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talmy

macrumors 601
Oct 26, 2009
4,727
337
Oregon
If two old guys can do it... ;)

Make that three. I agree that the first time is scary.

From an "Old Guy" as in retired, my camera cost me $1700. If it needs anything it goes to a professional.

Dale

I'm with you. Like my car. I pay people who know what they are doing sort any issues.

I'm also an old guy. But cleaning the sensor is simple and from my 10 years experience is safe. As long as you use the right tools and keep things clean you can't go wrong. Heck, it's easer and faster than cleaning the windows on the car.
 

Designer Dale

macrumors 68040
Mar 25, 2009
3,950
101
Folding space
I'm with you. Like my car. I pay people who know what they are doing sort any issues.
I'm fearless with a car. I've been building a race car over the past two years and have no issue with tearing an engine done to the last bolt and putting it back together. But my camera is a different animal. If I scratch something, sandpaper or a grinder won't exactly help things...:)

Dale
 

Apple fanboy

macrumors Ivy Bridge
Feb 21, 2012
57,006
56,027
Behind the Lens, UK
I'm fearless with a car. I've been building a race car over the past two years and have no issue with tearing an engine done to the last bolt and putting it back together. But my camera is a different animal. If I scratch something, sandpaper or a grinder won't exactly help things...:)

Dale
I've read the Nikon manual. They definitely are against sandpaper near your sensor!
 

alexxk

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 29, 2010
425
118
So.. I found a camera shop in Miami and took my camera there. They are Canon authorized repair shop and they charged me 50 bucks for a mirror, sensor and viewfinder clean up..

Got my camera back and went for a test.. this is the result!!

Really???????

MG_2270.jpg
 

Apple fanboy

macrumors Ivy Bridge
Feb 21, 2012
57,006
56,027
Behind the Lens, UK
So.. I found a camera shop in Miami and took my camera there. They are Canon authorized repair shop and they charged me 50 bucks for a mirror, sensor and viewfinder clean up..

Got my camera back and went for a test.. this is the result!!

Really???????

MG_2270.jpg
That's shocking. I'd ask for a refund.
 
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Cheese&Apple

macrumors 68010
Jun 5, 2012
2,004
6,606
Toronto
So.. I found a camera shop in Miami and took my camera there. They are Canon authorized repair shop and they charged me 50 bucks for a mirror, sensor and viewfinder clean up..

Got my camera back and went for a test.. this is the result!!

Really???????

MG_2270.jpg

You've some clouds on your sensor! (kidding)

Seriously, take it back and get them to redo it and then think about doing it yourself with the right equipment. Problem is it can be time consuming (but not that difficult) to get everything off and some places don't bother to take the time.

~ Peter
 
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alexxk

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 29, 2010
425
118
That's shocking. I'd ask for a refund.


They offer a second clean free within 1 month if its still dirty.. thing is I don't want them touching my camera anymore..

I just bought one of those rocket blowers from Amazon and if I can't get it myself then I will send to Canon when I return from my trip.. or try myself with the right swab and liquid cleaning..

I just dont want to try that now before my trip.. I need my camera working lol
 

bhtwo

macrumors 65816
Dec 31, 2012
1,208
1,516
Oxford UK
I bought a rocket blower and a swab kit... a bit nerve racking but it worked very well... as good as new in fact.
 

talmy

macrumors 601
Oct 26, 2009
4,727
337
Oregon
So.. I found a camera shop in Miami and took my camera there. They are Canon authorized repair shop and they charged me 50 bucks for a mirror, sensor and viewfinder clean up..

Got my camera back and went for a test.. this is the result!!

Really??????

Not that unusual. This is why you need to do it yourself.
 
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Apple fanboy

macrumors Ivy Bridge
Feb 21, 2012
57,006
56,027
Behind the Lens, UK
They offer a second clean free within 1 month if its still dirty.. thing is I don't want them touching my camera anymore..

I just bought one of those rocket blowers from Amazon and if I can't get it myself then I will send to Canon when I return from my trip.. or try myself with the right swab and liquid cleaning..

