Leitz Loc: Solms

Well put!!

mikeysaling Loc: essex uk

I still use the gel stick - very happy with it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fetJfPILU3o

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I'll say it again: whenever it needs it.

Dust on the sensor can be mitigated to some extent in postprocessing, so unless you're really anal about it, you don't need to clean your sensor on a schedule. There are, however, some things you can do to increase the time intervals between full-out cleaning.

If your camera has a "sensor shaker", set it to go on every time the camera is turned on or off or both.

If you start to notice a few small dust spots, try to blow out the camera. For this you want something like a rocket blower, not a can of compressed dusting gas. The compressed gas is meant for cleaning your keyboard, not your camera. Keep your rocket blower in the package it came in, or in a plastic bag to keep dust out as much as possible. When you get ready to use it, give it a few squeezes to blow any dust out of the nozzle. Take the lens off your camera body, hold it with the opening pointing down, and blow out the mirror box. Then use "mirror up for cleaning" and blow out the sensor. When blowing into the camera body be sure to keep the blower nozzle outside the body so you don't accidentally scrape it against something.

Note that it's important to use "mirror up for cleaning" instead of trying to use the Bulb setting or something similar. First of all, once you use that setting the shutter is not likely to close when you don't expect it. Maybe more importantly, the power is turned off on the sensor when using that sensor. That reduces the possibility of static charges attracting the dust that is flying around while you're blowing it out.

I try the blower up to three times to get the dust out. If it doesn't work after three tries, it's time for more aggressive cleaning. Wet cleaning can be scary the first time. After that, it's a piece of cake. Lots of threads on wet cleaning so I won't go into it here.

When checking for dust, many people recommend setting a small aperture and taking a picture of the sky. That's fine if you're doing it during the daytime or if your sky doesn't have a lot of clouds in it, but there's a better way.

Sit down at your desk with your computer and put all the stuff you're going to use for cleaning on the desk nearby. Bring up a blank page on your word processor (ideally white, but any fairly light solid color will really do the job). Set your camera to a small aperture and set it to manual focus, focus at infinity. Place your camera as close to the screen as you can and take a shot. Then you can look at the image to see if you have objectionable dust. The advantage of this method is that you can do it at night, you don't need a white wall without any texture, and you can do it sitting at your desk without going outdoors to check for dust.

Bobbee

I am looking at that now. Thanks for the info

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I use the copperhill, delkin and gel stick depending on how dirty is the sensor

charles tabb Loc: Richmond VA.

I use Sensor Klear Loupe by Lenspen.
I have found it to work very well.
I don't remember what it sells for but, it does a great job.

What you can do is go outside and take a picture of the blue sky and look at it on your PC very good.
You will then see if any dust etc.. is on your sensor.

The kit is, I think, within the price you mention.

Look them up on the Web and see what you think.

I, have been using it for quite a while now.

Charles

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

It's a good answer Take a test photo. I do a blue sky at f22. See if the sensor is dirty.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I've used the "wet wipes" (not the kind used for babies :D), and they work well, also the Giottos Rocket. I don't think there's much difference between different brands.

I recently got this brush after reading about it online. I haven't used it yet, though. I like to leave the sensor alone as much as possible.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001B9RI5O?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

I was always told there was not such thing as a stupid questions but then again there are questions that can answer themselves if one thinks about it.

Bobbee

I was looking at Amazon and I see a lot of reviews the complain about streaking. Did you have this issue or see it.

jm76237

Thanks blurry eyed. That's what I was looking for.
Merry Christmas.

jm76237

Thanks Dirtfarmer. That's the kind of answer I was looking for. Appreciate you taking the time.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Thanks. I just checked my camera prior to travelling for Christmas. Found a big honkin' spot down in one corner. Pulled out the rocket blower, did what I told you to do, and the big spot was gone.

Still a couple little spots, but few enough that they generally won't be noticed. They're in the lower left corner, and generally the only featureless parts of my photos are sky, and that's usually in the upper half. The spots get lost in image structure so in the few photos where they are noticeable they're small enough to clone out in Lightoom or Photoshop.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

I think this story belongs in this thread (and others like it)
A family member has an expensive camera($6K+ when new) that had a dirty sensor when he last used it. He put it away while he was gone on an extended trip. He lives in a very humid area and when he next when to use the camera the dust had adsorbed moisture and that turned to mold. A very expensive repair. I know we tend to procrastinate with sensor cleaning and use Photoshop or equal to remove spots but, please don't wait too long it can bite you HARD!

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

I have been very happy with the products produced by Visible Dust. There are a series of items. Check them out:

http://www.visibledust.com/products3.php?pid=3

Warning. This stuff is not cheap.