(no...this photo has nothing to do with sensor cleaning...nor there are dust on
the photo. I just happened to found a photo I took last autumn, hence sharing it
here with you guys to make reading not so boring. Life is
colourful
:))
Dust on sensor
has always been the problem to DSLR since the first release. Whenever you change
lens or expose the mount of DSLR to air, dust are bounded to go into the camera
and rest on the DSLR sensor.
Sensor, when
activated creates static charge that attracts dust. Dust that are initially
resting inside your camera will move to the charged sensor whenever you use your
DSLR. Even if you do not change lens and use only one lens from day one...dust
will still find its way to go into your DSLR. Why? Dust are so tiny and light
that wherever there is air...there sure have dust. Hence, dust is a common
problems to DSLR.
Some
manufacturers have a dust free sensor solution, by introducing a anti-static
filter in front of the sensor, or by using a ultra-sonic shake filter that
places in front of a sensor. Some companies even use both method to keep the
dust problem to the minimum. Sony and Olympus...etc. are incorporating these
technologies into their DSLR, but not Nikon or Canon (yet...). Nikon and Canon
are still the top brands in photographic market, and with millions of Canon and
Nikon DSLR out there that don't have the anti-static filter or ultra-sonic
filter, there are still problem of dust that needs to be taken care of by Nikon
and Canon users. Even if Canon and Nikon are coming out with new DSLR with dust
problem solved, those previously sold DSLR (D2X, 1DMKII...etc.) that cost $$$
should still not to be forgotten.
I have received
many enquiries on the sensor cleaning products that I am offering at
www.ShaShinKi.com, hence I decided to
write up an article sharing my little knowhow... :)
In general,
cleaning DSLR sensor can be divided into two categories:
● Dry Cleaning
● Wet Cleaning
Dry Cleaning
What is dry
cleaning? As the name has suggested, it means cleaning your sensor without
wetting it.
Most dust on the
sensor are light and flyable. They settled on the sensor mainly due to the
static charge on the sensor that works like a magnet holding firmly the metal
pieces. Hence, to remove the dust, you need a stronger charged device to attract
the dust onto it. Hence the sensor brush (a brush that has a very strong
anti-static charge on it that will attract dust onto it).
In the market,
there are a few sensor brush makers. One can cost from as high as US$100~200
(VisibleDust), or low as US$10 or less (search ebay). Choosing the right sensor
brush is important, as you do not want to buy a bad item and damaged/scratched
your sensor.
After much
search in the market, I have come to decide the
SensorSweep II that is being offered by CopperHill Images (www.copperhillimages.com).
Nicholas from CopperHill Images has written some very good articles on sensor
cleaning, and he sure know a lot about dust on sensor. He is also a very well
respectable photographer in the net, hence I have confident in the product that
recommend and make by him. Another reason is of course the affordable price
(read reasonable, especially for the Asian market), which doesn't cost you
hundreds USD for just a brush, but less than USD20.
There are many
other sensor brushes offered at ebay, some might be just as good or better...but
I would rather source from a reputable person with good knowhow in what he is
doing. In fact, SensorSweep II is the 2nd generation SensorSweep, which is a
better and improved version of the which is already very good and well-known
SensorSweep. SensorSweep II is being offered at various places in USA and
Europe, proven and being used by many professionals around the world.
For your convenience, each
SensorSweep II has been pre-washed and rinsed with
distilled water, and then sanitized even further to remove oils,
grease, glue and other heavy particulates that the manufacturing process has
introduced. The only thing you'll need to do is to blow off the tips of the
filaments and you're good to go.
You can use practically any type
of blower to charge the SensorSweep II. You'll also get a carrying/storage tube
that can be tossed into your camera bag.
Here's some simple steps that I
use to clean my sensor (just a reference, yours might vary):
-
Take a photo
of a white wall at aperture f22, check how bad is your sensor with dust or
where are the location of the dust mostly.
-
Charge the
SensorSweep II with a blower, just blow air onto the SensorSweep to charge
it up. This will create anti-static charge on the brush hence able to
attract dust onto it later. Blowing also helps to remove the dust that are
rested onto the SensorSweep if you have used it previously.
-
After
charged up the SensorSweep II, set your camera to mirror up and shutter
curtain UP position (read the instruction manual of your DSLR, varies from
makers one and another). MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT HAVE THE SHUTTER CURTAIN DOWN
WHILE YOU ARE DOING THE CLEANING JOB!
-
Brush the
SensorSweep II onto the sensor of your DSLR, depending on the size of the
sensor, you should brush from left to right (or right to left depending on
your own hand preference), horizontally sweep from top till the bottom. You
can also sweep the sensor based on the location of the dust as you saw in
step 1.
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-
Blow/Clean
your SensorSweep II after the first brush by blowing air onto it to remove
the dust that has been attracted from your sensor.
-
Repeat step
3 again if necessary, this should remove most if not all dust from your
sensor.
-
Take a photo
of a white wall at lens aperture f22, check the photo on your computer
monitor and compare with the photo you took at step 1.
If there are
still stubborn dust (or dirt), use the wet cleaning method.
Wet Cleaning
Wet cleaning
method means using some soft of fluid + tissue to touch and clean the sensor of
your DSLR, like cleaning the window of your house. Use this method only if there
are stubborn dirt on your sensor, as most dust should be able to be cleaned away
by the dry cleaning method, and only stubborn dust (read dirt) that requires the
wet cleaning method. If you have not cleaned your sensor before and has been
using it in flying dusty/dirt environment, then you might need the wet cleaning
on your sensor.
I recommend not
to use the wet cleaning method all the time, reason is because it is
time-consuming and requires passion and skill in doing so. Just like your
precious lenses, if there are just dust on it, you should just blow it away by
using a brush or blower, not fluid + lens tissue. Most of the time you will make
your problem worse. If you keep your sensor clean by using the dry method often
(once a week), then very seldom you will need the wet cleaning method.
When there are
stubborn dirt, there is no way for you to lift them up by the SensorSweep II,
hence you need to wipe them away by tissue (wet tissue). So, what tissue? What
do you need?
The most popular
one in the net that are being used worldwide and even Nikon personals are
PhotoSol SensorSwab, PecPad and Eclipse.
SensorSwab is
the specially made sensor cleaning tool that is being made by PhotoSol for
cleaning sensor. It comes in a ready use stick type, drop a few drops of Eclipse
onto the SensorSwab and you are ready to go (DO
NOT DROP LIQUID DIRECTLY ONTO THE SENSOR!!!) Swipe your sensor
in horizontal direction to the left (two times), then to the right (two times).
Then you are done, so as the SensorSwab. Do not reuse the SensorSwab and they
are now "dirty". Each box of SensorSwab contains 12 pieces of swab, cost around
RM150 per box, which can be quite expensive to some...but considering that you
have spent $$$ on a DSLR, just RM15 per stick and your sensor is back to clean
should be quite cheap and reasonable :)
PhotoSol do not
recommend using PecPad on the sensor. In fact, they stated this clearly on their
website and warn people not to use PecPad but only SensorSwab. For those who are
not experience or confident in cleaning sensor yourself, then SensorSwab is the
most convenient and easiest way that you should first try. After you have
practice enough cleaning with the SensorSwab on your sensor, you can then DIY
your own sensorswab for your DSLR cleaning.
There are
already many good articles on the net explaining (with illustrations) on how to
DIY your own swab and the steps in cleaning, hence I will just share the links
here and you can learn from there:
Hope this helps... :)
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