A plea to the experienced and profossional... to end the stigma,

[The Blue Boy]

of cleaning your sensor...

I'm currently using my second DSLR. My first was the excellent but humble Nikon D80 and through care and diligence I never found that I needed to clean the sensor. Or have it cleaned for me.

I now use a D300s. And have more lenses. Which I change. A lot.

Sometimes in ridiculous situations, such as out at sea on a boat in howling wind. Or in deserts, wildlife parks or just on the beach whilst it's hammering down with rain. Stupid really.

So, I thought due diligence and careful lens changing technique would see me through... Gods laugh.

Just come back from Sri Lanka...

So I do the test, aperture f22, low ISO and different shutter speeds on a plain blank well lit white wall using a macro lens (this doesn't matter, btw) while slowly rotating the camera as it exposes and I find the sensor to be covered in dust (and a hair for crying out loud!)

Oh hell. Now what?

Now, I'll quite happily take a film camera to bits and just stick it in with the rest of the dishes.

I kid. But you see my point.

With modern digital cameras comes the delicacy of the sensor (Or the filter before it). A nightmare of failed warranties, smears and scratches and a ruined camera.

Right?

So I do the Youtube search. Bit useless really. So many products that totally contradict each other. Some work for some and some don't. Some are awful and some are videos with a soundtrack that I'd have to be drunk to enjoy.

I'm lucky. I have friends that do this stuff professionally so I got some direction, so lo and behold I bought the right wet cleaning kit for me and mine and I'm happy.

So simple and easy. Swab right, swab left, clean sensor. Mint.

So here is what I'm asking, as there are far more adept at this than me....

Here on this, the best site for photography...

So can you all post your videos or tutorials for this subject?

[tomdinning]

Hi Mark.
I'm heading your way in a few weeks. I could drop in and show you how but you might want to use the camera beforehand.
\Be brave. Its not as painful as it seems. The sensor is a tough little bugger because it has a nice little filter over it.
If you lived in Australia, like half your countrymen these days, including my wife, I would get you to buy you cleaning kit from:
www.cameracheckpoint.com.au
Check out the website and get some lowdown on what is the best in the business. This bloke has been repairing and cleaning cameras for so loong he does it blindfolded and he only sells what he uses.
I have used his stuff since I went to digital SLR 10 years ago. I clean my 4 Dslrs regularly as they have been, up to recently, working cameras.
The trick is to clean regularly and only ever do as much as you need to.
1. Keep thye camera clean as you go.
2. take precaustions to prevent dust entering.
3. Check the sensor regularly for dust.
4. when it appears go through the routine.

The routine is simple.
1. Use a hand blower to shake the dust loose.
2. Check sensor. If there is still dust, go to next step.
3. Use a static brush over the sensor.
4. Repeat 2
5. Repeat steps 1 and 3 if the dust appears in different places on the sensor as you check.
6. Continue repeating this process until you are satisfied you have removed the loose stuff. For me, its usually 3-4 times.
7. Apply the wet method with swab and/or sticks
8. Repeat 2
9. Repeat 7 for stubborn stuff.

Once you get the hang of it, it should take you about 20-30 minutes max. Most times, if you do it regularly you only ever get to the static brush.
I check my cameras weekly, especially if I have been out and changing lenses a bit.

[DanK]

Hi Mark,

My drill is exactly like Tom's. I stop as soon as the sensor looks fine. Often air is enough. Like Tom, I often can stop after the static brush. I only end up doing wet cleanings once or twice a year.

You can get all the stuff from Copper Hill, which also has good tutorials.

I agree with Tom--20-30 minutes once you get the hang of it. The first time or two, give yourself lots of time, and just take it slowly.

Dan

[nimitzbenedicto]

HI Mark,

Just to add to all the previous informative posts, may I suggest using make-up brushes.
Reliable, affordable and does a good job in cleaning lens, cam body, aside from our sensors.

here's some brushes from amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/SHANY-Professi...0483563&sr=1-2

HTH

[John Morton]

Have a look at this page:

http://www.bythom.com/cleaning.htm

[The Blue Boy]

Excellent stuff so far guys,

As I said above, I found it so easy and painless that I thought we could remove the stigma of it being so difficult and dangerous by getting a few more of us to say so.

Let's hope a few more chime in,

[DDK]

You can get all the stuff from Copper Hill, which also has good tutorials.

They don't ship to Australia