Sensor cleaning

[jyt]

Hi,

I have some dust bunnies on my sensor...is there a thread taking members step by step through the sensor cleaning procedure.

Also what sort of equipment / materials do I need to clean the ccd.

Any help would be appreciated.

[MCWB]

See this one: http://d70users.com/viewtopic.php?t=224 ... r+cleaning You can use pure methanol (if you can get hold of some) instead of eclipse fluid, as they're one and the same thing.

[Catcha]

I agree some step by step guide with some photos would help new beginners like me and others.

[birddog114]

I agree some step by step guide with some photos would help new beginners like me and others.

Ben,

Be at the mini meet and learn all in one day.
Or
I can I fly upthere and stay with you one week, So I can run a workshop on CCD cleaning?

[Onyx]

http://www.kayimages.com/sensorclean.wmv

Right click, save as.

It's a big file (16+MB). It'll take you through a demonstration of sensor cleaning the Copperhill way (ie. Eclipse/methanol and pec pads - the most common method among members of these forums).

[leek]

Alternatively - this step-by-step guide with pictures may be useful...

But as Birddog said - it's better to watch someone do it for real...

[Catcha]

Alternatively - this step-by-step guide with pictures may be useful...

But as Birddog said - it's better to watch someone do it for real...

Yep your right all good and well for people that have access to birdy and the workshops, but where I am there is nobody

[PiroStitch]

Ben,

You can be NT's pioneer D70 CCD cleaning guru

[fozzie]

Catcha/Ben,

I did my first solo 'CCD' last Saturday. Thankfully my D70 camera survived the operation

I just wished they used bullet point instructions with some pictures to make it easier to follow. Quality not quantity of information.

[BBJ]

Fozzie, mate if i had more time when i was in Adelaide last week we could have caught up and would have gladly given you a hand. Once you have done a few times it all becomes easy and i do mine sitting here at the computer.
Cheers
John

[Catcha]

Ben,

You can be NT's pioneer D70 CCD cleaning guru

yep start up my own d70 cleaning business.

Yep fozzie I agree that site just shows you what is required. Hell I don't even know what a CCD is the mirror or behind it. Besides the point, a detailed step by step of how to do it, from what to look for, and how to lock the shutter release( Yes I have read it in the manual).

If I knew how to do it properly I would be happy to do a step by step guide. and post it up.


Like going on a car forum and someone shows you step by step how to change an engine oil, once you done it the first time your right, if you never done it before if can be daunting, to stuff up a 20g let alone a 2g camera

[jyt]

Hi - thanks for the replies and the useful links...
but I guess until you actually do it once it can be pretty scarry...wouldnt want to void my warranty or something.


Birdy...do you run workshops most Sat? As you can see I am in Brisbane and am not aware of any workshops or regular meets up here.

I am ocassionally in Syd so I guess if i am ever there it would be good to turn up to a mini meet.

[birddog114]

Hi - thanks for the replies and the useful links...
but I guess until you actually do it once it can be pretty scarry...wouldnt want to void my warranty or something.


Birdy...do you run workshops most Sat? As you can see I am in Brisbane and am not aware of any workshops or regular meets up here.

I am ocassionally in Syd so I guess if i am ever there it would be good to turn up to a mini meet.

Mostly every Saturday morning, but not this week and perhaps will be next week. From now to AW, I don't have any exactly schedule yet due to many commitments, check the calendar on the front page and you'll see it if there're the meets.

[BBJ]

I watched that wmv file, i think she is going a bit far with the tweezers, i just grap the pec pad with my fingers as i do not touch the centre where it counts, i will rap it and sit it in a bag till i am ready. But really like i have said in another post i seen a Nikon service tech clean mine and well he did no different to what i do and did right there infront of me and yeh nothing special, i too was fussy and very carefull trying to do it in the most cleanest of places but i still take care but am not fussed by it anymore.

This Nikon service tech does all his repaires in an office, nothing special and does lenes as well.

[leek]

Yep fozzie I agree that site just shows you what is required.

The link I posted gives you a lot more info than that Catcha... If you click on any of the photos, it goes into a LOT of detail on the process and tools.
It isn't D70 specific, but still very useful...

