s3pro self-cleaning user experience

wind30 · 13th November 2006

Hi People,

just to share my experience in cleaning the s3pro.

I got a lot of dust in my sensor after my Japan trip. So I bough tthe visible dust sensor swipes and their solution. Around $65 for 12 swipes and $35 for 1 bottle of solution from CP.

It is very simple actually. They advised me saying the swipes should be swipe once. After my first swipe back and fro, 60% of the dust is gone. So I obediently took out a new swipe and swipe again then 80% of the dust is gone. I thought this may be too expensive so I reused the 2nd swipe and now 95% of the dust us gone

But to my horror a strand of hair got itself into my viewfinder view. So I reused the 2nd swipe and swiped the mirror. No effect. I decided to swipe the TOP of the sensor comparment which leads to the viewfinder and the strand of hair is gone and my viewfinder looks brighter (psychologically?)

hehe so my s3pro is as good as new. Actually $65 for 12 swipes is pretty cheap if you use one swipe per clean......

Very happy now. As no hassle in bringing down the camera, paying $85 to clean ONCE.

I am a total newbie in sensor cleaning but the way s3pro is constructed REALLY makes this a BREEZE.

azul123 · 13th November 2006

Originally Posted by wind30

Hi People,

just to share my experience in cleaning the s3pro.

I got a lot of dust in my sensor after my Japan trip. So I bough tthe visible dust sensor swipes and their solution. Around $65 for 12 swipes and $35 for 1 bottle of solution from CP.

It is very simple actually. They advised me saying the swipes should be swipe once. After my first swipe back and fro, 60% of the dust is gone. So I obediently took out a new swipe and swipe again then 80% of the dust is gone. I thought this may be too expensive so I reused the 2nd swipe and now 95% of the dust us gone

But to my horrow a strand of hair got itself into my viewfinder view. So I reused the 2nd swipe and swiped the mirror. No effect. I decided to swipe the TOP of the sensor comparment which leads to the viewdinder and the strand of hair is gone and my viewfinder looks brighter (psychologically?)

hehe so my s3pro is as good as new. Actually $65 for 12 swipes is pretty cheap if you use one swipe per clean......

Very happy now. As no hassle in bringing down the camera, paying $85 to clean ONCE.

I am a total newbie in sensor cleaning but the way s3pro is constructed REALLY makes this a BREEZE.

What you could have done to save of swipe sticks is to flip it over after one swipe and reuse the flip side, that is as good as clean side because when we swipe the sensor it is tilted at an angle. Just be aware to do this with a loaded battery or with power adapter plugged into the camera. It is just a little risk only as I don't think swiping the sensor will take more than a few minutes.

Certainly, good idea to clean the sensor ourselves and get past the mental phobia and saves money and time going to the Service Center.

../azul123

sk318c · 14th November 2006

It is always good to clean the CCD yourself.
CCD cleaning can almost never be 100% cleaned, even by any well experienced technicians. So it is better to DIY rather then spending the time, money to let it be cleaned by the service centre.

yowch · 14th November 2006

I use Pec-pads wrapped on a stick, one sheet of Pec-pad is folded in two first, so I actually can use it about 4 times! With 50 sheets at $20, it works out to be 40c one sheet or 10c one swipe. Normally, the sensor gets cleaned about 4 swipes. Any remaining Pec-pad after I am happy witht he sensor, I use it on mirror or focusing screen.

BTW, if you have cameras like F700 or Z3, the power supply given in the package can be used on the S2pro, so probably on the S3pro, too. You don't have to buy that $90 Fujifilm 5V 2A power supply!

Cheesecake · 14th November 2006

Originally Posted by yowch

I use Pec-pads wrapped on a stick, one sheet of Pec-pad is folded in two first, so I actually can use it about 4 times! With 50 sheets at $20, it works out to be 40c one sheet or 10c one swipe. Normally, the sensor gets cleaned about 4 swipes. Any remaining Pec-pad after I am happy witht he sensor, I use it on mirror or focusing screen.

BTW, if you have cameras like F700 or Z3, the power supply given in the package can be used on the S2pro, so probably on the S3pro, too. You don't have to buy that $90 Fujifilm 5V 2A power supply!

yeah man. i followed his leads and it's the right way to go!! $$$$$$$

wind30 · 14th November 2006

Originally Posted by yowch

I use Pec-pads wrapped on a stick, one sheet of Pec-pad is folded in two first, so I actually can use it about 4 times! With 50 sheets at $20, it works out to be 40c one sheet or 10c one swipe. Normally, the sensor gets cleaned about 4 swipes. Any remaining Pec-pad after I am happy witht he sensor, I use it on mirror or focusing screen.

