Cleaning the Sensor

So we travel quite a bit into some pretty dusty environments. I'll get the sensor cleaned before leaving but find that changing a lens in the field I will get sensor dust.
Any comments or recommendations would be appreciated.

Get a bulb blower and periodically take off the lens, put the camera in manual cleaning mode, turn the camera with the opening facing down, and use the blower to blow around the mirror box and shutter/sensor. This alone will do wonders in keeping the dust down on the sensor. Just be sure to NOT insert the nozzle that far into the opening at the risk of hitting any critical components, and blow out the bulb about 20 times before the first use to get rid of any dessicant or dust that might be inside the bulb from manufacturing and storage.

and if the bulb blower doesnt shift the dust then pack some sensor wipes/swabs , a little bottle of sensor cleaning fluid and do it yourself. And if your worried about doing it yourself and damaging the sensor dont be ......sensors have a glass outer layer that covers the actual sensor so you arnt going to damage the sensor when you wipe it with a sensor wipe. Ive done all my cameras for 15 years now and never had a problem. Both Mirrorless and DSLR are easy to do. And you will not only save a heap by doing it yourself but you can clean more regularly without having to wait to schedule a clean if you operate in dusty environments. See how to do it here https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=qbJaR0xE1YY

If you do decide to do this make sure you only get reputable sensor swabs and cleaning fluid and not the super cheap stuff found on ebay, amazon etc . Cant go wrong with these https://photosol.com/p​roducts/. Can also buy packs of 100 wipes and make your own swab. Thats even cheaper to buying the prewrapped swabs.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18685182
Get a bulb blower and ...

Thanks for the link. I was looking for one but wasn’t sure which one to get.

There are others too, like the Giottos blower. I tend to get a few (one per camera bag, etc) so I go for the less expensive models. I do the same for the lenspens. I hate finding out that I didn't pack the accessories in whatever bag I use once I get on site and need to clean something.

1) small spray bottle of distilled water
2) microfiber towel
3) lenspen
4) blower

These 4 things have been crucial for me onsite to keep equipment fairly cleaned up through the day.

Instead of spending more money than you have to on a photographic air bulb, just go to the neighborhood drugstore and buy yourself an ear syringe for a child and save yourself a bit of money on something photographic (styled suspiciously like a rocket propelled grenade -- at least to an unknowing TSA agent) and paying shipping.

I surely hope your post was in jest, no reasonable TSA person would ever think that, and if your luggage is being frisked by individual items, you likely have other issues. I think the last time this ever came up was back in 2012 in Europe somewhere. If the blowers with fins cause you any pause in travel, just trim them off, they are superfluous. I agree that a baby nasal aspirator will work too, but when I compare the two I have, the camera based ones seem to put out more air due to the nozzle tip.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18685249
I surely hope your post was in jest, no reasonable TSA person would ever think that, and if your luggage is being frisked by individual items, you likely have other issues. I think the last time this ever came up was back in 2012 in Europe somewhere. If the blowers with fins cause you any pause in travel, just trim them off, they are superfluous. I agree that a baby nasal aspirator will work too, but when I compare the two I have, the camera based ones seem to put out more air due to the nozzle tip.

TSA is in USA only, not in Europe...they may have security, but they are not TSA employees.
BTW, the incident in 2012 was in Newark NJ.

"Apparently a redditor, the marvelously named Gynoceros, was travelling through Newark airport when the TSA confiscated his Giottos Rocket air puffer."

It happened again in late 2013.

"In a photography forum, Surapon recounts the sad story of how the TSA took away his Giottos AA1900 Rocket Air Blaster, a blower for removing dust from equipment, at an airport in New York.
According to him, he was on his way back to North Carolina from Greece when the TSA flagged his camera-case for manual inspection. The TSA agent reportedly produced the rocket-shaped blower, and then he and a colleague grimly pronounced the dangers of this object, should it be filled with gunpowder and then launched like a rocket through the cockpit."

Then again in October 2017
"Posted byu/MatthewTWHuang
http://PicturesByMatt.​com/9 months ago

Giottos Rocket Air Blaster and Airport Security
"So I was flying back from a trip yesterday and my bag was taken by airport security. Mentally, I was going through everything I had in the bag and tried to figure out what could have caused them to take the bag (didn't have any issues on the way there).
First, I thought I could have forgotten a knife or something from camping. Then, maybe the 6 extra batteries for my camera. Maybe Pedco UltraPod II tripod can possibly be seen as "sharp".
Turns out, it was the shape of the Giottos Rocket Air Blaster. I can't remember the exact wording but the security person said 'We can't be too safe. The shape was just like a grenade.'"

So I guess you were serious.

2 cases in 6 years (with a 3rd anecdotal one in the replies)... nothing to get all afraid over. I am sure I saw an article from Turkey or something in the past as well, it just won't be TSA agents that might be cautious in the way you describe.

For these few cases (even if there were 25, or even a 100 cases of this), there are thousands of flights where people never had an issue. No reason to be fearful... And the one I linked to doesn't have "rocket fins". I personally pack a Giottos in my camera bag with all my other gear, and since that bag goes through the scanner separately, I presume every TSA scanner was educated enough to know what that was in relation to camera gear that was sitting right next to it. And our local airport is very strict, it was one of early adopters of body scanners, as frustrating as that was/is.

Common-sense quote from the 2012 "scare" articles:

Now this is comical from 4 years ago!

If you travel in the US and happen to purchase one that has rocket fins, just cut them off, easy peasy. I am sure not everyone wants their rocket sitting upright all the time.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18685312
So I guess you were serious.:

I did originally post somewhat tongue in cheek. But then your 'challenge' made me more curious, so I did a web search and found not only the original 2012 incident, but also incidents in later years posted with attributions to folks and airports. rare, yes, but it apparently has happened more than once.

Just get the Giottos. I have traveled with it many times without incident (as has likely 99.999% of others). It puts out a lot of air at high velocity and it comes in black, not pink.

Thanks for all the comments. I'll pick up some swabs and cleaning fluid.

clipper_from_oz wrote in post #18685196
sensors have a glass outer layer that covers the actual sensor so you arnt going to damage the sensor when you wipe it with a sensor wipe.

The filter over a sensor may be glass but the coatings are possible to scratch reasonably easily if care is not taken and the carp being cleaned is hard grit rather than soft dust.
I've posted this pic before but it's worth repeating occasionally:

I use an Eyelead when a rocket blower doesn't do the trick.
https://photographylif​e.com/product/sensor-gel-stick

I use the one for Sony/Leica for my Leica's (orange). Works great.

There was a period where the coatings on the Canon sensor was less than steller and could be damaged. However I believe this was a 5D2 issue or in models in that time frame. I don't remember if we have seen this situation since though.