Photography podcast #80 talks about how to clean your DSLR camera’s sensor. It describes the wet technique and the dry technique and it’s not as scary as it seems. We also talk about how to clean your camera’s mirror as well as cleaning camera lenses and general camera care.
Links /resources mentioned in this podcast:
Original suggestion thread for this podcast from our photography forum
The visible dust website — Camera and camera sensor cleaning products
The Copperhill Method of sensor cleaning — They sell cleaning kits and products as well
SensorKlear by Lenspen demo on Youtube
Camera and camera sensor cleaning supplies at B&H
Lenspen SensorKlear to clean camera sensors at B&H
Air blower at B&H
March 2010’s Light and Shadow assignment on the Photography.ca forum
Hat tip to photographer Dominic Fuizzotto for his insight on sensor cleaning.
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Tnx for the podcast Marko. Again you’ve managed to put together a very comprihensive podcast. Nice work!
I’m used to cleaning my gear myself. But I’m a lucky guy, I’ve got my own laboratory including some fancy stuff as a clean air hood, filtered pressurised air, vacuumlines, lint free wipes a plenty, latex surgical gloves and clean, filtered alcohol. I just want to comment that even though you should be really carefull with your sensor, it’s not made of sugar. Basically, you’re cleaning a piece of plastic. It doesn’t damage that easily. Thank God! So, have a go at the wet stuff, it isn’t that hard to do.
Grtz,
42
Hi Marco,
I’m also a fan of the lenspens, at least for cleaning lenses. I’ve mostly just used the blower on my sensor, although I have the copper hill kit and used it once to remove a really stubborn blob. I may pick up a SensorKlear, as the copper hill process made me a little nervous — the first time I tried it I got a big smear that was worse than the blob, so I had to do it again. Then it was fine, but my blood pressure shot up for a while there!
For the lenspen and the sensorklear: do you ever worry about it getting dirty, and then scratching your lens/sensor? That has been my only concern with them. I could envision picking up a bit of cruft and then pushing it around over the optical surface (shudder). I always blow before trying any of these other techniques, but I’d be interested to hear your thoughts.
- Tim
Thanks for the comments again everyone!
Mr. Tim — I think I mentioned in the podcast that after each pass from left to right with the sensorKlear, I take the sensoKlear out of the camera chamber and use my blower (NEVER my fingers) to blow off any stray dust off the sensorKlear. Then I’ll go back into the chamber for another pass.
Hope that makes sense,
Thx!
Marko
Marco, just listened to the podcast this morning. It was full of wonderful, common sense tips, that are so easy to neglect. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve swapped lenses out and neglected to put the second lens cap on.
After 5+ years with Olympus and that famous dust removal mechanism, I have never had the need to clean my sensor. Good to know that this podcast is here though…maybe during the next five years I’ll need it. : P
My pleasure guys! Thx for the comments!
Sean — I agree that the 40 bucks is well spent and I myself paid 40ish dollars a couple of times during the life of my last DSLR to have its sensor cleaned by a pro.
…now I feel totally comfortable to do it myself but until you do, don’t stress out just let a pro shop/dealer clean it.
Great podcast, as always.
I recently took my camera in for a sensor cleaning, and it was well worth the $40. A local shop was recommended, and they did a great job and cleaned my filthy sensor and I was able to pick it up the next day! It’s great to be able to shoot at higher f/stops again without all those spots.
Those lens pens sound like a good deal, I’ll have to pick one up.
Thanks again for the great resource you provide us.
Thanks for another great podcast, I’ve put in an order this morning for an ‘air blower’, I’ve not got a dust problem yet but I want to be prepared for the future, and your podcast has inspired me to take some basic precautions, like keeping the lens back free from dust.
Keep up the good work!