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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Scared to clean my sensor - help!
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04/01/2019 09:01:48 PM · #1
Hey all, well it's about time I cleaned the sensor of my D7100. I have a sensor cleaning kit. The directions on what to do and how to do it are dead easy. But I am terrified of doing something and dislodging the mirror or gawd knows whatever else could go wrong and ruining my camera. But I sure don't trust my camera to some camera store clerk to do it for me either.

So how to get over this sensor cleaning phobia? Besides going mirrorless (which I probably will do at some point, but not just now)

Any helpful tips or tricks appreciated!
04/01/2019 09:24:20 PM · #2
4 or 5 quick shots of a strong Vodka always help me overcome fear.
04/01/2019 11:33:33 PM · #3
The innards are pretty well locked into place, so steady the nerves with knowledge that you are very unlikely to wreck things, then at least be gentle to avoid making scratches on the surface that covers the sensor.

If the mirror were to flip up or shutter trigger while your swabs are inside the camera, that could be problematic. Avoid that by having fresh fully charged battery in place. Better yet, use one of those Nikon power supplies with one end that looks like a battery and the other end that plugs into the wall, and do the operation at at time very unlikely to have a power failure.

Be prepared for the first efforts to result in some smears along with some cleaning. Practice will make you more efficient, but the first time may require multiple cleaning attempts. That is OK. Be confident, since confidence helps the hands be more steady.
04/02/2019 01:54:45 AM · #4
If you Like me a bit apprehensive about cleaning the sensor, leave it to the experts,in my case itook it to the Sony agents,I have been dealing with them for over 30 years, for $70.00Nz. they wet cleaned the sensor and surrounding areas,and gave the camera a good check over,and wiped the outer shell with a dust dispersal cloth.
04/02/2019 07:40:24 AM · #5
Originally posted by bob350:

The innards are pretty well locked into place, so steady the nerves with knowledge that you are very unlikely to wreck things, then at least be gentle to avoid making scratches on the surface that covers the sensor.

If the mirror were to flip up or shutter trigger while your swabs are inside the camera, that could be problematic. Avoid that by having fresh fully charged battery in place. Better yet, use one of those Nikon power supplies with one end that looks like a battery and the other end that plugs into the wall, and do the operation at at time very unlikely to have a power failure.

Be prepared for the first efforts to result in some smears along with some cleaning. Practice will make you more efficient, but the first time may require multiple cleaning attempts. That is OK. Be confident, since confidence helps the hands be more steady.


Instructions do say to flip the mirror up (or something similar) to expose the sensor, so presumably that locks things in place. Batteries are freshly charged.

Thanks all for the advice...and maybe a few shots of vodka would help too ;-)
04/02/2019 10:57:09 AM · #6
Originally posted by snaffles:

Instructions do say to flip the mirror up (or something similar) to expose the sensor, so presumably that locks things in place. Batteries are freshly charged.


Sorry for adding confusion about "up" and "down." Normally the main mirror is "down" intercepting most of the light and bouncing it up to the viewfinder and other sensors at the top of the camera. To clean the image sensor, you activate a setting to make the camera hold the mirror "up" out of the way. If you turn off the camera power (or have a battery go dead), the mirror quickly plops back "down." When you lay the camera backside down on the table with lens off, the geometry of up and down goes sideways, as did my description.

You have what you need for cleaning, so might as well use it. If not satisfied with results, you can still take it to a professional camera place that is very good at it from doing hundreds of cleanings per year.
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