Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/01/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I am a travel and outdoor photographer and have been battling dust, etc., on sensors for years. I think I've tried everything, even buying a body for each lens I love so I won't have to take them off. :) But on every shoot [read: where wife wants to go on vacation that year] I spend an hour or so before retiring downloading all the day's images from memory cards to computer, then I look at every picture and look for dust spots. If I see any/many then I haul out my sensor-cleaning kit and get to work. It's a real hassle, as everyone knows. I'm posting this because I haven's heard mentioned what I have come to consider the most important tool in monitoring sensors--the Visible Dust Sensor Loupe (or Sensor Scope by another manufacturer, I used to use). My last trip I used their new 7X Sensor Loupe and I was able to spot the dust specks and sensor smudges so clearly I'd just keep using the Arctic Butterfly brush lightly until I got them all. It was a tremendous time saver and the first time I was able see what was on the sensor, always before I'd use the swabs and Eclipse, put the camera back together, shoot a test shot, take the battery out, plug in AC adaptor, strip the camera down to "sensor cleaning mode", etc., a real pain. The Loupe was the key for me. (It was funny, just like Copper Mountain said, it took me years before I got up the courage to even touch the sensor. :)) Regards, Don > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: RE: [Leica] M8 dust... > From: "Geoff Hopkinson" <hoppyman@bigpond.net.au> > Date: Sun, January 11, 2009 4:46 pm > To: "'Leica Users Group'" <lug@leica-users.org> > Steve that is what I use. It has been completely successful for me. I have > the 1.3 size orange swabs. There are a couple of versions of the kit. > It isn't cheap of course but neither is that sensor! I probably do a wet > clean about every couple of months. I'm told that the Eclipse products are > very good too. > Alastair will tell you a tale of vigorously scrubbing the cover of his > sensor to get rid of ink from an unsuccessful trial of lens coding. > You may actually have small oil spots visible and there is always some > dust. > Just sometimes you see it and others not, depending on aperture used and > where the spots are positioned in the image. You know the trick to get them > to show up, right? Actually two tricks. Shoot anything vitally important > and > you'll see them right away ;-) Or shoot a featureless area at small > aperture. > > Cheers > Geoff > http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman/e > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/gh/ > Pick up your camera and make the best photo you can. > -----Original Message----- > From: lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org > [mailto:lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of > Steve Barbour > Sent: Monday, 12 January 2009 04:43 > To: Leica Users Group > Subject: Re: [Leica] M8 dust... > On Jan 11, 2009, at 7:05 AM, Douglas Sharp wrote: > > Steve, > > Take a look at Visible Dust products - I've used their rotating brush, > > swabs and cleaning lfluids on my Canon 20D and 300D with great > > success. A blower bulb is also useful for loose dust. > > > > The spinning brush generates static in its bristles to pick off loose > > dust without having to touch the sensor. I usually use this every time > > before I take a digital out, just to make sure. > I really like the idea...seems rather expensive, safe ? works ? > Steve > > I use the swabs when greasy or water spray spots are on the sensor - > > usually happens if you're changing lenses in damp weather or have > > blown dust off your sensor. > > Cheers > > Douglas > > > > Steve Barbour wrote: > >> I have two stubborn dust spots on my M8 sensor that will not be blown > >> out... > >> > >> one upper right, one central... > >> > >> I think I can see them...what presently is the very best way to > >> remove them? > >> > >> > >> Is a fine clean camel hair brush OK, or is there some other device > >> available ? > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> thank you, > >> > >> Steve > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Leica Users Group. > >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information