CCD cleaning

Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 12:29 pm

Just curious... do you recommend doing it yourself... and if so, what do you use? I actually left my camera at the camera shop yesterday for them to do it, but it's going to cost me $45! The manual is a bit limited regarding this issue... it just recommends using a blower brush which I don't have nor do I even know where to purchase one. It gives no instructions on the process at all.

Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 1:38 pm

Hi Gracie... I never had much luck with a blower. It just seemed to move the dust around, or create more.

I use the "copperhill" method: http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning

His directions are very straight foreward. You wrap the little plastic spatula in a pec-pad, add a couple of drops of methanol and wipe the sensor. There are even easier methods... swabs you can buy that are all ready to go, and electronically charged brushes are just a couple of other options.

I know a lot of people won't do it themselves, so it's really personal preference, but from my own experience it's really very, very easy to do and it would be really difficult to screw it up.

Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 3:00 pm

Thanks Rebecca. I may see how often it ends up needing cleaning before I decide to do it myself. I've only had it since March of this year, but I suppose I've put it through the works with it being a new toy... especially doing the sports pics back in the summer... very dusty situations. I assumed there would be some sort of cleaning solution and pads available to DIY, so I'll give it some thought.

Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 3:38 pm

I would recommend using a dry cleaning method, and doing it yourself. $45 is pretty steep considering how easy it is.

What you need to do is buy a rubber blower. Don't get one with a brush, just get a blower bulb. Then find the sensor-cleaning function on your camera (probably somewhere in the menu, but read your camera's instruction manual). Once you turn this on (with the lens removed), it will flip up the mirror and open the shutter, probably until you turn the camera off. Hold it with the chamber facing down (so that any really big bits of crap fall OUT of the camera) and give it a few gentle blows, then turn off sensor cleaning mode and let the mirror flip back down. Again, read your manual to make sure you do it properly.

You can check whether or not the sensor is clean by mounting your lens, pointing the camera at a white wall and doing a properly-metered exposure at a small aperture like f/16 or smaller (I use f/22). Any important dust will show up this way. If it failed, you can try to clean it again. I've never had a problem doing it this way. I'd recommend avoiding the "wet methods" though, unless the blower fails...

Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 3:49 pm

Thanks Walter. I've read the manual. Can you recommend someone that carries a blower bulb? I doubt the camera shop here does since they don't even recommend we do it ourselves, but I may be wrong.

Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Posts: 452 Location: Gloucester, UK

You can remove the brush from many blowers and just be left with the rubber bulb. That is all you need.

Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 4:15 pm

gracie328 wrote:

Can you recommend someone that carries a blower bulb? I doubt the camera shop here does since they don't even recommend we do it ourselves, but I may be wrong.

If your ever up in Nashville, Dury's pro shop has a good selection and probably also the Wolfe's on West End.

Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 4:40 pm

I recommend you don't touch your CCD, use a blower.

Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 4:42 pm

Thanks for the info. Belier, I do travel to Nashville fairly often. I've never been to the Wolfe's location on West End... but I've heard from the store in Cool Springs that they are more of the 'pro' store than the other Wolfe locations. I'll inquire at the local shop, but if they don't have them, I'll definitely check out Wolfe's on my next trip to Nashville.

Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 12:09 am

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/visible-dust.shtml

I am thinking about ordering a brush from Visible Dust. I found a review at the link posted above. This sounds like a very safe and effective way to clean the sensor.

The problem I see is the price is rising faster than I can save for the kit. Still after four cleanings it would pay for it self.

http://www.visibledust.com/sensor_cleaning_products.htm

One more option from Visible dust.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/accessories/arctic-butterfly.shtml

Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 1:02 am

Yeah, I've heard those visible dust brushes are good, but I personally will never use one until I get something stuck to the sensor that won't come off with a good blowing. I don't see any reason to risk abrasion if its not necessary.

scotthadl wrote:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/visible-dust.shtml

I am thinking about ordering a brush from Visible Dust. I found a review at the link posted above. This sounds like a very safe and effective way to clean the sensor.

The problem I see is the price is rising faster than I can save for the kit. Still after four cleanings it would pay for it self.

http://www.visibledust.com/sensor_cleaning_products.htm

One more option from Visible dust.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/accessories/arctic-butterfly.shtml

Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 1:31 am

I guess I just like to live dangerously! :D

Once you actually do it (IF you do, of course), you will see that the sensor is not really all that fragile. You'd have to have a serious piece of debris in there to get a scratch. I was sooooo nervous the first time I did it.

I don't believe that I have read even one account of anyone damaging their sensor. I'm sure someone has managed to do it, but a lot of people do it themselves. If it were a common occurance, these forums would be filled with tales of scratched sensors, for sure.

I have had my camera for just about a year now, and I've only had to do it 3 or 4 times, but I'm not all that anal about keeping it spotless.

For blowers, I like the Giotto's "Rocket" blower, but I've had a couple of pros recommend an enema bulb, LOL.

A DSLR is clearly a very expensive piece of equipment, so like I said it's really personal preference. I dont' have a local shop that will do it for me, so I'd have to send my camera to Nikon, which would mean going up to 6 weeks without my camera, so doing it myself is pretty much my only option.

Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 8:19 am

WOW! Those products are EXPENSIVE!

Quote:

I have had my camera for just about a year now, and I've only had to do it 3 or 4 times, but I'm not all that anal about keeping it spotless.

That makes me feel better. I've had mine for 6 months and this is the first time for a cleaning. I thought I was being 'careless' or something for it to need cleaning this soon. Although, it may have needed it for a while now, but just having begun some landscape pics with blue sky behind is the first time I've seen the spots.

Joined: 05 Aug 2005 Posts: 545 Location: KS - USA

Just curious - since sensor cleaning in my mind seems to be a function of how often you change the lens on the camera.

Is this the case? If you change lenses more often, I assume more dust gets in, etc.

So, for those who clean 3-4 or more times a year - how many times do you change lenses?

Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 1:23 pm

I change lenses all the time- at least 1-2 times per day.

I'm sure my sensor could stand to be cleaned more often, but I generally dont' do it unless a spot shows up that really bothers me.