Cleaning the CCD woes |
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Wētāpunga ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 02 September 2007 Country: New Zealand Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Posts: 6188 |
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Earlier this week, I noticed a lot(!) of blemishes were appearing in my photos. They looked like dust was on the CCD.
I've made several attempts to clean the CCD with the blower-brush, and while this has had some success, several blemishes remain. So, is this a problem with persistent dust, should I be looking at other causes, and how is it possible to give a CCD that deep, loving clean without touching it with a brush? Examples- ![]() and ![]() Chthonic appreciation in advance |
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a7riii, a9- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 G; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Tamron 150-500 f5-6.7; Sony SAL 135/2.8 STF
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Turerkan ![]() Emeritus group ![]() Moderator emeritus Joined: 11 February 2006 Location: Turkey Status: Offline Posts: 6252 |
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but you can touch it with a sensor swab can you? this is how i clean mine and there is nothing you cant remove from the sensor with some methanol and a swab:) |
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Hoffy ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 30 December 2006 Country: Australia Location: Australia Status: Offline Posts: 2054 |
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on another forum that I frequent, everyone swears by the copper hill sensor cleaning kit.
Check out http://www.copperhillimages.com/index.php?pr=products |
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Tue Romanow ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 12 September 2006 Country: Denmark Location: Middelfart, Fyn Status: Offline Posts: 959 |
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I had exactly the same problem...Thought I would have to send the camera in for cleaning but the thought of being without the 5D for a week was just too much. Started looking at the swabs made for the job...Pricey and noone around here had them in stock. I ended up making my own...Lens Tissue Paper, methanol and a cotton tip applicator...I know it's pretty risky and if you mess up you could damage the camera so it's at your own risk!!!!!!! That said, it worked a treat!! The sensor is clean as a whistle and shooting at f/22 does not mean hours of photoshopping any more...
Note: I take no responsibility in case you decide to try this on your own and end up breaking your camera! |
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There's no such thing as too many lenses.
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David_S ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 20 May 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Posts: 2594 |
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You should be able to find all the info and supplies to clean it at Copper Hill Images. You may not be able to purchase from them because of the chemicals but there is plenty of info on how to do it and what to use. I bought all the stuff needed from them and have cleaned my own. It's a bit scary at first but gets easier as you do it more. What ever you do don't touch it with anything that may leave lint or a film..
DS |
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Turerkan ![]() Emeritus group ![]() Moderator emeritus Joined: 11 February 2006 Location: Turkey Status: Offline Posts: 6252 |
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one thing i know is, screwing up your sensor is much harder than it is speculated. I tried some DIY methods on my sensor too, and it still works fine. as long as you don't shave it with a razor, its fine!
remember what you are dealing with is the AA filter on top of the sensor, the sensor chip is not exposed to the outside world. Deal with the AA filter as you deal with other filters. be a little more gentle to be sure:) btw, the real problem with sensor cleaning is knowing that you actually got rid of the dust. It takes me several tries and test shots before i can get my sensor perfectly clean. the regular dust that shows up in the pictures are actually too small to be seen by naked eye, you can't just look at the sensor and say its clean! Edited by Turerkan - 24 November 2007 at 22:24 |
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Mr.Pink ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 06 April 2007 Country: Croatia Location: Croatia Status: Offline Posts: 223 |
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Why exactly you don't want to clean your CCD with a brush?! I clean mine with Hama rocket blower and Arctic Butterfly 724, and it works perfectly! Check here
Edited by Mr.Pink - 24 November 2007 at 22:46 |
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May the LIGHT be with you:)
A100, A580, Sig10-20 f4-5.6 EX, Tam17-50 f2.8, Min28 f2, Min28-105 f3.5-4.5 RS, Min35-105 f3.5-4.5, Min 50 f1.7, Beercan |
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camelriders ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 31 December 2005 Country: United States Location: South East Status: Offline Posts: 2434 |
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My sensor looked just like yours and I tried blowing things off to no avail and then thought that it might have been grease or something on the sensor from and old lens.
I purchased the Artic Butterfly one day when I was at B&H and cleaned my sensor in seconds. Apparently, it was only dust because everything came off without issue. I would try a brush first and if that does not work then resort to the liquid cleaners. But only use the cleaners if the spots are still in the same place after using the brush; if they moved, then one could surmise that it is still dust and you will have to try the brush again. Edited by camelriders - 24 November 2007 at 23:09 |
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Regards,
Bruce. |
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numo ![]() Groupie ![]() Joined: 22 September 2006 Location: Slovakia Status: Offline Posts: 55 |
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If you try DIY methods, test the cleaning liquid somewhere first. I once used isopropanol bought at the local pharmacy assuming it is clean. It wasn't - I ended with streaks visible directly on the sensor and of course on the photos too. Fortunately I was able to remove them using plain old humidity from my own breath (at the time I had no other usable liquid)...
BTW don't fight every little spec, in a short time you get some of them back anyway, especially if you only blowed them away. If you don't use f16+ regularly, it takes quite a big spec in an uniform area to notice - look how many of them you've got before noticing... |
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groovyone ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 27 November 2006 Country: United States Location: Denver, CO Status: Offline Posts: 4114 |
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I also use the air blower and arctic butterfly with outstanding results.
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A99|A900|A100IR|A7|Maxxum 7|Maxxum 5|Polaroid
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Wētāpunga ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 02 September 2007 Country: New Zealand Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Posts: 6188 |
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Wow, thanks for all the suggestions
![]() Unfortunately a lot of my shots are at f20-f32. Mostly macro and landscape shots. The dust has (abruptly) gotten worse. |
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a7riii, a9- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 24-105/4 G; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Tamron 150-500 f5-6.7; Sony SAL 135/2.8 STF
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Scott B ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 29 August 2007 Location: Australia Status: Offline Posts: 1561 |
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Hi try not to get to obsessed with every little speak on your sensor.
Having said that I have used the copper hill method of cleaning on my A100 with great results.I was very nervous the first time I did it but it really is very easy. I would never send my camera in for cleaning when I know that all they will do is what I can do. Pat |
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almassengale ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 26 December 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Posts: 1944 |
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I've never had any trouble with a blowerbrush.
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Scott B ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 29 August 2007 Location: Australia Status: Offline Posts: 1561 |
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You are right this is my first choice give it blow with my rocket blower.
But I had got a couple of spots on my A100 that the blower would not get off. The wet clean get them off pretty much first go. |
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