Sensor and Dust cleaning - my experience

All my issues with dust on the sensor and in the viewfinder have come about from using a blower to try and blow the dust away. Dust particles on the focusing screen,were actually forced deeper into the pentaprism, rather than helping, the blower moved the dust onto the super impose screen (above the 5dm2 focusing screen).

To remove this dust (I know it doens't effect the images, but it is just annoying in the viewfinder) I had to follow the procedures outlined by Shimworld to remove the dust from the SI screen.

http://shimworld.wordp​ress.com …-the-5d-mk-ii-viewfinder/

What I found to be of great use was the Arctic Butterfly, I've swept my sensor, mirror, focusing screen, Super Impose screen very lightly without any detrimental effects or visible scratches. It managed to remove all the dust particles from all the important viewing surfaces in the mirror box.

It pays to have the different brushes for the Arctic Butterfly, the angled head on the mirror brush allows you to get into the tight angles which is perfect for the mirror, focusing screen and the SI screen. Using different brushes prevents you from contaminating the sensor, as this has one exclusive brush. Also if you get other brushes don't forget the required adaptor to fit them to the Arctic Butterfly.

where did you get that loupe from? i love the fact that you can see the streaks on your sensor.

got a link?

nvm, found it http://cgi.ebay.com …ories?hash=item​230689e974

I use the Arctic Butterfly and yes, it does work. But a simple artists brush kept for the purpose works just as well. It can be static charged by using a can of compressed air on it, and is considerably cheaper.

The Arctic Butterfly is horrendously expensive and way over packaged.

My vote goes firmly for the Lenspen products. Cheap and very effective.

Are the swabs you used pre-moistened? I've seen the method where you wrap some papers around a stick but I've been reluctant to do that for fear of contaminating it in the process. I believe I have some lube on my 5D's sensor since it doesn't go anywhere despite repeated cleanings with the Copper Hill sensor sweep.

mike_d wrote in post #9994703
Are the swabs you used pre-moistened? I've seen the method where you wrap some papers around a stick but I've been reluctant to do that for fear of contaminating it in the process. I believe I have some lube on my 5D's sensor since it doesn't go anywhere despite repeated cleanings with the Copper Hill sensor sweep.

Mike,
A static brush will have no effect on lubricant, actually, it will pick it up and spread it across the surface. Your brush should be decontaminated as per the instructions and a wet system should be your next step to remove the lubricant from your sensor surface.
Regards,
Nicholas
www.copperhillimages.c​om

mike_d wrote in post #9994703
Are the swabs you used pre-moistened? I've seen the method where you wrap some papers around a stick but I've been reluctant to do that for fear of contaminating it in the process. I believe I have some lube on my 5D's sensor since it doesn't go anywhere despite repeated cleanings with the Copper Hill sensor sweep.

No, the visible dust products come seperate you just add three drops to the sensor swab.
Cleaning off lube may require a different solution, Visible Dust have different solutions for different cleaning purposes.

Nicholas from copperhillimages may be able to recommend something from his range as an alternative, as Visbile dust products are more expensive.

http://www.visibledust​.com/help_wetchart.php

Lowner wrote in post #9994211
I use the Arctic Butterfly and yes, it does work. But a simple artists brush kept for the purpose works just as well. It can be static charged by using a can of compressed air on it, and is considerably cheaper.

The Arctic Butterfly is horrendously expensive and way over packaged.

My vote goes firmly for the Lenspen products. Cheap and very effective.

For me, compressed air is a bit of a problem if you fly as some airport security won't let you take it, it is difficult to find in other countries. But if you don't fly a lot it is a good alternative, be careful not to spray the sensor brush with the compressed air propellant. I find the Arctic butterfly although more expensive a simpler process.

I like lenspens as well, but I would'nt reuse them over and over as the contaminent potentially remains on the lenspen head, at least with the arctic butterfly there is a chance it might fly off when you spin it.

This appears to be the kit pictured in this thread...

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Arctic_Butterfl​y_Pro.html

Here is the Visible Dust kit for full frame...

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Butterfly_724_S​ensor.html


And a cheaper kit for full frame...

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_SL_700_Kit.htm​l#features

And for 1.6x...

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Butterfly_724_S​ensor.html


Lots of other products too. Just go to B&H website and enter Visible Dust in the search box.

[QUOTE=DANATTHEROCK;99​98236]This appears to be the kit pictured in this thread...

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Arctic_Butterfl​y_Pro.html

Thanks for the links Dana, I actually got my brush set and Arctic Butterfly seperately from different sources. It was cheaper than the full kit and I was able to get the 724 Brite model which has the illuminating led.

[QUOTE=DANATTHEROCK;99​98236]

Here is the Visible Dust kit for full frame...

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Butterfly_724_S​ensor.html[QUOTE=DANATTHEROCK;99​98236]

I find the focusing screen and mirror swabs included in this kit a waste of time, as you can use the normal swabs for the same purpose, if you need different angles you can bend the normal swabs easily. What they should have included is the corner swabs for those tight hard to get areas and edges. I use these more as you can just target a spot instead of having to swipe the whole sensor.

Yeah, I got the led loupe as well. Like a year ago, never even used it. Had one spec of dust, well... one spot that showed up on my images. I used a blower and got rid of it. So the kit ($250+) has sit on the shelf in my den ever since. But... I will soon need it. Ha ha... Visible Dust has one great product from what I can see. Very high quality feel to it.

Oh, by the way, thanks for the info and pictures on sensor cleaning. It is of help to many, me included. I am still a bit apprehensive about cleaning my sensor. Looks pretty straight forward, but the risk are high.

DANATTHEROCK wrote in post #9998288
Oh, by the way, thanks for the info and pictures on sensor cleaning. It is of help to many, me included. I am still a bit apprehensive about cleaning my sensor. Looks pretty straight forward, but the risk are high.

Wet cleaning is the most risky, without proper technique and following the instructions "explicitly" you could actually make it worse. The main issue is not to use too little or too much solution, just the right amount. Too much may leave streaks, too little may cause uneven cleaning and depending on pressure used, scratches. Try not to reuse the swabs.

Dry cleaning can also cause a few problems if your brush picks up lubricants in the mirror chamber. It pays to clean the brush head in the 100% ispropyl alcohol, before you use it and reasonably often, and make sure it's dry.

My advise is a very light touch, always swab or brush in one direction, then turn over and go in the other direction. never "scrub". Always spin the butterfly after one pass of the brush.