help, how to get rid of this spot?

blonde wrote in post #3938403
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't listen to this advice!!!!

Agreed. Only use proper tools / fluids on the sensor.

I bought a copperhill cleaning kit that came with pec pads and eclipse fluid. I've used that a few times with success. I don't own a rocket blower. Not sure I'd use one to clean a sensor either... maybe to clean the cavity first before opening the shutters while holding the camera upside down if anything.

JaertX wrote in post #3938832
Neither of you have tried it, have you?

I have (on two different 5D's, a 20D and a D200), I know quite a few other photographers who don't use anything but q-tips and Kodak lens cleaner. You have to be careful, for sure, but it works and costs pennies for each sensor cleaning.

Well, perhaps that is fine... but telling somebody that doesn't know what a sensor spot is to swipe it with a Qtip is asking for disaster. Having proper fluid on it is also important missing information.

The fluid would help with stray fibres, but that is why I would avoid it.

RAitch wrote in post #3938847
Agreed. Only use proper tools / fluids on the sensor.

I bought a copperhill cleaning kit that came with pec pads and eclipse fluid. I've used that a few times with success. I don't own a rocket blower. Not sure I'd use one to clean a sensor either... maybe to clean the cavity first before opening the shutters while holding the camera upside down if anything.

The biggest danger with using cotton Q-tips is that the fibres can stick to the mirror box. They then will "migrate" to the sensor and become "dust".

I certainly won't use them to clean the mirror box - I have and when I took the cam in for service, they said, "have you been using Q-tips? they leave fibres on the mirror box." Safe for the sensor though.

One other comment - the reason using a bulb blower aka Rocket blower is often not too effective is because when you sqeeze the air out, it blows away dust, and when you release the bulb to let it fill with air, where does the air come from? From dusty air of course. So generally you're just re-cycling the dust.

RAitch wrote in post #3938864
Well, perhaps that is fine... but telling somebody that doesn't know what a sensor spot is to swipe it with a Qtip is asking for disaster. Having proper fluid on it is also important missing information.

The fluid would help with stray fibres, but that is why I would avoid it.

You're absolutely right...I've been working with small electronics for a long time and am very careful. I haven't had a problem. The inside finish on the mirror box is flocked and will grab fibers...you can't touch it.

I use a dry q-tip on the first go around and then blow the mirror box out. If anything is still stuck to the sensor, a little fluid and another q-tip fixes the problem. I understand how some would be fearful of trying it, but it certainly works.

Glenn NK wrote in post #3938870
The biggest danger with using cotton Q-tips is that the fibres can stick to the mirror box. They then will "migrate" to the sensor and become "dust".

I certainly won't use them to clean the mirror box - I have and when I took the cam in for service, they said, "have you been using Q-tips? they leave fibres on the mirror box." Safe for the sensor though.

One other comment - the reason using a bulb blower aka Rocket blower is often not too effective is because when you sqeeze the air out, it blows away dust, and when you release the bulb to let it fill with air, where does the air come from? From dusty air of course. So generally you're just re-cycling the dust.

I agree about the fibers...you have to be careful. But are people who use the copperhill products or visible dust products reckless when they use them?

Anyway...the Rocket Blower's are supposed to have a check valve and a filter in them to keep that problem from happening. The one I have doesn't work that well though, so I have to watch that too.

RE copperhill... they recommend actually taping the pad around the stick. play your cards right, and that can be around where the rough edges of the box are.
Even if you nick the edges (because the copperhill tool is clunkier than a qtip) I haven't had problems with stray fibres.

Glenn, looks like you have some revisions to make to include information about qtip cleaning (you forgot that)

to clean your sensor you need to take college classes and get a masters

arizona85224 wrote in post #3938937
to clean your sensor you need to take college classes and get a masters

Or the sky will fall in.

JaertX wrote in post #3938914
I agree about the fibers...you have to be careful.

I think this is the key. Be careful.

If you are uncomfortable, send it away. That won't guarantee dust-free though... now or in the near future.

It seems kind of daring at first, but if you follow instructions, it's really not that bad. Perhaps the hardest thing is preventing yourself from re-using material that potentially already has foreign material on it (which you could then use to scratch the surface).
All of these kits really play on the cautious side of things. Could you reuse a pec pad? Probably. Could it cause harm? Probably could. That's why they'll tell you never to do it.

Remember that there is a protective layer that is in front of the sensor. You're not actually cleaning the sensor. That being said, you don't want to screw around and end up with scratches and what not on the surface.

Maybe sending it in is the best advice.

Q-tips work well for me and many others...but it may be horrible advice to just throw out there on the net.

I think if someone wants to try it, they should try cleaning a lens element with it first and see what you can do. If you have problems with that, definitely don't try it on the sensor.

Glenn NK wrote in post #3938870
One other comment - the reason using a bulb blower aka Rocket blower is often not too effective is because when you sqeeze the air out, it blows away dust, and when you release the bulb to let it fill with air, where does the air come from? From dusty air of course. So generally you're just re-cycling the dust.

I agree that this can be a problem but the Giotto Rocket Blowers actually intake air at the bottom which in theory minimizes the risk of blowing out the dust you just dislodged.

oh... i thought when i do the manual sensor cleaning thing, that the camera automatically cleans it itself... lol
but now from you guys help , i did that and took out the lense, and saw a totally different scene,. so i guess this where i was suppose to blow wit the rocketblower
well,, i think it works.. but ill try some test shots when the sun is up to check it out
thanks everyone!

RAitch wrote in post #3938864
Well, perhaps that is fine... but telling somebody that doesn't know what a sensor spot is to swipe it with a Qtip is asking for disaster. Having proper fluid on it is also important missing information.

The fluid would help with stray fibres, but that is why I would avoid it.

that was my point. it is not that i think that the Q tip won't work. but i just think that unless you know what you are doing, a Q tip can really scratch the sensor and leave fibers all over the place which is why it is a bad advice to give to a new DSLR user with 0 experience.

It might be worth reading the following thread; the OP used the "proper" cleaning kit and scratched his sensor whereas I scratched mine using something else.

It really comes down to the care and attention that is used, not so much the tools themselves. On that we should agree.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=375935

tommy52 wrote in post #3940457
oh... i thought when i do the manual sensor cleaning thing, that the camera automatically cleans it itself... lol
but now from you guys help , i did that and took out the lense, and saw a totally different scene,. so i guess this where i was suppose to blow wit the rocketblower
well,, i think it works.. but ill try some test shots when the sun is up to check it out
thanks everyone!

You can check at any time. Don't have to wait for the sun.
Just take a shot of a white piece of paper at F22 so it's a normal exposure (mid grey) and you'll see it.

In fact, if your exposure is going to be a few seconds indoors, you can click one off while you keep moving the camera aimed at something like a lightsource. Even though your image will blur out from the motion, your spots won't be moving.
Remember, if you're taking a picture of something without contrast (blank piece of paper) use manual focus. The AF system needs lines of contrast to lock on.