I use the cleaning kit available from Copper Hill Images that jfriesen linked to. I have had great sucsess. Their instructions are clear and easy to follow.
I cleaned mine for the first time yesterday and honestly I don't know what all the fuss was about. It was simple and worked well. I used the kit that Jfriesen recommended.
yes get a good kit, the link above would help... I did mine with Qtips, those things that you squeeze that blow air, and that cleaning liquid thats in the link above. Took me forever to do cause I did not have the whole kit above.
I've tried blowing the dust out and ended up with more than when I started. I probably loosened up dust and moved it all around and then it settled on the sensor. Copper Hill Images site talkes all about the negatives of blowing out the dust. Check it out.
Well Wolf Camera does not carry a sensor cleaning kit. I thought they were a camera store? Thanks for all your help I will order one soon.
Most camera stores will not endorse sensor cleaning because the manufacturers do not endorse it. However, knowledgable counter folks will often tell you on the sly, pssst, get a copper hill kit.
Search our threads for "copper hill" (or just use google). They're good, and the sell a good product.
i cleaned the sensor on my D50 a few times already, I went to walmart and bought some of those silk rags for cleaning eyeglasses cut it in to 4 squares about 2in each, then i took an old chopstick cut one end off so the end was perfectly square and flat, wrapped silk around stick used a rubber band to hold it in place, then I used a baby bulb to blow the sensor clear of any thing the could scratch the surface, puffed some breath on to the sensor quickly wiped it clean with the covered end of the chopstick, sensor is spotless each time. However I have to say Do it at your own risk. in other words do not blame me if you try this and have less success than I did.
I paid Samy's $60.00 to clean my sensor and had to send it back twice. I then paid them $11.00 for a blower and sent away for the Copperhill kit. So far, the blower works fine, and I haven't had to use the Copperhill kit... but I'm prepared.
I paid Samy's $60.00 to clean my sensor and had to send it back twice. I then paid them $11.00 for a blower and sent away for the Copperhill kit. So far, the blower works fine, and I haven't had to use the Copperhill kit... but I'm prepared.
Just used my Copper Hill kit for the first time. It was affordable, arrived quickly and did a great job. Certainly not as scary as I thought it would be. Highly recommend it!
I paid Samy's $60.00 to clean my sensor and had to send it back twice. I then paid them $11.00 for a blower and sent away for the Copperhill kit. So far, the blower works fine, and I haven't had to use the Copperhill kit... but I'm prepared.
$11.00 for a blower? Where and what kind?
Generic Sammy's. From their store on Chapala Street in Santa Barbara.
I paid Samy's $60.00 to clean my sensor and had to send it back twice. I then paid them $11.00 for a blower and sent away for the Copperhill kit. So far, the blower works fine, and I haven't had to use the Copperhill kit... but I'm prepared.
I'd also highly recommend you never step foot in a Wolf again. If there is an independent shop in your area, support them. Otherwise, do your shopping online. Wolf charges much higher prices than anyone else, and they rarely employ people that know what they're talking about...generally speaking, of course.
I have just spent a few hours trying to clean the sensor this weekend, while cursing to the ghost dust particles on my images. Here is my experience...
Well, first of all try not to change the lens in dusty places at all ;-). Actually I'm planning to carry a clean transparent bag with me to change the lenses when I'm outside. Something like those black bags used in the old times to change/replace unfinished film (not that I ever used it ;-)). But a transparent one of course ...
Anyways, it scared me like hell to touch the sensor with anything so I tried blowing air on the sensor. I got a $10 a big bulb shaped dust blower from the closest camera store. It took a while to take out the stubborn ones, but I finally managed to remove most of the problem ones. However, after a certain point it's no use as the rate of dust that you are taking out becomes equal to the rate of dust that's getting into the camera... You basically need to generate a micro scale clean room inside the camera so that nothing can settle again onto the sensor.
Well, the easiest thing to do is to put the smallest adapter on your vacuum cleaner and keep it right next to the camera opening and suck the dust out of the camera (make sure the vacuum cleaner is not that powerful to suck the whole camera ;-)). You need to do this at a relatively clean place. You may need to keep the vacuum cleaner hose as close as possible to the lens opening (don't stick it inside the camera though)and pump onto the sensor (trying not to hit the sensor...) with the bulb pump for a few minutes to make sure that you get everything out. And, after you are finished make sure to put the lens on as soon as you can. Take some pictures to test if it worked and do it again if necessary. Try using f32 and take a picture of sky (that's the worst combination to see the effect of dust). After doing it for about 2-3 times, the sensor was completely clean.
By the way, I believe this is the safest way to clean the sensor, but do it on your own risk ;-).
