Podcast 80 is live - Camera cleaning and care

[casil403]

Hi Marko, I was womdring if you could perhaos sometime do a podcast on camera care and cleaning. How to properly clean the sensor and what basic cleaning equipment you recommend to use for cleaning. I've been having a heck of a time with dust spots lately and I've used sensor swabs but it doesn't seem to help much. I've been getting little streaks of cleaning material left on the sensor instead of dust and it's making me nuts!
Anything you could provide would help

[Yisehaq]

Hey Casil403!
I am not an expert but I have cleaned the sensor of my 350D a couple of times. I used methanol as I couldn't get any other solution to do that but I gather, all of them contain methanol in them.
Anyway, my advice is that use a bit more force to clean it. Yes sensors are delicate but they are not as delicate as you think. When you have some stubborn dust on them you can use so force. Use more liquid and keep on cleaning and it will do the job. I will try to upload my result if it is of any help. I used cotton swabs to for cleaning.

[Yisehaq]

Here they are. Some of the dust where so stubborn but I used more liquid and a bit of a force. May be where you are it's better to take it to a shop.

[Fortytwo]

I always put my camera in the dishwasher...


Nah, methanol is fine for cleaning sensors. You've done just right! But I can think of quite a number of tips for cleaning (don't forget the camerabag, it gets dusty as well / don't use cans with pressurised air as some liquid may accompany the spray / don't use anything leaving a residue / how to check for dust / etc )...

[DonW]

I went ahead and got the loupe kit from "lenspen". I also use the larger lens pens and will never go back to the old school methods. They work well on just about anything. The sensor kit is even great for the mirror on my AE1.

Don

[scorpio_e]

I have heard LOTS of good things about the lens pen..Including ease of use and price I've been SUPER careful and so far avoided dust. When I change lenses, I angle the lens opening on the camera body downward so those dust bunnies do not find the sensor.

[casil403]

I have a lens pen...you can use it on the sensor?
Do tell!

[casil403]

So I just tried the Lenspen on the sensor and WoW...best thing I've used yet!

AWESOME!!!!! Thanks Don!

[Fortytwo]

I've got myself one of these lenspens as well. I haven't tried it on the sensor yet (just got it cleaned at the shop so...) but I must say, it does a great job on the lenses! Really good stuff...

[Marko]

just as a crystal clear FYI - the regular lenspen is different from the one used to clean the sensor.