DIY Sensor Cleaning.

[John G]

After a couple of comments relating to my D800E sensors cleanliness witnessed on my presented images to NG, I have done my first sensor clean and it has been a DIY effort.
I have used the VSGO Full Frame Sensor Cleaning Kit.
I have watched a selection of the tutorials available. With info and tools I went for it.
After cleaning the mirror and view finder and as much of the internals as possible I carried out a sensor cleaning operation.
I used a host of bright surface images at f16 to assess the outcome of each stage and now after 7 swabs, yes seven. I am now in possession of a sensor that has one dot on the lower left corner. This was a heavily contaminated sensor, I had no idea this could become so dirty with well adhered contamination substances.
I believe I can now offer a image that will not have as many detractors in it, or need so much time in post doing retouching/spot removal.
Hoo rah, Hoo rah, Hoo rah   

[Bjørn Solberg]

Hi,

I bought Nikon lens wipes, used them (on the lens), but still get dirt on some of my photos, so I assume the sensor on my D3s never has been cleaned. Where did you buy your cleaning kit?

[dslater]

So after reading this, I went out and too a shot of the sky to see what my sensor looked like. Looks like its time for me to invest in a cleaning kit as well. Any recommendations for a good kit for a D300?

[John G]

Hello
        I used VSGO, it can bought if found on offer for £8, but I paid £12 delivered. For this you receive 12 swabs and a bottle of fluid.
        I believe I can safely say, this fluid leaves no sign of residuals.
        I also read on another thread, while investigating cleaning options, that VSGO supply Nikon their products.
        I will say the results are good for a first timer.

[pluton]

VSGO says, on their website, that "Nikon sources our cleaning kits"
VSGO seems to have broken the price barrier compared to the 'made in USA/Canada' brands, and that's good.
I have always felt that the original 'big name' brands of cleaning materials were severely overpriced.
For those that want a long but fact-based article about sensor cleaning, I recommend Mr. Hogan:
http://www.dslrbodies.com/cameras/camera-articles/sensors/cleaning-your-sensor.html
To see how Nikon wet-cleaned sensors about ten years ago, see these videos on Youtube(if available in your country):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPcvaJl-eS4&feature=related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2yfZL0edqs&feature=related

[dslater]

Thanks John,
  I read a bad review of this product. The customer claimed the fluid took forever to dry and left residue on his sensor. However, I suspect that was a case of someone putting too much solution on the swab.

[pluton]

Thanks John,
  I read a bad review of this product. The customer claimed the fluid took forever to dry and left residue on his sensor. However, I suspect that was a case of someone putting too much solution on the swab.

Agree...one must usually interpret consumer reviews, and throw out the extreme reactions of the ill-informed.

[John G]

There are always a bad review of most items thrown in amongst many positive reviews.
In this case, the product is totally satisfactory, it will achieve the outcome desired. Make sure your confidence to achieve the task is
well grounded by reviewing the tutorials and becoming familiar with what a clean sensor will look like, and how to achieve this.
Make sure you clean all the components in front of the sensor, before cleaning the sensor. The internal casing, the on camera lens mount ring, the contacts,
mirror and view finder, inside the body and outside. You can use a sensor swab and fluid to achieve this.
When cleaning the sensor, do not be to hasty to swab the sensor if it very contaminated, give the solution a chance to dissolve or free and particles, I would say a sweep of about 3 seconds gave the most positive particle removal, if I did this at first, I may have used half the number of swabs, and remained confident. At swab/sweep 7 your getting a little concerned as a novice.
I used two checks for observing cleaning results, the common method is to photograph a plain bright surface at f16 or above. Then magnify your LCD and scroll around the image.
I also looked at a fluorescent bulb through the viewfinder.
I have a speck at present in the bottom left of the image, I will leave this at present.

[armando_m]

The first time is a bit scary , I bought a cleaning kit and it went really smooth, a couple of passes and it was ready to go

I cleaned a friend's camera, also very easy, 1 pass and done

Then I cleaned mine again...
it didn't go as smooth, fluid wasn't drying without residue , there were more loose particles that moved around, and the sensor now have some really stubborn speckles, it took me a while of: clean, shoot,  retry ,clean, shoot,  retry , curse , take out the vaccum cleaner, vaccum the outside , clean, shoot,  retry , curse ! My wife asking what's wrong? I'm mumbling under my breath,  clean, shoot,  retry , CURSE!! clean, shoot,  retry , ok ...
I was really glad this didn't happen while cleaning my friend's camera

[pluton]

Then I cleaned mine again...

Yes, the same equipment, supplies, and apparent conditions, and it's fine one time, stubborn the next.  The only unknown factor that I can think of is the relative humidity.

[John G]

When investigating sensor cleaning a the term "anhydrous" was used in relation to the state of the fluid when supplied.
Anhydrous I believe refers to the minimum amount of water in the solution.
Once opened and stored in a usual storage method, the solution may be able absorb moisture, this additional moisture
could be the cause of the sensor smears, that are reported.
This is just a theory of mine, not a known fact.

[pluton]

When investigating sensor cleaning a the term "anhydrous" was used in relation to the state of the fluid when supplied.
Anhydrous I believe refers to the minimum amount of water in the solution.
Once opened and stored in a usual storage method, the solution may be able absorb moisture, this additional moisture
could be the cause of the sensor smears, that are reported.
This is just a theory of mine, not a known fact.

The ability of the cleaning solution to absorb water from the air applies to the alcohol solutions, like Eclipse.  It probably is a factor.  The surfactant based solutions, like the Visible Dust 'Sensor Clean'(the green capped one) are made primarily of water, yet seem to show variable rates of evaporation.  I usually apply a couple drops of whichever solution to the Pec Pad wad at the end of my wooden stick, then wait...and wait..and wait...at least a minute, and sometimes two or three minutes.  If I don't wait long enough, excess liquid is deposited on the sensor.  The time needed to wait for the solution to distribute itself through the pad material seems to be highly variable...in other words, it's guesswork.

[JJChan]

My sensor is messy. Which sensor cleaning kit does one recommend?

VSGO?
Visible Dust - and then which one? Smear Away?

[Anirban Halder]

In Bangalore India, Nikon service center has sensor cleaning service as cheap as USD 4. So I never bothered to do it myself while in India. However, in United States DIY is *significantly* cheaper option. There are local camera shops in many cities where they clean the sensor while you wait.

[MFloyd]

May be, you should have a look at my experience http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php/topic,4099.msg63047.html#msg63047