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Heinrich Hausler · Jan 5, 2013, 5:11 AM

How do these new anti dust mechanisms work on cameras? I have read a out sensor dust and am petrified to have to clean this. I have always been extremely careful changing lenses and have always done them quickly and cleanly in rooms with no wind or air flow going back to film days. How often is this a problem?

TCav · Jan 5, 2013, 5:16 AM

I've been using dSLRs for about 7 years, change lenses frequently (with care) and have only had to clean my sensor twice. And, btw, it's not that scary.

See http://www.copperhillimages.com/shop...ation.php?id=3

Heinrich Hausler · Jan 5, 2013, 6:29 AM

Thanks for that link. I'm sure that will prove useful at some point. I read the directions, do those swabs leave residue and build up at the edges? Near the end of the swiping action by the corners? I would probably have to practice on a filter or something to get it right.

TCav · Jan 5, 2013, 6:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heinrich Hausler

... I read the directions, do those swabs leave residue and build up at the edges? ...

Not in my experience.

Heinrich Hausler · Jan 5, 2013, 6:56 AM

One question. It says not to use the same side of the pad more than once. So that means on a crop sensor you would go left to right. Then right to left forthe upper portion. Change pad. Then left to right, right to left for lower portion of sensor. It looks like the pad is only half the width of the sensor in the tutorial.

TCav · Jan 5, 2013, 8:36 AM

No. The swabs are almost as wide as the sensor is tall. You dampen the swab with the cleaning solution, swipe in one direction so that one side of the swab contacts the sensor, and swipe in the opposite direction so that the other side of the swab contacts the sensor. If you know where the dust is, remembering that dust that appears at the top of your images will be at the bottom of the sensor, and dust on the right side of your images will be at the left side of the sensor, you can just swab the sensor where the dust is. But, yes, you can clean the entire sensor, cleaning the top part on the first pass, and the bottom part on the second (or vice versa.)

Copper Hill makes 4 different size swabs: 24mm, 18mm, 14mm, and 8mm. You should never use a size that is larger than the height of your sensor. Your T3i has a 14.9mm tall sensor, so you should use the 14mm swabs. You would swipe in one direction to clean the bottom, and swipe in the other direction with the other side of the swab to clean the top.

And remember that "wet cleaning" is a last resort. Use a blower first.

Heinrich Hausler · Jan 5, 2013, 10:01 AM

Excellent TCav. I guess they use that real thin swab just for purposes of the website. This made it a lot clearer to me. This is perfect. I think I will buy that rocket blower for now to have around. Are you supposed to blow inside before a problem happens or wait until there is a dust problem? Any steps to blow in the chamber first or anything before goin over te sensor.

TCav · Jan 5, 2013, 10:11 AM

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

BTW, any of these methods can just as well be used to clean the mirror or focusing screen.

Jan 5, 2013, 5:11 AM	#1
Heinrich Hausler Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 48	Dust questions How do these new anti dust mechanisms work on cameras? I have read a out sensor dust and am petrified to have to clean this. I have always been extremely careful changing lenses and have always done them quickly and cleanly in rooms with no wind or air flow going back to film days. How often is this a problem?

Jan 5, 2013, 5:16 AM	#2
TCav Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Washington, DC, Metro Area, Maryland Posts: 12,251	I've been using dSLRs for about 7 years, change lenses frequently (with care) and have only had to clean my sensor twice. And, btw, it's not that scary. See http://www.copperhillimages.com/shop...ation.php?id=3 __________________ The lens is the thing. 'Full Frame' is the new 'Medium Format'. A good camera helps a good photographer; it doesn't make one. If you're going to use a filter, make it a good one.

Jan 5, 2013, 8:36 AM	#6
TCav Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Washington, DC, Metro Area, Maryland Posts: 12,251	No. The swabs are almost as wide as the sensor is tall. You dampen the swab with the cleaning solution, swipe in one direction so that one side of the swab contacts the sensor, and swipe in the opposite direction so that the other side of the swab contacts the sensor. If you know where the dust is, remembering that dust that appears at the top of your images will be at the bottom of the sensor, and dust on the right side of your images will be at the left side of the sensor, you can just swab the sensor where the dust is. But, yes, you can clean the entire sensor, cleaning the top part on the first pass, and the bottom part on the second (or vice versa.) Copper Hill makes 4 different size swabs: 24mm, 18mm, 14mm, and 8mm. You should never use a size that is larger than the height of your sensor. Your T3i has a 14.9mm tall sensor, so you should use the 14mm swabs. You would swipe in one direction to clean the bottom, and swipe in the other direction with the other side of the swab to clean the top. And remember that "wet cleaning" is a last resort. Use a blower first. __________________ The lens is the thing. 'Full Frame' is the new 'Medium Format'. A good camera helps a good photographer; it doesn't make one. If you're going to use a filter, make it a good one.

Jan 5, 2013, 10:11 AM	#8
TCav Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Washington, DC, Metro Area, Maryland Posts: 12,251	If it ain't broke, don't fix it. BTW, any of these methods can just as well be used to clean the mirror or focusing screen. __________________ The lens is the thing. 'Full Frame' is the new 'Medium Format'. A good camera helps a good photographer; it doesn't make one. If you're going to use a filter, make it a good one.

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Jan 5, 2013, 6:29 AM	#3
Heinrich Hausler Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 48	Thanks for that link. I'm sure that will prove useful at some point. I read the directions, do those swabs leave residue and build up at the edges? Near the end of the swiping action by the corners? I would probably have to practice on a filter or something to get it right.

Jan 5, 2013, 6:56 AM	#5
Heinrich Hausler Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 48	One question. It says not to use the same side of the pad more than once. So that means on a crop sensor you would go left to right. Then right to left forthe upper portion. Change pad. Then left to right, right to left for lower portion of sensor. It looks like the pad is only half the width of the sensor in the tutorial.

Jan 5, 2013, 10:01 AM	#7
Heinrich Hausler Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 48	Excellent TCav. I guess they use that real thin swab just for purposes of the website. This made it a lot clearer to me. This is perfect. I think I will buy that rocket blower for now to have around. Are you supposed to blow inside before a problem happens or wait until there is a dust problem? Any steps to blow in the chamber first or anything before goin over te sensor.