DSLR/STL Sensor Cleaning

AshleyPomeroy

"rubber"

Here's an example - the black ring that runs around the circumference of the mount is actually a rubber seal:



It's one of those things where you'd really need to be standing outside a celebrity's house in the pouring rain for hours to notice the benefit but it's nice to have.

I'm guessing from the headline that you have a Sony SLT, which has a pellicle mirror in front of the shutter - from what I've read the mirror has very delicate coating, which is why Sony recommend using a blower. I surmise that the mirror prevents a lot of dust from reaching the sensor though.

I used to clean my original 5D - which was a nightmare, because it had a big sensor but no automatic sensor cleaning - using a mixture of blower brush and a lint-free cloth, and I accepted that I might have to clone out some dust spots. I was never happy with the idea of liquid cleaners, but other people use them, so that might just be me.

Also, I got sick of changing lenses. There's a stereotype of the lazy tourist with an all-in-one zoom lens but after a while you start to wonder if they have the right idea. The last time I went to Morocco I took one (1) mid-long zoom and one (1) fast 50mm and I forced myself to take one (1) of them with me when I went out, never both.

Coraline

I checked my lenses a while ago--they do have that rubber ring (in a fancy red colour...Sony just has to be different).

All of my research in cleaning sensors was looking for advice for specifically the Sony A77 (indeed, I have an STL) and from people who have done it. I have no idea if it's true, but from what I've read the entire "only use a blower" stuff is to remove Sony from liability from those who use any other method to clean the sensor, screw it up, and therefore damage it.

As for the mirror, I don't think I would ever touch it--it is paper thin and aside from a blower it looks like anything you do it has a very high chance of damaging it.

So it's basically a clause to cover Sony's ar**e if things go awry. And from what I've read from people who did it and things did go awry....I can see why. Stories of people who tried to clean their sensor by blowing on it, using cotton swabs or q-tips, hoovers, etc.

Anyway, I think the sensor did pretty well for a year or so before the clean. I probably took 25,000 shots in a variety of environments before noticing the dust whenever shooting at F8 or above.

So hopefully...it'll be another year before I have to do it again!

WTFH

Ashley, I like white lenses too - particularly with the red ring at the far end.

When I had a 5D it was a bit prone to sensor dirt, a cloth did the job ok. 5D2, 5D3 & 7D have auto cleaners which do a pretty good job.

shopbot

To me a wet clean is an absolute last resort.

A Rocket Blower will shift most dirt. I've had the best results from the SensorKlear Pen (I've tried wet cleaning with pads and cleaning fluid). It's also one of the cheapest options.

It's easy to get too concerned about sensor dirt. If it's not visible wider than F16 then leave it. If you're shooting smaller than that then you'll encounter other problems such as image softness from refraction.

The only sort of image dirt I wouldn't try and clean my self is oil (notorious on some Nikons). I definitely would not try any home made money saving methods either.

SB

Coraline

I've heard about the pen option--I have one for my lenses which works pretty well but I'm really nervous about touching the sensor with anything dry. I'm probably wrong in this belief, but it seems to me there's a bigger chance of scratching it if you use a dry method to clean it?

I first started noticing the dust when I was practicing higher apertures like I mentioned, then once I noticed it, it was impossible to unnotice. I realised that I had soft blobs visible in photos of BIF (even at F5.6).

Now that it's clean there are still specs of dust, but not until I ramp it up to F22!! So I'm happy with that