eye lead sensor cleaning stick

[Thomas Stellwag]

recently, after coming back from Scotland, I realized dirty sensors on my 800e and my DF
looking at some reviews I decided to buy the Eye Lead gel stick.
I found the following: on the D 800e I first was happy to get the dirt off, without wiping - you see the particles very well on the cleaning paper for the stick- then thought I made a small scratch into the sensor, then 2 , etc, until i realized it comes from the stick. On the Df it was much worse, the surface looked like beeing overlayed with a concrete pavement drawing.
So I went to the pharmacy and bought Isopropanol 98% and ordered Visible dust cleaners.
On wipe with them an the sensors were as clean as possible. So I still think the Eye lead is a good principle to take of "big particles" or spots and then clean with fluid.
On Photographers Life is this phenomenon mentioned for Sony, Fuji and Leica  cameras as well...something I just have seen.

[charlie]

I have one of those, I didn't see what you're mentioning when I used it on my D800, it worked fair enough though it didn't remove the most stubborn of dust particles either.

My sensor is dirty once again and it is time for cleaning. I'll report if I see any marks this time around.

[Akira]

I've read somewhere that the dust shakers of Sony A7 series cameras are so thin that they will be lifted and deformed when you remove the sticky sensor cleaner like the one mentioned here.  It would be better to use the liquid type cleaner only.

[Thomas Stellwag]

I've read somewhere that the dust shakers of Sony A7 series cameras are so thin that they will be lifted and deformed when you remove the sticky sensor cleaner like the one mentioned here.  It would be better to use the liquid type cleaner only.

this obviously happened sometimes with the fake sticks sold cheap in the bay

I have mixed feelings, but what I like very much: if you see in the picture your spots, you can easily locate them on the sensor and then just "suck" them off, see them ending on the cleaning paper of the stick.
After that you know, there is no more abrasive stuff, before you start with the full sensor wet wipe.
I will use the sticks now even more softly,  no pressure applied and "rolling" them over the surface.

[Akira]

Thomas, your more careful method seems to work better.

I remembered where I had read about the problem of the sticky cleaner.  That was on the website of Rayqual, the Japanese manufacturer of the quality mount adapters.  I met and talked with the owner who is craftsman and also photo enthusiast himself.  So, it is hard to believe that he used a fake cleaner bought cheaply from ebay.

[Anthony]

I recently used the Eye Lead stick on my D800.  It left a sticky residue.  I managed to clean it off with Visible Dust swabs and Eclipse.  I threw the Eye Lead stick away.

[Thomas Stellwag]

@ Anthony: it might be a good decision, what is said about Sony sensors seems to be valid as well for Fuji sensors
 if someone is afraid of using it...and what I see here from reading, the "dry" cleaning of a stabilzed sensor is another game than the cleanng of a normal sensor
I would not throw it away, I would use it for cleaning mounts and other non glass parts, if I do not trust it anymore

[pluton]

I have not used the Eye Lead product, and cannot comment on it's efficacy.
I can recommend the Three Stages Of Cleaning:
1. Air or clean/dry compressed gas...if you can blow it off, easy and you are done.
2. Clean synthetic bristle brush charged with static electricity, either the high $$$ fancy spinning ones or a simple soft nylon artist's brush that has been static charged by blowing #1(above) on it.  Still easy, and gets most spots on my D800.  Also worked well on my old D3 (ultra dust magnet) sensor.  If it works, this saves the bother of a wet cleaning job.
3. Last resort:  Wet clean.  You can buy the custom tailored sensor swabs for considerable $$, OR you can do like Nikon does in this now 10 year-old cleaning video that apparently was distributed to consumers in Japan/Asia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPcvaJl-eS4&feature=related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2yfZL0edqs&feature=related

[MFloyd]

I'm not an Eye Lead user, but it is the first time I read about negative experiences; other users, I know, are very happy. When I do a wet cleaning, I'm using Visible Dust sticks and apply it to the sensor with the force of a pencil writing on paper (this bends lightly the stick). Have done this tens of time without any problems (on Nikon sensors).