If you want some more D70 specific information check out these threads:
http://www.d70users.com/viewtopic.php?t=3061
http://www.d70users.com/viewtopic.php?t=2247
http://www.d70users.com/viewtopic.php?t=2206
http://www.d70users.com/viewtopic.php?t=2884

[gstark]

I am ocassionally in Syd so I guess if i am ever there it would be good to turn up to a mini meet.

Come down and join us for the anniversary weekend. We have a minimeet scheduled, and your sensor cleaning is just a sensor swab away!

[stephen]

I think birdy should move to Perth as it is very nice and warm over here(altough not ATM ,it would freeze the brass ones of)

[birddog114]

stephen,
Who knows! one day!

[tasadam]

Well It's been a while but I'm back...
I finally got around to cleaning my CCD. Took me ages. Every time I started, I got to the step about the drink, then after the bottle I forgot what it was I was going to do...
So one day last week, just for fun, I decided to clean the CCD for the first time, WITHOUT the stiff drink or bottle of red...
Had one nasty big chunky black spot.
Got my plastic spatula that cost me 95 cents. Got my sharpest implements - a razor blade and a staysharp knife.
The razor blade was hopeless because it kept bending so I never ended up with a perfectly straight edge on the spatula.
So I went with the knife and finally ended up with a perfectly cut down spatula. Got it to Exactly 14mm. And with a lovely arrowhead shape profile on it. I bought 2 spatulas so when I cut down the 2nd one, I will be using a better cutter mechanism.
Went to my pre-decided area of little or no dust.

Started with the blower brush. Opened up the camera and found a couple of the hairs from the brush came off the brush and landed on the sensor. I had sticky tape at hand so thought that would work well to pick up the hairs but I went too deep and the tape stuck to the sensor leaving a bit of sticky residue. So I got my hankie out and gave the sensor a wipe with a bit of eclipse. This left a hankie-skid mark on the sensor so I thought I would be able to get it to dissolve, so I tipped the eclipse in the camera, hoping to land one drop smack bang in the middle of the sensor. Gees that's runny stuff, a great flood of it came out and went into the camera. So out with the hankie again - the clean side, and mopped up the eclipse as best I could. Unfortunately the skid mark from the hankie was still there, so I figure I have to use something else to dissolve it... So I open the laundry cupboard and find windex and metho. Thought better about the spray and wipe though. As the hankie wasn't the best option I thought maybe the pec pad wrapped around my finger with a small squirt of windex might do it. But the pec pad slipped and my finger wiped the sensor. The good news is that the skid mark was gone, the bad news is now there's this oily smear there. So I figure the eclipse again and try a different method for another drop smack bang in the centre of the sensor - success, bulls-eye, and in my excitement I squeezed the bottle and a great flood in the chamber again. So off to get a clean hankie or cloth inside, back to the camera and although some had evaporated it still needed a mop, so as I carefully try to absorb as much of it as I can, the batttery dies and the mirror comes smacking down on my finger, scaring me and getting the cloth caught under it.

This big green paragraph above is all fiction. Many dedicated and D70 loving people out there may have passed out before reading this far. I think I've covered about as many don'ts here as I can nightmare of (aka dream of). Apart from Birdy's experience with the screw driver (Birdy don't tell me you were serious I don't want to know!!!)

Okay back on track with my real story. (If a moderator feels it appropriate that from the green bits to here get deleted, that's fine)

