DIY Sensor Cleaning - TUTORIAL

ParkertR · 5th June 2005

Hi guys,
thought of sharing with you all how to clean your sensor on your own. Of course... Oly users won't have to clean their sensors... *grrr* Don't u just wish all DSLRs will have Oly's technology?

I strongly recommend sending your camera to their respective service centers for cleaning!

However, for those people who are nowhere near a service center (like me... in Thailand in the middle of nowhere) or for those who dont wish to pay for a clean when your warranty has run out, this might just work for you!

DIY Sensor Cleaning Tutorial

*Disclaimer: I have done this successfully but I will not guarantee (along with other companies who sell their DIY sensor cleaning products) that you will not damage your camera. Please exercise common-sense and follow the instructions carefully before attempting to clean your camera's sensor.

Before you do this, please:
1) Clean your hands
2) Have everything you need ready: Your camera, Blower, A filter, Fresh Batteries/External Powersource, Cable Release *for D100/S2Pro etc, Cleaning Fluid/Chemist's Methanol, Lint Free Lens Tissues, Scotch Tape (or anything of its equivalent), Your Home-made sensor swab stick & Yourself.

Step 1: Making your sensor swab: Choosing the material

</IMG>

Figure 1: Choose a material that isn't too hard or rough. I've chosen a piece of laminated cardboard from a 'Glade' box. Notice that it's smooth and folded. I recommend using a folded piece of laminated card like what I've used. Why? The lamination means it can resist the cleaning fluid - it won't become soft on contact with the liquid. It's also stiff but not rough - the laminated side is really smooth and straight; just what we need!

Step 2: Sizing your sensor swab

</IMG>

Figure 2: I have cut the card to size - approx 22mm x 55mm. The top is tapered and measures exactly at 20mm. This was cut to fit the Nikon D100's sensor. Have a look at your camera's sensor and determine the dimensions.

Step 3: The 'SWAB'

</IMG>

Figure 3: Take a piece of lint-free lens tissue and cut it so you get a piece that's about 40mm wide. It can be wider but only slightly. Fold it in half or you can cut a little more and fold it three times to get a thicker swab.

Step 4: How your swab should look like and how to hold it in place

</IMG>

Figure 4: Attach the lens tissue to your cut out card. I've used Scotch Magic Tape to secure the lens tissue to the card. If you wish to reuse the card (which i do), stick the tape 1/2 way around the side of the lens tissue so that you will be able to remove it easily later. Don't tape it all around. Ensure that the tissue is secure.

ParkertR · 5th June 2005

Step 5: Applying the cleaning fluid to your sensor swab

</IMG>

Figure 5: Take lens cleaning fluid or Chemist's methanol (i've used both and they work just as well) and apply very very sparingly onto the tip of your 'swab'. You might need to repeat this several times to get it right and not put too much fluid on it. Too much fluid will tear your lens tissue.

Step 6: Preparing your camera for the clean!

</IMG>

Figure 6: Place your camera on a non-abrasive surface and remove the bodycap or lens. For cameras without mirror lock-up to clean the camera, set your camera to 'BULB' mode and use a cable release. ENSURE THAT YOUR BATTERY POWER IS FULL OR USE AN EXTERNAL POWER SOURCE! Lift up your camera body and blow out any dust that could be on the inside. A few powerful blows on your sensor would be good too, to remove as much dust as possible before wiping it down.

Step 7: Cleaning your sensor

</IMG>

Figure 7:

*Before you attempt this step, you might want to 'TESTDRIVE' your new sensor swab on a filter. Hold the swab firmly and start in one smooth stroke from LEFT to RIGHT without stopping or moving back. How did you do? Once you're able to do it without leaving streaks behind, you're ready to move on! PS! This is also a good time to see if your swab is level!

Take your wet swab and start from the left. Hold the swab firmly and as you bring it across the sensor, apply light pressure as you sweep across.

Step 8: Final step!

</IMG>

Figure 8: If you have done it right, there will be no streaking. DO NOT USE YOUR SWAB AGAIN - REPLACE THE LENS TISSUE before attempting to pass the swab across your sensor again. If you don't replace the tissue, you might get more dust on your sensor or scratch it if there's anything abrasive on the sensor or the swab.

