D700 sensor clean issue - advice required

[tasadam]

The D700 sensor clean function doesn't seem to do much.
Following are 4 images compressed to buggery by Paint which I used to put circles around the dust spots.
Macro lens set at closest focus, f 54, +0.7, then move the camera a lot while shooting the clouds in the sky.
The first image is as my sensor was before I started cleaning.
The second image is after 3 sensor cleans using the electronic clean function inthe menu.
The 3rd image is after a heap of rocket blows (with a clean rocket).
The 4th image is after more rocket blows then another 3 electronic sensor cleans.

My problem is that tomorrow I embark on a 16 day bushwalk, and I do not have any Eclipse2 fluid.
I understand I cannot use standard Eclipse on the D700, is that correct? I need to get the new Eclipse2 fluid for this sensor from what I read somewhere if I remember correctly.

How about a dry clean - a clean using a dry pecpad and spatula and extra-light pressure, to dislodge the stuck bunnies, then try the rocket and electronic clean again, is that a fair idea, or am I at grave and great risk of scratching the sensor with a dry wipe? Or some other unforseen damage with a dry clean...

Or is it that due to my procrastination I am stuck with a heap of post-processing when I return from my trip?
Or, even, am I being a bit pedantic with some of those minor spots?

Advice, please? Thanks...

Images are linked to large images.

[aim54x]

I wouldnt recommend a dry clean.....looks like you managed to pick up quite a few stubborn bunnies.

You are recommended E2 fluid as it is less harsh, maybe try to go to your local camera stores and see if anyone has any PhotoSol kits. Otherwise I would probably think it is safer to try another brand...SensorPen, GreenClean *cringe*

Fingers crossed for you

[Jenno]

The D700 sensor clean function doesn't seem to do much.

Agreed... combined with the fact that the D700 sensor seems to attract the dust more so than any of my previous cameras

I understand I cannot use standard Eclipse on the D700, is that correct? I need to get the new Eclipse2 fluid for this sensor from what I read somewhere if I remember correctly.

According to a post over at PPReview, Eclipse 1 is the way to go if you really need a wet clean of the d700. Apparently the manufacturers now support this
I did the right thing and used Eclipse2 for my first clean but I found it just about impossible to achieve a streak free result. (I might add I was trained by the best of them (Matt K))

Eventually surrendered and took it to Nikon for a clean and it still came back less than perfect.

I ended up purchasing an Artic BF off ebay and that in combination with the RBlower does a great job of removing the DBs. Bit Xcy new though.

So last resort, wet clean but be careful of the grease that surrounds the sensor with either a dry or wet clean

[tasadam]

Thanks for that advice...
Been busy doing the same to the D200 while hoping for some answers...
Turns out the D200 has a small chunk of dust underneath the low pass filter.
Either that or it's stuck to the point that it needs a scourer to dislodge it
I;ll live with that and PP images from the D200.
At least now I know I can wet clean the D700 with standard Eclipse.

Found out, only place I know of that does sensor cleans in Tassie is Walch Optics in Hobart, they are flat out and have no chance of doing it in the short term, they would need it for "two or three" hours, and one of their technicians is tied up onsite with a customer.

So... DIY. Will let you know how I go.

[tasadam]

It's getting worse... The more I clean, the more dust I seem to be introducing.
No streaks, no grease, just dust bunnies.
What a PITA. This is not fun.

[tasadam]

Finally, some improvement...
Still working at it.

[biggerry]

Finally, some improvement...
Still working at it.

expect to do at least half a dozen passes before you see results, in alot of cases you may just be moving it around. I found teh first time I did it, it took me quite some time and probably 10 goes before I was satisfied, this was also probably due to be being a bit unsure. I now can usually get it clean within 3 odd goes.

good luck

[tasadam]

Okay, I'm going to have to live with this...


File linked to larger image.

I thought I was never going to shift that one that was in the top left...
The remaining ones now are really small, and this is on f54 at closest focus on the macro, so even at f22 they're going to be pretty insignificant. So I think I'll just live with them.
In any case, I have this file as a reference to where they are, so if I need to PP the end results at least I know where the bunnies were.
Well, the ones at the start of the trip.
Changing lenses in the field is still a problem because it introduces dust, probably why I had so many to start with, this body has only done ~ 2200 shots.

Thanks for advice.
Would be nice if the built in sensor clean did something though.

[Jenno]

Enjoy your trip!

Nikon's clean of my sensor produced results similar to your final product. The Arctic BF got rid of the remainder

[lightning]

here's a site that seems to give a run down on a lot of different systems

http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/methods.html

[Matt. K]

It can take numerous wet cleans to dislodge a particularly sticky dust bunny. Whilst 'scrubbing' is not recommended I have resorted to this many times without problems. Consequently....Pec Pads, Eclipse and a gentle scrub over the offending trouble maker normally does the job.

[tasadam]

So does the D700 have a Tin Oxide sensor, as such should I be using E2, and will I damage the sensor if I use normal Eclipse instead ofE2? If so, what damage?
An earlier post suggested manufacturers support normal Eclipse now, is there a link to that anywhere?

The trip was great, just my wife and I, ended up doing 15 days in remote South West Tassie, started with a bit over 30KG's in my pack, and lost about 5KG's of body weight (started around 63kg). But got some great photos. Didn't see any people for the whole trip. Had some interesting weather too, over 100kph winds and horizontal rain nearly all day when we crossed a couple of mountain ranges, and needing to swin 3 creeks that day, did them fully clothed and with boots. Only took 3 photos that day. Most happy not to have run out of memory cards or battery power on the trip.
Looks like I got away without picking up any dust too (very surprising if you saw the conditions we changed lenses in), and just 1 dust bunny on the D200 which will be easy to fix with PS for any images worth processing.

[digitor]

An earlier post suggested manufacturers support normal Eclipse now, is there a link to that anywhere?

Typing "eclipse sensor clean" into Google reveals a page with this link on it: http://www.photosol.com/documents/eclipse_e2_announcement.pdf

The linked document says that ordinary Eclipse (pure methanol) has been safe all along for ITO coatings, and that E2 is being discontinued.

Cheers

[tasadam]

Thank you, an informative PDF file indeed! Very reassuring, that....