cmos sensor cleaning in the UK [Archive] - Canon Digital Photography Forums

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Trumper

2nd of June 2005 (Thu), 12:55

Does anyone know of anywhere in the UK that sells pec pads and fluids such as the coppermills product in the UK.
Do places such as Jessops or any other camera dealers do their own brand or stock anything that can be recommended for use in the Canon D30 /20d range of cameras.
Many thanks

wintoid

2nd of June 2005 (Thu), 13:48

I think www.warehouseexpress.com sell those if I remember correctly

Tomsk

2nd of June 2005 (Thu), 14:05

copperhills is selling a kit for Europe now - check the webby.

I got my stuff from Warehouseexpress - pecpads, eclipse and type 1 Digi-pads. I removed Digi-pads own cloth and wrap a pecpad around it instead. There's a collar around the digi-pad that I also trimmed off. It works, but I thnk the digi-pad is a little too flexible, but for now I'll keep using them until I get really fed up and then I'll order a copperhills set instead :D

mdr

3rd of June 2005 (Fri), 04:37

I know it's a different product, but Ffordes (www.ffordes.com) sell Visible Dust products.

Trumper

4th of June 2005 (Sat), 03:29

Has anyone used this and can you get it in the UK? http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/image/42963246
I have looked at the copperhills site http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning but i can't find any links to buying this in the UK.
I looked at the warehouseexpress.com site but there sensor stuff seems very pricy and not recommended by Canon although i'm not sure anything is.

Tomsk

4th of June 2005 (Sat), 05:48

Trumper

4th of June 2005 (Sat), 07:37

The SensorSweep is part of the Ultimate "Euro" kit. - http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/image/41730716

The only method of cleaning Canon recommend is that you hand over your camera and a wad of cash to a Canon service centre.
The euro kit + p & p works out roughly at
70.00 USD United States Dollars = 38.6271 GBP United Kingdom Pounds and you have to buy the eclipse cleaner on top.
$28.00 shipping,28.00 USD United States Dollars = 15.4508 GBP Pounds seems a tad pricey.
Shame some of the shops over here don't stock it.

Phil V

4th of June 2005 (Sat), 07:46

Trumper

4th of June 2005 (Sat), 08:10

Jessops sell canned air, which together with a nylon make up brush from Boots will do see here (http://194.100.88.243/petteri/pont/How_to/a_Brush_Your_Sensor/a_Brush_Your_Sensor.html)

Warehouse Express sell pecpads and eclipse fluid (I wrap the pec pad round a glue applicator - like you used in primary school).
Did you have to cut the glue applicator to size?,did the nylon brush work ok,sorry to be a pest.

glane606

4th of June 2005 (Sat), 08:58

Got all I need from Warehouse Express, cleaner and pads, they also have the plastic applicators. Very quick service, 24 hours delivery.

Tomsk

4th of June 2005 (Sat), 09:13

The euro kit + p & p works out roughly at
70.00 USD United States Dollars = 38.6271 GBP United Kingdom Pounds and you have to buy the eclipse cleaner on top.
$28.00 shipping,28.00 USD United States Dollars = 15.4508 GBP Pounds seems a tad pricey.
Shame some of the shops over here don't stock it.

A 350D costs ~£500, 20D ~£1000

£55 + a couple of bottles of Eclipse isn't that much when you consider that it will last a few years.

Tomsk

4th of June 2005 (Sat), 09:15

Jessops sell canned air, which together with a nylon make up brush from Boots will do see here (http://194.100.88.243/petteri/pont/How_to/a_Brush_Your_Sensor/a_Brush_Your_Sensor.html)

Warehouse Express sell pecpads and eclipse fluid (I wrap the pec pad round a glue applicator - like you used in primary school).

I wouldn't rcommend canned air for sensor cleaning. The canned air will likely have additional chemicals included and these could mak a real mess of your sensor. I'm sure a search of these forums will turn up someone's mishap with it.

samdring

4th of June 2005 (Sat), 10:10

I wouldn't rcommend canned air for sensor cleaning. The canned air will likely have additional chemicals included and these could mak a real mess of your sensor. I'm sure a search of these forums will turn up someone's mishap with it.

Methinks Phil was recommending canned air for the brush - charge it then use for sensor cleaning as per his link

Trumper

4th of June 2005 (Sat), 10:39

Problem is the D30 is 4 years old and worth,what £200.It's not the price as such it's the lack of choice and outlets in the UK,i'm surprised considering how many people own dslr 's in the UK.

DeeplyDigital

4th of June 2005 (Sat), 11:32

Trumper

4th of June 2005 (Sat), 11:51

The canned air didn't work for me. Dirt was stuck tight after moisture from a sailing trip.

Warehouse Express delivered very quickly, Eclipse fluid worked great and it is easy to use.

