Auto Sensor Cleaning Survey (Page 3): My Nikon D810 was apparently set up clean the sensor on startup and shutdown, and I've just left it that way.

therwol Loc: USA

broncomaniac wrote:

I'm curious as to how others have their cameras set for auto sensor cleaning. On demand, scheduled, or upon switching off. I'm sure the ultrasonic mechanism has a life expectancy and it would seem that prolonging it must be a consideration. Please chime in with your preferred method and experience. Thanks!

My Nikon D810 was apparently set up clean the sensor on startup and shutdown, and I've just left it that way.

PH CIB

Fuji XT2,,,Auto cleaning on shut down...

Bill P

Never. What's the point in using a relatively useless feature?I think this is a trollish statement. I would agree that to a point it's useless in that it cannot remove really welded on globs of crud, but it costs oyu nothing to have it set at turn-on and turn-off and it could knock off a big glob before it's stuck for good.

As far as it wearing out, do you worry about your IBIS failing from overuse?

broncomaniac Loc: Lynchburg, VA

Bill P wrote:

Never. What's the point in using a relatively useless feature?I think this is a trollish statement. I would agree that to a point it's useless in that it cannot remove really welded on globs of crud, but it costs oyu nothing to have it set at turn-on and turn-off and it could knock off a big glob before it's stuck for good.

As far as it wearing out, do you worry about your IBIS failing from overuse?

It takes all kinds. Some things you've just got to let roll off like water on a duck. I have mine always on to avoid what you described and I blow out the loosened dust periodically. Never have had a problem.

Thank you for your valuable input. I appreciate you posting.

Bill_de Loc: US

At start up and shut down

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JD750 Loc: SoCal

broncomaniac wrote:

I'm curious as to how others have their cameras set for auto sensor cleaning. On demand, scheduled, or upon switching off. I'm sure the ultrasonic mechanism has a life expectancy and it would seem that prolonging it must be a consideration. Please chime in with your preferred method and experience. Thanks!

Set to clean upon switching camera power ON, this is when you care right? As well as off. Sensors need manual cleaning less often doing it this way = Lower maintainence down time for the camera and some $ savings because cleaning has a $ cost regardless of who does it. I’m not worried about the reliability of the cleaning system as I have heard about 0 reports of failures.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

mizzee wrote:

Always when switching off. Plus I take advantage of the free, or discounted, cleaning opportunities at my local camera store, Hunt’s.

So you take your pics then clean the sensor and shut the camera off. Ok.

broncomaniac Loc: Lynchburg, VA

JD750 wrote:

Set to clean upon switching camera power ON, this is when you care right? As well as off. Sensors need manual cleaning less often doing it this way = Lower maintainence down time for the camera and some $ savings because cleaning has a $ cost regardless of who does it. I’m not worried about the reliability of the cleaning system as I have heard about 0 reports of failures.

I like your approach. If I set my camera to auto, it cleans when powering on and again when off. I think I'll adopt your policy. I usually keep a lens mounted and have a bag dedicated for that. Cleaning when powering off prepares for the next set of shots. In my case I don't think there's much chance of the sensor getting dirty after cleaning but it doesn't sound like I have anything to lose with the dual cleaning method. :/

eurobird Loc: uk

My question is where doe's all the dirt end up.?

Tom47 Loc: Gettysburg, PA

Always on, It seems to work well.

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

Auto clean upon shutdown.

therwol Loc: USA

eurobird wrote:

My question is where doe's all the dirt end up.?

I woke up in the middle of the night with the same question on my mind. I'm not kidding.

Bill P

It has been said that some cameras have a piece of sticky stuff on the bottom inside of the body under the sensor that catches the stuff. But this question has never been addresed even though it is really more important than the endless discussions about achieving ultimate sharpness, whatever that is.

What concerns me more is we have been told by Olympus that home cleaning using swab and bits from post its with damage the IBIS system, but no one has really even noticed this or is concerned about it.

broncomaniac Loc: Lynchburg, VA

The evolution of this thread is very interesting to me.

I blow my camera out periodically bc I don't want the aforementioned dirt to accumulate. Seems effective.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Bill P wrote:

It has been said that some cameras have a piece of... (show quote)

Mirrorless cameras don’t have the problems with stuff getting on the sensors nearly as much as DSLRs. Because they don’t have that mirror flipping around and stirring up dust and spraying oil drops everywhere. MY DSLRs require periodic cleaning. My mirrorless cameras? My 2005 DMC-G1 Sensor is clean as a whistle. Verified by reference shots. Never cleaned Manually. Self cleaning applied at startup and shutdown.