You now have a clean sensor! Cheers!

Photographs & Tutorial by Nathaniel Tan - ParkertR

Expiredyoghurt · 5th June 2005

good tutorial Nat!

terryw83 · 5th June 2005

Outstanding tutorial Nat....

where can i get some of that fluid?
CHeers!

ParkertR · 5th June 2005

heya bro

u can get lens cleaning fluid from any of the fine camera stores in singapore - just ask for lens cleaning fluid/solution and get yourself a pack of lens tissues too - lint free!

shawnlim · 5th June 2005

Make this sticky

fuzzy · 5th June 2005

good stuff Nat.

sticky this please!

icarus · 5th June 2005

Good job, Nat!! Your tutorial gave me confidence to do my own cleaning!

Sticky this!!

ParkertR · 5th June 2005

thanks

hehehe can this be a sticky?

kennyleong · 5th June 2005

yes man. indeed good.. sticky..!!

RossChang · 5th June 2005

Great stuff~~!... now... Visible Dust Sensor brush or DIY Sensor Swap?...

denniskee · 6th June 2005

alots of thanks

.

ParkertR · 6th June 2005

hi dennis, Ross, kenny,
thanks for the :thumpsup:! appreciate that my efforts have been appreciated! hehehe cheers!

joeyao · 6th June 2005

I have an easier way. I just use my 1200W household vacuum to suck all the dust out and I am not joking. This method works with my 20D. But don't blame me if your camera is damaged using this method

ParkertR · 6th June 2005

it works too

the vacuum way, but sometimes when you get sticky gunk that won't go away, u've gotta do swabbing method!

HeWolf · 6th June 2005

Originally Posted by joeyao

I have an easier way. I just use my 1200W household vacuum to suck all the dust out and I am not joking. This method works with my 20D. But don't blame me if your camera is damaged using this method

I did the same yesterday.

5th June 2005	#1
ParkertR Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Singapore/Thailand Posts: 5,804	DIY Sensor Cleaning - TUTORIAL Hi guys, thought of sharing with you all how to clean your sensor on your own. Of course... Oly users won't have to clean their sensors... grrr Don't u just wish all DSLRs will have Oly's technology? I strongly recommend sending your camera to their respective service centers for cleaning! However, for those people who are nowhere near a service center (like me... in Thailand in the middle of nowhere) or for those who dont wish to pay for a clean when your warranty has run out, this might just work for you! DIY Sensor Cleaning Tutorial Disclaimer: I have done this successfully but I will not guarantee (along with other companies who sell their DIY sensor cleaning products) that you will not damage your camera. Please exercise common-sense and follow the instructions carefully before attempting to clean your camera's sensor. Before you do this, please: 1) Clean your hands 2) Have everything you need ready: Your camera, Blower, A filter, Fresh Batteries/External Powersource, Cable Release for D100/S2Pro etc, Cleaning Fluid/Chemist's Methanol, Lint Free Lens Tissues, Scotch Tape (or anything of its equivalent), Your Home-made sensor swab stick & Yourself. Step 1: Making your sensor swab: Choosing the material </IMG> Figure 1: Choose a material that isn't too hard or rough. I've chosen a piece of laminated cardboard from a 'Glade' box. Notice that it's smooth and folded. I recommend using a folded piece of laminated card like what I've used. Why? The lamination means it can resist the cleaning fluid - it won't become soft on contact with the liquid. It's also stiff but not rough - the laminated side is really smooth and straight; just what we need! Step 2: Sizing your sensor swab </IMG> Figure 2: I have cut the card to size - approx 22mm x 55mm. The top is tapered and measures exactly at 20mm. This was cut to fit the Nikon D100's sensor. Have a look at your camera's sensor and determine the dimensions. Step 3: The 'SWAB' </IMG> Figure 3: Take a piece of lint-free lens tissue and cut it so you get a piece that's about 40mm wide. It can be wider but only slightly. Fold it in half or you can cut a little more and fold it three times to get a thicker swab. Step 4: How your swab should look like and how to hold it in place </IMG> Figure 4: Attach the lens tissue to your cut out card. I've used Scotch Magic Tape to secure the lens tissue to the card. If you wish to reuse the card (which i do), stick the tape 1/2 way around the side of the lens tissue so that you will be able to remove it easily later. Don't tape it all around. Ensure that the tissue is secure. __________________ Budget wedding photographer :) Last edited by ParkertR; 6th June 2005 at 12:04 AM.