I had read the copper hill method and indeed saved the whole site on my computer as a reference. I read it at least 3 times right through. I had a look at the WMV file that's about 20Mb - had to get a mate to download it on his broadband as I'm on dialup.
found a dust free surface to lay the pec pad on, placed the spatula perfectly 1/3, folded over just as planned, sticky taped in place, keeping tight across the spatula. That all worked better than I thought it would - looks just like the photo.
Got my head torch from my bushwalking gear and put that on - heaps of light being able to see what I'm doing.
Got the camera, with a fully charged battery, and loosened the lens, got the menu ready for shutter open, got the eclipse and placed the 2 (never any more) drops along the end of the spatula as the photo indicated.
Opened the shutter, turned the camera over and carefully but quickly went across - down a bit - back.
To my surprise the sensor was wider than 14mm. No big deal.
I am lucky in that my eyesight is excellent. I could see there was a streak left on the sensor.
Shut sensor, turn camera over, wrap a new pecpad and start again.
Realised by my 3rd attempt that I musn't have held the bottom edge of the spatula parallel with the sensor.
The streak still wasn't moving and I had plenty of pecpads, plenty of time, and my nerves were still rock-solid, not even breaking out in a sweat.
So Aftetr the 3rd try and the streak didn't move, I decide to use that pec pad and wipe over the streak in a downward movement gentlty, just over the streak. I know this is a no-no because if there is dust on the end of the pecpad or something, there's the risk of scratching the sensor. I was very confident there was no dust on this pecpad so I ever-so-lightly have a go.
Got it shifted but could see almost like a water mark where it moved to - worked out the eclipse was leaving this. We're only talking about a minor and very small mark here.
Got a fresh pecpad and 2 drops, went again, a bit slower, and with just a little more pressure.
That could also have been the problem the 1st try - not enough pressure so the spatula not contacting right across. They do flex a little so not a big problem.
Swiped normally - that is across, down, back.
All is good with just a bit of dust.
All up I had 8 goes, with go number 3 being a little unconventional to remove the fluid streak.
The last 2 goes were with only 1 drop.
Now I am entirely comfortable with the whole process.
I am still disappointed at how easily dust can get onto the sensor and am really going to be looking for a 28-400 VR f2.8 with macro lens so I can avoid the need to change lenses ever again, particularly in the field.
But for now, while I have to change lenses, at least I can overcome the dust spots that may come along.
Many thanks to all on this site who provided me with the advice to get this far.
Don't be scared , it can be done!

[Catcha]

Nice write up....will give mine a go in about 5 months time

[gstark]

(If a moderator feels it appropriate that from the green bits to here get deleted, that's fine)

Adam,

We're cool with this. Glad you managed to overcome your trepidations on this, but you neglected to tell us how much wine you consumed after finishing the task.

[MCWB]

This big green paragraph above is all fiction. Many dedicated and D70 loving people out there may have passed out before reading this far.

Jesus H, you're not wrong! Well done!

[BBJ]

Hi Adam, Well done mate,see it's not that bad once you have done it a few times, i just sit here at my desk, nothing elaborate.
Well done. It is alway on edge the first time you do this but after you think hell not that bad at all, what was i worried for.
Cheers

[Matt. K]

Adam
Loved your green bit. Had me in fits. But seriously...I don't recommend anyone use a light or a torch to illuminate the sensor. That some how seems to pipe the dust back in. Something to do with photons/energy and electrical charge or whatever. Just use normal room light and clean the entire sensor each time. Glad you got through it.

[sirhc55]

Damn - I will have to take my sticky tape back to the shop.

Great write up - well done

[krpolak]

Is this realy so different from typical lens tissue or it is just marketing catch? Price is about 20 times higher. And not use lens tissue. Both are glass, lens and sensor filter, aret they?


http://www.qualitycamera.com.au/product_info.php?products_id=1192

Regards,

K.Polak

[Raydar]

There deferent then the old lens tissue.
There is no lint at all that can come off the wipes if handled properly & there a lot softer the tissue, I would not like to scratch the glass in front of the sensor it would be a costly exercise in deed.

Cheers
Ray

[gstark]

Is this realy so different from typical lens tissue or it is just marketing catch? Price is about 20 times higher. And not use lens tissue. Both are glass, lens and sensor filter, aret they?

You don't want to scratch your sensor, do you?

Ordinary tissue will, and lens tissue .... isn't made for the critical task of cleaning your sensor.

[krpolak]

-->gstark

>You don't want to scratch your sensor, do you?

We dont clean sensor, we clean filter in front of sensor with is glass.

>Ordinary tissue will, and lens tissue

I was talking about ordinary lens tissue kit which you can buy in any photo shore for 5-10 backs per package (50 sheets).

> .... isn't made for the critical task of
> cleaning your sensor.

This is what makes me think. I also dont want to scratch back and front element of my glass. And if ordinary lens tissue for Teds's or so is so hard how it comes that I havent done it till now?

It looks that the only difference would be a lint issue.

By the way, I cleaned a sensor with lens tissue. No scratches.

