Is it OK to use lens cleaning liquid for sensor cleaning?

raid

raid

Dad Photographer
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I am out of the sensor cleaning solution. I have some Zeiss lens cleaning solution. Is it damaging to sensor to use the lens cleaning solution (slightly) on the sensor?
 
I think you SHOULD be fine—nothing particularly harmful inside dedicated lens solution. (Ilford notes Ilfotol wetting agent may be used as a lens solution, but that's a bit different)

What I would worry about is the higher water content, depending what solution it is. I would guess it's a bit higher, which means slower drying, which means more chance of infiltration, liquid spots, or dust settling on it.

Obviously its of little help now if you need a sensor cleaning right away, but I was recommended the LensPen SensorKlear..basically same product on an articulated stick. I was really nervous using something dry and potentially abrasive, but its given me the best results yet, and is portable—after discovering a massive amount of specks while I was deep in Joshua tree, I keep it in my bag as needed.
 
In the past I’ve watched Canon and Nikon tech reps clean sensors, they both used 99% denatured alcohol. 99% would have very little water in it.
 
Hmm. 90% isopropyl is readily available in the U.S.

99% ethanol (or any other alcohol) is not as easily found. :(

Everclear is close. Not available in every state but Florida is bound to have Everclear! During my last visit, it seemed the liquor stores were bursting at the seams with lots of "weird" stuff. ;)
 
I have two cleaning kits, but the liquid is now old and nearly gone. I just placed an order only for the liquid cleaner.
 
That's the safest way to go! I have yet to clean a sensor. I paid to have it done to my M9. My D700 needs it. I should buy a kit.
 
Is the sensor cleaning that "urgent" of a problem that it can't wait until you ordered and received new sensor cleaning fluid?
I am pretty certain nobody would use break disk cleaner for cleaning the wind shield just because it's also a liquid...

A sensor in a digital camera is the heart of the tool, why would you use anything on it that isn't specificly recommended for the purpose?:rolleyes:

And btw what camera are you talking about, your M10?
Anyway, good luck and still a Happy New Year.
 
It is for the M9.
There is a good reason why I asked the question. I want to know if a sensor requires a different cleaner than a lens.
 
I have no luck with sensor cleaners. Only by 90something % alcohol.
Some known sensor cleaner left smudge, which I have to clean.
I use lens cleaners on filters. It is never apply and wipe. It is several apply and wipe. Messy thing.
Alcohol in high concentration evaporates very quick from the sensor.
Swabs they sell for sensors cleaning are overpriced junk. I use their plastic base as fine tissue holder. I forgot the brand and series name. Every broadcast station I worked with have them. :) KIMTECH SCIENCE Kimwipes Delicate Task Wipers, goggle knows. :)
 
raid said:
It is for the M9.
I want to know if a sensor requires a different cleaner than a lens.
Click to expand...
Basically it does not. When you clean a sensor you clean an optical glass sheet, not the photosites themselves, thankfully.

As other posters wrote, I'd rather use real pure isopropylic alcohol and none of the marketed sensor cleaning fluids.
I used Eclipse cleaning fluid once to clean some optical glass surfaces (elements of the rear group of a Nikkor lens I had taken apart to service it). Then I carefully looked at the glass I had just cleaned from an oblique angle. There were some hazy areoles left behind (which a second wipe with real alcohol cleaned up, of course). Not good.
 
rfaspen said:
Hmm. 90% isopropyl is readily available in the U.S.

99% ethanol (or any other alcohol) is not as easily found. :(

Everclear is close. Not available in every state but Florida is bound to have Everclear! During my last visit, it seemed the liquor stores were bursting at the seams with lots of "weird" stuff. ;)
Click to expand...

Everclear is 190 proof, which is 95% alcohol. But alcohol picks up water readily from the moisture in the air, becoming diluted. So 99% alcohol won't stay 99% very long! Everclear probably doesn't stay 95% very long, either. Even a lower percentage of alcohol--I don't know what the lower limit is--will ensure that no water remains behind. When I worked as an audio technician, we used to clean up dirty amplifiers by mixing isopropyl rubbing alcohol half and half with water and spraying it from a spray bottle. We set the chassis out back to dry in the sun. Even diluted, it still left no water behind to cause problems. So my point is that you really don't need the 99% alcohol, Everclear is strong enough.
 
rfaspen said:
Hmm. 90% isopropyl is readily available in the U.S.

99% ethanol (or any other alcohol) is not as easily found. :(

Everclear is close. Not available in every state but Florida is bound to have Everclear! During my last visit, it seemed the liquor stores were bursting at the seams with lots of "weird" stuff. ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks for this tip.
 
Be careful with denatured alcohol. I recall cleaning the instrument panel of a vehicle with it once and it fogged the clear plastic faces.

I would use those overpriced tiny squeeze bottles sold as sensor cleaner. Just because I'm the paranoid type.
 
Dogman said:
Be careful with denatured alcohol. I recall cleaning the instrument panel of a vehicle with it once and it fogged the clear plastic faces.
Click to expand...
This is quite normal and I highly suspect that any sensor cleaning fluid would have produced the same result on any acrylic plastic.

You don't clean your 19th century waxed oakwood living-room table with acetone, do you.
 
Dogman said:
Be careful with denatured alcohol. I recall cleaning the instrument panel of a vehicle with it once and it fogged the clear plastic faces.

I would use those overpriced tiny squeeze bottles sold as sensor cleaner. Just because I'm the paranoid type.
Click to expand...

If you keep a bottle of 99% alcohol open it will gradually get diluted with water vapor. This is probably what happened in your case. People clean CPUs and GPUs routinely of gunk by dunking in 99% iso. There is never an issue. Keep the bottle capped at all times and don't use an old opened bottle. I personally would not use lens cleaning fluid, mostly because I have no idea what's in it. If there is an issue you can always clean a lens again. But you might ruin the sensor glass
 
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