MiroFoto

Looking for the practical advise. I have read a few discussions on this topic, but I would like somebody to give me a hint.
My Nikon 7100 has two spots on the sensor (maybe even as a new one). I can give it to photo store and pay $50 or I have bought a kit $25 for 10x use= liquid, pen and a few swats. Now I should go on you tube and try to learn & do it by myself. I am surprised it is so simple tool.

What is the chance that I will goof and ruin the camera? Is there anybody who screw up this task?... or did it as a piece of cake? Why do I need a fully charged battery for it?

Thank you

M

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

Miro, I went on-line to see if I could find specific instructions for the Delkin kit, and wonder how you got it for $25. Is this the full kit or a refill kit?
And did you get the correct size for your sensor size?
"Try to learn it yourself" may be a good thing, but only if you can afford to lose the sensor/camera.
My personal opninion is, that you should pay a professional the $50 and have it done.

Jack47 Loc: Ontario

[quote=MiroFoto]Looking for the practical advise. I have read a few discussions on this topic, but I would like somebody to give me a hint.
My Nikon 7100 has two spots on the sensor (maybe even as a new one). I can give it to photo store and pay $50 or I have bought a kit $25 for 10x use= liquid, pen and a few swats. Now I should go on you tube and try to learn & do it by myself. I am surprised it is so simple tool.

What is the chance that I will goof and ruin the camera? Is there anybody who screw up this task?... or did it as a piece of cake? Why do I need a fully charged battery for it?

Thank you


You don't want the sensor shutting while you are cleaning.....that's the reason for a full battery. It's just a precaution.
I do mine when needed. Do not overclean. Just three or four swipes will do.
Good luck......and a look at YouTube might help you with confidence.
Seeing is believing.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I've always taken mine to a repair center that I trust. It's simpler that way. It may cost more, but may be less expensive.
--Bob

tsilva Loc: Arizona

Unless you do something incredibly stupid you won't hurt the sensor

Jim Bob

Come on man. Depends on how dexterous and careful you are. Fully charged battery needed as a safety valve so mirror won't close during cleaning operation.

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

I do my own cleaning and have used Copperhill products in the past. However, their site has been down and since have switched to photographic solutions. Their swabs come ready to use and like anything else, take your time, watch a you-tube video and have a full battery. When you are cleaning, the full battery removes any chance of the camera shutting down and ruining your day. Easy peezy!

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

I would watch a couple of you tubes to see the technique. Two caveats. Get the right size swab and make sure your battery is charged so you don't screw up your shutter. I clean my own sensor.

lesdmd Loc: Middleton Wi via N.Y.C. & Cleveland

Five years after I purchased a sensor cleaning kit I finally worked up the courage to use it (first on my D300, then on my D800). The results were gratifying and easy to achieve. Yes, use a fully charged battery, lock the mirror up, and apply pressure equivalent to "writing with a pen on paper". The first few trials I was overly cautious. One quickly learns what is required.
Multiple passes across the sensor only succeed in redepositing the dust.
The biggest challenge is overcoming fear of doing damage. It seems in retrospect this is very hard to do. I found that the D800 is like a dust magnet, despite my cautions when changing lenses; and a dust speckled video persuaded my to attempt my own cleaning. I can and do remove dust from individual images in post processing, but do not have software to make this possible when taking video. The kit I use (from a now defunct provider), which includes a fine hair dust removal brush that does little to remove the stubborn particles, has already paid for itself.

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

I do my own. The Lenspen Sensor Klean system from Amazon costs about $60 and has worked well for me on dust spots except for one stubborn smear. I got some wet swabs, also from an Amazon vendor and it did the trick. Nothing to fear. As others have stated, mirror up, fully charged battery. Use a rocket blower first, you may not need to touch anything at all. The Lenspen kit has a lighted, magnified loupe which makes the job easy. One pointer, if you have a spot in the upper left of your picture, it is on the lower right of the sensor. Good luck.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

When sensor swabs first came out I bought a pack and a bottle of eclipse solution. There weren't many and they were costly.

When I first tried it to my horror I was just moving the dirt around. Eventually I got it reasonable clean but I used up all the swabs.

The aggravation bothered me more than the cost.

Over the years I did a lot of reading and tried several alternatives; none were all that effective or satisfying and all were over priced.

Still reluctant to turn over my cameras to strangers of unknown skills or endure the loss of camera by shipping it to the repair center.

What I learned that works for me.

1. Rocket blaster for light cleaning.

2. Static brush for things the blaster won't handle. Made my own.

I got several NYLON brushes the width of the sensor at the hobby store. Cleaned then thoroughly with alcohol and purchased canned air. When blowing air through the bristles it sets up a static charge. Cost about $15.
Store the brushes in a air tight container to prevent dust from settling on them.

3. Made a tool from a small soft plastic spatula from the kitchen. Cut it to just under the size of the sensor (small side). Purchased a box of Zeiss lens wipes $5 for 100 wipes. Cut up the wipe to fold over the tool and hold it in place with a small rubber band. It works best if the wipe is allowed to dry slightly.

That's how I do it today. Begin with one and move to the next step if not satisfied. I never damaged a sensor.

And last but not least be selective as to when and where to change lenses.

MiroFoto

OK, thank you for the encouragement. Yes, I am cautious about a technician's skills and care .

Let me take a deep breath.

Miro

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

I have stopped with the blower, brushes and wet cleaning. I now use the gel stick from Photography Life and I can clean a sensor in five minutes and get excellent results. No more blowing dust around inside my cameras, no more wet cleaning over and over to remove smears. It is the system Leica uses to clean sensors in their factory so I am not afraid of damaging anything.
http://photographylife.com/shop

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Ditto here. I've never had to use more than one swab on a single cleaning. It only takes a few drops of solution….
;-)

I've swabbed both my D300 & D7100 without any issues. Get the correct swabs and follow instructions. Not a big deal.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

How does it work? You just dab the entire sensor? What is the life of the gel stick?