Compressed air vs Rocketblower?

[tvphotog]

For dust removal in a camera body, why doesn't anyone recommend cans of compressed air such as that used to clean a computer of dust? Is this too much pressure for inside the camera, even if held a small distance from the lens attachment opening?

[homersapien]

Using compressed air is a great way to ruin your camera. I've yet to use a can of compressed air that doesn't shoot out some liquid at some point. Not to mention, you'll blow in as much junk as you blow out. Stick with the rocket blower. If the blower isn't enough to dislodge the dust, then it's probably time for a wet cleaning.

[Sean]

I use compressed air for the outside of the camera, but not inside the body. A rocket blower works much better. Canned air has a propellant, but if you keep it up right, and DON'T shake it, the propellant won't come out. I just wouldn't risk it for the interior of the camera.

[Familiaphoto]

Never take the risk of canned air being used in your camera. You get the propellant on your sensor and well, start saving your money and get used to using your point and shoot. Canned air is good for getting dust off the outside, but be aware of using it on the inside.

[SkipD]

For dust removal in a camera body, why doesn't anyone recommend cans of compressed air such as that used to clean a computer of dust? Is this too much pressure for inside the camera, even if held a small distance from the lens attachment opening?For one thing, the cans that you think contain compressed air have no air at all in them.

The liquid (typically difluoroethane) that is in those cans can cause damage to the parts inside a camera if it gets in there in droplet form. NEVER use "canned air" on or in a camera.
Canned air has a propellant, but if you keep it up right, and DON'T shake it, the propellant won't come out."Canned air" is nothing but a liquid propellant that vaporizes (hopefully) when you let it out of the can. There's no air in the can at all.

[nadtz]

Though skip is 100% right the types of propellants used are meant for delicate equipment that water cant be used on.

I have used canned air inside a camera once or twice, but those were emergency cases and I normally wouldn't (20D with no lens or body cap fell behind our extremely dusty desks at my last job). If you blew any kind of compressed gas into the camera while the shutter was up... More power to ya.

The big issue with canned air is unless the bottle is held straight up it can expel liquid (and cold liquid at that) which is supposed to evaporate but could also leave residue. A past coworker and I once dumped a can upside down into a running computer just to see if it would short, it didn't and the computer was fine months after (until we office spaced it, but that's another story).

[RDKirk]

I'd be wary of using a highly pressurized gas even on the outside of the camera, especially anything less than a 1-series. The openings are not resistant to having dust driven through them under pressure.

[Lowner]

It has come to light recently that Canon techs use compressed gas cannisters to clean sensors. I do so myself without any ill effects.

However it needs to be carried out with extreme care. The cannister should only be used totally upright, a liquid clearing burst should be done before attacking the camera and very short bursts should be used.

I see that a similar method is used to clean very large astronomical telescope mirrors.

[Calbeee]

compressed air is okay for exterior, but dont even think about interior..
ur gonna have to buy a new camera if u do

[BLUEONION]

Using compressed air is a great way to ruin your camera. I've yet to use a can of compressed air that doesn't shoot out some liquid at some point. Not to mention, you'll blow in as much junk as you blow out. Stick with the rocket blower. If the blower isn't enough to dislodge the dust, then it's probably time for a wet cleaning.


I was reading your reply up to... "Using compressed air is a great way...", and was like oh, o.k., then came..."to ruin your camera...", and was like OHHH.

Threw me off a little..

[JWright]

It has come to light recently that Canon techs use compressed gas cannisters to clean sensors. I do so myself without any ill effects.

However it needs to be carried out with extreme care. The cannister should only be used totally upright, a liquid clearing burst should be done before attacking the camera and very short bursts should be used.

I see that a similar method is used to clean very large astronomical telescope mirrors.

Until somebody comes up with a rocket blower that will get the stubborn crud off a sensor, I'll continue to use "compressed air" cans to clean my sensor. As mentioned above, it has to be done with care, but it can be done successfully. Just use the procedure outlined above and don't move the can around. Move the camera instead.

The best thing I've found for cleaning a sensor isn't air, but the SensorKlear pen. It's like a LensPen for sensors and works very well.

[nadtz]

compressed air is okay for exterior, but dont even think about interior..
ur gonna have to buy a new camera if u do

I highly doubt that. If you clear the tube and keep it upright at worst you might cool the camera down a bit. The whole point of 'canned air' is to be able to clean electronic equipment.

[SkipD]

Here's a quote off the can of Century Duster I have beside me (the all-capital lettering is the way the warning is written on the can):

CONTACT WITH PRODUCT IN LIQUID FORM MAY CAUSE PLASTIC MATERIALS TO PERMANENTLY DISCOLOR. DO NOT USE ON CAMERA MIRRORS.

