Dust cleaning on the cheap ?

[spystyle]

Hello from Maine,

Being a first time "Pro camera" user, I got a kick out of swapping lenses regularly, like "lock and load" it was a hoot. But at a cost - now I have dust in the camera

So I did the research and the FinePix S1 needs "Eclipse cleaner with Swab Type 1, Swab Width 20", no problem, I'll just buy it. Then I discover that the "kit" is like $70 !!! I didn't see that coming.

Spending $70 to clean a $160 camera seems... unbalanced. I was curious if any of you had found a less expensive method for cleaning dust out of your camera.

If you look at my daughter's forehead in the pic below you will see a dust bunny.


I think I will clean my camera and then put on one lens semi-permanently.

Thank you,
Craig

[chengvc]

Just go and buy a Sensor Wand...
It is much cheeper and friendly to use...
Allow to reuse too!!!
If you Live in USA I think there is one call (Copper Hill) Just same as Sensor Wand...
Hope that will help...
VX

[nolly]

I dropped to dough on an Artic butterfly kit from Visible Dust. It works great. I've only needed to clean the sensor once with it, but its fast and pretty easy.

A reusable kit will pay for its self overtime compared to paying a camera store to do it for you.

When changing lenses, try to keep the camera body pointed down to avoid dust falling into the opening. Avoid dusty areas if possible when changing lenses. Keep both ends of you lenses clean (keeping the mounting end clean will help prevent dust transferring from the lens to the body). I change lenses frequently, and don't have many problems with just following those 3 "rules".

Hope that helps

Bryan

[00silvergt]

Originally Posted by nolly

I dropped to dough on an Artic butterfly kit from Visible Dust. It works great. I've only needed to clean the sensor once with it, but its fast and pretty easy.

A reusable kit will pay for its self overtime compared to paying a camera store to do it for you.

When changing lenses, try to keep the camera body pointed down to avoid dust falling into the opening. Avoid dusty areas if possible when changing lenses. Keep both ends of you lenses clean (keeping the mounting end clean will help prevent dust transferring from the lens to the body). I change lenses frequently, and don't have many problems with just following those 3 "rules".

Hope that helps

Bryan

You forgot another rule: Only change the lens while the camera is off to prevent an electrostatic charge to build on the sensor which will attract dust.

I have the AB724, I have the sensor wands, the delkin, the sensors swabs and even Canon's SCK-1. I use the AB724 most often for the easiest cleaning, but sometimes you get that welded dust and can't avoid the wet cleaning. That's when I often will use the Sensor Wand, Pec Pads and the Eclipse fluid. I would inspect it with the Delkin Sensor Scope and fire a few test shots at F/22 and done.

[nolly]

Guess I just figured that one as a given.

[00silvergt]

Originally Posted by nolly

Guess I just figured that one as a given.

You'd be surprised...

[sean_buerger]

"...You forgot another rule: Only change the lens while the camera is off to prevent an electrostatic charge to build on the sensor which will attract dust..."

Electrostatic charges wouldn't be bothered, whether the camera is on or off, as long as you don't point an ionizer fan into the camera. Also I can't see how an electrostatically charged sensor behind a metal shutter would make any difference to the dust coming into the mirror box during lens change.

To me your rule is boulderdash! Cheers, Sean.

[00silvergt]

Originally Posted by sean_buerger

"...You forgot another rule: Only change the lens while the camera is off to prevent an electrostatic charge to build on the sensor which will attract dust..."

Electrostatic charges wouldn't be bothered, whether the camera is on or off, as long as you don't point an ionizer fan into the camera. Also I can't see how an electrostatically charged sensor behind a metal shutter would make any difference to the dust coming into the mirror box during lens change.

To me your rule is boulderdash! Cheers, Sean.

"boulderdash and cheers" nice...keep leaving your camera on while changing your lens, genius...you will learn soon enough. BTW, it is not *MY* rule, read and weep:

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT/EOS 350D - Google Book Search

Ophrys Photography - Hints and tips 3 - keeping digital sensors clean - filters

"The first thing that you can do to prevent the dust problem is to turn the camera off when changing lenses. This switches the charge off from the sensor and theoretically will decrease the amount of dust attracted to it."

Here's one from Canon Europe:

Prevention is better than cure

You cannot stop dust getting into your digital camera, but you can reduce the risk a little using one or more of these simple procedures.
Switch the camera off before changing the lens. This reduces the static charge on the sensor and stops it attracting dust.

Never leave the camera with the lens mount open. When you remove a lens, replace it immediately with another or attach the camera body cap.
Avoid changing lenses in dusty situations. If you have to change a lens in these conditions, hold the camera with the lens mount facing down to reduce the risk of dust falling into the opening.
Keep the body cap free from dust. Did you know that the body cap and lens cap attach to each other? This will keep the inside of both caps clean when a lens is on the camera.



