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05/29/2005 12:46:45 AM · #1 |
I found in a thread posting a link to canon europe's knowledge base. Upon reading it I can across this rather interesting bit:
Why does my digital camera have to be returned to a Canon Service Centre when the sensor needs cleaning?
Canon service technicians clean EOS digital image sensors (more accurately, the anti-aliasing filter in front of the sensor) by rubbing them with a lint-free tissue soaked in a solution that's 50% alcohol and 50% glass cleaner. The soaked tissue is wrapped around a special pair of tweezers.
Canon does not endorse any sensor cleaning method that involves camera owners touching the sensor because it cannot accept any liability for damage that might be done by the owners.
The last paragraph is there for obvious reasons, but what I fount most interesting was the cleaning method and chemical used. It is a secret no more!
the site if you care to look //www.cps.canon-europe.com/kb/index.jsp
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05/29/2005 12:57:14 AM · #2 |
First the alcohol must be defined. Get this info and we will have a more complete profile. Certainly they mean pure alcohol because of its quick evaporation. They are not saying. I must add: there is great danger here of making a serious error. The tisuue they talk about could be some type of a pad and the tweezers must be so special, probably locking tweezers. Not for the neophyte.
Message edited by author 2005-05-29 01:00:15. |
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05/29/2005 01:12:43 AM · #3 |
Its amazing how simple some things really are. I used to work in a TV repair shop (teenage shop rat, NOT a technician). I once saw a tech washing a TV chassis in the utility sink, as in submerging it and hosing it off - YOW! he said as long as it is dry before you turn it on, no problem.
Not something you'd do, now is it? But it does work. I have cleaned computer keyboards using this methodology many times without issue. It totally freaks people out if they see you do it!
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05/29/2005 03:31:52 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
Its amazing how simple some things really are. I used to work in a TV repair shop (teenage shop rat, NOT a technician). I once saw a tech washing a TV chassis in the utility sink, as in submerging it and hosing it off - YOW! he said as long as it is dry before you turn it on, no problem.
Not something you'd do, now is it? But it does work. I have cleaned computer keyboards using this methodology many times without issue. It totally freaks people out if they see you do it! |
This reminds me of a story.....
I used to work for a computer repair outfit (as a tech, BTW) and we used to clean computer keyboards by taking the caps off them, and putting them in a plastic 'cage' and sticking them in a dishwasher...
The key to this was that we had the dishwasher set to 'cold, rinse only' and put some light detergent in, not the normally highly caustic diswashing powder...
One of the receptionists had seen us to this a few times, and thought she'd do her own one from the front desk.. She took all the caps off, and stuck them in the basket.. Then put them in with a batch of dishes from the staff Cafe! :-)....
Not only did all the letters come off the caps, but half of them were distorted by the heat.
That was good for about a years worth of ribbing..
And, back on thread... The NZ Canon service center (in Auckland, not very local for me...) apparently uses sensor swabs from photosol.com.
The issue is not really one of tools/technique, but one of liability. If they stuff it, they can replace the sensor assembly. If the customer stuffs it, they pay for it.
If you are comfortable cleaning your sensor yourself, do so. If it gives you nervous jitters changing a lightbulb, let or loan cleaning your sensor, send it to a service center..
Cheers, Me.
Message edited by author 2005-05-29 03:32:05.
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05/29/2005 09:10:13 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by KiwiChris:
let or loan cleaning your sensor |
"Let or loan" ... I've never seen that before. I would use "let alone": maybe I'm wrong ;-). Then, some people say "for all intensive purposes" when the expression is "for all intents and purposes".
Interesting story, by the way. Reminds me of the time I was standing in a travel agency and the new office girl tore out several pages from a hotel catalogue and put them into the fax machine all at once to send to a client.
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05/29/2005 09:21:55 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by Pug-H:
Originally posted by KiwiChris:
let or loan cleaning your sensor |
"Let or loan" ... I've never seen that before. I would use "let alone": maybe I'm wrong ;-). Then, some people say "for all intensive purposes" when the expression is "for all intents and purposes".
Interesting story, by the way. Reminds me of the time I was standing in a travel agency and the new office girl tore out several pages from a hotel catalogue and put them into the fax machine all at once to send to a client. |
:-). Go with 'let alone'. I'd never actually thought about the phrase, and apparently never written it down either.
If you don't mind, I'll quitely go put my foot back in my mouth now...
Cheers, Me.
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05/29/2005 11:53:20 AM · #7 |
Thanks for the posts telling how Canon cleans sensors. I wonder what kind of glass cleaner they mix with the alcohol ...Windex? ...Glass Wax?
Seriously, I don't think people care so much that Canon wants to do the cleaning themselves while the camera is under warranty. There is some logic to that. The big problem that I have come up against, and I think it applies to most other Canon owners, is that letting them do it means you will be without your camera for three weeks.
I thought I had found a better solution when I contacted an authorized Canon repair center in DC. Over the phone they repeatedly told me to "just bring it in with proof of the date you purchased it". I told them what model it was and what it needed, and was assured it would be no problem, and that it was covered by the Canon warranty. I could get it back the next day, or in two days at the very most. They do it in there own shop on the premises, and sensor cleaning on Canon DSLRs is a routine procedure for them. About an hour's drive later the technician at the counter told me that it would have to be sent to Canon but they would be happy to take care of the packageing and shipping for me at no cost. I was more than a little upset and asked to speak to the manager. He apologozed for the misinformation I had received over the phone. Then he explained that Canon would not allow them to work on that particular model, the 20D. He also said he thought it would take longer if they sent it to Canon as opposed to me sending it myself, but they would be glad to do send it for me and Canon would pick up the cost of shipping. The tech and the manager both told me that they cleaned the sensor on their own DSLRs themself at home, no big deal for them.
So I think the biggest problem is not getting the dirt off of the sensor's glass covering, regardless of what method you prefer, but rather that there is so much mis-infirmation going about. That Canon does not take better care of their customers is at least as disturbing as the prospect of having to pay for replacing a sensor you have damaged.
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