Got this in an email from an instructor I had a few modules ago. Thought I'd share his email.
I just spent 3 hours at a CPS (Canon Professional Services) open house, where they were showing the new Canon 5D Mark II. Canon also had a set up with a Canon technician doing free, yes F-R-E-E, sensor cleaning. So, after I put my camera in line, waiting for my turn, I was able to watch first hand how a real live Canon technician actually does sensor cleaning. Mind you, this was not a brief encounter. I stood there and watched him clean no less than 30 cameras over the course of 2+ hours. When I say “watched”, I mean standing two feet in front of him, probing him with questions all the while.
Camera manufacturers will tell you that if you’re going to clean your own sensor, “Never touch your sensor with anything except air from a hand squeezed blower, like the Giottos Rocket Air Blower. Never used canned air” Well, since when do photographers listen to anyone, right? So, what do we do? We go out and buy sensor cleaning kits, with special pads, special solutions, special swabs, etc. Let me tell you how the Canon technician does it. Keep in mind, my quotes are paraphrased.
As soon as he grabbed his can (yes, CAN) of Office Depot brand canned (yes, CANNED) air, I asked, “I thought we weren’t supposed to use canned air on the sensor?” He said, “Well, you have to know how to use it. It can emit damaging components if you don’t do it just right.” I thought, hmmm, looks like he is pulling the trigger, yeah, I can do that. Looks like he’s keeping the can upright... I can do that too. He’s using short little blasts... I can do that as well. Then he grabbed his Lenspen http://www.lenspen.com/
and proceeded to go at that sensor like he was waxing a new Porsche. I watched intently. Hmmm, he’s only rubbing counter-clockwise. I wonder if that makes difference, I thought. I decided that it didn’t. He was also cleaning camera bodies and lenses. He used that Lenspen on any glass surface, with one exception — the mirror. On that he used a Kimberly-Clark Professional Kimwipe (with Lintguard). Yeah, I was taking notes.
The other extremely important thing that he used, which unfortunately in not as inexpensive as the other items, is a lighted loupe that he place right on the lens mount every few seconds to check his progress. This allowed him to see, big and bright, the results of his labors.
The one thing he never used on any of the sensors I watched him clean, was any kind of liquid. I asked him if he ever used a cleaning solution, and he said very very rarely, only if something is really stuck hard on there. In which case he uses a touch of 99% isopropyl alcohol, which is the same solution he was using on the exterior surface of the camera body and lens mount. When he cleaned the mirror, he did a quick exhale to give it a fast fog, and then rubbed it with the Kimwipe. That’s right, he used his breath. I thought, hmmm, I can do that too! Unless he uses a special Canon breath mint. Those are $30 each.
Now, in his defense, I have to say that he is a professional. He does this every day. He knows what he’s doing. And, he was kind enough to share his knowledge. But, in all honesty, it didn’t look that hard. I did probe him with specifics, like “does it matter what brand of canned air you use?” He said that they tried lots of brands and just found that the Office Depot stuff was the best. They said they had some problems with other brands. He also said that it’s hard to find 99% isopropyl alcohol, and that anything less than that can streak. So, he was quite particular.
There are many philosophies and methods to sensor cleaning. Understandably, many photographers don’t want to take the risk and just send the camera to the manufacturer. However, if you’re confident, and careful, you can do it yourself.
Bob
http://www.robertseveri.com
Camera manufacturers will tell you that if you’re going to clean your own sensor, “Never touch your sensor with anything except air from a hand squeezed blower, like the Giottos Rocket Air Blower. Never used canned air” Well, since when do photographers listen to anyone, right? So, what do we do? We go out and buy sensor cleaning kits, with special pads, special solutions, special swabs, etc. Let me tell you how the Canon technician does it. Keep in mind, my quotes are paraphrased.
As soon as he grabbed his can (yes, CAN) of Office Depot brand canned (yes, CANNED) air, I asked, “I thought we weren’t supposed to use canned air on the sensor?” He said, “Well, you have to know how to use it. It can emit damaging components if you don’t do it just right.” I thought, hmmm, looks like he is pulling the trigger, yeah, I can do that. Looks like he’s keeping the can upright... I can do that too. He’s using short little blasts... I can do that as well. Then he grabbed his Lenspen http://www.lenspen.com/
and proceeded to go at that sensor like he was waxing a new Porsche. I watched intently. Hmmm, he’s only rubbing counter-clockwise. I wonder if that makes difference, I thought. I decided that it didn’t. He was also cleaning camera bodies and lenses. He used that Lenspen on any glass surface, with one exception — the mirror. On that he used a Kimberly-Clark Professional Kimwipe (with Lintguard). Yeah, I was taking notes.The other extremely important thing that he used, which unfortunately in not as inexpensive as the other items, is a lighted loupe that he place right on the lens mount every few seconds to check his progress. This allowed him to see, big and bright, the results of his labors.
The one thing he never used on any of the sensors I watched him clean, was any kind of liquid. I asked him if he ever used a cleaning solution, and he said very very rarely, only if something is really stuck hard on there. In which case he uses a touch of 99% isopropyl alcohol, which is the same solution he was using on the exterior surface of the camera body and lens mount. When he cleaned the mirror, he did a quick exhale to give it a fast fog, and then rubbed it with the Kimwipe. That’s right, he used his breath. I thought, hmmm, I can do that too! Unless he uses a special Canon breath mint. Those are $30 each.
Now, in his defense, I have to say that he is a professional. He does this every day. He knows what he’s doing. And, he was kind enough to share his knowledge. But, in all honesty, it didn’t look that hard. I did probe him with specifics, like “does it matter what brand of canned air you use?” He said that they tried lots of brands and just found that the Office Depot stuff was the best. They said they had some problems with other brands. He also said that it’s hard to find 99% isopropyl alcohol, and that anything less than that can streak. So, he was quite particular.
There are many philosophies and methods to sensor cleaning. Understandably, many photographers don’t want to take the risk and just send the camera to the manufacturer. However, if you’re confident, and careful, you can do it yourself.
Bob
http://www.robertseveri.com
