DSLR cleaning

[zshujaudeen]

Hello!
I'm new to photography and I have no idea on cleaning my sensor and lens, are there any shops available in Hong Kong which offers this service?
Or should I do it on my own?, what do I need?

Thank you , please help me with this, (sorry for bad English)

[Mike Buckley]

For cleaning sensors, see this thread. You can conduct a search to find many similar threads.

For cleaning filters and the outside of lenses, simply Google for that information and use common sense if anything you find seems questionable. You can use a micro fiber cloth (because it doesn't leave any lint) and a small bottle of lens cleaner. There are less expensive substitutes for lens cleaners but I'm not knowledgeable of them. A small bottle of cleaner lasts for years for me, so I've never taken the time to research cheaper alternatives.

[zshujaudeen]

Thank you very much @Mike Buckley

[JR1]

Hello!
I'm new to photography and I have no idea on cleaning my sensor and lens, are there any shops available in Hong Kong which offers this service?
Or should I do it on my own?, what do I need?

Thank you , please help me with this, (sorry for bad English)

After 18 years and many cameras I have yet to clean a sensor, WHY !

If you have a UV or similar filter on the camera lens cleaning that is simple, and keeps lenses clean !

Where is hk, you may know ................

[Polar01]

Jeremy having a UV or similar filter on the camera lens has nothing to do with dirt getting on the sensor, only the glass of the filter. I also use a similar filter on the end of my camera lens, much easier to clean and it helps to protect the main glass on the end of the lens.
Cleaning the sensor and a lens are two completely different things. You must change your lens in a sealed or dust free environment to not get any dust on your camera's sensor to never in 18 years to have to clean it.

Cheers: Allan

[Geoff F]

For sensor cleaning, Shuja, start with a clean dust free brush, like a lens brush. If that doesn't achieve the result you will need to give it a 'wet clean' by using one of the many makes of cleaning swabs and fluids. They should be available in Hong Kong; after all, that is where most are produced. And there should certainly be camera shops etc who would do it for you.

A bit more of a struggle in the remoter parts of the UK, like where I live, so I do it myself without any problems. It just takes a bit of nerve for the first time you do it.

[DanK]

Do you need to clean your sensor? Only do it if you need to. This is NOT routine maintenance. Shoot a shot of this image at a small aperture, such as f/22. if you don't see spots in the image, you don't need to clean your sensor.

[zshujaudeen]

Thank you Allan,@ Geoff F

[zshujaudeen]

@Dan K
Yes I'm having those dirty spots appearing

[JR1]

Jeremy having a UV or similar filter on the camera lens has nothing to do with dirt getting on the sensor, only the glass of the filter. I also use a similar filter on the end of my camera lens, much easier to clean and it helps to protect the main glass on the end of the lens.
Cleaning the sensor and a lens are two completely different things. You must change your lens in a sealed or dust free environment to not get any dust on your camera's sensor to never in 18 years to have to clean it.

Cheers: Allan

If you READ the original comment, and I am a PRO not a fool, they clearly said about also cleaning the LENS............. hence the filter

MOD EDIT This sort of aggressive response is neither productive nor helpful. Your own post asks why you've never had to clean a sensor in 18 years and your own answer states that it is because you have put a filter on the front of the lens. It is important that your own posts are clear and unambiguous.

[Black Pearl]

Jeremy I'd love to know which DSLR you were using 18 years ago and how in all those years you've never got any dust on any of the sensors in any of your camera.

As to you recommending putting a UV filter on that doesn't solve the original question of how to clean a lens it only moves the question from cleaning the front element to filter itself. You still need to clean it at regular intervals.

I'm not a PRO (I copied your caps as it must be important) by the way so I might be missing something that only a PRO knows

[JR1]

Jeremy I'd love to know which DSLR you were using 18 years ago and how in all those years you've never got any dust on any of the sensors in any of your camera.

As to you recommending putting a UV filter on that doesn't solve the original question of how to clean a lens it only moves the question from cleaning the front element to filter itself. You still need to clean it at regular intervals.

I'm not a PRO (I copied your caps as it must be important) by the way so I might be missing something that only a PRO knows

1. Never cleaned a sensor, so live with that fact
2. Cleaning a filter, easier less damaging than a front element, shall I explain......................... nah
3. You responded to my post as if I didn't know, I responded in kind

I will not add to this again...........

MOD EDIT - Indeed not. This member account has now been closed following repeated requests to moderate tone and language.

[Krawuntzel]

Yes I'm having those dirty spots appearing

Back to the original questions:
First: clean the front element of your lens as written; do it after every time "out in the field".
Second: many cameras have a "sensor cleaning function" in their menues ("shaking" the sensor to get rid of small dust particles; there are also brands of cameras, that do it every time you switch on your camera).
Third: it is easy to clean a sensor - even me with clumsy fingers I have done it myself - but I guess that it depends on the camera you own, how easy it is.
Third: I let do a yearly cleaning of my cameras by a trusted photo dealer.
Erwin

[Mike Buckley]

Dan mentioned that cleaning a sensor is not routine maintenance, that it is not to be cleaned unless the sensor is dirty. That's so important that it's worth reiterating.

We should also add that checking for the possibility of a dirty sensor should be done routinely. One issue is that you may not notice the spot in certain images that are busy enough where the dirty spot happens to be. Then when that spot happens to be in the area of a cloudless blue sky such as in Dan's test photo, you'll easily see it ruining your image. Another issue is that your sensor can become dirty even though you haven't changed lenses since the last time it was cleaned. That happens when you blow dust off the sensor and it gets blown into another part of the camera rather than outside the camera. That bit of dust can then fall back onto the sensor.