For those of you who feel you know how to handle "canned air" products, that's your choice. Please do NOT, however, suggest that newbies who have no clue that using "canned air" is perfectly OK for use on cameras. That is absolutely stupid advice when given without very significant warnings of the possible damage that can be created.

[Lowner]

Skip,

I don't think any of us are minimising the risk. All the pro compressed air replies have been very careful to point out that it is not a task that should be undertaken by the clumsy or hamfisted.

[krb]

Compressed air is great for cleaning the camera, just make sure you use a good in-line filter/oil trap and a dehumidifier like you'd use when spraying paint. I usually dial the regulator down to about 20psi and then use a nozzle that will give me fine control of how much pressure I'm delivering. A clean/unused airbrush works well for this.

The only problem is that I usually notice that I need to clean the camera late at night when I'm palnning to shoot the next day. Firing up the compressor at 1am doesn't go over very well...

[canonnoob]

you all kmnow that canon cleaning personell have been using compressed air when cleaning canon bodies for quite some time now right? there was a thread about it a while ago... let me see if i can dig it up...

EDIT: HERE IT IS!
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=609069&highlight=compressed+air

So you all ARE Right about it can damage the componets if done incorrectly. but you are wrong for thinking that you absolutely can not use canned air...

From CUBANSKILLZ
I just spent 3 hours at a CPS (Canon Professional Services) open house, where they were showing the new Canon 5D Mark II. Canon also had a set up with a Canon technician doing free, yes F-R-E-E, sensor cleaning. So, after I put my camera in line, waiting for my turn, I was able to watch first hand how a real live Canon technician actually does sensor cleaning. Mind you, this was not a brief encounter. I stood there and watched him clean no less than 30 cameras over the course of 2+ hours. When I say “watched”, I mean standing two feet in front of him, probing him with questions all the while.

Camera manufacturers will tell you that if you’re going to clean your own sensor, “Never touch your sensor with anything except air from a hand squeezed blower, like the Giottos Rocket Air Blower. Never used canned air” Well, since when do photographers listen to anyone, right? So, what do we do? We go out and buy sensor cleaning kits, with special pads, special solutions, special swabs, etc. Let me tell you how the Canon technician does it. Keep in mind, my quotes are paraphrased.

As soon as he grabbed his can (yes, CAN) of Office Depot brand canned (yes, CANNED) air, I asked, “I thought we weren’t supposed to use canned air on the sensor?” He said, “Well, you have to know how to use it. It can emit damaging components if you don’t do it just right.” I thought, hmmm, looks like he is pulling the trigger, yeah, I can do that. Looks like he’s keeping the can upright... I can do that too. He’s using short little blasts... I can do that as well. Then he grabbed his Lenspen http://www.lenspen.com/ and proceeded to go at that sensor like he was waxing a new Porsche. I watched intently. Hmmm, he’s only rubbing counter-clockwise. I wonder if that makes difference, I thought. I decided that it didn’t. He was also cleaning camera bodies and lenses. He used that Lenspen on any glass surface, with one exception — the mirror. On that he used a Kimberly-Clark Professional Kimwipe (with Lintguard). Yeah, I was taking notes.

The other extremely important thing that he used, which unfortunately in not as inexpensive as the other items, is a lighted loupe that he place right on the lens mount every few seconds to check his progress. This allowed him to see, big and bright, the results of his labors.

The one thing he never used on any of the sensors I watched him clean, was any kind of liquid. I asked him if he ever used a cleaning solution, and he said very very rarely, only if something is really stuck hard on there. In which case he uses a touch of 99% isopropyl alcohol, which is the same solution he was using on the exterior surface of the camera body and lens mount. When he cleaned the mirror, he did a quick exhale to give it a fast fog, and then rubbed it with the Kimwipe. That’s right, he used his breath. I thought, hmmm, I can do that too! Unless he uses a special Canon breath mint. Those are $30 each.

Now, in his defense, I have to say that he is a professional. He does this every day. He knows what he’s doing. And, he was kind enough to share his knowledge. But, in all honesty, it didn’t look that hard. I did probe him with specifics, like “does it matter what brand of canned air you use?” He said that they tried lots of brands and just found that the Office Depot stuff was the best. They said they had some problems with other brands. He also said that it’s hard to find 99% isopropyl alcohol, and that anything less than that can streak. So, he was quite particular.

There are many philosophies and methods to sensor cleaning. Understandably, many photographers don’t want to take the risk and just send the camera to the manufacturer. However, if you’re confident, and careful, you can do it yourself.

Bob
http://www.robertseveri.com