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Eclipse or Isopropyl alcohol?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 9:57 pm
by Glen
Just noticed this thread in DPReview:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read. ... e=10000719

And the comment was made that isopropyl alcohol was less corrosive than methanol. I know that we used to use isopropyl to clean fax image sensors but don't know about this application. Does anyone know? If this was so it would make importing the pads easy and just mix with iso when it gets here. Any thoughts?

PostPosted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 12:56 am
by Onyx
Yes, it will work just as well - however I believe the issue is purity. All alcohol is hydroscopic, and many forms of it are deliberately mixed with water to reduce its evaporation rate. Other chemicals may also be present for one reason or another (eg. I know LPG is odourless but they add a stinking odour to all supplies so people can detect leaks).

PostPosted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 2:10 am
by NotExcessive
Onyx wrote:Yes, it will work just as well - however I believe the issue is purity. All alcohol is hydroscopic, and many forms of it are deliberately mixed with water to reduce its evaporation rate.



I use isopropyl from my local chemist. That way you can get it in a pure enough form.

PostPosted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 2:32 am
by Glen
Thanks Not excessive, it turns out that Eclipse is only $22 it was $145 for the sensor swabs, they don't have much (any) detail on their website

PostPosted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 2:38 am
by NotExcessive
Glen wrote:Thanks Not excessive, it turns out that Eclipse is only $22 it was $145 for the sensor swabs, they don't have much (any) detail on their website


Yes I never was quite convinced that it's worth paying a hundred dollars or more for a paddlepop stick worth $4. I just use a microfibre cleaning cloth (lint free) to clean the CCD. One drop of isopropyl is more than enough.

PostPosted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 3:56 am
by Glen
How has the cleaning worked out so far? I am assuming well.

PostPosted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 9:36 am
by NotExcessive
Glen wrote:How has the cleaning worked out so far? I am assuming well.


I really don't know why some people on dpreview carry on about cleaning the sensor as being akin to neurosurgery. The AA filter is made from lithium niobate ferchrissake! It ain't THAT delicate :!:

Yes it works out quite well, and I clean around once a week. Most times I won't use any fluid, just breathe on the filter, and give it a rub with the cloth.

Heresy?

The earth is flat, friends....

PostPosted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 10:44 am
by gstark
If you're going to clean it weekly, why not just use an oily rag ? :P

PostPosted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 10:54 am
by NotExcessive
gstark wrote:If you're going to clean it weekly, why not just use an oily rag ? :P


I do - only use AGIP synthetic. That way, you can keep shooting up to 7000RPM before it fills the frame buffer.

PostPosted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 11:00 am
by gstark
NotExcessive wrote:I do - only use AGIP synthetic. That way, you can keep shooting up to 7000RPM before it fills the frame buffer.


AGIP Synthetic?

Should be good for at least 15000RPM.

Doesn't your CF card have double overhead chrome plated hydraulic buffers?

PostPosted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 11:24 am
by NotExcessive
gstark wrote:
Should be good for at least 15000RPM.

Doesn't your CF card have double overhead chrome plated hydraulic buffers?


No, it has the desmodronic valve system, to stop electron valve bounce on the data bus. Geez, I really wish you guys would keep up.

PostPosted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 12:09 pm
by gstark
NotExcessive wrote:No, it has the desmodronic valve system, to stop electron valve bounce on the data bus. Geez, I really wish you guys would keep up.


I tried to hail the data bus one time, but the driver wouldn't stop. He was in the wrong timing loop it seemd.

PostPosted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 1:38 pm
by NotExcessive
gstark wrote:I tried to hail the data bus one time, but the driver wouldn't stop. He was in the wrong timing loop it seemd.


That's because you used an outdated driver. You need to update the driver in order for the system to work properly. The latest version is 6.1.0.