Cleaning a camera sensor

[g0_command0]

starting Monday (March 9), Canon Service Center in Irvine will charge $30 for sensor cleaning.

[phantomphan1974]

starting Monday (March 9), Canon Service Center in Irvine will charge $30 for sensor cleaning.

WTF.  That sucks?  Why!!!

[g0_command0]

it didnt say, they just have a sign that says it....and i think the person at the desk told me also

[robin990]

3 years ago i called guy that was in the sensor cleaning accessories buisness.....i made friends with him and he told me "just go buy a $20.00 foot pump at Big 5". I did and it has worked perfect. And im im REALLY dusty conditions and need to clean my sensor all the time. I do the mirror lock-up and blow away......has worked every time. I never spent a cent paying someone to clean my NIKON. I can`t speak for Canons but do know they get much dirtier , much faster then the NIKONs.

[Midnight Mover]

I was just thinking about this very topic last week. I figured it would happen eventually

I will keep the group informed of what comes out of PMA for sensor cleaning.

[Midnight Mover]

3 years ago i called guy that was in the sensor cleaning accessories buisness.....i made friends with him and he told me "just go buy a $20.00 foot pump at Big 5". I did and it has worked perfect. And im im REALLY dusty conditions and need to clean my sensor all the time. I do the mirror lock-up and blow away......has worked every time. I never spent a cent paying someone to clean my NIKON. I can`t speak for Canons but do know they get much dirtier , much faster then the NIKONs.

Yes, it is evil. This ritual take a long time. The blowers work, but when they don't you have to resort to wet cleaning

Even when I had Canon clean the cameras, when I got home I had to clean them again

[robin990]

How do you clean yours ? I never wet cleaned mine , and havent needed to.

[Midnight Mover]

How do you clean yours ? I never wet cleaned mine , and havent needed to.

I am a printer by trade, so I can be very picky about dust specks I start with a blower and sensor brush. these work well, but some times you get stubborn dust and then I use a sensor swab. A small one for the edges and a larger one for overall sensor cleaning. The sensor swabs should be used as a last resort and you must be very careful when you use them. See link for info.

http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/

[NikonGuy]

Very good link Robert,

I had to use the sensor swab once but I always use the air blower and it works perfect... 

[Midnight Mover]

More to come from this topic. I have news from PMA

[rander]

3 years ago i called guy that was in the sensor cleaning accessories buisness.....i made friends with him and he told me "just go buy a $20.00 foot pump at Big 5". I did and it has worked perfect. And im im REALLY dusty conditions and need to clean my sensor all the time. I do the mirror lock-up and blow away......has worked every time. I never spent a cent paying someone to clean my NIKON. I can`t speak for Canons but do know they get much dirtier , much faster then the NIKONs.

What foot pump did you get and whats better wet or dry. I've had my 40D since alst May and never gave cleaning the sensor a thought. Maybe it seems like my pics look dark enen If I shoot in the auto mode.

Any thoughts and suggestions are welcome.

[NikonGuy]

Mmmmm maybe switch to Nikon???         JK!  Your aperature settings maybe? 

[Realbigtaco]

What's everyone's best way to clean their camera's sensor.  Mine has gotten extremely dirty with very fine dust.  In the past I have used a bulb syringe to clean it off, and that worked to get the big stuff off, but now when ever I slow my shutter speed way down, everything shows up.  Someone told me that it has to do with the aperture.  But for what ever reason it is really bad.  Here is an example of a 1/40th shot I took.  any suggestions?

My apologize if this has been posted before, i didn't see it.

[robin990]

I spoke to a guy who was in buisness of sensor cleaner kits. After becoming friends he said straight up...."go to big 5 and buy a raft foot pump for $20.00"   I did ......and its worked for 5 years. I BLOW THE CRAP OUT OF THE SENSOR AND IT WORKS GREAT. You probably know i mostly shoot helicopters and am in dust all the time.  This always works and ive NEVER taken my sensor anywhere to have cleaned.

I use NIKON and have no experience with Canon Etc.

[Code20photog]

Ask Duy... 

In all seriousness, I have the same problem with spots on slow shutter speeds. The higher apertures will show dust as it expands the depth of focus. I don't understand how dust on the shutter will show up at higher apertures, as it is past the aperture ring, but somehow it does. I clean my sensor with one of the big rocket blowers probably once a week at least and still get dust. Duy has one of the smaller ones that fit in a camera bag and it seems to work pretty well.

I don't use the swabs. I found out the hard way that A: One swab does not fit all, there are actually different swabs for different sensors, and B: when you screw up and put it through your shutter, you say a lot of bad words quite loud.

I bring my 40D to Canon in Irvine. They do it for $40 in house same day. (Actually, I bring it in for other problems, and they are nice enough to clean the sensor as part of the repair)