Sensor cleaning in London, UK

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 5:33 pm

Hi all

I've got a D70 that needs its sensor cleaning. Problem is, I definitely don't trust myself to do that sort of job. Bluntly, I want someone I can claim repair costs against if it goes wrong.

I'm in Bedford, UK (near Milton Keynes and Luton) but there's no-one I've found locally who can do sensor cleaning.

However, I'm relatively close to London, and going there this weekend... Except that the only places I can find that advertise this are Nikon themselves and Fixation, neither of whom are open on weekends...

Does anyone know of a repair place in London that would handle the job and might be open over weekends, or one around the Bedfordshire / Hertfordshire / Milton Keynes / Cambridge / Northampton area?

Thanks,

Greg

Premium Member Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 2020

My friend, I have done a sensor cleaning. Let me assure you, with the correct tools, it is a snap.

The Tools : (I'm sure the same things are available in the UK)

1. Eclipse solution
2. #2 Sensor Swabs

Follow the Copper Hill instructions and you'll be done, with a clean sensor, in a matter of minutes.

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 6:38 pm

and don't worry about the sensor there is a plastic filter covering the sensor so worst come to worst you only scratch the Cover not the sensor itself

Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 214 Location: Corona, CA

Before you use a sensor swab you might just try a blower bulb.

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 1:12 am

My msin worry is damaging the shutter actually.

I'm aware there's a low pass filter in front of the sensor - how easily replaced is that if it's damaged though?

Premium Member Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 2020

eftpotrm wrote:

My msin worry is damaging the shutter actually.

I'm aware there's a low pass filter in front of the sensor - how easily replaced is that if it's damaged though?

You have virtually ZERO chance of damaging the shutter if you follow the Copper Hill method. (The shutter on the D70 is partly electronic and partly mechanical. and the mechanical part is completely out of the way during cleaning.)

Unless you are wildly out of control with the Sensor Swabs, you have very little chance of damaging the lowpass filter.

1. Blower Bulb First - (I blow mine out while very close to a running vacuum hose)

If that fails:

1. Two drops Eclipse on the end of a Sensor Swab.
2. Two swipes using the same pressure as when writing your name.
3. Five seconds to a (mostly) clean sensor.

It's that simple.

Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 101 Location: Berwyn, Illinois

So I just did my first cleaning and I didn't seem to get every little annoying piece of dirt. Is this normal or do most people get 100% of the stuff on the first pass? Can I reuse the swab to give it a 2nd pass or use a fresh one?

Is everyone content with getting most of the dirt? Am I hoping for too much to think that I could get all the dirt off the sensor? There seems to be one spot that is still there but then again I don't want to keep swabbing.

Premium Member Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 2020

TheReasonIFail wrote:

So I just did my first cleaning and I didn't seem to get every little annoying piece of dirt. Is this normal or do most people get 100% of the stuff on the first pass? Can I reuse the swab to give it a 2nd pass or use a fresh one?

Is everyone content with getting most of the dirt? Am I hoping for too much to think that I could get all the dirt off the sensor? There seems to be one spot that is still there but then again I don't want to keep swabbing.

It is quite common not to get all the dust the first time. There is nothing wrong with doing a second cleaning to try to get missed spots. HOWEVER - DO NOT USE THE SWAB AGAIN ON THE SENSOR. Get a new one.

Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 5:01 am

I was worried too bro (have a brand new Canon 1DMarkIIn) but after purchasing the Cooperhill (or is it Copperhill) kit, I was amazed that it was so easy to do.

I've got about 70,000 clicks on my camera to date and have done the sensor cleaning about 6 times with absolutely no issues.

And yes, I usually have to do two passes to get all the gunk. Do like Malt says and never reuse the pads!

Go for it I say

Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 5:16 am

Listen..........I am the world's clumsiest person. my husband wont allow me into a china shop, and I break or spill something every single day!
I have cleaned my sensor with no problems! You cant really go wrong...just wipe if firmly but gently and youre done. its as easy as that really, people get scared by reading about it.....do it in the kitchen, not a fluffy environment like the lounge. Go for it!