[Venser]

First: clean the front element of your lens as written; do it after every time "out in the field".

I would argue this might be a little overkill. I'd only clean the front element if there appears to be dust or smears.

Contrary to some of the posters above, I don't use filters on my lenses. That's best left for another thread and has been discussed many times here and elsewhere.

I've used kits similar to this to clean my sensor. Sensors aren't delicate flowers that need coddling, they're quite robust.

Dust on the front element will have minimal effect compared to the rear element of the lens or the sensor.

[ajohnw]

I think it would be worth asking which camera. Many now have some sort of sensor shake to knock the dust off. That will keep the sensor dust free for some time. If at some point it doesn't indicating that atmospheric gunk has finally settled on it then is the time to think about cleaning. Believe it or not a gluey substance does settle on everything at some point but it should take rather a long time to cause problems with dust settling on a camera sensor - many years I would have thought as long as it's not just left lying around open to the air.

To get rid of any dust in the camera I would use either a blower brush or probably more preferably a blower can of compressed gas as that unlike the air will be dust free. It's important to keep the can vertical to ensure that liquid doesn't shoot out.. It needs using in a fashion that causes the gas to swirl out taking any dust with it.

If a sensor does need cleaning I feel it's best to take the camera to the nearest camera manufacturers own recommended service agent. It will cost more than using a camera shop that does it on the cheap but I would rather pay the extra and be sure it has been done properly with the best materials. All manufacturers list there service people some where on their web sites. Of some one has bought a used camera and has no idea how many shots it has taken they will also warn you if things are getting near the need for a shutter replacement. The cheapest option on that is a full service and shutter replacement as the service covers most of the labour content involved in replacing a shutter.

A blower can is the best thing to use on a lens as well before using anything else but an ordinary blower brush is fine for that and for knocking dust off. The time for using anything else is when dust doesn't blow off easily. Microfibre cloths a good at getting 2nd hand lenses clean and in some ways safer than using a very wet clean of some sort as there is no chance of getting liquid in the lens. I prefer a damp clean once optics are clean but some use microfibre all of the time.

Some people make their own cleaning fluid as the perfect stuff for precision optics is made up with distilled water, even double or triple distilled water. This is mixed with varying %'s of 100% isopropyl alcohol / IPA usually 50 to 70% and 1 to 2 drops of soap solution per ltr of the mixture. It worth keeping some without the soap. Clean with tissues / cotton swabs / cotton buds as needed but more damp rather than sopping wet. I go for 50% to 60% mix and make my own because I wont pay £10 for a little dropper bottle again. Some people have used certain brands of ordinary window cleaner for years without problems but I reckon it's more likely to leave a residue.

Personally when I buy a new lens or clean a used on up I fit a UV filter as soon as possible. Some times I fit a UV/IR block filter as an alternative. Saves buying the more expensive neutral density filters and should also prevent IR from messing up rather long exposures.

John
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[William W]

I'm new to photography and I have no idea on cleaning my sensor and lens,

What camera?

What lens(es)?

WW

[zshujaudeen]

5D mark iii
70-105mm

[DanK]

Do you mean 24-105? I am not aware of a 70-105.

First: clean the front element of your lens as written; do it after every time "out in the field".

IMHO, there is no need to do this unless there is a fair amount of dirt on the front element. Dirt on the rear element is can have a substantial effect, but the impact of dirt on the front element is minor, often not even visible, unless the amount of dirt is substantial. The reason is that the front element is so far from the focal plane. If you see dust building up, the safest thing is to use a blower, but it is also fine to brush it gently with a clean lens brush. I do this fairly often when I see dust building up, but to be honest, I am doing it more than there is any need to do. I often stick a lenspen in my bag or pocket for this purpose.

If you have smudges on the front element, that's a different matter. I would follow the lens manufacturer's recommendations, using lens paper and cleaner AFTER blowing or brushing off any solid matter. The reason I suggest using the manufacturer's recommendations is that different coatings may call for different cleaning. E.g., the manufacturer of one brand of filters I use calls for cleaning with water rather than lens cleaner.

If you have sensor spots: google or search this site, and you will find endless discussions of this. I clean my own, starting with a rocket blower, moving on to a static brush if the blower doesn't work, and moving on to a wet cleaning as a last resort. I use the Copper Hill materials. I find that if I am careful, I don't have to do it often. I have done my 50D perhaps 5 times in the 5 or 6 years I have owned it, and I haven't yet had to clean my 5DIII, which I have had for a year and a half. I recently bought the lenspen sensor cleaner as a substitute for wet cleaning, but I haven't had a chance to try it.

[PhotomanJohn]

I want to make a few comments, some of which are repeats.

Most of the time just blowing out the mirror box then the mirror itself and then the sensor takes care of the dust.

I have started to use a sensor cleaner with a sticky silicone tip and find it to be very effective at removing dust that doesn't budge with the bulb blower. I have heard there are some cheap imitations that can leave smudges on the sensor that are hard to remove.

When using a brush, be very careful not to let any of the bristles from getting off the edge of the sensor into lubricant that may be there. The grease used in cameras is hard to remove from the sensor and the brush.

I would never suggest that one use canned air dusters on a camera especially inside. It is easy to shake a new can enough while using it a get liquid out which will freeze the surface and often leave a smug that is very hard to remove.

Lens and sensor pens leave fine carbon dust that should be blown out or removed with a sticky probe.

John