Sensor cleaning technique that actually works?

[Orangutan]

+1 on swabs, unless you have shaky hands.

I cleaned my 20D multiple times that way.  I probably should get an Arctic Butterfly at some point, but I like the simplicity of the swabs.  Plan to use 2-3 swabs per cleaning.  Fluid lasts forever, and doubles as filter cleaner.  (unless Neuro is aware of an undesirable chemical reaction between the reagent-grade ethanol and the coatings on the filter)

[jmp2000]

Personally I use a blower as a first step. If that doesn't work well enough, I go to sensor swabs + eclipse solution.

I don't see the point of using a loupe to inspect for dust. Just DoF preview a small aperture in live view and you can see what you're dealing with.

This works great, it's fast and cheap. Two things, you got to use the Eclipse solution inside, and I found that cleaning it under a 150 watt light helps so you can see everything.

[agierke]

how old is the camera and how many shutter actuations do you have on it?

i ask only because my 5Dc shutter just blew up last summer after putting it through 180,000+ actuations so i had to send it in to CPS for repair. for 200.00 i got a brand new shutter installed, they cleaned out the very dirty viewfinder, and replaced the glass filter in front of the sensor. had the camera back in under a week and it was as clean as it was when i first took it out of the box.

i used to clean my sensor with the swabs and they were fairly decent but rather expensive. i took it to calumet once but they did an absolute horrendous job and charged me 50.00. in the end there was significant dust that just didnt want to be cleaned...it would always end up just getting pushed around the frame and typically settling in on the corners.

having CPS replace the filter and clean the viewfinder was worth every penny. if you have a couple years on a camera and the thing is retaining dust i highly recommend sending it to canon and getting a tune up. oh...and i wasn't a CPS member so $200.00 was the price without paying the annual dues. it probably would be cheaper if you dont get the shutter replacement like i did as well.

[AJ]

#1. Inspect - aka Visible Dust Sensor Loupe 7X
#2. Then if needed...Blow - aka Rocket Blower
#3. Then if needed...Brush - aka Visible Dust Sensor Brush
#4. Then if needed...Swab - aka Photographic Solutions Sensor Swab (APS-C is #2)

^^^this

Start with least invasive. Move on to more invasive techniques only if required.

The blower has always done the job for me, even in the days before auto sensor cleaning.  I tip the camera with the mirror box opening pointed down, so any dust falls out.

[Marsu42]

how old is the camera and how many shutter actuations do you have on it?

my 60d is about 1.5 years old (bought it when it was released) and has 70k actuations.

but did canon accept the 60D for CPS? I´ve wanted to register my 7D + 27-70 2,8
and my flash and cps said i´ve not the permission to enter cps?

See here for the gear that qualifies - 60d & 7d are not "pro" and do not qualify for gold, but only for silver (see link for eu, buttons faq & "view qualifying products"): https://cps.canon-europe.com/

But Canon CPS seems to be vastly different in Europe because it's free. The FAQ says: "Nothing, its free. Canon Professional Services will continue to be a free service to European customers". But I guess that'll make them more conservative when repairing gear.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

There are different levels of dirty sensors, the worst being baked on particles or grease spots from the mirror lubricant.  Thats really difficult to clean off.  When I get soil that can't be removed with a blower or lens pen, I use eclipse and sensor swabs.  It usually takes me 5 swabs for a really dirty sensor.
 
  Depending on how willing you are to buy expensive cleaning equipment, magnifiers, etc for do it your self cleaning, you might be happier to find a local camera shop that will do it, or even setup some sort of annual cleaning plan.  Its not cheap, but a rocket blower is low cost and certainly your best method for a first try.  Never use canned air!!!
 
microtools sells in the USA and Europe.
 
http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/index.html
 
http://www.micro-tools.com/

[AJ]

Never use canned air!!!
 

^^^ and that, too.

[victorwol]

I use sawbs and the solution. Send my camera to CPS twice. Never got a better clean that what I can do at home. In fact once came back pretty worse that what I sent.

[prestonpalmer]

Yes CPS will accept the 60D.

[eeek]

I use sawbs and the solution. Send my camera to CPS twice. Never got a better clean that what I can do at home. In fact once came back pretty worse that what I sent.

I've sent my stuff to CPS a lot- never had issues.  They clean very well.  At least in the 10 or so check & cleans that I've had done.  I've also had repairs done- they'll clean it out at that point, too.

Yes CPS will accept the 60D.

I think they do for USA CPS, but not Europe.

[Marsu42]

Yes CPS will accept the 60D.

I think they do for USA CPS, but not Europe.

You're wrong - please see the link I posted above - the 60d qualifies for cps silver.

[TexPhoto]

Pec pads + cut down small kitchen spatula = sensor swabs for pennies each.

Here is a great article: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Photography-Tips/Sensor-Cleaning.aspx

[colin1984]

Yes CPS will accept the 60D.

I think they do for USA CPS, but not Europe.

You're wrong - please see the link I posted above - the 60d qualifies for cps silver.

when i enter cps in europe and add my eos 7d an my ef 24-70 2,8 the cps says i don´t have all needs to  enter cps, either platinum nor silver but the site go further and jump to the second page

try to call canon an monday

[lol]

Pec pads + cut down small kitchen spatula = sensor swabs for pennies each.

Photographic solutions do warn that the material they use in sensor swabs is not the same as that of a pec pad. Proceed at your own risk. Sensor swabs are somewhat expensive, but I don't use many of them. I got a box of the APS-C size ones while I had the Sony a350 (my first DSLR) and I still haven't gone through the box!

[victorwol]

I use sawbs and the solution. Send my camera to CPS twice. Never got a better clean that what I can do at home. In fact once came back pretty worse that what I sent.

I've sent my stuff to CPS a lot- never had issues.  They clean very well.  At least in the 10 or so check & cleans that I've had done.  I've also had repairs done- they'll clean it out at that point, too.

Yes CPS will accept the 60D.

I think they do for USA CPS, but not Europe.

They apologized and did it again for free (no coupon) but even when received the camera the second time, cleaned by the "senior" technician... Even if clean of dirt visible by the eye and a loupe for such task, when tested the camera with photo and photoshop and levels, there was traces of the cleaning solution still on the sensor. While this is not visible in regular photos, when you take photos with a lens like the MP-E 65, it's very visible and should be totally cleaned when when done by a professional. I'm not bothering anymore sending the camera in for regular sensor cleaning.

They did a great job cleaning the dirt that got inside of the pentaprism area, but for regular sensor cleaning, I really saw no difference what what I can do at home, in fact, I get better results with the swabs. And faster..   May be I have to try another CPS center.

A note on the side... When I received the 5D MKIII.. Brand new... Never used.. It was dirty.. Had some little hairs, like from a bad brush, and the sensor had a few speckles of dust.......   Got a second unit.... Also dirty....