Canon Professional Network - Sensor Cleaning



I suppose there all boulderdash, huh, genius?

[sean_buerger]

Switch the camera off before changing the lens. This reduces the static charge on the sensor and stops it attracting dust.

And yet the sensor sits behind the metal shutter. I don't mind cleaning my sensor regularly. It's a matter of routine to me, but I don't believe the "preventive" steps here.

Cheers, Sean.

[00silvergt]

Originally Posted by sean_buerger

Switch the camera off before changing the lens. This reduces the static charge on the sensor and stops it attracting dust.

And yet the sensor sits behind the metal shutter. I don't mind cleaning my sensor regularly. It's a matter of routine to me, but I don't believe the "preventive" steps here.

Cheers, Sean.

Well, seeing as I am a Canon shooter(and admittedly it doesn't stop the dust, but from experience it has lengthen the gaps between cleanings, for me), I will follow what the manufacturer recommends and other people as well. Some people may never persuaded, but I guess we all will learn soon enough.

[Rodeoshooter]

Originally Posted by 00silvergt

Well, seeing as I am a Canon shooter(and admittedly it doesn't stop the dust, but from experience it has lengthen the gaps between cleanings, for me), I will follow what the manufacturer recommends and other people as well. Some people may never persuaded, but I guess we all will learn soon enough.

Well I am a Canon shooter as well and if you follow the correct steps to clean your sensor and then shut off your camera before removing the lens you will find the sensor available as the shutter is locked open until you turn the camera back on. I don't know if this is the same on all Canon cameras but it is with the ones I own.

I simply use a small brush to brush off the sensor and then carefully use a can of compressed air to blow it off. I am very careful not to shake nor turn the can upside down as the propellant will get onto the sensor if you do that to the can.

I have had Canon Digital cameras since 1999 and have done this with the D30, D60, 10D, 1D, 1Ds and 1D MKII. So it works with all of the higher end cameras and the 10D. I don't know about other brands but I have several friends who shoot Nikon and they clean their own sensors as well.

On a side note I would like to ask Sean Buerger to contact me as my last name is the same just spelled the American way.

Good luck on the cleanings!

[00silvergt]

Originally Posted by Rodeoshooter

Well I am a Canon shooter as well and if you follow the correct steps to clean your sensor and then shut off your camera before removing the lens you will find the sensor available as the shutter is locked open until you turn the camera back on. I don't know if this is the same on all Canon cameras but it is with the ones I own.

I simply use a small brush to brush off the sensor and then carefully use a can of compressed air to blow it off. I am very careful not to shake nor turn the can upside down as the propellant will get onto the sensor if you do that to the can.

I have had Canon Digital cameras since 1999 and have done this with the D30, D60, 10D, 1D, 1Ds and 1D MKII. So it works with all of the higher end cameras and the 10D. I don't know about other brands but I have several friends who shoot Nikon and they clean their own sensors as well.

On a side note I would like to ask Sean Buerger to contact me as my last name is the same just spelled the American way.

Good luck on the cleanings!

Um, okay, so you leave your camera on while changing lenses?

[Rodeoshooter]

Originally Posted by 00silvergt

Um, okay, so you leave your camera on while changing lenses?

I believe I said "if you follow the correct steps to clean your sensor". No, I wasn't talking about what I do when I change lenses on my cameras. I was simply talking about the cleaning.

In fact I always try, sometimes during the rodeo action I start to change, then catch myself and double check to make sure the camera power is off before I change lenses. As a point I always intend to shut off my camera power when changing lenses.

[00silvergt]

Originally Posted by Rodeoshooter

I believe I said "if you follow the correct steps to clean your sensor". No, I wasn't talking about what I do when I change lenses on my cameras. I was simply talking about the cleaning.

In fact I always try, sometimes during the rodeo action I start to change, then catch myself and double check to make sure the camera power is off before I change lenses. As a point I always intend to shut off my camera power when changing lenses.

Well, that was your potential distant cousin's point of argument, he said that it was "boulderdash", that you have to turn the camera off while changing the lens.

I clean my sensor with the AB724 at least once a week, if things get real bad, than I would do a wet cleaning which is about once a month for me.

[Rodeoshooter]

Ahhhh I see said the blind man. I didn't see the quote about not turning off the camera. I did see where he said "I can't see how an electrostatically charged sensor behind a metal shutter would make any difference to the dust coming into the mirror box during lens change." I understand his thinking but sadly it don't work that way. You got to turn off the charge to the sensor before changing the lens if you don't want the dust.