DSLR Sensor cleaning, How to ?

I have just aquired an old Nikon D80 with a dust covered sensor, dust spots shows up on photos.
I know this operation can be tricky but has anyone got any experience of cleaning the sensor, how did you do it and what tools or kit can you recommend to use ?
Tips for brillo pads n washing up liquid will be ignored :lol:

G.

The only thing i could suggest would be to get a can of air duster or similar, basically air in an aerosol can. You get cheaper ones from electronics stores etc. You just need to make sure they contain no liquid propellant!!!

Has a wee tube like a can of wd40 to allow you to get it into small spaces. You would need to remove the lens, carefully open the shutter and give it a gentle blow. You also get very fine brushes for cleaning lenses if that doesn't work.

This might help http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/sensor-cleaning.shtml

I've got a very old Zenit but thankfully never had any problems with dust getting in.

Ohhhhh G,in "the pit of many wonders" I have a microscope lens cleaner,that would possibly do the job.It is basically a badger hair brush with a built in puffer bulb

G looky what I have found .................

Bern , you truly have a DEEP pit of many wonders :lol:

I try bud

It is made for medical microscopes so should be fine on a camera, yours if you want it :wink:

shall I pop it over to Dave`s on the `morrow or next BC meet which ever suits you:dance:

Ill certainly buy ya a pint fer it Bern, either pass it on to Dave or at sept BC meet :wink:

Will give Dave a bell & see what shifts he is on :wink:

Cheers for that Bern

Looks the business although i think you may have trouble getting the head in to clean the sensor with any kind of accuracy though :roll:

The lens brush i have has a head about 5mm dia. and 15mm long so easy to get into small spaces and doesn't flare too much towards the tip. Very soft artists paintbrushes with thinnish heads can bought from art shops for about a quid and would do just as well. Just use a pair of scissors to trim the pointy tip off and make the end flat

If you're going to jessops they should have lens brushes there that you can have a look at.

Hey Iain, looks a bit more tricky than simply cleaning a lens, one mistake can bugger up the camera, have a read of these:
http://forum.fotothing.com/topic/1520/0
http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/

Yeah, looks a lot more involved than a film camera!!! And too think a mistake could cause damage that would cost nearly the same as the camera to repair :shock:

I keep thinking about getting a good digital camera but had the film one for years now and would be a shame to see it gather dust in a cupboard. I've got a small 10Mp one but its just not the same and only good for wide angle pics.
That said, i had a go on my mates one last weekend. His family own a photo shop so he always has a really nice one kicking around. It was so easy to use and did all the focusing for you so you literally just press the button and get a great pic every time. It was just so damn big though, papparazzi style!!!

A tin of anti static air duster will do the trick (must be anti static) :wink:

Last edited by quiteone on Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:12 am, edited 1 time in total.

Word of warning

:shock:

PLEASE NEVER EVER :shock:

use compressed air from a can or any other source to clean the sensor on a camera
Using compressed air will damage the sensor and other components in the camera.

The best way to clean the sensor is either take it to a good quality camera shop or if you really want to do it yourself buy one of the sensor cleaning kits, I recommend the dry system.

There is a small brush that you charge up with static and use it to pull of the dust. Not sure of the name but I'll find out.
Unless the sensor has heavy dust/dirt this is quite effective.
If the sensor is very dirty with stuborn dirt then the wet system will have to be used or a professional service.

BELIEVE ME been there done that £600 for repair and new sensor, thankyou very much :shock:

Gaz

As above, I never ever would go any where near mine.
I always hand it in to get done professionally. Its not expensive and isn't worth damaging the camera by trying it yourself.

Artic Butterfly SL700
This is the sensor cleaner that I use for visible dust removal

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-visible-dust-arctic-butterfly-sl700/p1015216

anything else I take it to the professionals

Gaz

I have chicken'd out, its going to a shop to be done :lol:

Thanks for the help and advice lads :wink:

G.

Think i'll just stick to my old film Zenit :oops: