First time Sensor Cleaning

[Jesper]

Finally I've cleaned the sensor of my 10D for the first time. I've used the method described here: http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning

On those webpages, there is a link to a shop in Germany where you can order Eclipse fluid and PecPads. I ordered a bottle and a pack for about 20 Euros (excluding postage) - later I found out that there is a shop here in Rotterdam that also sells it - would probably have been cheaper... From the above website I also ordered a SensorSwipe for $6.95 + $2.00 shipping.

In the shop I also saw pre-made sensor cleaning swabs, but they were ridiculously expensive - more than 50 Euros for 10 or 12 of those..... :?

I carefully read all the instructions, put a few drops of Eclipse fluid on the SensorSwipe which came pre-wrapped with a PecPad, put the camera on cleaning mode and wiped the sensor. It was not difficult and it took only 10 seconds or so. Here are the results:

http://home.hccnet.nl/jesper.de.jong/images/IMG_1500.jpg
Before

http://home.hccnet.nl/jesper.de.jong/images/IMG_1501.jpg
After

I was amazed at how well it worked first time! :) There are still 3 spots or so visible, but not dozens as before the cleaning. I'll leave those three spots until the next time...

The above images were taken at f/22 with +2 stops exposure compensation and Auto Levels applied in PS Elements to make the spots visible.

[Mikesht]

Why such a strange colors? For a second I got scared that it is an effect of cleaning gone bad... You may want to use a blue sky next time...
A also ordered and used this product with a great success on sensor. Then later I was told here something important: do not use it on mirror or focusing screen, in fact do not use nothing on them other than air.
This products are for sensor only.
I will try and look up my discussion thread here later.

[Jesper]

Why such a strange colors? For a second I got scared that it is an effect of cleaning gone bad... You may want to use a blue sky next time...
A also ordered and used this product with a great success on sensor. Then later I was told here something important: do not use it on mirror or focusing screen, in fact do not use nothing on them other than air.
This products are for sensor only.
I will try and look up my discussion thread here later.

The sky is gray and it's very windy and wet here today! We don't have much blue sky here. As I wrote, those photos were put through "Auto Levels" with PS Elements. On the plain photos themselves, you don't see anything - just gray sky. You don't even see the dust spots. The histogram contains just a very narrow spike. With Auto Levels, PS Elements stretches the contrast excessively, which makes the dust spots clearly visible, but also enhances minute differences in brightness of the sky. The sky does not really look like what you see on those photos..... :?

[Mikesht]

Here you are:

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=27440&highlight=mirror+cleaning

[Webster]

A terrific, inexpensive and reusable sensor cleaning tool can be found here (http://www.pbase.com/image/15473243).