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Thread started 06 Jul 2006 (Thursday) 21:01
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Sensor Cleaning

 
DallasG
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Jul 06, 2006 21:01 |  #1

Can I use normal cleaning solution on the sensor? First I got a nice piece of dust on the sensor and a small fibre, got the fibre off and the dust just wouldn't go, so I handed the camera to someone else and they managed to get a smudge on it, now I must get it off, very important pictures need to be taken in the next 5 hours or so! Let me know ASAP! Thanks!

I posted this as a reply to another post but haven't gotten a reply yet, a quick response would be favorable! Thanks a lot!




  
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ssim
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Jul 06, 2006 22:08 |  #2

What do you mean by normal cleaning solution. If you are referring to lens cleaner, I would probably say no. I have never heard of anyone doing that.

Have you tried all the normal things like the rocket blower or similar.

Given that you are up against a deadline is it not better to error on the side of safety and live with the dust and fix them in post processing.


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BryanP
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Jul 06, 2006 22:19 as a reply to  @ ssim's post |  #3

ssim wrote:
What do you mean by normal cleaning solution. If you are referring to lens cleaner, I would probably say no. I have never heard of anyone doing that.

Have you tried all the normal things like the rocket blower or similar.

Given that you are up against a deadline is it not better to error on the side of safety and live with the dust and fix them in post processing.

A blower wouldn't be feasible in his case since now he has a smudge.
-------------

I wouldn't recommend putting any liquid solution in that area of the camera.

Sorry, but I definitely have no recommendation in removing smudges but I hope you find some way to get that cleaned.

Maybe you can take it in to some camera shop that does Canon camera maintenance and let them know about the situation (call them first), and maybe they can do it on the spot - I've been in situations before where my lens suddenly stopped functioning properly and the dealer was nice enough to check out the problem and fix it same day (they were relatively easy fixes to the mechanically inclined, but I do not touch the internals of my lenses so I wouldn't know how to perform such things).

Other than that, unless you REALLY know what you're doing, do not put any liquid solution in there.


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DallasG
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Jul 06, 2006 22:28 |  #4

A VERY small amount of Isopropyl Alcohol




  
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nation
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Jul 06, 2006 22:28 |  #5

Personally I wouldn't let anything other than Eclipse solution on a Pec Pad touch my sensor.

Eclipse is refined methanol. Refined meaning that it has as much contaminents as possible removed. If I remember correctly something in the vacinity of 50 parts per million or less is contaminants in methanol. You could try pure methanol which will have more contaminents. It won't damage the sensor just leave a thin film. Pec Pads are essentially lint free pieces of cloth. If you can't get hold of Eclipse or PecPads then you can try the pure methanol and lint free cloth alternatives.


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SkipD
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Jul 06, 2006 22:30 as a reply to  @ DallasG's post |  #6

DallasG wrote:
A VERY small amount of Isopropyl Alcohol

If you use commonly available isopropyl alcohol, it will have water mixed in with the alcohol - NOT a good cleaning fluid for the sensor filter. Pure methanol is the recommended cleaning fluid for sensors, and special pads such as PEC pads are needed to do the job properly. Q-Tips are definitely not the way to go.


Skip Douglas
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joayne
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Jul 06, 2006 22:31 |  #7

CopperHill.....Please

http://www.pbase.com/c​opperhill/ccd_cleaning (external link)


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Tsmith
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Jul 06, 2006 22:41 as a reply to  @ DallasG's post |  #8

DallasG wrote:
A VERY small amount of Isopropyl Alcohol

Your gonna make a big mistake _ do as Skip has already told you in another thread or do your photo shoot and get a sensor cleaning kit later.




  
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jdkeck
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Jul 06, 2006 22:51 |  #9

I have gotten smears using Pec pads and Eclipse if there was too much Eclipse. Fortunately there wasn't any damage, jst some extra time on my part. Copperhill instructions are very clear about using too much fluid, but it is had to control the Eclipse because of its low surface tension. I would not recommend using anything but Eclipse on the sensor. I know this isn't what you want to hear, but you are risking permanently damaging the sensor.

Jeff


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wilflee
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Jul 06, 2006 23:17 |  #10

I've been using a blower. If that doesn't work, a lens pen. And if that doesn't work (eg. stubborn dust or smudge), send it back to Canon for free cleaning. High tech cleaning solutions and swabs cost too much and I still run the risk of flooding or scratching it with my fat fingers.




  
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scottbergerphoto
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Jul 07, 2006 07:01 as a reply to  @ joayne's post |  #11

joayne wrote:
CopperHill.....Please

http://www.pbase.com/c​opperhill/ccd_cleaning (external link)

Ditto!!!!!!


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JBGraphic
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Jul 17, 2006 11:00 |  #12
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superdiver
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Jul 17, 2006 11:28 as a reply to  @ SkipD's post |  #13

SkipD wrote:
If you use commonly available isopropyl alcohol, it will have water mixed in with the alcohol - NOT a good cleaning fluid for the sensor filter. Pure methanol is the recommended cleaning fluid for sensors, and special pads such as PEC pads are needed to do the job properly. Q-Tips are definitely not the way to go.


Why are q-tips so bad? I have read this many times. Is it that they leave more cotton fibers behind?


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SkipD
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Jul 17, 2006 11:35 as a reply to  @ superdiver's post |  #14

superdiver wrote:
Why are q-tips so bad? I have read this many times. Is it that they leave more cotton fibers behind?

That's part of it. The other thing is that no Q-Tip that I have ever seen is truly micro-clean to start with. There could be all sorts of tiny dust and dirt particles embedded in them that you would not want to grind into the sensor filter (or lenses, for that matter).


Skip Douglas
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..... but still learning all the time.

  
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Southswede
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Jul 17, 2006 14:19 |  #15

Try the "Lens Pen".

http://www.lenspen.com …roducts_id=DM-C1&tpid=146 (external link)




  
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