Regards,

K.Polak

[MCWB]

Is this realy so different from typical lens tissue or it is just marketing catch? Price is about 20 times higher. And not use lens tissue. Both are glass, lens and sensor filter, aret they?

http://www.qualitycamera.com.au/product_info.php?products_id=1192

The 'sensor swabs' are a Pec*Pad wrapped around a plastic spatula. They're insanely overpriced for what they are, you're far better buying normal Pec*Pads for around $20 and DIY spatula.

[krpolak]

-->MCWB

>ou're far better buying normal Pec*Pads for around $20 and DIY spatula

This is what I did: went for art shop, bought plastic pad for oils - soft, flexible plastic, flat part almost as wide as sensor height - perfect. Costs me 75 cents. And wrap arround a lens tissue.

Have impresion that Copper Hill guy takes a market niche at the moment selling his stuff with such a high price. And I don't like to be overpriced

Anyway, just curious why they are so special

Regards,

K.Polak

[krpolak]

 BTW, guy from this website say that:

"The Manufacturers In-House Methods [of cleaning sensor]
...

Nikon - A commercial grade lens tissue wrapped around a chopstick style piece of wood with medical grade methanol. Several forums have posts where readers have been to Nikon Service outside the USA and reported seeing the technicians using SensorsSwabs and Eclipse

..."

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

Regards,

K.Polak

[gstark]

-->gstark

>You don't want to scratch your sensor, do you?

We dont clean sensor, we clean filter in front of sensor with is glass.

That's semantics, and the sensor/filter are generally referred to as the one assembly. I think that, even in your camera manual, it's referred to as a sensor cleaning.

I think that you know what I mean, and playing semantics with me won't work. Deal with the facts, and answer, rather than avoid, the question, please.

>Ordinary tissue will, and lens tissue

I was talking about ordinary lens tissue kit which you can buy in any photo shore for 5-10 backs per package (50 sheets).

And pecPads, through our resources, are made specifically for this task, and cost the same.

Please tell me what's your point? Fixing your sensor/filter because you've scratched it is a $500 repair job.

It doesn't quite seem like a great saving to pay the same basic cost for a lesser grade of smaller tissue with a higher risk of damage leading to a potentially huge repair bill.

> .... isn't made for the critical task of
> cleaning your sensor.

This is what makes me think. I also dont want to scratch back and front element of my glass. And if ordinary lens tissue for Teds's or so is so hard how it comes that I havent done it till now?

Correct, but your lens elements are, relatively, less critical surfaces within this context.

Let me ask you to perform a couple of experiments, but I take no responsibility for the outcomes or costs associated with them.

1: Put some form of small mark on the front elelment of one of your lenses. Make an exposure. Unless the mark is relatively big, I'll bet you won't see any effects of it.

2: Now do the same on the rear element of a lens. Again, you'll be unlikely to see any ill effects of this action in any image that you make.

3: Now do the same to your sensor. Or filter, if you prefer. Betcha you notice it this time ...

It looks that the only difference would be a lint issue.

By the way, I cleaned a sensor with lens tissue. No scratches.

If that's supposed to impress me, I'm sorry, but you've failed. It's what I refer to as good luck, and not good management.

I can drive a screw into a piece of wood with a hammer, but that's with a great deal of risk of damamge to the materials I'm working with. There are correct tools for a given job, and we should use them.

I could use my 24mm f/2.8 to make an image of a full moon too, but I'd much rather, if I'm shooting the moon, rather than the sky, use my 80-400VR.

You're free, of course, to do what you wish, but if you're wanting to use dangerous practices, don't expect to get too much support for those dangerous practices from this quarter.

[gstark]

BTW, guy from this website say that:

"The Manufacturers In-House Methods [of cleaning sensor]
...

Nikon - A commercial grade lens tissue wrapped around a chopstick style piece of wood with medical grade methanol. Several forums have posts where readers have been to Nikon Service outside the USA and reported seeing the technicians using SensorsSwabs and Eclipse

..."

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

Regards,

K.Polak

Ah yes.

The web, where we believe everything that we see.

What is the source of their information?

The Sensor Swabs/Exclipse method is exactly the method that we recommend, with a couple of minor variations: use pure methanol instead of buying Eclipse; they're exactly the same.

And use an appropriate spatula with a PecPad.

You seem to be about a quarter of the way there, but your not saving a damn thing, while exposing your equipment to a potentially huge risk. That's bloody poor and short-sighted economics, IMHO.

