Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/01/26

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Subject: [Leica] M8 / Digi-Cameras and dust
From: steve.barbour at gmail.com (Steve Barbour)
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:42:42 -0800
References: <012301ca9e4c$e11b3440$a3519cc0$@net> <3e7573d41001252210y4f365e28k60abda18e517980f@mail.gmail.com> <4B5EBE30.3070400@gmx.de>

great summary, thanks, Steve


On Jan 26, 2010, at 2:04 AM, Douglas Sharp wrote:

> The smaller the aperture, the more spots you will find - I regularly shoot 
> a predominantly light subject with a small aperture - sky or a piece of 
> paper - to check for sensor spots.
> 
> To avoid having to use swabs and fluid, first shoot 2 to 5 shots before 
> and after using a blower and a brush (Arctic Butterfly) to find out 
> whether the spots are at the same location every time.
> 
> If they change location or disappear, they were caused by dust, if they 
> stay where they were in every shot, they are caused by something sticking 
> to the sensor surface. This means you'll have to get out the swabs.
> 
> Never use swabs without having removed loose dust beforehand - you could 
> end up scratching your sensor.
> 
> Don't expect to be able to see spots on your sensor with the naked eye - 
> you'll hardly ever find them.
> 
> When viewing a shot with spots, remember that the sensor records the image 
> upside down - this means that a spot at the top of the picture is at the 
> bottom of the sensor.
> 
> Here's a series of shots before and after cleaning
> 
> First step:  use a blower to get off any loose dust.
> 
> Second step: (I agree) the Arctic Butterfly brushes are very good, and 
> pick of a lot of the more resistant dust.
> 
> Third step: if you still have sensor spots, the only remedy is swabs and 
> cleaning fluid.
> 
> My experience is that they work very well if you follow the instructions 
> and do it carefully. It often only gets the sensor really clean after 2 or 
> even 3 passes with clean swabs each time.
> 
> Sensor spots to the right of the tower:
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DMS/Bits+and+Pieces/Spots.jpg.html
> 
> First wipe - this can sometimes move a spot to a different part of the 
> sensor - to the right of the tower but closer to it:
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DMS/Bits+and+Pieces/First_wipe.jpg.html
> 
> Second wipe:
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DMS/Bits+and+Pieces/second_wipe.jpg.html
> 
> The remaining spots are birds ;-)
> 
> BTW: I'm very wary of things like lens pens when it comes to sensor 
> cleaning.
> 
> Douglas
> 
> On 26.01.2010 07:10, leo wesson wrote:
>> I like the artic butterfly brush.  Eventually you will wind up buying
>> cleaners and swabs.  It's ridiculously expensive stuff, but once you
>> learn to use it, it's worth it.
>> http://www.visibledust.com/products3.php?pid=3
>> 
>> Leo Wesson
>> Photographer/Videographer
>> 817.733.9157
>> www.leowesson.com
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Tue, Jan 26, 2010 at 12:00 AM, Frank Filippone<red735i at 
>> earthlink.net>  wrote:
>>   
>>> I took the M8 on a recent 3 week trip.  Within a few days the sensor was
>>> pretty dirty... and of course, I did not bring any cleaning stuff ( my 
>>> first
>>> digi-camera, so what did I know?).
>>> 
>>> Bottom line is a lot of images that need to be cleaned, if possible....
>>> 
>>> Is this typical of digital cameras and the M8 in particular?
>>> 
>>> Yes, I changed lenses a lot.....
>>> The environment was mostly dampish.... not dusty like a desert....
>>> 
>>> Question... I do not need any gizmos to see the dust, it is pretty 
>>> obvious
>>> on the sensor.....   Should I send it to Leica USA for a $75 sensor
>>> cleaning, then keep it clean myself or just clean it myself and learn 
>>> from
>>> that experience and continue forward with cleaning it myself from now on?
>>> 
>>> How often do you clean your sensor ( Leica or otherwise...)?  Is it a 
>>> daily
>>> routine?  ( yes, I realize that dusty = more often, not used = less
>>> often).....
>>> 
>>> Lastly.. how do you minimize dust with Digi-cameras?  Not changing lenses
>>> comes to mind.... but then I have a very expensive P+S.....
>>> Use only the Tri-Elmar?  ( which while not fast, does give me "3 lenses"
>>> without a change)?
>>> 
>>> For those that might think I am complaining, I am not.  I need to learn 
>>> this
>>> stuff, and what better place than from those that have already solved the
>>> problem......
>>> I just wish I had asked before my trip.....
>>> 
>>> Thanks.....
>>> 
>>> Frank Filippone
>>> red735i at earthlink.net
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Leica Users Group.
>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>> 
>>>     
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
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>> 
>>   
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
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In reply to: Message from red735i at earthlink.net (Frank Filippone) ([Leica] M8 / Digi-Cameras and dust)
Message from leowesson at gmail.com (leo wesson) ([Leica] M8 / Digi-Cameras and dust)
Message from douglas.sharp at gmx.de (Douglas Sharp) ([Leica] M8 / Digi-Cameras and dust)