Sensor cleaning best practices and supplies

[Ken Ford]

I need to clean the sensors on my M-P 240 and M246. I’ve done several rounds of Rocket Blower which helped immensely but some spots are being resistant. I’m spoiled from having cameras with self cleaning sensors which really does help.

I figure this is a progressive process, start easy and safe and stop when clean:

1) Blower
2) Dry sensor brush
3) Wet clean

What specific products are people recommending for 2) and 3)? A lot of products I see in older threads seem to be obsolete, for example the blue gel sticks.

 

[jbielikowski]

All you need is dust-free swabs (green with polyester tip) and IPA.

 

[Darthfeeble]

I use Sensor Swabs and Eclipse fluid. I've used this combo on several cameras with no trouble. You might google "wet sensor cleaning" for some instructions.

 

[trix4ever]

2) Dry sensor brush.
I love the Arctic Butterfly but baulk at the price, so I bought a cheap copy for AU$35 off ebay and it is my most used cleaner. Unfortunately I cannot find them available now, which is a bugger. I wet clean about once a year, mainly pollen. Since I had the brush I hardly use my Giottos rocket air blower.

 

[Ken Ford]

All you need is dust-free swabs (green with polyester tip) and IPA.

Ah, but what swabs (there are many) and what strength IPA?

I use Sensor Swabs and Eclipse fluid. I've used this combo on several cameras with no trouble. You might google "wet sensor cleaning" for some instructions.

These guys?

https://a.co/d/cnqXrvm

Amazon.com : Eclipse Optic Cleaning Solution - Camera Lens and Digital Sensor Cleaner Fluid - Works with All Cameras, Binoculars, and Other Optical Products - Dropper Tip (15ml) - 0.5oz (2-Pack) : Electronics

Amazon.com : Eclipse Optic Cleaning Solution - Camera Lens and Digital Sensor Cleaner Fluid - Works with All Cameras, Binoculars, and Other Optical Products - Dropper Tip (15ml) - 0.5oz (2-Pack) : Electronics

a.co

2) Dry sensor brush.
I love the Arctic Butterfly but baulk at the price, so I bought a cheap copy for AU$35 off ebay and it is my most used cleaner. Unfortunately I cannot find them available now, which is a bugger. I wet clean about once a year, mainly pollen. Since I had the brush I hardly use my Giottos rocket air blower.

The Arctic Butterfly certainly is pricy. What kind of search terms should I use for a generic? Static sensor brush, like this one?

Amazon.com : Vidpro SB-4 Spinning Static Sensor Cleaner Brush : Electronics

Amazon.com : Vidpro SB-4 Spinning Static Sensor Cleaner Brush : Electronics

a.co

Are non static brushes worth the effort, like this one?

Amazon.com : D-SLR Sensor Cleaning Brush for All DSLR Sensors : Camera Cleaning Brushes : Electronics

Amazon.com : D-SLR Sensor Cleaning Brush for All DSLR Sensors : Camera Cleaning Brushes : Electronics

a.co

 

[Ken Ford]

I ordered this earlier based on something I read, but started doubting myself and made this thread. It may go back and better products ordered.

https://a.co/d/4AWIIZt

 

[Freakscene]

I ordered this earlier based on something I read, but started doubting myself and made this thread. It may go back and better products ordered.

https://a.co/d/4AWIIZt

That should work fine.

Don’t use regular isopropyl alcohol; they all have water in them and water is the last thing you want on your sensor. I use VisibleDust EZ swabs and fluid. Leica recommends the Pentax sticky blob, but I had trouble with it, even on my Pentax Monochrome.

 

[Ken Ford]

That should work fine.

Don’t use regular isopropyl alcohol; they all have water in them and water is the last thing you want on your sensor. I use VisibleDust EZ swabs and fluid. Leica recommends the Pentax sticky blob, but I had trouble with it, even on my Pentax Monochrome.

This, I assume?

