CCD cleaning

[terry]

Is there some kind of write up on cleanning the CCD? I was just lookin at some pictures i took on Saturday and just noticed that there is something on the CCD - Cant see anything on the lens or filter.


Look to the bottom left of the picture, just above the guttering.



Again same position different photo:



thanks for the help.

Terry

[birddog114]

[quote="terry"]Is there some kind of write up on cleanning the CCD? I was just lookin at some pictures i took on Saturday and just noticed that there is something on the CCD - Cant see anything on the lens or filter.

Few articles for cleaning CCD, are you keen to do that by yourself at the first time? you require to have few stuff to clean the CCD.
If this is the first time you got this issue, contact Maxwell, they will do it for you for free, the turn around time is two days, for them to return the cam back to you.

[Glen]

Terry, just get the steel wool out. Guarenteed to get rid of the mark

No seriously, http://www.bythom.com has a guide on how to do it.

[birddog114]

Terry,
Go to http://www.dpreview.com and search for CCD cleaning.
Heaps of info there.

[terry]

If this is the first time you got this issue, contact Maxwell, they will do it for you for free

So will Maxwell do it for free every time or just the first time? If its only free the first time how much will they charge for the next clean?



Terry

[terry]

Glen do you have a direct link @ bythom.com, cant seem to find it

[Glen]

You obviously have your steelwool all ready!

http://www.bythom.com/cleaning.htm is the link, gives one way to do it or as Birddog suggested, search dpreview. I haven't had to do this yet, so will be interested to know how it goes.
Someone may know where to get the cleaning products, remember reading Eclipse was recommended.

Good luck

[gstark]

Terry,

That's definitely a furball of some sort on the sensor. And as it happens, we discussed this briefly at yesterday's meet.

A couple of points, and this is probably not as obvious for those who are less experienced in matters photographic.

1: You'll need to engage the MLU function on the camera. A good light source will also be useful, and if you have a clean room environment, so much the better. (Yeah, I know)

2: To find the dust that you're seeing in these images, remember that you need to be looking at the top of the sensor, not at the bottom. You were looking at the top of the sensor, weren't you?

3: Do you have a blower brush? Try to avoid using compressed air from a can; the propellant (and perhaps the cold temperature) might cause damage to the AA filter.

4: Take your blower brush, and remove the brush section from it. You should be left with just a small rubber blower.

5: Remove the lens, engage the MLU function, and look closely for the dust. Don't expect it to be sitting flat on the AA filter; it may be raised a little, or sitting partially attached to the edge of the filter.

6: Very gently, use the blower to blow the dust away. If you've located the dust and if you can do this with the camera's mirror box facing down, you should be able to gently dislodge the dust bunny and let gravity take it away from the insides of your camera.

7: Disable MLU, replace the lens. You should now have a dust-bunny free sensor.

[gstark]

Glen,

Someone may know where to get the cleaning products, remember reading Eclipse was recommended.

There's a place in Melbourne that carries the chamois swabs and stuff that are needed for a serious cleaning of the sensor. I need to try to find the link for that and post it.

From looking at Terry's images, a simple dusting should clear this little bugger.

[terry]

Thanks Gary,

This is the first time ive heard of a blower brush, i supposed a camera store will have it?

[birddog114]

If this is the first time you got this issue, contact Maxwell, they will do it for you for free

So will Maxwell do it for free every time or just the first time? If its only free the first time how much will they charge for the next clean?


The second time will be around $40.00 + Freight

[gstark]

Thanks Gary,

This is the first time ive heard of a blower brush, i supposed a camera store will have it?

Pretty well every camera store should carry one or two styles and/or sizes. As might the more adventuresome minilabs, K-Mart, etc.

Often you'll find them in a kit, with small packet of lens tissues and a small bottle of some lens cleaning fluid as well. Expect to pay around $8 or so for the cleaning kit.

If you don't already have a cleaning kit such as this, it's probably not too bad an idea to get it.

[birddog114]

Gary,
I think we should organize and introduce a CCD cleaning session for Sydney's member(s) who may interested in this topic, just try to help some newbie not too panic when see dust on their CCD. We might asking some volunteer(s) in this forum, with their helps may demonstrate their skills.
How do you think?

