HELP - making things worse!!!

[havoc]

Got an Arctic Butterfly to clear the dust off my sensor. Used it for the first time this morning (exactly per rules) just before heading out to Donington, and it seems to have smeared a line (grease?) across the sensor.

Used a few more times to (a) see if I can reduce this; and (b) get rid of the rest of the dust, and it seems to keep making things worse - I've now got an odd mark on the test-images off to one side where the grease smudges are, and I seem to have even MORE dust on the sensor now than when I started!!!

Any ideas? I feel like I'm making things worse, no idea what to do!

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

You need to wet clean it. The butterfly is only for dry work. VisibleDust do wet products that get rid of grease.

[havoc]

Are they any more difficult to use? Because I seem to have f'd this one up good and proper - there's actually more dust there now than there WAS. Could the static charge from the bristles have transferred to the glass and attracted the dust to it?!?

Really p'd off, and am now late for Donny and with a camera that's sh't!

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

Not that much harder to use. It sounds like there's a lot of dust in the camera full stop. You might get some more out with a lens blower but I think all they do is move the dust around, and it always gets back to the sensor.

I'd take it for a pro clean, then at least you can start from a good clean position.

[toastboy]

Had this happen on my old 300D. I just wiped it with an Oakley sunglasses bag and all was fine.

[GetCarter]

toastboy said:

Had this happen on my old 300D. I just wiped it with an Oakley sunglasses bag and all was fine.

A very, very, very brave man.

[havoc]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

I'd take it for a pro clean, then at least you can start from a good clean position.

The thought had crossed my mind, but don't you have to post the camera off and wait a few (several?) weeks to get it back?!?

With the summer coming up (well, Spring anyway) I'd rather not be without it for weeks...particularly as our anniversary is in just over a month, and we'll be away somewhere for that.

Oh...other question - how much typically for a pro clean?!?

[agent006]

havoc said:

The thought had crossed my mind, but don't you have to post the camera off and wait a few (several?) weeks to get it back?!?

I think Fixation in London have a 3 day turnaround. Anywhere that deals with pro equipment will have short turnaround times.

[GetCarter]

...and I use Grays of Westminster - similar turnaround.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

havoc said:

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

I'd take it for a pro clean, then at least you can start from a good clean position.

The thought had crossed my mind, but don't you have to post the camera off and wait a few (several?) weeks to get it back?!?

With the summer coming up (well, Spring anyway) I'd rather not be without it for weeks...particularly as our anniversary is in just over a month, and we'll be away somewhere for that.

Oh...other question - how much typically for a pro clean?!?

Well in London places like Fixation do a while you wait service, which is about an hour end to end. Last time I used them it was about £45. Wet cleaning isn't that hard though, just take it slowly and not just before you want to use the camera

[stigmundfreud]

havoc said:

Got an Arctic Butterfly to clear the dust off my sensor. Used it for the first time this morning (exactly per rules) just before heading out to Donington, and it seems to have smeared a line (grease?) across the sensor.

Used a few more times to (a) see if I can reduce this; and (b) get rid of the rest of the dust, and it seems to keep making things worse - I've now got an odd mark on the test-images off to one side where the grease smudges are, and I seem to have even MORE dust on the sensor now than when I started!!!

Any ideas? I feel like I'm making things worse, no idea what to do!

havoc I did exactly the same just fixed with a sensor swab and e2 chemical cleaner bought from warehouse express

Now no dust or smears

[stigmundfreud]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

You need to wet clean it. The butterfly is only for dry work. VisibleDust do wet products that get rid of grease.

warning make sure any wet cleaner is compaitble with the sensor you are using it on. E2 works on ITO and the older stuff, other wet cleaners can damage tin coated sensors.

As mentioned the Artic is for dry work only and the smear will come from chamber oil. Mild soapy water and alow the brush to dry will remove the contamination from the brush.

[havoc]

Thanks all very much...nice to have some recommendations of places in case I decide against trying anything else!

Michael - nice to know, cheers!

[havoc]

Quick update - Eclipse fluid, sensor swabs, and pec-pads received through the post and used.

Use: Sensor-swabs are a piece-of-cake, but at the price-per-swab they should be! Ridiculously expensive.

Effectiveness: Really good.

Results: First photo completely clear. Followed by the next few with dust marks on, as 3 large dark specs of dust remaining in the chamber got attracted to the charged sensor! Repeat as before (there goes another £3!), and results...just as before, except now one HUGE curve of dust!!! By now I'm cursing...and I reach for the old rocket-blower, figuring that is's currently loose dust so I should be able to shift it. Result - no big nasty specs but a few faint ones which should be invisible on most pics and PS'able when you can see them.


Verdict: Get a camera with self-clean, FFS!!! Failing that, work in this order:-
- Rocket blower - clean most of it out.
- A' Butterfly - use the static charge to attract most/all of the rest of the dust.
- Sensor Swab - get the sensor 100% clean.

[leightonjames]

havoc said:

Verdict: Get a camera with self-clean

another reason to get a 40D

[4hero]

leightonjames said:

havoc said:

Verdict: Get a camera with self-clean

another reason to get a 40D

doesn't clean the sensor properly though, I notice a million specks of dust at x5 magnification

[crmcatee]

can't say I've had that much problems with dust. I've used the pecpads in the past and they've been fine, all on a 20D.

You don't happen to be changing lenses with the camera switched on are you ?

[havoc]

crmcatee said:

You don't happen to be changing lenses with the camera switched on are you ?

God no!

Which is what's so frustrating about this...

[havoc]

OK, this is really f'ing silly now.

Just back from IoW, looking through the photos and there's dust on all the long-aperture stuff!

Not sure how, why, or where it's coming from, but seriously p'd off with it.
- I turn the camera off for 10-20 seconds before removing a lens.
- I have the other lens waiting, ready (rear cover unscrewed but not removed).
- I turn the camera face-down before changing.


Any ideas gratefully received, as this is now beyond a joke! Does anyone have a 40D with the sensor self-clean function? And if so, is it any good - would seriously consider shelling out to upgrade if I know it'll cure the problem, as I'm off to NZ in September and DO NOT want all this grief with the photos there...particularly as it'll be 3 weeks before I can clean the sensor (or at least check the results of cleaning...).

[tim-b]

re: cost of sensor swabs, has anyone tried making their own from a used swab and a pecpad? it looks like the same material, obviously pecpad won't be contamination free after you've cut it and wrapped on the swab but i'm tempted to give it a try....

i have a 30D and like havoc have dust issues due to changing lenses...only way to get around it seems to swab it on a regular basis, or stick to large apertures (eg >f9) where possible.