Amazon.com : Pentax Sensor Cleaning Kit O-Ick1: Professional Sensor(Ccd/CMOS) Cleaning for Digital Slr Cameras, Mirrorless Cameras and Lenses Easy to Use with Urethane Resin Stick and Cleaning Sheets Made in JAPAN : Electronics

Amazon.com : Pentax Sensor Cleaning Kit O-Ick1: Professional Sensor(Ccd/CMOS) Cleaning for Digital Slr Cameras, Mirrorless Cameras and Lenses Easy to Use with Urethane Resin Stick and Cleaning Sheets Made in JAPAN : Electronics

a.co

 

[Coldkennels]

Leica recommends the Pentax sticky blob, but I had trouble with it, even on my Pentax Monochrome.

After the local camera shop failed repeatedly to wet clean the sensor on my M240, I tracked down one of those "sticky blobs".

It's not the easiest thing in the world to use and you need to be persistent, but it removed some really stubborn crap that wet cleaning apparently couldn't, so yeah. I'm sold.

This, I assume?

Amazon.com : Pentax Sensor Cleaning Kit O-Ick1: Professional Sensor(Ccd/CMOS) Cleaning for Digital Slr Cameras, Mirrorless Cameras and Lenses Easy to Use with Urethane Resin Stick and Cleaning Sheets Made in JAPAN : Electronics

Amazon.com : Pentax Sensor Cleaning Kit O-Ick1: Professional Sensor(Ccd/CMOS) Cleaning for Digital Slr Cameras, Mirrorless Cameras and Lenses Easy to Use with Urethane Resin Stick and Cleaning Sheets Made in JAPAN : Electronics

a.co

Yeah, that's the one.

 

[boojum]

In the Dept of FWIW I have a Leica video of them assembling M8's and cleaning the sensor with a red Eyelead gel stick. I have the kit, and the blue one, too. But they seem to have vanished from the internet. I guess the Pentax gel stick works just as well.

Sony and Hasselblad encourage swabs and solvent.

 

[trix4ever]

Ah, but what swabs (there are many) and what strength IPA?


These guys?

https://a.co/d/cnqXrvm

Amazon.com : Eclipse Optic Cleaning Solution - Camera Lens and Digital Sensor Cleaner Fluid - Works with All Cameras, Binoculars, and Other Optical Products - Dropper Tip (15ml) - 0.5oz (2-Pack) : Electronics

Amazon.com : Eclipse Optic Cleaning Solution - Camera Lens and Digital Sensor Cleaner Fluid - Works with All Cameras, Binoculars, and Other Optical Products - Dropper Tip (15ml) - 0.5oz (2-Pack) : Electronics

a.co

The Arctic Butterfly certainly is pricy. What kind of search terms should I use for a generic? Static sensor brush, like this one?

Amazon.com : Vidpro SB-4 Spinning Static Sensor Cleaner Brush : Electronics

Amazon.com : Vidpro SB-4 Spinning Static Sensor Cleaner Brush : Electronics

a.co

Are non static brushes worth the effort, like this one?

Amazon.com : D-SLR Sensor Cleaning Brush for All DSLR Sensors : Camera Cleaning Brushes : Electronics

Amazon.com : D-SLR Sensor Cleaning Brush for All DSLR Sensors : Camera Cleaning Brushes : Electronics

a.co

That static sensor brush looks like my one, if it is I highly recommend it, I may buy another myself to stop me having to swap it between bags.

 

[Freakscene]

After the local camera shop failed repeatedly to wet clean the sensor on my M240, I tracked down one of those "sticky blobs".

It's not the easiest thing in the world to use and you need to be persistent, but it removed some really stubborn crap that wet cleaning apparently couldn't, so yeah. I'm sold.

It depends on what sort of nastiness is on your sensor. The Pentax sticky blob is great for stubborn dust but they make oil worse, not better. And if you don’t clean it perfectly, it can add dust rather than remove it, with bonus sticky material. And I have never found a bit of dust on my sensor that I couldn’t get off with a swab.

