Is CPS Gold worth it for sensor cleaning?

Is buying CPS Gold worth it for the sensor cleaning?

I was going to have my 5d2 sensor cleaned by a local shop and they wanted $50 to do it. Camera is usesable but has dust spots that wont blow away with rocket blower. So I started looking at other options.

1) have local shop do the cleaning
2) buy all the tools to do it myself, I am pretty handy and don't see this to be difficult with the right tools.
3) pay for CPS gold and have them do both cameras for $100 (assuming that "Canon Maintenance Service (CMS) for DSLR & EF Lens" also means cleaning)
4) I've had the dusty sensor for a least a year. It is just my backup camera and It is not too hard to edit out when shooting at small apertures. Last option is just to leave it.

I don't do photography for a living and other than the CMS all their other benefits don't really interest me.

I have the following canon products:
5d2
5d3
70-200 2.8L IS v1
24-105L
580ex2 (x2)
(All work great and I don't anticipate needing repairs)

If all my gear was canon this would be an easier choice, but most of my lenses and lights are 3rd party.

In mho, it all depends on how often you would be sending gear in for service or cleaning. You get very fast turnaround and a discount on the service. And I've had great service quality from them. I use them for sensor cleaning and have been happy with the results. I've also had several lens cleaned when they had internal dust. Just my .02

I'd go with CPS. They do a lot more than just clean the sensor. The clean the viewfinder, replace the coin-type memory battery if needed, update your firmware, and check the entire camera for problems. Plus, you get a cool CPS camera strap. If you don't want that, you can sell it here or on ebay, usually for around $50. Well worth the price.

losangelino wrote in post #17100602
Is buying CPS Gold worth it for the sensor cleaning?

I was going to have my 5d2 sensor cleaned by a local shop and they wanted $50 to do it. Camera is usesable but has dust spots that wont blow away with rocket blower. So I started looking at other options.

1) have local shop do the cleaning
2) buy all the tools to do it myself, I am pretty handy and don't see this to be difficult with the right tools.
3) pay for CPS gold and have them do both cameras for $100 (assuming that "Canon Maintenance Service (CMS) for DSLR & EF Lens" also means cleaning)
4) I've had the dusty sensor for a least a year. It is just my backup camera and It is not too hard to edit out when shooting at small apertures. Last option is just to leave it.

I don't do photography for a living and other than the CMS all their other benefits don't really interest me.

I have the following canon products:
5d2
5d3
70-200 2.8L IS v1
24-105L
580ex2 (x2)
(All work great and I don't anticipate needing repairs)

If all my gear was canon this would be an easier choice, but most of my lenses and lights are 3rd party.

if the other CPS features don't interest you then cleaning a sensor is a very easy DIY with swab, pec pads and eclipse solution - $20 for the kit that will last 000's of cleanings

Does the 5 free camera maintenance mean free lens and sensor cleaning? Or is it just discounted

What does canon typically charge for a cleaning?

If you only want your sensor cleaning then you'd be better off doing it yourself. It's a five minute job which you can do as and when required, and it'll cost you a fraction of what a third party would charge. Also you don't have the hassle of sending your camera away.

gibbit1 wrote in post #17101017
I'd go with CPS. They do a lot more than just clean the sensor. The clean the viewfinder, replace the coin-type memory battery if needed, update your firmware, and check the entire camera for problems. Plus, you get a cool CPS camera strap. If you don't want that, you can sell it here or on ebay, usually for around $50. Well worth the price.

They split the camera case in half to change the coin battery? That's a pretty good deal then.

Oh it's worth it. I sent in a 70-200 f2.8 mk I in with a loose front lens element, it wobbled a lot. The cleaned the lens and fix it for free! I typically try to send in cameras and lenses for clean and adjustment every year.

With CPS Gold, you can also borrow lenses and bodies for the cost of return shipping and insurance

Frodge wrote in post #17101487
They split the camera case in half to change the coin battery? That's a pretty good deal then.

???

I have no idea what you mean by this. They simply change it. No need to split the camera case. At least, not on my cameras.

On a lot of the cameras the button cell is on the main board.....

Frodge wrote in post #17102848
On a lot of the cameras the button cell is on the main board.....

Not the DSLRs from Canon, there is an accessible panel for a quick DIY.

http://cpn.canon-europe.com …ries/care_of_ba​tteries.do

Also, for those that have to ship equipment to Canon, getting Gold CPS to just clean a few pieces of equipment seems like it might not be worth, when considering the total cost for the year. You would send your bodies with insurance, and if you need a body while sending others, you are looking at at least 2 different shipping charges.

Where is he accessible panel on a 60d or T3i? There isn't one, it's on the main board.
.....and it's the most stupid design I've ever heard of.

john crossley wrote in post #17101484
If you only want your sensor cleaning then you'd be better off doing it yourself. It's a five minute job which you can do as and when required, and it'll cost you a fraction of what a third party would charge. Also you don't have the hassle of sending your camera away.

^^^THis. I trust my ability cleaning the sensor much more than some tech at the lab. They might have more experience doing it day after day, but they are my cameras and I pay a lot more attention to getting it done right even if it required multiple but gentler cleanings. I take the time to test between passes concentrating on the areas needing more attention and when complete, it's as near spotless as can me.