[krpolak]

--> gstark

>And use an appropriate spatula with a PecPad.

Mind that guys from cleaningdigitalcameras.com do their own swabs in exacly the same way as I can do. There is no magic.

>You seem to be about a quarter of the way there, but your not saving a
>damn thing, while exposing your equipment to a potentially huge risk.
>That's bloody poor and short-sighted economics,

And this is what I am trying to find. Is there real risk, as you are saying, or its just a marketing, current opportunity niche taken by clever guy, lack of consumer knowledge and fear ? And again what is difference between 70 bucks Swab Pad and 75 cent oild pad? For me both looks quite the same. And if there is not difference, why not spend difference on good filter or nice dinner?

And if potencial risk is so huge, why do you guys do it by yourself and not give it to authorize technician? Rethorical question.

Anyway, now I know answer to my questions, but everybody decides by its own

Regards,

K.Polak

[Matt. K]

krpolak
Long thread and lots of discussion, but bottom line is you are free to use any method that works for you. The forum members are getting very good results with pecpads and Eclipse. There has not yet been one case of damage to a CCD and all the dust gets cleaned off. Accordingly, we are confident to recommend this method to anyone. Other methods may work for you so good luck and happy photography. We would be interested if you kept us posted on your results.

[tasadam]

krpolak

I think I see your point - and generally we agree that those $75 sensor swabs or swipes or whatever they are called, are indeed too expensive. Sure they will work for you - once... Then you throw them away and get a new one ($$$)

The method we use instead are pec pads and an appropriate spatula type device, correctly sized and shaped, and eclipse (or as I now learn, pure methanol instead of the "branded" stuff...) and use the copperhill method as has been well covered here http://forum.d70users.com/viewtopic.php?t=2247

I bought a bottle of eclipse and a large pack of 4x4 pec pads. I also bought a spatula from a homewares place for 95 cents. Actually I bought 2 in case I stuffed up cutting one down. All the advice I got to do this came from this forum, people took the time to explain to me fully what I needed to do and answered any questions I had. I'm very grateful for that.

The main question I think you are asking is in the type of pad you use on your sensor (indeed, the low pass filter on the front of the sensor itself, but a repair to either will cost the same, from what I can gather it's effectively the same part).

Pec pads, for what they do, are quite cheap. Sensor swabs are not.
Used correctly, the pec pad over spatula method is very effective.

Using anything other than these pec pads does not make economical sense, as they aren't expensive yet they are reported as 99.999% lint free (or did I miss a 9?)
I am sure there are other lens type cleaning "tissue-like" cloths out there - indeed I have a pack in my camera gear that are Olympus brand and they work great with a drop of eclipse for removing an inadvertant finger mark from the front of a lens. But I can assure you, they get nowhere near my sensor!! Also some of the cloths available are impregnated with something to help clean lenses - beware if this when dealing with sensors (read my green post about the handkerchief...)

100 Pec pads and a bottle of eclipse, as we recommend, will set you back $43 plus freight from http://www.nulab.com.au/whats_nu/forsal ... roduct.htm
If you like to shop around, you can get eclipse for $16.50 from http://www.printercartridges.com.au/store/prod1720.htm - which is interesting being Nulab are supposed to be the Australian distributor... That other D70 forum link I pasted above also suggests another supplier of eclipse for less bucks. Beware of postage costs though - shopping around may end up costing you more. I haven't tried shopping around for pec pads yet but won't need to for a while either - 100 lasts a while!!

I am sure all this info has been put together before but if you didn't find it, I hope this helps.

As MattK says, keep us up to date with how you go.

[birddog114]

Free pure methanol (Eclipse Fluid) courtersy of LOZ, at the mini meet and learn how to DIY, why should we bother to other alternative ways?

[tasadam]

Free pure methanol at the mini meet

No wonder these mini meets are so popular...

Birdy now I know your preferred drop to settle the nerves when cleaning the sensor... Might I suggest sticking with the St Henri or Bin 407? Tastes better (guessing - I've never tried Meth...) and not so hard on the liver

[birddog114]

Free pure methanol at the mini meet

No wonder these mini meets are so popular...