I just dont want to try that now before my trip.. I need my camera working lol
I use a rocket blower, which is pretty easy. As long as you don't touch the sensor you can't do any harm.
 
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alexxk

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 29, 2010
425
118
How much pressure can I put when cleaning the sensor with swabs?
 

Cheese&Apple

macrumors 68010
Jun 5, 2012
2,004
6,606
Toronto
How much pressure can I put when cleaning the sensor with swabs?

It's very hard to quantify that with an answer but remember that your actually cleaning a filter that's over the sensor not the surface of the sensor itself. Still, it doesn't take much pressure at all...think of it as gently dragging the swab across the surface if that makes sense.

Remember to use a new swab every time you clean. The swabs I buy are in a pack but each swab is individually wrapped. Also, make sure you get the right size for either full frame or crop sensor.

~ Peter
 
Last edited:

alexxk

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 29, 2010
425
118
It's very hard to quantify that with an answer but remember that your actually cleaning a filter that's over the sensor not the surface of the sensor itself. Still, it doesn't take much pressure at all...think of it as gently dragging the swab across the surface if that makes sense.

Remember to use a new swab very time you clean. The swabs I buy are in a pack but each swab is individually wrapped. Also, make sure you get the right size for either full frame or crop sensor.

~ Peter

Thanks.. that makes sense..

This is the one I'm looking at it..

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Camer...8&qid=1440939675&sr=8-3&keywords=swabs+sensor
 

Cheese&Apple

macrumors 68010
Jun 5, 2012
2,004
6,606
Toronto

I'm sure that, as swabs go, they will work. However, the key to doing it yourself and doing it well (unless you've got better than perfect eyesight) is to be able to cearly see what you're doing. For that, you'll need a loupe with battery operated lights such as this: http://www.henrys.com/73750-LENSPEN-SENSOR-KLEAR-LOUPE-KIT.aspx#

It's possible that the shop where you had it done didn't use a loupe but that may explain the poor job they did.

~ Peter
 

alexxk

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 29, 2010
425
118
I'm sure that, as swabs go, they will work. However, the key to doing it yourself and doing it well (unless you've got better than perfect eyesight) is to be able to cearly see what you're doing. For that, you'll need a loupe with battery operated lights such as this: http://www.henrys.com/73750-LENSPEN-SENSOR-KLEAR-LOUPE-KIT.aspx#

It's possible that the shop where you had it done didn't use a loupe but that may explain the poor job they did.

~ Peter

The swabs size is the size of the sensor..if I'm swapping from side to side covering the entire sensor.. why would I need one? I think that would be useful if you use that Pen.. then you pick one by one and therefore you do need to know where the dirt is
 

talmy

macrumors 601
Oct 26, 2009
4,727
337
Oregon
The swabs size is the size of the sensor..if I'm swapping from side to side covering the entire sensor.. why would I need one? I think that would be useful if you use that Pen.. then you pick one by one and therefore you do need to know where the dirt is

That's my observation. I don't have a pen or a magnifier. I can't see the dust. But the swabs I use wipe the entire surface and one or two cleanings get the job done quickly. I take a picture of the sky or a white computer screen, stopped down and out of focus, and use the image reviewer in the camera (at 100% magnification) to see how I'm doing.
 

Cheese&Apple

macrumors 68010
Jun 5, 2012
2,004
6,606
Toronto
The swabs size is the size of the sensor..if I'm swapping from side to side covering the entire sensor.. why would I need one? I think that would be useful if you use that Pen.. then you pick one by one and therefore you do need to know where the dirt is

For me it's very rare to be able to clean with one pass of the swab and what I do see see through the loupe, is stuff I've missed and left behind that get with continued passes. It also helps to see what you're doing if the stuff on your sensor is a bit sticky.

May be just my OCD tendencies speaking but I wouldn't clean a window without looking at what I'm doing so I certainly wouldn't go in blind for a sensor cleaning.
 
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