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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Maybe old news, but: Canon now charging for sensor cleaning
Mike Huffstatler, Photographer, Assistant
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Rancho Cucamonga | Ca | United States | Posted: 7:40 PM on 03.18.09 |
->> So, today I took a drive out to the Canon facility in Irvine. Sensors needed to be cleaned, especially on my 1DSII.
Used to be that I could go over there anytime, drop off a body or three and they would give them a good sensor cleaning. For free. Great service, great turnaround, and I never needed to worry about me messing up a wet-cleaning.
I had not been over there for a couple months, but imagine my surprise when I saw a notice posted that cleanings are now $30. Now, I do think this is still a reasonable price to make sure that if something happens in a wet-cleaning, they are responsible and not me. But, it also felt a bit like a quick slap. I missed the notification that this was coming. Not sure how much notice there was.
I suppose this might also show some more value in the new CPS service where you get some free cleanings, but I'm a bit mixed. I also understand that businesses have to be razor sharp right now to remain viable. To me I guess, this is just one of the ever-building small (and not so small) items that has me looking at Nikon more and more.
bottom line here, rant aside: FYI, Canon is now charging $30 for a sensor cleaning.
along the same lines, how many of you do "wet" cleanings yourself? Any concerns with that? I recently spent some time with someone from NPS and I was told that the technicians can always tell when someone is doing it themselves.
Mike |
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Christopher Szagola, Photographer
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Richboro | PA | United States | Posted: 7:57 PM on 03.18.09 |
->> Mike,
It is the same as that CPS now charge for different levels of membership. It all started at the beginning of the year. As for concerns about "wet" cleaning myself or having a professional do it. I rather have a professional do it.
Is it what we tell people? This is why you pay us to take the photo, well, this is why we pay (for now on) to have a professional do a professional job.
just my 2¢ |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 8:00 PM on 03.18.09 |
->> I have been 'wet' cleaning my sensor since 2003. The ONLY time that I had minor heart failure was after I cleaned my D3 with 'regular' eclipse fluid and found out that there was a 'new' formula and that the old solution could damage the AA filter.
I cleaned the sensor x2 with the new solution to make sure that there wasn't any residue and have cleaned all 3 bodies with the correct solutions many times since without incident.
On a side note, at a Nikon event I was able to have my bodies cleaned by NPS techs and was blown away with how un-gentle they were. They weren't doing anything wrong, but everything that we have ever read goes out the window. When I saw the NPS tech blowing out the mirror box with a few blasts of good ole fashion canned air I had to ask him what was up with that.
I told him that everything that I had ever read warned NOT to use canned air. He looked up smiled and went back to work canned air and all. One thing that I did see was how meticulous they are about cleaning the lens mount. He must have wiped the metal 6 or 7 times. Told me that the grounding that the mount provides is responsible for many of the lens failures and focus issues.
Now I clean my lens mount once a week and am amazed at how much gunk that ring picks up... Haven't had any lens issues either.
/grin |
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Louis Lopez, Photographer
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Fontana | CA | USA | Posted: 3:53 AM on 03.19.09 |
->> A nikon tech showed me how to clean my sensor when I took in one of my D2XS a few years ago and he also used canned air.
I had the same reaction as Eric and asked him what the real story was, his response (while shaking his head) was you just need to know what your doing. in addition to the imaging sensor he showed me how to clean the AF window lenses and how to clean the double mirror mechanism where stuff can get caught. best 15 minutes I could have ever spent. I clean all my cameras just how he taught me. |
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Jim Cowsert, Photographer
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Grapevine | TX | USA | Posted: 7:49 AM on 03.19.09 |
| ->> I use a lens pen and a rocket blower all the time. Never a problem. Just make sure you have a fresh battery so the camera won't die all of a sudden and close the shutter on the brush while your cleaning. |
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Matthew Sauk, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 10:46 AM on 03.19.09 |
| ->> it is tough economical times right now for everyone including canon. Hopefully this new revenue of money including cps will help them develop better cameras :) |
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Mike Huffstatler, Photographer, Assistant
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Rancho Cucamonga | Ca | United States | Posted: 12:35 PM on 03.19.09 |
->> Ok Louis, when do the lessons begin! :)
Thanks for the comments. I use a rocket blower and on occasion a butterfly brush but once in a while you get some sort of schmutz (a highly technical term) on there that just won't come off.
Guess I just need to make a decision; pay them a few bucks once in a while to do it their way, or look into the Eclipse fluid/swabs that I've always avoided.
It is interesting to hear about the NPS guys using canned air. I've always thought that was a big no-no.
Oh, and regarding cleaning the mount...Moose Peterson showed me a trick a couple years ago as the start of any cleaning. When you take the lens off, use a q-tip to wipe the bottom of the shutter box...that stair-stepped area right near the opening. That area tends to collect little metal bits and other debris that can make its way to the sensor. Wiping around the mount more makes sense too. The danger here is if you don't clean that area first and just blast with a rocket blower or similar you could just blow it right back inside, potentially landing on the sensor.
Mike |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 1:12 PM on 03.19.09 |
->> What they need to come up with is a sticky "pad" like the kind that they use for basketball that would sit in the base of the mirror box. It would trap dust as it landed, sort of like the 'old' days when we would put a magnet on the oil pan of a fresh build to catch the metal 'dust' created when a new engine is seating parts. I don't know about now but back then the oil plugs were magnetized too for the same reason.
Once a month you could peel off the old layer and dust and crap would stick to the the fresh fly paper. They could even build in a recess into the mirror box of say 1/8" to accommodate a pad with six sheets. |
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PJ Heller, Photographer
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Santa Barbara | CA | USA | Posted: 1:14 PM on 03.19.09 |
->> Other than NPS or Canon, anybody know of shops (i.e. Samy’s, Calumet, etc.) that are offering sensor cleaning where you don’t have to leave your camera.
Maybe we can all head over to see Louis. |
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Sharon P. Fibelkorn, Photographer
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Corona | CA | USA | Posted: 1:45 PM on 03.19.09 |
->> Mike, I'm bummed to hear that you had to pay for the cleaning. I had spoken with the Irvine office months ago and they told me that CPS cleanings would still be free "for the walk in's" and that shipped gear would be charged.
I'm now sad at your news. Bummer. |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 1:47 PM on 03.19.09 |
| ->> Calumet in Boston (Cambridge) does complete cleanings. Depending on how busy Guy is you may have to leave it for a few hours. |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 8:01 PM on 03.19.09 |
->> Reminds me of the guy who bought one of the motorized butterfly brushes and didn't read the directions. Put the brush with the motor attached on the sensor and hit the power!!! jackhammered the inside of the box and toasted the filter and sensor.
RTFM !!!!!
(Read The Friendly Manual) |
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Joseph Molieri, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Ardmore | PA | US | Posted: 9:22 PM on 03.19.09 |
| ->> mmh yea I never bothered to send any of my stuff in for cleaning. I prefer DIY. I've never had a problem and have always had a nice clean sensor afterward. I've also converted one of my old cameras (rebel XT) to infrared and replaced the sensor glass with an IR light passing only piece of glass. That was fun. |
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