5th June 2005	#2
ParkertR Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Singapore/Thailand Posts: 5,804	Step 5: Applying the cleaning fluid to your sensor swab </IMG> Figure 5: Take lens cleaning fluid or Chemist's methanol (i've used both and they work just as well) and apply very very sparingly onto the tip of your 'swab'. You might need to repeat this several times to get it right and not put too much fluid on it. Too much fluid will tear your lens tissue. Step 6: Preparing your camera for the clean! </IMG> Figure 6: Place your camera on a non-abrasive surface and remove the bodycap or lens. For cameras without mirror lock-up to clean the camera, set your camera to 'BULB' mode and use a cable release. ENSURE THAT YOUR BATTERY POWER IS FULL OR USE AN EXTERNAL POWER SOURCE! Lift up your camera body and blow out any dust that could be on the inside. A few powerful blows on your sensor would be good too, to remove as much dust as possible before wiping it down. Step 7: Cleaning your sensor </IMG> Figure 7: Before you attempt this step, you might want to 'TESTDRIVE' your new sensor swab on a filter. Hold the swab firmly and start in one smooth stroke from LEFT to RIGHT without stopping or moving back. How did you do? Once you're able to do it without leaving streaks behind, you're ready to move on! PS! This is also a good time to see if your swab is level! Take your wet swab and start from the left. Hold the swab firmly and as you bring it across the sensor, apply light pressure as you sweep across. Step 8: Final step!* </IMG> Figure 8: If you have done it right, there will be no streaking. DO NOT USE YOUR SWAB AGAIN - REPLACE THE LENS TISSUE before attempting to pass the swab across your sensor again. If you don't replace the tissue, you might get more dust on your sensor or scratch it if there's anything abrasive on the sensor or the swab. You now have a clean sensor! Cheers! Photographs & Tutorial by Nathaniel Tan - ParkertR __________________ Budget wedding photographer :) Last edited by ParkertR; 5th June 2005 at 11:56 PM.

5th June 2005	#5
ParkertR Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Singapore/Thailand Posts: 5,804	heya bro u can get lens cleaning fluid from any of the fine camera stores in singapore - just ask for lens cleaning fluid/solution and get yourself a pack of lens tissues too - lint free! __________________ Budget wedding photographer :)

5th June 2005	#8
icarus Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Pasir Ris Posts: 3,231	Good job, Nat!! Your tutorial gave me confidence to do my own cleaning! Sticky this!! __________________ Ricoh GR Digital, Minolta Hi-matic 7SII

5th June 2005	#9
ParkertR Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Singapore/Thailand Posts: 5,804	thanks hehehe can this be a sticky? __________________ Budget wedding photographer :)

5th June 2005	#3
Expiredyoghurt Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Yishun Posts: 1,385	good tutorial Nat!

5th June 2005	#4
terryw83 Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 375	Outstanding tutorial Nat.... where can i get some of that fluid? CHeers!

5th June 2005	#6
shawnlim Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Jurong West Posts: 256	Make this sticky

5th June 2005	#7
fuzzy Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: upper thomson Posts: 184	good stuff Nat. sticky this please!

5th June 2005	#10
kennyleong Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Clementi Posts: 908	yes man. indeed good.. sticky..!!

5th June 2005	#11
RossChang Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,563	Great stuff~~!... now... Visible Dust Sensor brush or DIY Sensor Swap?...

6th June 2005	#12
denniskee Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: bukit batok Posts: 4,210	alots of thanks . __________________ photography makes one sees things from all angles.

6th June 2005	#14
joeyao Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 755	I have an easier way. I just use my 1200W household vacuum to suck all the dust out and I am not joking. This method works with my 20D. But don't blame me if your camera is damaged using this method

6th June 2005	#15
ParkertR Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Singapore/Thailand Posts: 5,804	it works too the vacuum way, but sometimes when you get sticky gunk that won't go away, u've gotta do swabbing method! __________________ Budget wedding photographer :)