FYI-Sensor Cleaning Brush

[robekert]

Saw this review on Digital Outback Photo. I have been cleaning my sensor with a bulb blower up until now. I know at some point I will have to do more. This may be an alternative to the Eclipse Fluid/Pec Pad System. Looks interesting.

http://www.outbackphoto.com/workshop/phototechnique/essay05/essay.html

Rob

[drisley]

Yes, it does look interesting
Thanks for posting!

[scottbergerphoto]

I read the link and I am concerned that you have to use canned air on the brush before using it on the sensor. Most canned air has a tendency to emit some liquid that can wind up on the sensor via the brush. With Eclipse, at least you know it's purified Methanol.
Scott

[dsze]

Yes, the canned air concerns me as does the brush itself. With the Pecpad, eclipse method, you are using a new, sterile pec pad surface for each pass. I would imagine that you can only get that brush clean so many times before you get some residual build up on it.

-daniel

[Webster]

These guys may be perfectly legitimate, but they've sure pegged my (admittedly fallible) sleaze-O-meter. There are many, many things on that web site that raise red flags, but perhaps the worst is the dire warnings of DEATH to those who use methanol. Golly willikers, Mr. Science, it sounds even worser than dihydrogen monoxide.

If they are, indeed, legit they really must hire some professional marketeers.

[Persian-Rice]

Compressed air can's release some moisture which can be harmful. Besides that, I dont know if I would trust brushing a sensor, all you need is some hairline scratches.

[ron chappel]

It looks interesting-those concernes of canned air residues aside.
They do mention that and what happens if it gets on the sensor (no big deal-it evaporates)
Webster what do you mean of their methanol warnings? All he says is that he uses it but hasn't had much success.

The science behind it is sound.Pity about the bad tanslation/mistakes,it makes it all sound dodgey :shock:
Wether it works well for most people in the real world is something that we'll find out in time

Of course it isn't a cure-all!
Anything firmly stuck to the sensor like dried dust or any liquids are just some things that will simply ignore the electrostatic attraction.
That said i can imagine this might possibly work very well in the field for light dust removal

[Webster]

Webster what do you mean of their methanol warnings? All he says is that he uses it but hasn't had much success.


From the Visible Dust web site, under "Technology":

Swallowing even small amounts of methanol may cause blindness or DEATH. This amount could be as little as 30ml for adult and 5-6ml for children(one table spoon). Also it may be absorbed through the skin in toxic or LETHAL amounts. Inhalation of high airborne concentrations can also irritate mucous membranes, digestive and visual distrubances and DEATH It produces birth defect in rats exposed to 20,000ppm. The by products are formaldehyde, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Formaldehyde is mainly used in histology laboratory to fix brain cells and other tissues.


Another disadvantage of methanol, it attacks coating of copper (copper alloys zinc, galvanized steel) or aluminum. Therefore, it might attack electronic parts made from these components.


I will be pleased if Visible Dust turns out to be on the up and up. On the other hand I won't be surprised if it turns out to be some high school kid selling watercolor brushes.

[caldgrp]

Very positive review of the Sensor Brush on the Rob Galbraith site:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-6460-7296

I emailed the company, Visible Dust, about the possibility of contaminating the brushes with compressed air necessary to prepare the brushes. They emailed back immediately, if somewhat incoherently, saying no problem:

Hi
based on our experience and thousand other users it is rarely the case. the contents that usally is in can air is 1,1 difluroethane which evaporate. The reason sometimes the direct sprraying on the sensor is harmful is mainly due to rapid lowerin of hte tempeature sometimes to freezing point resulting in rapid contration of cover glass on the sensor which is extremely harmful. this is tolerable with filament. In case you sprayed you always can wash it off with distilled water and machine dishwaher liquid. you may use refillable can air or in occasion hand blower. the reason you blast the filament to rid of moisture sitting on filaments ( increasing the charges), to rid of dust ( clean) and to cool ( prevent meltdown of fibers due to heat of friction).
best regards lisa