Page 1 of 1

Sensor cleaning with a Lenspen

PostPosted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:46 am
by Greg B
Has anybody tried using a lenspen to clean the sensor?

http://www.birdsasart.com/lenspens.htm

PostPosted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:08 am
by Alpha_7
I wouldn't my lens pen struggles to clean my lens and definitely wouldn't trust it with my sensor.

PostPosted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:25 am
by gstark
Greg,

Toio many "secrets" in this one for me. The all important "first step", for instance.

I note that this comes from Florida, the home of our esteemed nature photographer, Energypolice, and I would give it similar credence.

PostPosted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:36 am
by Greg B
gstark wrote:I note that this comes from Florida, the home of our esteemed nature photographer, Energypolice, and I would give it similar credence.


A powerfull observation Gary :D .

I am tempted to lock my own thread.

PostPosted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:24 pm
by huynhie
A lens pen will leave specs of carbon behind.

PostPosted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 6:02 pm
by Steffen
huynhie wrote:A lens pen will leave specs of carbon behind.


Agreed. I've used lenspens on my lenses for some time (until I found the excellent microfiber cloths from Go-Lo). The lenspen is very good for removing smears on multi-coated glass surfaces, but can leave a little dust behind (which you definitely don't want on the sensor).

Cheers
Steffen.

PostPosted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:36 am
by DaveB
The article in question is from Artie Morris, who I personally hold in high regard (even if he does live in Florida ;)).

Note that the lens pen in question is not the fat one we see in the shops over here, it's the thinner model.
Re the issue of residual carbon: a lens pen should be used in conjunction with a blower.

Personally I get by with a blower most of the time, and have an Arctic Butterfly brush and a full wet-clean kit for when something needs to actually touch the glass. I haven't been tempted by the lenspen path for DSLRs, although I have been known to use one on the IR filter for DSLRs when servicing a camera... (i.e. with the filter out of the camera and in a gloved hand).

Craig, you say your lens pen struggles: is it due for replacement? They don't last forever (the head wears out, and the reserve of powder gets depleted).