If you come to Dublin for a break I'll clean your sensor for free. The trip probably costs less than the Canon service.

Julia
WOW,thanks for that,i'll remember that if i get scared when i order the stuff LOL,cheers.
Ive put a photo on here i took today to show the muck, i can Paintshop pro it out but i think a spring clean is needed.

Trumper

5th of June 2005 (Sun), 07:02

This link [ http://www.fixationuk.com/ ] was posted by Wibbly on another thread on this forum so i've looked at the website and gleaned this information from it,hope it helps someone,i may give them a ring as they stock the sensor cleaning stuff and will show you how to clean it.

http://www.fixationuk.com/
http://www.fixationuk.com/news.htm
SENSOR CLEANING UPDATE!

Visible Dust Sensor Brushes Now in Stock
Our first shipment of these highly-recommended specialist brushes from Canada are just arriving and we are taking orders. Prices are shown in the sensor-cleaning accessory table at the end of this item. Our technicians have tested a sample over the last few weeks and believe they will help photographers clean the majority of dust from their camera sensors much more easily than with other methods. Whilst we have not found that they remove 100% of particles, they do very easily remove about 95% of dry dust particles. Each kit contains a thick sensor brush as well as a lighter brush for cleaning either smaller specs or the surrounding mirror-box area. Click here to go straight to the Visible Dust website for technical specification and expert advice.

We have made some revisions to our Sensor Cleaning Service recently, which is now undertaken on the following basis. Our technicians will clean the mirror box area of the camera including the underside of the focus screen before cleaning the sensor itself. They will not clean the viewfinder. They will clean the body cap if supplied, or the rear element area of any lens fitted to the camera on presentation. They will clean the accessible surface of the sensor, or the integral filter fitted in front of it, as best possible. We cannot guarantee to remove every particle on the surface, but in the majority of cases, the sensor is left very clean. We will not remove the filter to clean beneath it under the while-you-wait service if particles have got between the filter and the sensor. If this is the case, then full dismantling of the camera is required and it will need to be left with us. Our labour charge for this will be £95 for small sensors (Nikon, and Canon except Eos1DS). We regret it is not possible to clean between the filter and sensor of full-frame sensor cameras, either Kodak or Canon. (We regret that a previous version of this information did infer that this is possible.) Because of the difficulty of cleaning full-frame sensors, we reserve the right to request customers to leave these cameras with us for up to 1 hour. In addition, our labour charges for cleaning full-frame sensors have been increased with immediate effect to £50 +VAT. Non-full-frame sensors continue to be chargeable at £25 +VAT. Fixation accepts no responsibility for any faults arising after the camera has been removed from our premises following Sensor cleaning. I n particular, clients should be aware that dust on the rear elements of other lenses will quickly transfer into the mirror box and onto the sensor as soon as the equipment is used.

Alternatively, if you are unable to visit our showroom on a regular basis, we can supply packs of special cleaning swabs and cleaning fluid, to enable you to do this yourself. We will also advise on cleaning technique and other equipment you might find useful:

"Digi-Pads" - hand-made from lint-free tissue (Nikon/D30/D60/10D/20D-Size 1 or EOS 1D/1DmkII - size3): £16.95 plus VAT for 10
NEW! Full-Size Digi-Pads for Kodak DCS Pro 14N/SLRN/C and Canon EOS 1DS/1D-SmkII: £16.95 plus VAT for 10
Cleaning Fluid: £8.95 plus VAT
Canon Rubber bulb air-blowers: £20 plus VAT
"Hurricane" or "Rocket" bulb air-blowers; £10 plus VAT
CO2 Spray Kit: £17 plus VAT (includes a nozzle and 3 canisters of compressed CO2 - Produced with no propellant and ideal for sensor cleaning). The cannisters give much more power to clean dust and particles from the mirror box and sensor area than can be achieved with hand blowers.
Re-fill canisters: £2.00 Each plus VAT
Specgrabber! Ideal for removing individual specs which won't cooperate with other methods. Reusable. £9.95 +VAT
NEW!Visible Dust Sensor Brushes 1.6X size for Nikon/Canon D30/60/10D/20D: £55 +VAT. 1.3X size for Canon Eos1D/1DmkII: £61 +VAT. Full size for Canon Eos1DS/1DSmkII and Kodak: £67 +VAT. 8mm mirror-box brush: £18 +VAT.

Phil V

13th of June 2005 (Mon), 14:20

Did you have to cut the glue applicator to size?,did the nylon brush work ok,sorry to be a pest.

Sorry it took a while but;
No the glue applicator is slightly undersize, 2 sweeps are required (massive overlap).
Nylon brush worked OK for most dust.
You're not a pest I don't revisit my posts very often.:o