Cleaning Sensor Question :(

$75 for 12... ouch

I use the copperhill kit - 1 pack of pecpads has lasted me years (you can cut them in to quarters).

It might sound strange, but if you find that you are pushing the dust/dirt around, then you can try a cleaning without using the eclipse fluid (you should only be using 1-2 drops anyway) - the dry pad can pick up the dirt better.

A quick blast with a blower (like the rocket blower) first can help too...though it only ever gets rid of the big stuff (fluff/hair) for me - the small bits of dust/dirt/grease always need a wet clean to remove them.

Frodge wrote in post #16484808
They need to come up with a better alternative than those swabs. They leave stuff behind.

I agree, do you have any idea how Canon cleans them?

Do they manually wet swab them?

Copperhill kit here too. 100 pads for 9 bucks. The eclipse lasts as well, as you only need 2 drops per pad.

I've looked at the dry method with the brush, which uses static to pick up the crud, but I don't know how that would clean the sensor of oily/crud.

Copperhill kit! Not easy at first and the job can be time consuming. NEVER use the same "Pad" twice!
Use a Rocket Blower first with the back of the camera facing up. Blow up using the rocket so that any stuff will fall out, then 2 drops on the Copper Hills swab, wait 10 sec or so then "Swab" your sensor using even pressure across your sensor's filter (you are not actually touching the sensor). Slide the swab to the area not touched by the pad, with out removing the tool from the sensor area, "Swipe" the other direction using the other side to your starting point. Pressure should not be more than wrighting with a ink pen. Follow up by turning off your camera and getting another Pad ready. 2 drops, 10 sec and do it again. After about 6 times, dry "Swab" once and blow again with the Rocket Blower, blowing up into the camera. After a few cleanings you will get the hang of it, and find out what works best for you. If you use canned air, not reccomended, one quick burst away from the camera then short half squezes up like the Rocket Blower. Do not shake the can and do not use the straw that comes with these cans!

Haribo wrote in post #16484822
$75 for 12... ouch

I use the copperhill kit - 1 pack of pecpads has lasted me years (you can cut them in to quarters).
.

the Copperhill kit is good or the Amazon kit with pec pads and eclipse fluid

seall wrote in post #16484824
I agree, do you have any idea how Canon cleans them?

Do they manually wet swab them?

I've been told they use some sort of pen.

I'm a careful guy. I've worked on small hardware for two decades. The pec pads definitively leave more behind than what you start with. It becomes an exercise in futility. I have good eyesight too, so that makes matters worse. Fibers get caught on the edges. Spots get moved from one spot to the next etc. It's a system where you have to sonit many times to become an expert at it. I would rather someone come out with a system with disposable one use pens. You shouldn't have to practice, practice, practice to clean dust specs off a plastic filter.
It should be more simplistic of an exercise.

aliengin wrote in post #16475566
Ha! OK, after you clean it wait a few minutes to dry and use rocket blower to dust off those tiny fibers. They are not dust, they are the fibers from the swab and they clean way easy all you have to do gently blow it do now use a powerful blower.

That's been my experience too. I find that after swabbing I need to brush the left-behind bits.

jay125 wrote in post #16484797
Just out of curiosity, do you have a rocket blower? Like a giottos rocket blower? I found that most of the crap on my sensor was removed by using the rocket blower first.

My advice, grab a rocket blower, order up some more pec pads, take a deep breath and try again. You really aren't alone in this, we have all done this, with the same frustration. Truly what you have in that corner is an easy clean.

Check this for the rocket blower. Very inexpensive and very handy to have around.

Okay, so I've gotten it pretty clean. A few spots left but nothing major. I ended up using pec pads (that I ordered with the first set of Sensor Swabs). I used the plastic sticks from the Sensor Swabs and wrapped the pec pads around them. They seem to work even better than the actual Sensor Swabs! Or maybe it's just that I'm getting the technique down. I have a question regarding 2 spots though that will not budge! I know one of them has been there since I bought my 5D3 brand new. They are very small but they just won't budge (after like 30 swabsops Do I need to use something other than Eclipse fluid?

Cheers

Sometimes I wish for the simpler days of "darkroom dust".

CaPpedDoG wrote in post #16485601
Okay, so I've gotten it pretty clean. A few spots left but nothing major. I ended up using pec pads (that I ordered with the first set of Sensor Swabs). I used the plastic sticks from the Sensor Swabs and wrapped the pec pads around them. They seem to work even better than the actual Sensor Swabs! Or maybe it's just that I'm getting the technique down. I have a question regarding 2 spots though that will not budge! I know one of them has been there since I bought my 5D3 brand new. They are very small but they just won't budge (after like 30 swabsops Do I need to use something other than Eclipse fluid?

Cheers

I honestly think it gets to the point where you leave one or two tiny specs alone and clone them out with software or dust delete data. It's shoveling proverbial **** into the tide.

seall wrote in post #16484824
I agree, do you have any idea how Canon cleans them?

Frodge wrote in post #16485057
I've been told they use some sort of pen.

That's what I used to use - the Lenspen Sensorklear. I'd give it a good blast with a Rocket Blower first, then I once-over with the pen got rid of the smeary stuff.

hollis_f wrote in post #16485878
That's what I used to use - the Lenspen Sensorklear. I'd give it a good blast with a Rocket Blower first, then I once-over with the pen got rid of the smeary stuff.

I'll second that technique.

hollis_f wrote in post #16485878
That's what I used to use - the Lenspen Sensorklear. I'd give it a good blast with a Rocket Blower first, then I once-over with the pen got rid of the smeary stuff.

What so you use now?

I tend to ignore all but the most serious dust spots and only swab clean my sensors if they get very visibly dusty. Otherwise you end up chasing every last speck of dust on the sensor, viewfinder, focus screen and lens. It's like chasing your tail. Cloning out/ dust delete data, etc., only takes a moment or two and maintains your sanity.