Rob-F
Likes Leicas
I have a couple of squeeze bulb blowers, but the ones I see on the B&H site look really effective! The Giotto Rocket blower comes in 7.5" large, 6.6" medium, and a 5" small. And then there's the Hurricane blower in more than one brand.
Any favorites or recommendations? I'd rather use these than canned air.
Any favorites or recommendations? I'd rather use these than canned air.
pvdhaar
Peter
I use a regular squeeze bulb blower to clean my cameras' sensors. It's quite effective, but there's one thing that's less than optimal about them, and that is that it's hard to aim the airflow; if I squeeze the bulb too far, the blower collapses and the nozzle bends sideways.. Don't know if the GiottoRocket or Hurricane are better in this respect.
paulfish4570
Veteran
i've got a rocket. peter is correct about the nozzle wanting to bend one way or another. whenever possible, i use two hands to precisely direct the flow. it does a fine job. and you can't run out of air ... 
JMQ
Well-known
Hi Rob, I use the Giotto large Rocket, and keep it in its packaging when not in use. Works pretty well as the large model delivers a good squirt of air. You are correct about about not using canned air -- not recommended for the digital sensors. Best, Jean-Marc.
mdarnton
Well-known
I have some bulbs, but they haven't seemed to do the job, so the other day I took my airbrush, dropped the GG in my Nikon FG, and blasted away. It's the cleanest it's ever been. Not everyone has an airbrush, but if you do. . .
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Watch out that you have a oil-free compressor. Some may squirt out more oil or grease than is good for a lens...
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
That 7.5 inch Rocket seems a bit large to fit into a gadget bag, though I could see it being very good around the darkroom. What about the medium one and the smallest one--will they still do a good enough job?
peterm1
Veteran
I would say that the Giotto Rocket blower (the bigger the better) is the best I have ever used. It produces a formidable stream of air that dislodges most grunge. As I do not like touching sensor screens, SLR mirrors or viewfinder matt screens unless I cannot avoid it this is far preferable to a brush of any sort in most circumstances.
benlees
Well-known
For the squeeze bulb blowers bigger is better. I am not sure if I could live without mine. I just blew a negative free of dust and got some grunge out of my iphone. If you have dogs, keep 'em out of reach; for relatively simple devices they are expensive!
Mr_Toad
Fluffy Marsupial
May I ask a question about the Giotto Rocket Blower?
I have started to NOT use mine, because I noticed a really strange result. I would blow dust off of stuff with the Giotto, but the Rocket would..simultaneously...produce a concentrated cluster of dust on the lens glass...directly beneath the opening of the Giotto.
It's almost as though the thing is breathing in a bellyfull of polluted Dallas air, and delivering it as greasy dust bunny right on my lens.
Eeeuw!
I have started to NOT use mine, because I noticed a really strange result. I would blow dust off of stuff with the Giotto, but the Rocket would..simultaneously...produce a concentrated cluster of dust on the lens glass...directly beneath the opening of the Giotto.
It's almost as though the thing is breathing in a bellyfull of polluted Dallas air, and delivering it as greasy dust bunny right on my lens.
Eeeuw!
Robert Lai
Well-known
Mr. Toad has the reason why I no longer use these bulb blower items. They seem to inhale dust and the spew it all over your negative or lens. I prefer canned air for this reason. The can has to be held at some distance to prevent chemical residue from producing a fog on the target.
