Cleaned the Sensor on my 20D just now....

[mr.photoguy]

I just cleaned the sensor on my 20D ..
Look at these pictures, and judge for yourself.

1st pic is outside,
rest are off my wall in my apartment.

http://www.pbase.com/brucescott/sensor_cleaning

followed the Directions from here... Along with the sensor swab...
http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/image/39082096

all comments are welcome wether good/bad/sarcastic, or whatever...

thanks.

[Fills]

I'll go with smart remark. Where's the fourth try? :) Actually, congrats on a good job, I'm still a bit scared to do mine.

[ijohnson]

It's not clean.

Is that good, bad, or sarcastic?

[mr.photoguy]

The third(or really the fourth) try was enough for me. I did it like 4 times all together. I figure I got enough of the smut out. If you compare the 1st image, and the 3rd image you will see the difference.
That's good enough until about 2 weeks, or so when I test it again.

[ijohnson]

It makes me wonder how much Canon charges. It would be nice to get a perfect cleaning with no worries. I know I would screw it up.

For some reason, my sensor is really clean. Maybe I need to take more pictures.

[tim]

Good effort. The first time I did it on my new camera I did it 20 times, couldn't get it clean, so I returned the camera. With the second camera it takes me 1-2 swipes usually. I was a little nervous the first time, but it's dead simple.

[Tom W]

I took 2 swipes at mine, and got rid of some stubborn blobs. I have since just used the blower once or twice. I don't expect to have to use the cleaning kit again for a long time.

I did manage to pick up a new piece of dust yesterday, but I was changing lenses all afternoon. Twice while sitting on a city bench.

[davidwegs]

I clean mine about every two months (more if I am swapping lenses a lot).

It is always about try #6 or#7 that seems to be it for me. I tend to wipe the same direction over and over, until most of the spots apprear at one end. Then i make the last swipe with an extra drop of eclipse and I swipe downward on the end that I have all the spots. Usually, I end up with 1 or 2 teeny tiny speks in the lower left corner and they only show up at f22 or smaller apertures. I generally find this is a painful task and dread each time I find new spots.

You seem to have done well.

[mr.photoguy]

yeah I just went out and did some night shots... lol ...
brrrr cold.. lol

anyhow, I am happy that my sensor is at least 90% cleaner than before.

[Tom W]

I happened to post a crop of my dust cleaning adventure on PBase as well.

Copperhill Cleanup (http://www.pbase.com/photosbytom/copperhill_sensor_clean)

[GMosher]

I can feel your pain. First night i got my 20D home i noticed crap all over the sensor. Took it back...same problem with the next one....so I decided I'd have to clean it eventually anyway, why not start off that way...took about 6 swabs and it's MOSTLY clean. you can see a couple tiny specs in the bottom corner over F22 or so.

[RJSorensen]

Nothing to it . . . lol, after you have done it once, or twice. Way to go.

[Trumper]

Could someone please tell me if this is the same for the Canon D30 and what cleaning products are available in the UK.Many Thanks

[Headcase650]

Are you guys making your owne swiper out of a rubber spatula or plastic knife or are you guys buying the one from the copper hill guy?

I already have the pecpads and eclipse but havent made my swiper yet. I know its supose to be 14mm wide and have a "A" chisle shaped tip but would like some recomendations of what to make it out of.

Adrian

[lawmans3]

Are you guys making your owne swiper out of a rubber spatula or plastic knife or are you guys buying the one from the copper hill guy?

I already have the pecpads and eclipse but havent made my swiper yet. I know its supose to be 14mm wide and have a "A" chisle shaped tip but would like some recomendations of what to make it out of.

Adrian

I made mine out of the Rubbermaid spatula. It works well and I use it on my 1Ds. I used sandpaper to give it the 'A' tip and it worked like a champ. I just made sure I got all the stray rubber pieces off after sanding. Once you do it, you'll realize its's not as bad as it's been made out to be. Good luck!

[zipart]

i have been using a 10d for the last year and a half. i have never cleaned the sensor. i don't even know where it is. i know i will have to do this some time but i am terrified to it. my question is: where is the sensor and how do you clean it?

zip

[tim]

i have been using a 10d for the last year and a half. i have never cleaned the sensor. i don't even know where it is. i know i will have to do this some time but i am terrified to it. my question is: where is the sensor and how do you clean it?

zip

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

[london]

My 20D had a dusty sensor right out of the box. The first test shots look terrible -- several small blemishes and a big one visible even in frames taken with a wide aperature. Canon offered the usual apologies and asked me to send it in (but given the 2-4 week turnaround time, I said no thanks).

After doing some research, I learned how to clean the sensor myself. Despite the scare stories, it's not really a big deal. I found that most of the dust comes off with a cheap rubber blower. It sometimes takes a couple of tries, but it's a painless operation.

I've heard -- and perhaps others can verify this -- that extended use of the camera between lens changes creates a vacuum inside the body, so that when you take off the lens dust is "sucked" in and gets on the sensor. If that's the case, it's a good idea to switch lenses very carefully and, obviously, to make sure you're in a dust-free environment.

I've more or less resigned myself to the fact that until I get a second (and third) camera body, I'm stuck having to do frequent lens changes out in the field. Cleaning the sensor therefore falls in the category of routine maintenance.

Scott.

[RJSorensen]

Inspect the lens, clean the sensor, shoot photographs . . . repeat as needed.

[Mark_48]

I've heard -- and perhaps others can verify this -- that extended use of the camera between lens changes creates a vacuum inside the body, so that when you take off the lens dust is "sucked" in and gets on the sensor. If that's the case, it's a good idea to switch lenses very carefully and, obviously, to make sure you're in a dust-free environment.
Scott.
I had read in another forum that supposedly the action of zooming a lens out can create a small vacuum inside the camera body which concievably could pull dust in through any small opening.
Not sure if I buy into this theory or not.

Mark........

[Jon]

I had read in another forum that supposedly the action of zooming a lens out can create a small vacuum inside the camera body which concievably could pull dust in through any small opening.
Not sure if I buy into this theory or not.

Mark........

IF it occurs, it's going to be insignificant as a factor compared to the opportunity dust has to get in when you've got the lens completely off to change it.

[Rokkorfan]

I don't know why anyone would use a swab to remove dust from a sensor. Spend the cash and buy the sensor brush from www.visibledust.com (http://www.visibledust.com). They are fantastic, simple, and there is no risk of smears or scratching.

[GyRob]

i set mine on 30sec fire the shutter take the lens off and use a blower brush it gives a good 15 sec befor the mirror comes down .

[Jon]

i set mine on 30sec fire the shutter take the lens off and use a blower brush it gives a good 15 sec befor the mirror comes down .

If you look at the menu, and the manual, you'll find that Canon thoughtfully provided a Sensor-Cleaning function which holds the shutter open until you decide you're finished. Much safer - you don't risk having something still in the mirror box when the shutter closes and the mirror swings back down.

[lime]

"i set mine on 30sec fire the shutter take the lens off and use a blower brush it gives a good 15 sec befor the mirror comes down ."

I had no reservations cleaning my sensor the first time (following the manual & with the sensor brush), but this method would surely make me nervous.