Lets face it if you have a dSLR (Digital SLR) camera sooner rather than later you will end up with dust or something similar on the sensor and from that moment on you will see it in the same place on all of your photos. Sure you can clone this out and since it would be in the same spot on all photos you could even automate this repair. However, it is better for your post processing workflow and better for your digital camera and its sensor if you get this debris off the sensor, the last thing you want is for some little bit of something to scratch the surface and cause a permanent problem.
The question is how do you clean your cameras sensor, do it well and do it safely. After all the last you want to do is clean your sensor trying to prevent other problems only to have the act of cleaning the sensor cause a problem. Nearly all modern dSLR cameras have a sensor cleaning mode that pops the mirror up and locks it so that you can easily get to the sensor. In fact I am kind of creeped out by just how easy it is to get to the cameras sensor. Just seems to me that it should be harder to get to what for the most part is the heart and soul of your camera. But, it is quite easy and that is just another reason to be very careful and do the cleaning right.
You have several options for cleaning; there are kits available, blowers, brushes, swabs, etc. The three things you don't want to do is use a can of compressed air, since compressed air while in the can is in a liquid state it can come out of the can in this liquid state if the can isn't kept at the right angle and this liquid is cold enough to burn your skin. This burning cold liquid can not only damage the sensor it can as discolor or fog it permanently so never use cans of compressed air. Small air compressors are also a problem as many of these use some form of oil based lubricant to keep the moving parts moving and this lubricant can be in the air it sprays out, the last things you or your sensor needs a greasy film. Also, don't use cotton swabs or anything that can leave little bits, lint or dust behind, it won’t do you any good to clean your sensor if you leave more junk on the sensor afterwards than was on it to start with.
If you have a dSLR camera now the chances are that once you have had one you will never go back to a point and shoot camera. So investing in a system that not only makes cleaning your dSLR sensor easy and safe but actually kind of fun even if said system is over $100 can be a good long term investment not only for your current dSLR or dSLR's if you have more than one but for any future dSLR's you buy in the future. Now what system am I talking about? Well, I am talking about the only system currently available from any company (keeping in mind that I do not call a bottle of liquid and a few swabs a system, neither is a rocket blower.)
By system I mean a package that contains a device that lets you first see if you have anything on your sensor that needs to be cleaned off. You don't want to clean your sensor any more than you have to which means if it isn't dirty don't clean it. The package would also include a small device that would allow you to clean the debris off the sensor quickly, efficiently and sensor safely. Finally it would also include the liquid and swabs needed for those times when you get a little bit of something on the sensor that won't come off without a fight. A package with tools to handle all three stages of the cleaning process is what I call a system, a complete from start to finish system that can handle your entire dSLR sensor cleaning needs.
Such a system would be the SensorScope system Photo from Delkin. This system includes a lighted SensorScope Photo that allows you to quickly and easily view your cameras sensor in a highly magnified form (5X) so that you can see if it does indeed need cleaning. It includes a small but powerful lighted SensorVac with a sensor safe static brush on the end and it includes twenty-four SensorSafe Wands and a half-ounce bottle of non-alcohol based SensorSolution. The vacuum is battery powered and it comes with a belt clip equipped battery pack (it uses 4 AA batteries.) The magnifier scope as I said is lighted and it is powered by coin sized batteries. The entire system is housed in a nice plastic case with a form fitting foam rubber insert.
The SensorScope system is both easy to use and very effective. I really like the lighted magnifying scope as it makes it very easy to see even the smallest bit of debris that maybe on your sensor.
The SensorScope system works with all dSLR brands and models. It is safe for CCD and CMOS sensors. To use the system you simply put your camera in to sensor cleaning mode so that the mirror is locked up. Then use the magnifying scope to see if there is anything on the sensor that needs to be cleaned off or if you know that there is to see where it is. You then use the vacuum and if there is anything that the vacuum can't suck off then you use one of the swabs with the cleaning fluid.
The SensorScope system is in my opinion a must have item for any one that owns a dSLR camera. With the removable lens of dSLR cameras sooner rather than later you are going to have a dirty sensor. If your camera has a self clean mode it is important to understand two things about these cleaning systems, well actually three things. First, these sensor cleaning systems are not always effective, second at best it only shakes the debris off the sensor it doesn't remove it from the camera which means it can and probably will end up back on your sensor this is even for cameras with a sticky strip in them to try and snatch the debris (it isn't going to get everything) and third the jury is still out on how this shaking is going to effect the long term life of the sensor and the connectors for the sensor. Most electronic things that I have seen don't really like to be shaken. My Pentax K10D has a sensor cleaning mode and I don't use it the SensorScope system from Delkin is just so easy and effective I see no point in using the sensor cleaning mode on the camera.
The full SensorScope system sells for $149.99 which in my opinion a bargain considering that it is a system you can use on dSLR cameras for years to come. I do however have one major complaint about this system. Once you have used the included 24 SensorSafe Wands and the SensorSolution Cleaning Fluid you will need to buy the refill kit and that kit is $49.99 and for that completely outrageous price you get 15 Wands and one 1/4 oz. bottle of clean solution (this is half the amount that comes in the SensorScope system to start with, this according to Delkin’s web site). Someone at Delkin clearly feels that the wands are indeed magic and the cleaning solution is gold because $49.99 for this refill kit should be illegal and is in my opinion a total fraud. I give the SensorScope system 5 stars, but I give the refill kits totally outrageous price one star. Fortunately there are less expensive cleaning wands and cleaning fluids for camera sensors available so getting ripped off buying the Delkin Refill kit is something you don't have to put up with. The rest of the SensorScope system is excellent and worth the money. |
