banjonut Loc: Southern Michigan

I had put it off as long as I could, but my D7000 sensor was speckled with dust. The in-camera dust removal was not doing the job and the rocket blower didn't work either. I had bought a wet swab system a while back, so I figured it was now or never. I am going on a 4 week Western roadtrip in 6 days and it had to be done.

Actually, it couldn't have been easier. A drop on each corner of the swab, two passes across the sensor, one each way and turning swab over in-between did the trick - almost. A couple of specks remained. I know "they" tell you to use the swab only once, but I'm cheap. I did it once again, and I am now spot free.

NowI'm ready to tackle the living room windows.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

I would never ever ever use a swab twice nor advise anyone else to, as any dust from the first clean can scratch the sensor

mtclicker Loc: Montana

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

No reply seen mtclicker

banjonut Loc: Southern Michigan

I know, I know. But as I said, I'm cheap. I certainly don't recommend it and I probably won't do it again. I am hoping to find a more reasonably priced swab. $5 apiece is stiff by anyone's standard when you see that these things are probably worth 50 cents tops.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Personally I wouldn't admit to being cheap, many will be saying, one day..................

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

Penny wise and pound foolish?

banjonut Loc: Southern Michigan

I've got a D50 that I bought in 2006 that I may experiment with. The problem is, the sensor has never been cleaned and still shows no dust. I would have to introduce some. 😷😋

I realize that I am cleaning a piece of glass and not really the sensor. The question is, just how hard is this glass and how easy is it to scratch? Has anyone actually done that?

chodrak Loc: Connecticut

If the dust contains quartz crystals (primary component of sand), then that can scratch glass. On the MOHs scale, quartz is much harder than glass. Science 101. Hence, don't mess with cleaners. Good luck.

banjonut Loc: Southern Michigan

If the camera is used mostly in a domestic setting then I would imagine that most sensor 'dust' would be screeins and therefore, soft. but if in an outdoor climate, then the 'dust' could very well be sand based and that would be a whole different matter.

I think I'll play it safe from now on and just make the one cycle wit the sensor swab.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

look at the copperhill site http://www.copperhillimages.com/ you can get the materials to make your own swabs much cheaper

Bugfan Loc: Toronto, Canada

I have four Nikon DSLRs that I routinely clean at least once every year and I have friends who sometimes bring me their cameras, both Nikons and Canons. I've never scratched a sensor. That's not to say I won't some day but it is to say that's unlikely.

It's like cleaning a lens, you start with a thorough blowing to get rid of the loose stuff. I then continue with a brush, in my case the Arctic Butterfly. That lifts off most of the dust except the sticky stuff. The swab takes care of that.

The key is to be gentle. If you apply a lot of pressure to the swab it won't matter if you're using the swab only once or several times, there's a risk of scratches albeit a low risk. On the other hand if you're gentle, basically washing off the dust instead of scraping it off, odds are a second or third stroke isn't going to hurt the surface either.

Often before I start I also clean the mirror box with a blower and a brush designed for the mirror box. That way when the shutter snaps open after to clean the sensor all that's left to be rid of is the stuff on the sensor.

One additional thing I do is use a loupe designed for sensors. It neatly nestles into the bayonet mount opening and illuminates the interior with nine LEDs. That allows me to see where the dust is and/or what is left. I then tend to go to where it is rather than continually going over the whole surface over and over again. This minimizes the risk too.

If you do use a loupe by the way, remember the image you're looking at with the dust particles is upside down on the sensor. So your dust is opposite to where it is on your picture.

IsoBob Loc: Hamilton, NJ

I haven't seen this answered- if the glass gets scratched what are the consequences? Just what are the results of a scratched glass?

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

It's the low pass filter that gets scratched and it would need to be replaced. I'm guessing it would cost about $200-250 to replace. Someone correct me if i'm wrong.