[birddog114]

Terry,
Please visit the following link for method cleaning the CCD

http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning

[Raydar]

I've been lucky so far, I'm still dust free
But the time will come there is no “Q” about that!!!!!!!!
I would just like to know were in the hell I can get all the right gear to do the job, with out sending to the states??????

Any help here would be great, even if I send the money to some one & they pick it up for me
Lismore is a pretty hick town, so the chance of a shop getting something like that in is pretty remote
I have jon looking around for the gear but he has enough to do running his shop.
It would be beneficial to him to stock CCD cleaning kits with the DSLR market is growing as it is ATM.

Let me no if you can help me out here please

Cheers
Ray

[birddog114]

Ray,
NuLabs in Melbourne is selling them, I try to dig up a link and post here.

[Raydar]

Great stuff mate.

Thanks

Cheers
Ray

[Glen]

Birddog, that is a great idea. Maybe at the Sans Souci meet? I also haven't faced the problem but would love to see it done first before I face it. I would imagine with your collection you have already faced this? That link (or anybody's) on where to get supplies would be great, really something I should order now rather than when I need it.

[Raydar]

My thoughts to a tee

I'd rather have it in my back pack, then wait until the last second

Cheers
Ray

[christiand]

Hi everyone,

I got PEC PADs and Eclipse cleaning fluid from
Nulab Professional Imaging Pty Ltd today.
I made my own little paddle/spatula out of a narrow
plastic scraper that comes with a silicon/rubber tip.
I cut the rubber tip to size. The tip also flexes nicely which
allows to apply even pressure when clening the sensor.
You can find these things at woolies amongst kitchen utensils
or in kitchen utensil shops.
It took me 5 PEC PADs with two drops of Eclipse until I got a very good result. The sensor now only has two tiny spots left and I couldn't
be bothered going after them.
You can find comprehensive instructions in the forum and the internet.
You can do a search on google: ccd cleaning.

Cheers
Christian

[birddog114]

To ray & Glenn,
Here the link, give them a buzz tomorrow morning:

http://www.nulab.com.au/whats_nu/index.htm

[Glen]

Thanks Birddog for the link, will call tomorrow.

Thanks Christiand for confirming it and your experiences


Birddog, is it the Sensorswabs at $145 (gulp) you are referring to? I cant see anything else on their site suitable, is there something else like pec pads?

[birddog114]

Glen,
That's the ones, I bought them in US last trip back in Dec. if you know how to play with it, will last for year.
Perhaps the first go will be "nervous" but after you may do it monthly if you shoot everyday and having fun.
On the D100 did not have the MLU function like the D70(Have to use an option of AC adapter $180.00 to have the MLU) I used "Bulb" and holding the trigger down, not recommend by Nikon but what can you do while you're in the field!

[Glen]

Mate, if you can do it with one hand while holding the shutter release with the other, we all should be able to do it with two hands!

You give me great confidence by your comments (plus an unusual mental picture of you cleaning it with one hand in the field). Thanks

[gstark]

Gary,
I think we should organize and introduce a CCD cleaning session for Sydney's member(s) who may interested in this topic, just try to help some newbie not too panic when see dust on their CCD. We might asking some volunteer(s) in this forum, with their helps may demonstrate their skills.
How do you think?

I would agree, but I would not be suggesting this done at the Sans Souci meet.

Because of the sensitive nature of what's involved, an outdoors location for this is probably not the way to go.

Somewhere clean, dry, and dust free.

But handy to a ready suplly of cappucino.

[Raydar]

Thank Birdy for the link mate.

$145 is it, if you take into account the time a dust ridden CCD image takes to post process in time, it works out cheep in the long run

Cheers
Ray

[gstark]

Nu Lab is the place I was thinking of, but their pricing structure is exactly the sort of "treat the customer as a mug"pricing I was referring to in the grey market discussion in the Bargains section.

Who in the world can they even begin to justify a price of Au$145 for a box of 12 swabs that costs, if you're not trying too hard, just US$48?? If you look, you'll find them for less than US$40.

Being very generous, Au$70 is the top dollar that these should cost.

The pec pads are around US$6-7, whereas NuLab are (over)charging Au$22, yet for the cleaning fluid - US$16 - they're charging a somewhat more reasonable price of Au$25.

I note that the cleaning fluid can't be shipped by air within the US ....

[birddog114]

I would agree, but I would not be suggesting this done at the Sans Souci meet.

Because of the sensitive nature of what's involved, an outdoors location for this is probably not the way to go.

Somewhere clean, dry, and dust free

.

Gary,
Totally agreed.
Perhaps somewhere is your famous bar with lot of "booze" or a nice bottle of red, just kidding!!!!
I will talk with you about this topic tomorrow if you have time, perhaps my place ( an empty granny flat in the back) with a session of 5 so everyone can have a try if they want to.

[birddog114]

Gary,
Again, NuLabs price of the Cleaning stuff is quite expensive, that why I got from States last year, but what can you do if you want to get the cam ccd cleaned. Seller in US won't ship the eclipse fluid in the mail or parcel.

[christiand]

Hi all,
I guess one of the major factors in cleaning the ccd is a suitable tool.
Also very important is a lint and residue free pad of some sort.
The cleaning fluid should also evaporate without residue.
I guess PEC PADs can be ordered for a cheaper price than from Nulab, probably via the US. I also would like to know if METHO evaporates without leaving a residue behind on the ccd that could cause problems. (I havent tried it yet) I am interested in any experiences that you may have regarding this matter. I might also try myself and in that case will keep you posted.

Cheers
CD

[gstark]

Birddog,

Buy the swabs and pec pads directly from the US - no shipping worries with those items, and - given that NuLabs pricing for the cleaning fluid is reasonable, buy only the cleaning fluid from them.

Perhaps also letting them know what one thinks of their "treat the customer like a mug" (over)pricing policy.

[christiand]

That's the way to go ...

[birddog114]

B& H is selling this stuff, here's the link and buy Eclipse fluid from NULab

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control ... image.y=10

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control ... &image.y=5

[gstark]

B&H are good, but ...

http://www.2filter.com/prices/products/eclipse.html

[Raydar]

Don’t use Metho!!!!!!

It will leave an oily residue.

One thing I used to use years ago for cleaning parts, that doesn’t leave residue “that I know of “is Shelite.
You can get this from many department stores.

I still wouldn’t stick it in the front of my cam though.

Cheers
Ray

[birddog114]

How about this way,
I'll try to check with the US suppliers and perhaps order number of swap or pec-pad, ship to Australia and pass to member(s) of this forum with the cost + freight (after converted to AU$). We can make one or two order a year depend on the demand.
Hope Gary will support this ideas.

[gstark]

FWIW, Adorama and Calumet list the cleaning fluid, along with 10 pec pads, for US$7.50 - $7.99

I could get it shipped to LA or Florida and have it on shipped from there, but by the time we've paid for the second cost of shipment, we're not saving anything.

OTOH, getting direct shipment of the swabs and pads from the US will yield a significant saving.

[Raydar]

Worth a try

Cheers
Ray

[Glen]

Guys, this is great! I just went out and bought a 85mm 1:8 lens, while driving to the sellers place thinking how $145 represents 7% of the purchase cost for cleaning materials, I get back and you guys have already got the price down to US$7.99!!! How good is that! All in an hour.

Count me in for any group buy of pec pads or cleaning liquid.

[gstark]

Glen,

Guys, this is great! I just went out and bought a 85mm 1:8 lens, while driving to the sellers place thinking how $145 represents 7% of the purchase cost for cleaning materials, I get back and you guys have already got the price down to US$7.99!!! How good is that! All in an hour.

Count me in for any group buy of pec pads or cleaning liquid.

Cool.

Tell us about the lens - in the new Equipment Review section, of course.

One minor point - currently we're looking at around US$40 (plus shipping) for a pack of 12 swabs, around US$7 for the Pec Pads, and Au$25 (plus shipping) for the cleaning fluid. But we're well under the Au$145 asking price for just the swabs ...

[Onyx]

Hey Birddog - did you have any problems getitng eclipse back into Aust? I'm currently in US, and I bought a bottle of Eclipse yesterday.

I recall on my flight here I had to take the box of matches out of a first aid kit in my checked luggage, and the US TSA prohibits matches on carry-on, so it's a no win with matches - imagine what they'll do with me if I have methanol!

Glen - it's the sensor swabs that cost alot. It's $US45 at B&H too, for a pack of 10 I think it was. The Eclipse cleaning fluid (with 10 pack of Pec Pads included) costs about $US8 (plus the nasty hidden 8.625% NY sales tax).