Birdy now I know your preferred drop to settle the nerves when cleaning the sensor... Might I suggest sticking with the St Henri or Bin 407? Tastes better (guessing - I've never tried Meth...) and not so hard on the liver

Nah! no effect with St Henri or Bin 407
Henscke Hill Of Grace when we do CCD cleaning
The juice of Hill Of Grace will made the cleaning process more smoother.

[krpolak]

-->tasadam

I agree, buying standard pec pads (15 bucks os so), eclipse liquid (25 bucks or so) and doing pads by ourself makes sens. This is most efective, considering cost and time, way of cleanning sensor.

Regards,

K.Polak

[tasadam]

Henscke Hill Of Grace when we do CCD cleaning
The juice of Hill Of Grace will made the cleaning process more smoother.

Bugger me!!!
It would be cheaper to send the camera in for factory clean!  BTW just bought Bin 28 and 128 $17.49, Bin 407 $20.24 and 389 for $28.49
Bin 389 sells down here for over $45 normally... Used to be low 30's

[birddog114]

Henscke Hill Of Grace when we do CCD cleaning
The juice of Hill Of Grace will made the cleaning process more smoother.

Bugger me!!!
It would be cheaper to send the camera in for factory clean!  BTW just bought Bin 28 and 128 $17.49, Bin 407 $20.24 and 389 for $28.49
Bin 389 sells down here for over $45 normally... Used to be low 30's

Pop in at the mini meet sometimes and you won't regret with your expenses on airfare from TAS.

[gstark]

-->tasadam

I agree, buying standard pec pads (15 bucks os so), eclipse liquid (25 bucks or so) and doing pads by ourself makes sens. This is most efective, considering cost and time, way of cleanning sensor.

Which is what we've been saying all along.

Nice of you to come along for the ride.

[tasadam]

Pop in at the mini meet sometimes and you won't regret with your expenses on airfare from TAS.

Come to Tassie for a mimi meet - hold at my place and I will supply the wine! (Sorry no Hill of Grace but I can do a Mt Edelstone and an Abbotts Prayer...)
While you're here, I will take the time to take you to places where there is so much subject matter, you won't know what to photograph!

Back on topic, I mentioned I used a head torch when I did my sensor clean. It is an LED torch with 8 super bright LED's in it, runs from 3 AA bateries. Here it is http://www.paddypallin.com.au/page.asp? ... uctID=1041
I highly recommend these as one of the most versatile things you could own. And the light beam doesn't seem to attract dust particles as was suggested some light beams may do. Still running on original batteries and I got it in February! Sure it's dimmer now but still good enough to go up the back to get the firewood of an evening and keeps the hands free. My wife has one too.

[birddog114]

No, we don't need that headlight gear here, the natural light of Sydney's sky is more bright than Tassie

Go to Tas for a mini meet? never think of that cos I haven't discover all the surrounded local suburbs and areas yet! and I've been told only snail mail goes down that way

[tasadam]

No, we don't need that headlight gear here, the natural light of Sydney's sky is more bright than Tassie

OOOhhhh touching on sensitive nerves now. And with all that pollution to clog up your sensor! I suppose you might be a bit closer to the sun but our air is the cleanest in the world (fact) New idea of glow in the dark D70 so no torch needed

Go to Tas for a mini meet? never think of that cos I haven't discover all the surrounded local suburbs and areas yet! and I've been told only snail mail goes down that way

Then come to Tassie for a holiday Birdy, the wine offer still stands!
Snail mail worked well, I still got my D70 before Christmas many thanks to you!

[birddog114]

Then come to Tassie for a holiday Birdy, the wine offer still stands!

Thanks for your offer, will do it in the near future.

[joolz]

Hi Tasadam,
I'll be spending a large part of the rest of this year in Tassie (Latrobe). If there are many other d70 users down there, it might be worthwhile arranging a meet.
Not sure I'd be able to help with a sensor clean though. I've yet to be bothered doing a wet one.

[birddog114]

Hi Tasadam,
I'll be spending a large part of the rest of this year in Tassie (Latrobe). If there are many other d70 users down there, it might be worthwhile arranging a meet.
Not sure I'd be able to help with a sensor clean though. I've yet to be bothered doing a wet one.

jools,
If you're going to Tassie, make sure you bring with you a set of head gear light Too dark down there btw.