Stubborn spots on CCD

[Trigger Happy]

guys,

i need some serious advice on cleaning my 5D's CCD. there're a few specks of dust/ spots that show up on shots at f/8 onwards. doesn't affect the larger apperture shots. i've used the blower (even removed the brush head to maximise the force) but a stubborn spot or two remains.

what are the diy swabs/ solutions methods that you have used? i need it for a trip this thursday, so sending it to sony service centre is out of the question...

[smtan24]

Originally Posted by Trigger Happy guys, i need some serious advice on cleaning my 5D's CCD. there're a few specks of dust/ spots that show up on shots at f/8 onwards. doesn't affect the larger apperture shots. i've used the blower (even removed the brush head to maximise the force) but a stubborn spot or two remains. what are the diy swabs/ solutions methods that you have used? i need it for a trip this thursday, so sending it to sony service centre is out of the question...

Hi Trigger Happy. Try this link from club snap:

http://www.clubsnap.org/display.php?...DCleaning.html

[Trigger Happy]

thanks bro, i've seen this articale before, but any good kit at the shops to recommend besides diy on the spatula? last thing i want to do is risk scratching my ccd...

[smtan24]

Originally Posted by Trigger Happy thanks bro, i've seen this articale before, but any good kit at the shops to recommend besides diy on the spatula? last thing i want to do is risk scratching my ccd...

Cathay Photo sells sensor swap for cleaning ccd but they are not cheap.

http://www.photosol.com/swabproduct.htm

[smtan24]

If you ever go to the USA this product for cleaning CCD looks intresting:

http://www.green-cleanusa.com/sensor...-demo-wmv.html

It's a portable vacuum cleaner.

[dr34mc4st3r]

maybe you can remove the spots via photoshop and then send camera to sony service centre

[TME]

What I do is to roll up a tube of paper and then roll a sheet of lens cleaning paper over it and fold the tube of cleaning paper into 2. This forms a flat relatively soft surface that stays pretty rigid. I use this to clean the surface of the CCD window... it does not remove all the spots but the major ones are gone... if u care to do it a few more times (I had no patience), u should eventually get every spot to go... it's a cheap and effective method as long as u dun press too hard... take a bit longer than having those sticky dedicated CCD swabs..

[Trigger Happy]

thanks for the great ideas guys! i'll probably go with the rolled/ folded paper option. definitely don't want to PS the shots, especially when i expect to shoot over 1000.. that'll take me weeks!

[Trigger Happy]

by the way did you guys add any lens-cleaning solution to the homemade swabs or just "dry-cleaned" the CCD with the lint-free tissue?

[TME]

Originally Posted by Trigger Happy by the way did you guys add any lens-cleaning solution to the homemade swabs or just "dry-cleaned" the CCD with the lint-free tissue?

Dry clean only... no need lens-cleaning solutions... not sure if the solution will damage the coating on the sensor window or not...

[Trigger Happy]

Originally Posted by TME Dry clean only... no need lens-cleaning solutions... not sure if the solution will damage the coating on the sensor window or not...

haha... was wondering too! i think the article on CS needs to be changed or at least the photo that shows the bottle of solution (didn't find it in the literature though)

http://www.clubsnap.org/display.php?...DCleaning.html

[rOnGrEn]

i got spots showing up on my pictures at small aperture also... got a bit disturbed and so went to CP to buy a pack of Pec-Pad and a bottle of Eclipse solution. However when i went to the website http://www.photosol.com/padproduct.htm , it says that "PEC*PAD is not recommended for cleaning the CCD. It is not the same material used in the Sensor Swabs" ...

Anybody here has successfully used the Pec-pad to clean their sensors? Any comments on whether using Pec-pads is safe?

Thanx in advance!

[rOnGrEn]

hiieez bros.... i stayed up through the nite reading up on ccd cleaning and decided i was confident enough to do it... pretty much referred to the following site : http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning

At first din use the eclipse solution, but the dusk were still visible on the photos taken after "dry-cleaning". After that tried the method using pec-pad and eclipse solution and after 4 pads.. finally reduce the dusk to a level i am comfortable with. A bit nerve-wrecking i must say... hope nothing goes wrong with my sensor . Also, found the eclipse solution +pecpads very good for cleaning up the "oily stains" and fingerprints on my filters which i would otherwise have problem cleaning off.

p.s. I shall not be held responsible should any damage occur to your equipment if you decide to follow what i did.... DIY-clean your sensor at your own risk! The sense of satisfaction seeing your ccd clean is tremendous though.. haha

[Denosha]

The sensor swabs sell for 90 for a box of 12. The pecpads sell for $15 (IIRC) for a packet of 100. If the pecpads are good for the sensor, would the company readily admit it? Anyway, if pecpads are good enough for lenses and optical glass, what's wrong with the AA filter (or whatever filter your brand of camera uses) on top of the sensor?

Btw, if anyone wants the sensor swab for reuse (to rewrap with pecpads) can PM me. I'll sell it to u at cost price ($90/12 + postage if you want me to mail it to you).

[Trigger Happy]

guys, i'm back from my trip. on the eve, i folded a piece of lint-free tissue over a piece of card (OT: one of those irritating post-card mailers that flood your letterbox) and wiped the ccd. thanks to TME for the advice! however nothing happened the first few times, then out of desperation i took a chance and applied some pressure and after two passes, voila! noticed that these were oil/ moisture stains, probably from the various outings in the rain etc and humidity change (aircon to outside). the first pass streaked them and the second cleared it up.

all the pics have come out perfect. indeed, quite scary to do it, but the satisfaction of a clean ccd is worth it and i won't hesitate to do it again. plus, it was dirt-cheap

[jsbn]

$90 for a box of 12 sensor swabs? Goodness. That's some really expensive sh*t.

Maybe I'll juz get the pec-pads + eclipse solution instead to clean my CCD. One spot's driving me nuts.

[Trigger Happy]

Originally Posted by jsbn $90 for a box of 12 sensor swabs? Goodness. That's some really expensive sh*t. Maybe I'll juz get the pec-pads + eclipse solution instead to clean my CCD. One spot's driving me nuts.

bro, just do what i did, its cheap and you get the satisfaction of putting one of those annoying ad cards to good use

just cut a long strip (about 15cm long, 2cm wide) then make a fold in the centre, place a piece of lint-free lens tissue across that fold, wind it around, and keep the edges INSIDE the card fold. secure with a bit of tape. then fold up the strip and you have a simple diy swab.

[Agetan]

Originally Posted by Trigger Happy bro, just do what i did, its cheap and you get the satisfaction of putting one of those annoying ad cards to good use just cut a long strip (about 15cm long, 2cm wide) then make a fold in the centre, place a piece of lint-free lens tissue across that fold, wind it around, and keep the edges INSIDE the card fold. secure with a bit of tape. then fold up the strip and you have a simple diy swab.

care to post the photo? not sure how to do that..

I normally get it clean at KMSC... might try it myself.


Hart

[tankm]

Lens tissue is not recommended for sensor cleaning. Pec-pads ($15) + eclipse solution ($18) is a cheap option. Can get from CP.

This website, (posted before) is good source for sensor cleaning. http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning

Don't have to buy it's "Sensor Swipe" product. Use either a DIY plastic strip or hard card.

Originally Posted by Agetan care to post the photo? not sure how to do that.. I normally get it clean at KMSC... might try it myself. Hart

[Agetan]

hahaha.. I think I should ask KMSC to clean it for me... I am not that gentle with things like this..

Got it clean for free anyway...

Hart