Taking the Plunge - Doing a Sensor Clean

[fozzie]

kipper,

Virgin Airlines $138 return airfare Mel/Syd on Saturday 26 Feb. 2005.

Cheers,

[kipper]

Maybe it's me but has anybody else used Sensor Swabs before? To me they almost feel too flexible. Maybe Sensor Swipe would of been better used with pecpads.

[christiand]

How much pressure are you applying ?

I am firm as the pressure I put on a pencil or pen to write something onto paper.
I do one forward and backward consisive sweep accross the sensor, then I change the pecpad and do one more swipe.
Each time I use two drops of Eclipse on the pecpad.

HTH

CD

[robw25]

i dont believe you're supposed to "cut" pecpads

cheers rob

[christiand]

Hey,

what reason is there to NOT to cut the pecpads in half ?
I did, and there was no problem.

Cheers
CD

[sirhc55]

Hey,

what reason is there to NOT to cut the pecpads in half ?
I did, and there was no problem.

Cheers
CD

The reason it is not recommended is that fibres may end up in the mirror box

[birddog114]

Hey,

what reason is there to NOT to cut the pecpads in half ?
I did, and there was no problem.

Cheers
CD

What's the benefit in cutting it in half? you're lucky you got the surgeon scissor and I'm not.
One pack of 4x4 Pec*Pad last you for years.
I don't cut.

[kipper]

Yeah I noticed after I cut a few of my pecpads that the fibres are clearly visible.

How much pressure are you applying ?

I am firm as the pressure I put on a pencil or pen to write something onto paper.
I do one forward and backward consisive sweep accross the sensor, then I change the pecpad and do one more swipe.
Each time I use two drops of Eclipse on the pecpad.

The sensor swab head is bending under the pressure. If that is any indication as to how much pressure I'm applying

[the foto fanatic]

Crikey!

I've just read through this thread and I'm on the edge of my seat.

How is it this morning kipper?

[birddog114]

Crikey!

I've just read through this thread and I'm on the edge of my seat.

How is it this morning kipper?

He's planning to fly into Sydney this week-end, how's about you? coming down this way so we can run a inter-CCD cleaning session

[kipper]

Haven't checked this morning as I'm at work already. Don't get much time in the morning to check things like that.

[the foto fanatic]

Well, I hope by the time you get back to your camera, the sensor is gleaming like new.

I'm hoping that you have just seen a smear from the fluid that will dry out.

Good luck & keep us informed.

[the foto fanatic]

He's planning to fly into Sydney this week-end, how's about you? coming down this way so we can run a inter-CCD cleaning session

I'd love to do that Birdie, but may not have a chance prior to the anniversary meet in August.

If I can come before then, you'll be the first to know.

[the foto fanatic]

Probably not the time to think about it, but congrats on reaching 500 posts kipper.

[kipper]

Woot! I'm now very distinguished.

[pippin88]

When doing my first (and so far only) cleaning, I also had a problem with a streak. I got it all clean, except due to a bit much fluid left a nice big streak near the top of the sensor. Using less fluid (2 small drops or 1 large one) and another swipe I was able to get this off.

[birddog114]

Let kipper goes to Sydney and he'll run a workshop with Mel. members.
Don't take him too far in this game, he won't have his D70 for the GP1

[kipper]

I'm actually thinking I'm making headway with it tonight. I've actually got my fingers further into the camera near the sensor to get a bit more leaverage and pressure on the sensor swab. Personally I think Photographic Solutions have made the swabs too weak and don't allow you to get enough pressure. I'd like to get my hands on a Sensor Swipe to see what this baby can do.

[birddog114]

I'm actually thinking I'm making headway with it tonight. I've actually got my fingers further into the camera near the sensor to get a bit more leaverage and pressure on the sensor swab. Personally I think Photographic Solutions have made the swabs too weak and don't allow you to get enough pressure. I'd like to get my hands on a Sensor Swipe to see what this baby can do.

Have a full bottle of St Henry 95 before using the Eclipse fluid!.
If the CCD get scratched and a premium is $1250.00 + $180.00 labour, discount price from Maxwel. have fun!

