How aboaut personal experience in sensor dust cleaning

[Horacio]

I am having dust in my nikon D800 sensor after more than 10000 shots.
I would like to about personal experiences on cleaning yourselves the sensor with the appropiate tools
Sending the camera to do that to Nikon in my country is not possible!!
Tahnk you.

[mike_j]

Re: How aboaut personal experience in sensor dust cleaning

I had to do it quite regularly on my Leica M8. I used a Delkin Sensor Scope kit an had no problems. The first time I was very cautious but after a few cleans it seemed quite easy and effective.

http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-delkin-sensor-cleaning-system-scope-vac-3-size-wands-and-solution/p1032861

[Horacio]

Re: How aboaut personal experience in sensor dust cleaning

Thank you Mike. ALthough the dust spots can easely be removed by software, it makes me nervous to know about those intruders in the heart of the camera. I was going to buy the same kit.

[devilgas]

Re: How aboaut personal experience in sensor dust cleaning

i used to use eclipse solution and pecpads on a cut down rubber spatula. i now forego the eclipse solution (it dried up!) and just do a dry clean. wet isn't really necessary unless you have smears on the sensor. dust etc should be quite dry and merely need dislodging, although using the eclipse stuff does help hold the dust particles to the pecpad.
i used to take a lot of time and care doing the clean, but having lost count of how many times i've done this process, i am now a lot less fastidious and quickly rip through it. a blower can help to get rid of the moved dust particles if doing a dry clean.

[cowleystjames]

Re: How aboaut personal experience in sensor dust cleaning

Sensor Gel Stick for me if the Rocket blower doesn't remove the dust. If it's still there after that I'll do a wet clean with VisibleDust Plus. This removes anything in my book including oil. But always try blowing it out first with the Mirror locked up. Less is more.

[Horacio]

Re: How aboaut personal experience in sensor dust cleaning

Thank you all. I am encouraging myself to do it.

[Pol]

Re: How aboaut personal experience in sensor dust cleaning

Thank you all. I am encouraging myself to do it.

You'll be ok. Try to do it in a dust-free environment, or as dust-free as possible. For example - best not to have any fans blowing to minimise the chances of getting more dust into the camera chamber. Sit in good light too.

Take a before and after image of a clear sky as that's a good way of seeing if the dust spots are cleared (or at least reduced) on the image. Use a small aperture too for the before after shots eg f/18 or even f/22.

My own dSLR cameras have a built in sensor cleaner these days but I've wet cleaned my older ones using sensor pads and sensor cleaning fluid without any bother. It's not too scarey, honestly. I always liked to mount my camera on a tripod alongside a well-lit window then it was secure and stable when I locked up the mirror and did the deed.

One last word - if the sensor isn't properly cleaned you can always have a second go at it.

Pol

[mike_j]

Re: How aboaut personal experience in sensor dust cleaning

Just one tip, it's a good idea to cover your hair (and in my case beard) when you are doing it. It's easy to get dandruff or whatever into the body when you are leaning over it, no matter how clean your hair is.

[Horacio]

Re: How aboaut personal experience in sensor dust cleaning

Wow, that is becoming like dressing for a surgery of the sensoe. Thank you all again.

[Pol]

Re: How aboaut personal experience in sensor dust cleaning

Wow, that is becoming like dressing for a surgery of the sensoe. Thank you all again.

Spot on (literally).

I usually had my tripod high so that it was slightly above me and also with the camera tilted downwards so that I was looking upwards into he chamber. Probably being too cautious but that's how I always did it anyway.

Seriously though - it's always a great feeling after you've cleaned your own sensor. It gives you the confidence that you can do it again as and when necessary. Besides - it's a low pass filter you're actually cleaning as that's fixed in front of the actual sensor.


Pol