sensor cleaning: Oh my goodness Nikon NZ want $150 per camera to clean the sensor and give the camera an overall. But I think its just an excuse to charge so much. The rest of the...

saxkiwi Loc: New Zealand

Oh my goodness Nikon NZ want $150 per camera to clean the sensor and give the camera an overall. But I think its just an excuse to charge so much. The rest of the camera is fine.
Ive tried cleaning with the long sensor cleaning swabs and rubber air blower but still get some rubbish on the sensor.
What do you others do out there to get it really clean?

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

At $150.00 per camera, I wonder what the overall means because I've heard it doesn't take much to clean the sensor if you know what you are doing. Sorry I can't give you an answer yet as my camera is only a year old and haven't got around to cleaning it.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

In the USA they charge $40 for cleaning the sensor. I sent my D2X to Nikon and they charged $40 plus shipping charges and just recently took my D800 to the local camera store and they charged $39 for cleaning the sensor. I was thinking of paying them to train me to clean my own sensor and doing it myself.

saxkiwi wrote:

Oh my goodness Nikon NZ want $150 per camera to clean the sensor and give the camera an overall. But I think its just an excuse to charge so much. The rest of the camera is fine.
Ive tried cleaning with the long sensor cleaning swabs and rubber air blower but still get some rubbish on the sensor.
What do you others do out there to get it really clean?

GrahamS Loc: Hertfordshire, U.K

If you are doing a wet clean and still have gunk on the sensor, I would say that you are not doing it correctly. This may help:
http://www.bythom.com/cleaning.htm

Bamboo Loc: South Carolina

At the top of the page go to search. This has been discussed on the forum before. You can find many good links for cleaning sensors there.

NoSocks Loc: quonochontaug, rhode island

Find posts on this topic from Nikon Don who went thru hell with his D600 until he found the right cleaning gear. He spent a few bucks on it but most of it, like the sensor loupe, is a one time expense. Then you are happily on your way. It's what I plan to do when my D600 eventually needs a cleaning.

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

GrahamS wrote:

If you are doing a wet clean and still have gunk on the sensor, I would say that you are not doing it correctly. This may help:
http://www.bythom.com/cleaning.htm

I have used the products discussed in GrahamS's link for years with great results. The procedure outlined in the link works effectively. I'm not mechanically inclined, but it's not difficult. You can do a lot of self cleanings for 150.00!

Pixelpixie88 Loc: Northern Minnesota

I invested in my own cleaning products from Copper Hill. Then just before I do the cleaning, I watch this video (just ro refresh my memory) and do the job. I do not have a vacumn running though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THVLAL4vQzk

GrahamS Loc: Hertfordshire, U.K

I use (and carry in my bag) Digipads and Eclipse solution.

http://www.digipad.co.uk/epages/es117943.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es117943_es123460326978/Categories/%22Sensor%20Cleaning%22

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Solutions-Sensor-Cleaning-PS0220-130215/dp/B000BDCE1Y

http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-digipads-starter-kit-type-1-for-1-5-1-6x/p1016578

Daryl New Loc: Wellington,New Zealand

saxkiwi wrote:

Oh my goodness Nikon NZ want $150 per camera to clean the sensor and give the camera an overall. But I think its just an excuse to charge so much. The rest of the camera is fine.
Ive tried cleaning with the long sensor cleaning swabs and rubber air blower but still get some rubbish on the sensor.
What do you others do out there to get it really clean?

Hi,we had the same problem with our 30D Canon body,it took 4 cleans to sort out.We have cleaning kits for sale if you are stuck.One thing I would emphasise,make sure your batteries are fully charged before cleaning sensor....

Joecosentino Loc: Whitesboro, New York

quonnie wrote:

Find posts on this topic from Nikon Don who went thru hell with his D600 until he found the right cleaning gear. He spent a few bucks on it but most of it, like the sensor loupe, is a one time expense. Then you are happily on your way. It's what I plan to do when my D600 eventually needs a cleaning.

Having owned and returned 3 D600's I learned how to clean the sensor, the loupe makes it really easy. I now use visible dust article butterfly, and swabs usually need 3 swabs to clean a D 600 sensor, my d 7000 takes one sensor swab

Benbo Loc: Lincolnshire UK

I use the Arctic butterfly, I found it easy to use and cleaned the dust off my 5 D sensor no probs, I have recently upgraded to the 5D Mk 11, and as yet, had no reason to clean it.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

saxkiwi wrote:

Oh my goodness Nikon NZ want $150 per camera to clean the sensor and give the camera an overall. But I think its just an excuse to charge so much. The rest of the camera is fine.
Ive tried cleaning with the long sensor cleaning swabs and rubber air blower but still get some rubbish on the sensor.
What do you others do out there to get it really clean?

I use a quality small artist's brush which won't shed fibers when brushed DRY across the sensor surface.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

I have a question on the sensor brush, I recently used it to clean my Nikon D800 and what I was not aware of is that the D800 had oil spots which the brush spread. Now I am afraid to use the brush on the sensor due to not knowing if the brush picked up oil on it. Is there a way to clean these brushes to assure I don't have oil on it? :?:

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

Brucej67 wrote:

I have a question on the sensor brush, I recently used it to clean my Nikon D800 and what I was not aware of is that the D800 had oil spots which the brush spread. Now I am afraid to use the brush on the sensor due to not knowing if the brush picked up oil on it. Is there a way to clean these brushes to assure I don't have oil on it? :?:

I've never had that problem personally so I can't speak from experience. I suppose you could swish the brush around in a bottle of denatured alcohol and then let it dry thoroughly for a long time (or use a warm hair dryer on the bristles) - no alcohol in the camera though. It always worked for removing the residue oxide film from video and audio heads. It works for removing skin oils from one's skin. I can't see why it wouldn't rinse oils from a brush while leaving no residue.

Personally, to avoid the whole thing, I'd just get a new brush so you don't have to worry about it.

How did you end up with oil where the brush could get it? Was it on the sensor already? Did you get the oil on the sensor while you were brushing? If so, I don't have a clue how you will get that off the sensor. The brush isn't likely to take that off. The brush process is only meant for dust removal.