[christiand]

Thanks for alerting me that
cutting the pad is a NO NO !
I guess, I was lucky and got away with it.

Cheers
CD

[kipper]

Depends ChristianD, I think with ultra sharp scissors you can cut the pads without exposing too much of the fibre. I mean Photographic Solutions would machine cut the pecpads from a large sheet anyway. Even uncut the pecpads do show some exposed fibres around the edges and when folded over a spatula. Without cutting them I find that when folded onto a spatula the head becomes too bulky. I usually just cut my pecpads in half and then fold that onto a spatula and fit it in place with a rubberband.


Anyway here are the results of lastnights attempt to clean. To the point where I was getting frustrated and thinking about flying up to sydney. It might be still on the cards but I'm hoping I don't have to fork out $200+ to clean this baby.

<img src="http://www.morganpost.com/Dust2.jpg">


Here are my attempts after work today. Had to go out to the cinema so I didn't get it 100% finished but it's a great improvement over lastnights attempt. However if you autolevel the 3rd picture you can still see there are some small dots. You can barely see them with the naked eye when looking at the sensor.

<img src="http://www.morganpost.com/Dust3.jpg"> PS. The small black curve down the bottom centre is the lense hood reversed. Which when using the inbuilt flash at 18MM casts a shadow.

[BBJ]

Well kipper that is a lot better than previous cleans, i think i was lucky for my first time i followed the instructions more or less from net here and then went and did it 1 swipe both ways and that was it. Today i did some pics at the airport and was blue sky and i think i can barley see 1 spot not even a black spot so will be ok for awhile yet.
After i cut my plastic spatular it is not that flexiable but yeh did the job.
Cheers
Goodluck
John

[kipper]

I think that's the problem with the sensor swab bends like a blade of glass. No stiffness to get off the stubborn spots.

[birddog114]

I think that's the problem with the sensor swab bends like a blade of glass. No stiffness to get off the stubborn spots.

Repack them! send back to NuLabs, requesting the refunds + asking compensation of your time

[Manta]

Kipper - I'm pleased you had a good outcome. The sensor looks great compared to how it was.

I haven't done a clean myself yet and have really built up a healthy fear of it. I won't be able to put it off forever though...

I know now who the experts are!!!

[christiand]

Congratulations Kipper !
You've done it and will do it again.

Cheers
CD

[phillipb]

Kipper, I went to a meet here in Sydney for my first clean. Mattk showed me how to do it, after 4 goes it wasn't much better. Matt then took over and tried himself, each time it got slightly better, there were some very stubborn spots. In the end we called it quits after about 15 goes only had a couple of very small dots left. If I was on my own without support from the experts I would have been worried too. Resist the temptation of putting too much fluid on the pads and only go across and back once. Angle your fingers as if you were using a paint brush.
Good luck.

[kipper]

Tip: ensure that your blower is a good quality blower and one that doesn't actually contain contaminents in the bulb. This is something that I've just discovered with my blower and as a result the blower is now in the bin.

[christiand]

I have read that the Giotto air blower has a valve that
keeps the thing from sucking in crap ?

Cheers
CD

[birddog114]

Tip: ensure that your blower is a good quality blower and one that doesn't actually contain contaminents in the bulb. This is something that I've just discovered with my blower and as a result the blower is now in the bin.

You said to me it's "Jumbo" and good quality
I haven't seen anything surpass the Giotto Air Rocket so farbut no stock until 10/3

[kipper]

I never said it was of good quality. I just said it was a Jumbo blower. I had limited options while I was in Europe, probably should of just ordered a Giotto via the net while there.

[genji]

any stockist in melbourne city?

[kipper]

Not that I've seen Genji. Been looking myself.

[onimod]

haha - this thread was great - all the tension of a classy thriller. I'm glad it worked out in the end.

[kipper]

Glad we made it an interesting read
Btw, it's not 100% complete as of yet. Going to give it another crack. Also have a SensorSwipe on order so hopefully will get that next week. Think I've learnt by experience that the SensorSwabs by PSI are a load of shit.

[birddog114]

Glad we made it an interesting read
Btw, it's not 100% complete as of yet. Going to give it another crack. Also have a SensorSwipe on order so hopefully will get that next week. Think I've learnt by experience that the SensorSwabs by PSI are a load of shit.

You haven't asked properly!
You asked me and I told you to get two things:Pec*Pad + Eclipse Fluid but you have gone out your way

[kipper]

Actually I asked but was kind of confused by the response. I did figure it out in the end, but on the day I thought I'd try the swabs to see if they were any good. Guess I've learnt the hardway

[onimod]

get a Giotto blower too - I got the whole kit from Birddog, but I've only neede the blower so far.....

[Redmond]

Well i've been following this thread with some fascination as my D70 needs a clean'n..

I'm in Brisbane so I can't pop round to Nulab to get the cleaning kit.. but I must say the Giotto Blower looks promising.. and the swabs are kinda scaring me now..

Anyone know if there's an Aus supplier of this? Sorry if it's been discussed before i'm new here..

Red

[birddog114]

Well i've been following this thread with some fascination as my D70 needs a clean'n..

I'm in Brisbane so I can't pop round to Nulab to get the cleaning kit.. but I must say the Giotto Blower looks promising.. and the swabs are kinda scaring me now..

Anyone know if there's an Aus supplier of this? Sorry if it's been discussed before i'm new here..

Red

Please check them at "Merchandises section"

[kipper]

Redmond don't bother with the swabs. As experienced and as warned by some they're over priced and not very effective for their money.

Your best bet is to order the Pec*Pads and Eclipse fluid from a supplier in Australia and get the SensorSwipe from Copperhill - http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/image/23431905

After using the SensorSwabs for myself, I like many others before me have found that they don't offer enough pressure to get rid of stubborn spots. Which is most likely due to an overly cautious Kodak (apparently the designer of the SensorSwab for PSI) to ensure that LP Filters/Sensors aren't damaged.

I've ordered my SensorSwipe and hopefully will have it in the next week or so.

[kipper]

Well down from about 30 dustbunnies to 11 tonight. Will do some more after dinner. Each time I'm taking a photo of the sky and keeping that on my monitor as reference while I clean.

[Alex]

my first time took 10+

My first took about 12. I thought I was going mad.

http://www.copperhillimages.com is a good start.

Alex

[sirhc55]

I got the SensorSwab from Copperhill - took about 1 week to arrive from the States and needed only 2 swipes on the first clean.

[Redmond]

Thanks for the info guys.

I'm going to get a blower to start from Birddog and see how that goes.. then maybe the Copperhill swipes and the rest of the kit from Birddog..

Red

[NetMagi]

After reading through this thread I shot a cpl pics at F22 and found I had 8-10 visible spots at full size.

Just for the heck of it, I locked up my mirror, and using a blow-gun attachment on an ordinary compressor (the kind used to power air tools) I VERY lightly blew off the low-pass filter. All but 1 spot is gone and I'm very happy.

Did i luck out? Is it safe to clean the CCD like this?

I can see how a handheld blower would be bad as it could easily harbor dust in the bulb, and "canned air" can often come out very cold or as a liquid, but is there anything wrong with plain old compressed air??

-Rich

[MHD]

YES... be very carefull with a compessor...
the exhust goes into the air flow so oil and all kinds of grunge could end up on the sensor!!!

Use a hand held or foot operated blower...

[NetMagi]

fortunately my compressor is the small oilless type so I probably didn't do any damage, but I'll definetely think twice before trying it again

-Rich

[agriffiths]

Sorry to bring up an old thread again, but I think it's an important one.
Kipper: Have you completed you sensor clean yet? How'd it turn out in the end?
NetMagi: I also used an air compressor (non oil type) to remove dust particals from my sensor. Worked a treat! I think your pretty safe with this method so long as the compressor does not use oil.... oil is bad!

[BBJ]

Well if you plan to buy a swab this is fine, but i have said before i made mine from a cheap rubber spatular from wool worths cut it to 14mil and bobs ya uncle. I counted at least 20 bunnies and did 1 swip both ways and yeh good as gold, and i checked the other day and had 1 bunnie so nothing to worry about for awhile and i do change lenses a lot.
Cheers