The best approach, as usual, is to have blower, brushes, swabs and a sticky blob, use a magnifier to check what you are removing and clean it using the approach best suited to the type of dirt. Swabs are the most versatile.

 

[jbielikowski]

Ah, but what swabs (there are many) and what strength IPA?

Something like these. Not the spongy type, you want a nice flat surface and defined edge. Those have nice flexible tips so you can bend it for easier work.
IPA only high-purity (lab grade) 99.9%.

First you start with blower, then try to dry lift any spots with a swab, then it's time for some wet action with swabs slightly dipped in IPA.
You don't want to swipe whole sensor at once, do it piece by piece, in circular motion. Any stains you wipe with a fresh dry swab, it's fine to put some pressure on it.

 

[Archiver]

Bookmarking this thread for future reference. I haven't cleaned sensors with a wet swab kit for many years, preferring to use a rocket blower every week or so.

The last time I did a wet clean with my M9 was before the sensor swap in 2017, and there was just so much dust and crud pushed into the corners of the sensor that I was glad Leica had to swap the sensor anyway!

 

[Freakscene]

Something like these. Not the spongy type, you want a nice flat surface and defined edge. Those have nice flexible tips so you can bend it for easier work.
IPA only high-purity (lab grade) 99.9%.

First you start with blower, then try to dry lift any spots with a swab, then it's time for some wet action with swabs slightly dipped in IPA.
You don't want to swipe whole sensor at once, do it piece by piece, in circular motion. Any stains you wipe with a fresh dry swab, it's fine to put some pressure on it.

Lab grade isopropyl alcohol is ok, but using a non-hygroscopic alcohol works better, which us why the fluid that comes with cleaning swabs us a mixture of ethanol and methanol. There are other even better options, but they are obscure.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

I try to find a local neighborhood dog that's friendly and let it lick the sensor, then all I have to do is wipe it dry with my T-shirt.

 

[Muggins]

I try to find a local neighborhood dog that's friendly and let it lick the sensor, then all I have to do is wipe it dry with my T-shirt.

I await with interest the day we find that someone has taken you seriously...

 

[Ken Ford]

Case studies.

M246 first - these are photos of the dust detection function, I don’t think you can save the images which would be a lot easier than taking a pic of the back screen.

M246 before:


M246 after a stern rocket blowering:


M246 after brush and wet clean:


Now the M-P 240.

M-P 240 before:


M-P 240 after rocket blower:


M-P 240 after brush and wet clean:


I have to decide what to do about the M-P 240, there are a few persistent spots. I’m thinking I want to try one of those generic Arctic Butterfly brushes and possibly the Pentax gel stick, if push comes to shove I’ll take it in - but I'm open to suggestions.

 

[Freakscene]

Case studies.

M246 first - these are photos of the dust detection function, I don’t think you can save the images which would be a lot easier than taking a pic of the back screen.

M246 before:
View attachment 4867144

M246 after a stern rocket blowering:
View attachment 4867145

M246 after brush and wet clean:
View attachment 4867146

Now the M-P 240.

M-P 240 before:
View attachment 4867147

M-P 240 after rocket blower:
View attachment 4867148

M-P 240 after brush and wet clean:
View attachment 4867149

I have to decide what to do about the M-P 240, there are a few persistent spots. I’m thinking I want to try one of those generic Arctic Butterfly brushes and possibly the Pentax gel stick, if push comes to shove I’ll take it in - but I'm open to suggestions.

For anything stubborn, the best start is to get a look at it. Buy or borrow a sensor magnifier and figure out if the dot is caused by an oily, adhering or confusing substance. Go from there.

 

[Ken Ford]

For anything stubborn, the best start is to get a look at it. Buy or borrow a sensor magnifier and figure out if the dot is caused by an oily, adhering or confusing substance. Go from there.

Good idea - my 3x Optivisor and a flashlight ain’t cutting it. There’s a lit 7x on Amazon I’ll order.

Is it good practice to use pointy foam sticks with Eclipse to work on tough spots? This listing states camera sensor use, but they can say anything they want…. https://a.co/d/a4bfZal