BTW, if you have cameras like F700 or Z3, the power supply given in the package can be used on the S2pro, so probably on the S3pro, too. You don't have to buy that $90 Fujifilm 5V 2A power supply!

The one I got is nicely wrapped (supposedly packed in cleanroom) and cost only $5 for one swipe. I only clean my camera like every few months... so...

The power supply is so expensive. Now I just clean on a fully charged battery.

yowch · 14th November 2006

Originally Posted by wind30

...cost only $5 for one swipe.

Only $5? That's two chicken rice for one tiny sheet of tissue paper! If you swipe 4 times, that's one luxurious restaurant meal! With lower cost, you'll be inclined to clean more often, which reduces the dust issue on your sensor.

Originally Posted by wind30

The power supply is so expensive. Now I just clean on a fully charged battery.

That's why, get the Z3 or F700 or similar power supply instead. Anything non-SLR will be MUCH cheaper. You can call Fujifilm (Paya Lebar0 to quote for power supply for, say F700, and they'll sell to you.

Del_CtrlnoAlt · 15th November 2006

Originally Posted by wind30

The one I got is nicely wrapped (supposedly packed in cleanroom) and cost only $5 for one swipe. I only clean my camera like every few months... so...

The power supply is so expensive. Now I just clean on a fully charged battery.

that day play fren S3Pro using visible dust brush, then find that S3Pro no Bulb mode... how come? hmm

azul123 · 15th November 2006

Originally Posted by Del_CtrlnoAlt

that day play fren S3Pro using visible dust brush, then find that S3Pro no Bulb mode... how come? hmm

Not flip mirror meh? Bulb mode still have chance to accidentally press trigger woh...

../azul123

wind30 · 15th November 2006

Originally Posted by Del_CtrlnoAlt

that day play fren S3Pro using visible dust brush, then find that S3Pro no Bulb mode... how come? hmm

bulb mode. Dunno leh never used super long exposures b4. To clean the sensor there is a special mode where you can flip up the mirror for a long time.

Del_CtrlnoAlt · 15th November 2006

Originally Posted by azul123

Not flip mirror meh? Bulb mode still have chance to accidentally press trigger woh...

../azul123

bulb is flip up with trigger mah... u mean got mirror up mode... hmm dunno wor... since not S3 user...

13th November 2006	#1
wind30 Deregistered Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 2,929	s3pro self-cleaning user experience Hi People, just to share my experience in cleaning the s3pro. I got a lot of dust in my sensor after my Japan trip. So I bough tthe visible dust sensor swipes and their solution. Around $65 for 12 swipes and $35 for 1 bottle of solution from CP. It is very simple actually. They advised me saying the swipes should be swipe once. After my first swipe back and fro, 60% of the dust is gone. So I obediently took out a new swipe and swipe again then 80% of the dust is gone. I thought this may be too expensive so I reused the 2nd swipe and now 95% of the dust us gone But to my horror a strand of hair got itself into my viewfinder view. So I reused the 2nd swipe and swiped the mirror. No effect. I decided to swipe the TOP of the sensor comparment which leads to the viewfinder and the strand of hair is gone and my viewfinder looks brighter (psychologically?) hehe so my s3pro is as good as new. Actually $65 for 12 swipes is pretty cheap if you use one swipe per clean...... Very happy now. As no hassle in bringing down the camera, paying $85 to clean ONCE. I am a total newbie in sensor cleaning but the way s3pro is constructed REALLY makes this a BREEZE. Last edited by wind30; 13th November 2006 at 10:34 AM.

14th November 2006	#3
sk318c New Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 40	Re: s3pro self-cleaning user experience It is always good to clean the CCD yourself. CCD cleaning can almost never be 100% cleaned, even by any well experienced technicians. So it is better to DIY rather then spending the time, money to let it be cleaned by the service centre.

14th November 2006	#4
yowch Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Singapore, Redhill Posts: 1,063	Re: s3pro self-cleaning user experience I use Pec-pads wrapped on a stick, one sheet of Pec-pad is folded in two first, so I actually can use it about 4 times! With 50 sheets at $20, it works out to be 40c one sheet or 10c one swipe. Normally, the sensor gets cleaned about 4 swipes. Any remaining Pec-pad after I am happy witht he sensor, I use it on mirror or focusing screen. BTW, if you have cameras like F700 or Z3, the power supply given in the package can be used on the S2pro, so probably on the S3pro, too. You don't have to buy that $90 Fujifilm 5V 2A power supply!