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Avoiding Dirty Photos!
When it comes to cleaning, our digital cameras are different in many ways from a film camera. Let us examine how to properly maintain your digital camera. The point & shoot type camera is sealed and requires nothing more than keeping the lens clean for which lens tissue and fluid or a microfiber cloth will do the job. In an SLR camera however, a pivoting mirror covers the film or digital sensor until the moment of exposure. As you take pictures and change lenses, you can introduce contamination from dust or even moisture such as rain into the mirror box area. With a film camera, dust may have landed on the film, but once you advanced to the next frame, the dust was essentially gone. Another, more serious point of entry was the film transport area and camera back. A piece of grit or sand on the pressure plate could scratch the entire roll of film. On a digital SLR, we no longer have the transport area and pressure plate to worry about. But we do have a sensor which took the place of the film. (although we call it a sensor, we are actually cleaning a glass or plastic filter that sits above the sensor) The sensor is fixed; it does not move. So any contamination landing on it remains there until removed. Further, during an exposure, electrical current flowing to the sensor may actually serve to attract more dust. The sensor is probably the most expensive and fragile element in your camera. Dust or spots on the sensor will show up in your photos typically as a round, black out-of- focus spot, especially in sky areas. While you can fix these out in Photoshop, it is best to promptly correct the problem, or better, prevent it.
Before going out on any shoot, I give the camera and sensor a few shots of air to hopefully dislodge any dust particles. First, with the lens removed and the camera facing downward, blow some air inside to dislodge dust. Next, I blow off the sensor. When choosing an air blowing device, keep in mind the fragile nature of the sensor. Do NOT use canned air; it is too dangerous. Canned air contains a propellant and chemical residue. If that substance gets onto the sensor, you will incur a large repair bill. It may even ruin the camera beyond repair. So DO NOT use it! A rubber squeeze bulb
like the
Giotto
Rocket Blower is my first choice to produce a
fairly strong stream of air. Regular use will usually A better method is to use the sensor cleaning function of the camera. Check the instruction book to see how to perform this; it is often a custom or menu function. This method keeps the mirror up until you cancel the function. Also, current does not flow to the sensor. Be sure the battery is fully charged or use the AC adapter to prevent a sudden mirror drop. When using the bulb, take care the nozzle tip does not contact the sensor or the mirror. Despite your best efforts, you will eventually get something on the sensor which the squeeze bulb is not strong enough to remove. At this point, you may try a stronger air source like a foot operated blower. This is quite a bit more powerful than the squeeze bulb but can not be carried around with you. Hopefully, this will resolve any stubborn bits of dust. Sooner or later though, even
air pressure will fail. For instance, humidity
changes or moisture
condensation can weld the dust to the sensor
which will require stronger
measures! At this point you can send your camera in, wait awhile and pay lots of
money; Canon charges $158!! Or you can do it yourself. Many photographers get nervous about this but with a
little care, it is not difficult.
For this second step, I recommend one of two devices. Either the SensorKlear by LensPen or the D-SLR Brush from Dust Patrol. The SensorKlear is an inexpensive pen which has a graphite compound on a special velvet tip. The tip is triangular shaped and can get into the corners quite nicely. I supply full instructions with each SensorKlear. To use it easily, you should also have the Giotto Blower and a microfiber cleaning cloth. The SensorKlear should be dedicated to cleaning only sensors. This pen is very economical and can be carried on airplanes as well.
Using the air blower and the LensPen or D-SLR brush will likely remove any spots you develop for some time to come. However, it is possible at some point, you will need to go to a wet cleaning method. The most common method uses methanol based cleaning fluid such as UltraPure. Methanol is a quick drying cleaner which leaves no residue. The methanol is applied to a special, ultra-soft wipe (ProPads) which has been wrapped around a SensorWand holder. This method is extremely economical since it costs you about 10 cents to clean your sensor! Read all instructions first. When used as directed these products are easy to use and yield excellent results! I have personally used them on my Canon D60 and 20D and many other cameras to clean the sensor of a troublesome speck. Be sure to raise the mirror using the sensor cleaning function, and NOT the B method. Technically, you can not carry methanol cleaning fluid on a plane. So again, the SensorKlear pen or D-SLR brush are great choices as they can go on the plane To sum it up, use a blower bulb regularly. Get a LensPen SensorKlear or D-SLR brush and carry it with you. This may be all you need to do. But just in case, it would not hurt to have some UltraPURE and a few swabs, or a spatula with ProPads, just in case. Steve Traudt
Below are 3 PDF articles you can download for further study: SensorKlear Pen Wet Cleaning Dirty Photos
Web References: http://www.thedustpatrol.com/1.html http://cleaningdigitalcameras.com/
A Clean Sensor is a Happy Sensor! Prophylaxis is best. Use blower bulb regularly Do not spray MORE dust into the camera though Hold camera body pointing down when changing lenses Vacuum out your camera bag occasionally Always check sensor before any outing Learn to use the Magnify function on your Playback mode Learn to Use SensorKlear or Brush Method This will solve nearly any dust problem. Learn to Use a Wet Method, as Last Resort Get Sensor Wand & some UltraPURE and practice on a filter It is not Rocket Science If you can clean a filter, you can clean the sensor You are cleaning a piece of glass above the sensor Use common sense; do not be paranoid On the other hand, Some Folks Should Just Not Do This! Some people just don't have the dexterity, etc If cleaning really scares you, then don't do it! Use only high purity methanol for wet cleaning; NOTHING ELSE! Use ONLY ProPads, PecPad or Sensor Swabs; NOTHING ELSE! Cleaning materials must be with you at all times The dirty sensor always occurs on the road trip! Dust WILL occur during most important photo shoot So head it off at the pass! A lot of dust is introduced from back of lens and your hands, etc Some zoom lenses may suck dust in too Every digital SLR WILL get dust It is just a matter of when Use a conservative approach if dust encountered 1. First try blower bulb or other air source 2. Try LensPen SensorKlear next 3. Wet cleaning last Methods and techniques will evolve and change Be willing to adapt as new info comes out
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Contents Copyright 2008 by Steve Traudt and
Fay Timmerman
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keep the sensor clean. Obviously, you need to raise the mirror to access the
sensor area. Some folks will put the shutter in B and hold the shutter release
down to keep the mirror up. While this will work there are a couple of reasons
why it may not be your best choice. First, if your shutter finger moves off the
button, the mirror comes down, possibly striking the nozzle of the cleaning
device. Second, this method has current flowing to the chip, creating a static
charge. 
The D-SLR Brush works
differently. You charge the bristles with either your blower bulb or canned air.
Then you lightly brush the surface of the sensor. The static charge in the
bristles attracts the dust. The D-SLR brush will last indefinitely and can be washed.
Full instructions are included. 