|
| Author | Thread |
|
|
02/14/2006 01:32:49 AM · #1 |
First off, I just wanted to say that cleaning my sensor with a make-up brush has been on my mind for several days. I cleaned out the camera with a blower bulb yesterday and removed some dust, but much remained. Then I saw another thread on the topic and decided the time was ripe to just do it.
So the Wife brings out the "new brush", which is supposed to be used for applying eye makeup. It's small, and looks clean enough with the little clear plastic tubing still firmly in place. It looks to have natural bristles, although there is no brand name or number marked on it anywhere to attest to this. In any case, it is nice and soft.
I pick up an old UV filter and cleaned it up with a new lens cloth. Good and clear when viewed at all angles.
So I removed the tubing from the new brush and dabbed it on the filter. ACK! "Hey Honey! You sure this thing is new!" All kinds of fine particles now coat the filter where I dabbed it. Looks like eye make-up to me... she still swears its new.
So into the kitchen I go to rinse the brush under hot running water, and wipe it down on a clean paper towel. Then I go one step further and dip it in boiling water a few times to remove any traces of oily residue (very quickly, so as not to loosen the gum that holds the bristles in place) and dab it again onto the paper towel. I lose about three bristles in the process.
Then I blow dry the brush with a can of compressed air.
Once dry, I dab it again on the filter. Clean as a whistle. No trace of residue. I brush it back and forth several more times. Nothing.
So I prepare the camera for sensor cleaning (remove the lens, engage cleaning mode, lay things out neatly...) and charge the brush with a few more passes under the compressed air. (The can of air is held upright, and is not shaken at all. In fact, I kept mine sitting on the table. The theory is that the compressed air creates a slight static charge that actually lifts away the the dust.)
Before actually cleaning, I test the brush on the filter one last time to make sure no residue came from the compressed air.
Lifting the camera into the light, I make several easy passes in one direction over the sensor until its been covered from top to bottom. Then I flip the camera over and repeat the process in the other direction. (I hold the brush very gently when I do this, and only use the tip of the brush on the sensor. Once I see the bristles starting to bend, that's enough pressure!) This goes very quickly, maybe 20-30 seconds.
Once done, I immediately did a quick test shot to check the sensor and found than 90-95% of the dust specks were gone. There are still a few tiny ones left, but nothing I can't live with.
I have also tried the "wet" method in the past, and while you do get a cleaner sensor, unless you have gunk that you can't otherwise remove, its not worth the extra trouble. And believe me, it is A LOT of extra trouble. The brush idea, used with some common sense, is no worse than cleaning a lens. Also, it makes what I think is a very sensible "next step" when blowing the sensor with a bulb just won't get it.
Disclaimer: I only advocate this method for anyone with the sense to accept the risks involved. What worked for me may not work for you. But really, this isn't rocket science, just common sense.
Message edited by author 2006-02-14 01:33:55. |
|
|
|
02/22/2006 02:08:59 PM · #2 |
I would not recommend the the hurricane blower. It seems to draw dust into it and fire it onto the glaas as i have witnessed a few tiomes when blowing the uv glass. Would never use this particular one on the sensor.
I to agree that it is easy to clean the sensor as long as you are very careful and sensible. The brush method is ok and less dangerous but i find a cotton bud and solution gives a very clean sensor most of the time.
Worth investing in the swabs though i think. Alot of money up the spout if messed up. |
|
|
|
02/22/2006 02:34:22 PM · #3 |
A charged brush should be a fine method, and will get all but hard-stuck particles and non-particulate matter. Charging the brush is the interesting part... I would not use the canned "air", it is far too easy to contaminate the brush. Spinning the brush rapidly will charge it, and might be less of a risk.
I still use, and recommend, the wet (copperhill) method. I find it is fast, easy, inexpensive and effective. It removes the most stubborn particles and also most non-particulate matter, except substances that are water soluble but not soluble in methanol. These substances do exist, and I've run into them as spots on the front elements of lenses, but never on a sensor. Lubricants are the most common non-particulate that might get on a sensor, whereas for lenses, all bets are off!
The wet method is truly not a chore to do, it literally takes me less than 5 minutes from set-up to re-mounting the lens. I also don't worry about the tool being clean, it is a new pad every time.
|
|
|
|
02/22/2006 03:12:16 PM · #4 |
Not all brushes are equal, some can make micro scratches on the sensor (it's protecting glass, not the actual sensor). At dpreview forums there were some people who tried all kinds of brushes and told what works and what is bad. So don't use just any brush.
|
|
|
|
Current Server Time: 08/28/2025 03:44:36 PM  |
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/28/2025 03:44:36 PM EDT.
|
