M8 and 1st sensor cleaning? help...

[davichan]

Yup, I have had the M8 for 2 weeks now, use it everday.
change lenses a few times daily.
I see a few "Black spots" when i shoot the sky today.
so i think it is time for a cleaning.

so i have never owned or cleaned a sensor before, that is why i have been reading everythign i can this past week on the matter, and figured i would ask you good ol folks about it also...

I have read that 1st cleaning should be a "Wet" cleaning.

"You don't want to use a sensor cleaning brush the first time you clean your camera as there is a very good chance that you will contaminate it with goo or stray lubricants and it will only make your sensor worse with streaks."

So what should i use for the M8?

Eclipse E2 or Eclipse?

what is the corect Photographic Solutions Sensor Swabs Type 1, 2 or 3 size?

dose anyone like the BrushOFF™ or just a stadard hand blower?

 

[M4streetshooter]

The best is "The Copperhill Method"
just google that and you'll find all the info and products you need...don

 

[rogue_designer]

these aren't covered by Leica service?

 

[ywenz]

Who would send the camera off for months for a simple cleaning?

 

[john_nyc]

I use the Type 1 swabs with Eclipse liquid for wet cleanings and Visible Dust Sensor Brushes for dry. There was just another thread on this topic a couple of days ago.

John

 

[rogue_designer]

Who would send the camera off for months for a simple cleaning?

Somebody afraid of voiding a warranty on a camera that cost 5 grand, and becomes worthless if that particular part gets scratched. 😀

 

[M4streetshooter]

Somebody afraid of voiding a warranty on a camera that cost 5 grand, and becomes worthless if that particular part gets scratched. 😀

You pretty much have to relax and trust yourself. Using the Copperhill Method is almost foolproof. To be perfectly honost I was really uptight when I was about to clean my 5D but once I did it..I ended up doing it about every 2 weeks. When I got my 2 M8's, I cleaned them immediately because there's a slight film on the sensor that cleans off easy with this technique.
I've since sold the 2 Leica's but will be getting a new one again in a few weeks. I am using an R-D1s and clean the sensor atleast once a week because of lens changing more ofter than with a zoom on the 5D......

relax, drink a beer or some wine and clean it.......don

 

[Cindy Flood]

It is very important to use Eclipse2 on the M8 if you are going to use an Eclipse product. See Copperhill web site: http://www.copperhillimages.com/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=3. Eclipse2 is formulated for sensors with tin-oxide coatings.

 

[davichan]

thank you all so far.

got a Giotto rocket-Air hand blower.
I purchased the Eclipse E2 being that the Leica sensor is Kodak’s Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) technology and also the Type 3 sized swabs as recomended from their site.

i dont think there will be much problem cleaning it from all that i have read and heard from.
will let yall know.
thansk again

 

[davichan]

M8 before and after 1st wet cleaning

M8 before and after 1st wet cleaning

well, I was pretty nervouse, and just took a light pass over it, maybe not hard enoughf.
here is a Before and After:angel: ,
i think with more courage, in a few days, I will try again...:angel:

 

[jaapv]

well, I was pretty nervouse, and just took a light pass over it, maybe not hard enoughf.
here is a Before and After:angel: ,
i think with more courage, in a few days, I will try again...:angel:

Probably not the pressure but the speed..Slowly-slowly does it.You must give the gunk time to dissolve itself loose from the sensor.

 

[usccharles]

i've never had problems with dust getting into my sensor (knock on wood) whether my dSLR's or my M8. i think as long as you are careful to make sure your lens is clean and your body is free of dust around the sensor, when changing lenses, you should be okay.

i don't usually blow air into the sensor. only done it once with a rubber blower. instead, before changing lenses, i blow the area where the lens mounts to the body to make sure there is no dust, and i make sure the new lens i'm putting on has no dust on it. its worked for me.

but then again, i also have a habit of only taking one lens out with me at a time. meaning i don't change lenses outside while taking pictures all that much. i just keep one lens for each occasion. that maybe the reason i don't have too much dust issues 😉

 

[photogdave]

Visible Dust is simply the best sensor cleaner on the market. Check out their website.

 

[grduprey]

visible dust - they are also very expensive compared to the others

 

[photogdave]

Not really because it does the job right the first time. Their sensor brush is a dry system - no streaks or smears, no possible damage to the sensor. They make chemical soutions to clean wet dust and to fix the residue left by inferior products. It costs the same as sending your camera away for one cleaning but now you can do it whenever you want and you're never without your camera.
Anyway, I've tried various products and methods and Visible Dust is the best one I've found so far. Some things are worth paying a little extra for if they work better. Most photographers know that. 😉