I can go and buy en-masse if you guys wants - though I don't fancy my chances of bringing them back manually. What post carrier won't kick a fuss over shipping them? Let me know the numbers and if someone (Gary?) know of a bulk/wholesale US seller it'll save some more money too. Buying at retail level inclusive of the whopping sales tax in this state works out to be about $US9 per 60ml bottle.

[gstark]

Hey Birddog - did you have any problems getitng eclipse back into Aust? I'm currently in US, and I bought a bottle of Eclipse yesterday.

I recall on my flight here I had to take the box of matches out of a first aid kit in my checked luggage, and the US TSA prohibits matches on carry-on, so it's a no win with matches - imagine what they'll do with me if I have methanol!

Glen - it's the sensor swabs that cost alot. It's $US45 at B&H too, for a pack of 10 I think it was. The Eclipse cleaning fluid (with 10 pack of Pec Pads included) costs about $US8 (plus the nasty hidden 8.625% NY sales tax).

I can go and buy en-masse if you guys wants - though I don't fancy my chances of bringing them back manually. What post carrier won't kick a fuss over shipping them? Let me know the numbers and if someone (Gary?) know of a bulk/wholesale US seller it'll save some more money too. Buying at retail level inclusive of the whopping sales tax in this state works out to be about $US9 per 60ml bottle.

Check your email ...

[Onyx]

Checked.

Unfortunately, there are warnings at airports and on the back of the air ticket stating no flammables in luggage. The elipse cleaning solution has warnings of flammability clearly written on its packaging. However it doesn't look too conspicuous under x-ray imaging so, as Gary stated in email, small quantities that will not arouse suspicion from baggage screeners might be able to make it through undetected.

I'll try to get a few back for other D70 users and sell at cost. However, I'm gunna be in NY for a further 7 weeks (and even thinking about extending my stay if possible) so it might be a while if you currently have a dirty sensor that needs a clean.

Some photogs recommend the blower bulb method, I've tried that with no success.

[Raydar]

If you get some in mate I’ll grab one of you, for shore.

Don’t go geting in the S&%T over it but

There has to be an easier way to do this?????

Cheers
Ray

[birddog114]

[quote="Onyx"]Hey Birddog - did you have any problems getitng eclipse back into Aust? I'm currently in US, and I bought a bottle of Eclipse yesterday.

I bought a small bottle and packed into my checked baggage with other stuff, gone thru Ok.I knew it 's a flammable is prohibited on board but once you packed with other as after shave, perfume, it may be undetected but have to be a small quantity.

[birddog114]

Hey Birddog - did you have any problems getitng eclipse back into Aust? I'm currently in US, and I bought a bottle of Eclipse yesterday[/quote].

I bought a small bottle and packed into my checked baggage with other stuff, gone thru Ok.I knew flammable stuff is prohibited on board but once you packed with other as after shave, perfume, it may be undetected but have to be a small quantity.

[gstark]

Checked.

Unfortunately, there are warnings at airports and on the back of the air ticket stating no flammables in luggage.

I'm pretty sure they allow small quantities for personal use however, and that's usually stated somewhere. That permits you to carry stuff like fragrances and the like. There are similar restrictions on aerosols too.

As to wanting to extend your stay ... go for it.

[Raydar]

Ha all

I was in Jon’s shop today talking about the CCD cleaning supplies & how to get hold of them.
As it happened a rep from Maxwell was there & the “Q” was asked about CCD cleaning, & the response was what I expected “Send it to a service centre for cleaning”
Then Jon came up with one of the best reason I have heard for the high prices here in OZ,
No one is prepared to take the responsibility if something stuffs up with some ones cam.
I think this is the main prob with the availability of this stuff in AUS.

Any one ell’s have some thoughts on this

Cheers
Ray

[Onyx]

I don't think it's largely available in US either - you can read about many people asking where to get it in other online forums.

On the eclipse package it does claim it's "for professional use only, not to be sold for personal household or family use."

I wonder how much Maxwell charges for each clean. It's only been 3 days since I cleaned my sensor, and now I have visible dust spots again.

[birddog114]

CCD Cleaning:
LIY and DIY, the only solution that you want your cam with you all the time, even locally here: Sydney, I can drop off my cam to Maxwell (10 min. drive) but the quickest turn around time is around 8 hours if you have some good relation with them otherwise 2-3 days on the shelves of their Service Dept. waiting your turn. + $$$$