggests and let us know if the sensor is 99% clean.

If it is, I might rush out and buy a Rocket Blower.

Cheers,

[steved110]

A rocket blower is a great tool, and very safe to use, with a modicum of care. I blow my sensor about once a month, and while I am sure there is some dust there, I don't go looking for it, and I don't notice it in my pictures either.

[TMR Design]

Unfortunately I don't have any extension tubes to do that test. I did look at the test shot I took at 100% and things are looking pretty darn clean. The RB seems to be great and I would recommend the large one.
I think I will just get into the habit of cleaning the sensor regularly and before I go out shooting for a day. For something that is so easy to do I think it makes sense to do the preventative maintenance as opposed to waiting until you start to see dust in your images. I know we can just use the PS healing brush and other tools but I just like the idea of having the image the camera captures to be the best, cleanest it can be before I have to use any tools in post.

[TMR Design]

A rocket blower is a great tool, and very safe to use, with a modicum of care. I blow my sensor about once a month, and while I am sure there is some dust there, I don't go looking for it, and I don't notice it in my pictures either.


Sounds like what I will be doing too. The only reason I went looking for it is because of all the reports of brand new 30D's with dust right out of the box.

[unix04]

did you buy the large one? i recently saw a smaller one that comes with a brush/cleansing fluid with some microfiber cloth. if the small one works just as well, i may get that set. i was too scared to brush off some dust off my lens today...i wanna make sure no scratches are on it...

[TMR Design]

I did buy the large one. I don't see the point in saving a few dollars or a small amount of space in a bag to sacrifice the big puff of air. My approach is that if I don't have to use a wet cleaning kit or a swap then that's a good thing. I would rather not touch the sensor or make the mistake or damaging it. I like the Rocket Blower. At least in my case it did the job and it is now part of my kit. I blew some dust off my lens and it's great for getting little bits of dust out from the camera body and all the nooks and crannies. Unless I get a dust spot or a glob on my sensor I am just going to keep on blowing it out with the RB.

[dontblink]

I agree with your technique! A wet cleaning should always be the last resort. I always blow first, then if there is persistant dust I "charge" a fine brush and gently sweep the sensor, only after that would I even consider VERY carefully performing a wet clean.