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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Best way to clean D3 sensor
Josh Peckler, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Vernon Hills | IL | | Posted: 8:15 PM on 11.08.09 |
->> I could not seem to find anything in another thread, so I am just wondering what is the best and easiest way to clean the sensor in the D3.
Thanks Josh |
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Jeff Fusco, Photographer
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Philadelphia | PA | USA | Posted: 8:22 PM on 11.08.09 |
->> Josh
http://www.visibledust.com/
Been using this for over a year.. Never any issues and does a good job. There are others and many opinions, its what you feel comfortable with. |
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Michael Troutman, Photographer
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Carmel | CA | USA | Posted: 8:47 PM on 11.08.09 |
| ->> Hands down, Visible Dust products. I clean multiple D3/D3X bodies for myself and other photographer-clients weekly and once you settle on your technique, it's easy (just takes time). |
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Kent Miller, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 9:57 PM on 11.08.09 |
->> Arctic Butterfly works great for easy dust. If you have a tough spot and need to do a wet cleaning. Use a Sensor Swab type 3 and Eclipse E2. Or the Visible dust products. A few drops on the swab and one swipe on each side. Do not repeat with the same swab. If you need a better idea watch this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3hVGEN4Tls
Works great for me.
k |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 8:06 AM on 11.09.09 |
->> E2 has been discontinued. Good old Eclipse turns out to be just as safe.
http://blog.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/__oneclick_uploads/2009/08/eclipse_e...
I found a kit called the 'Dust Wand' that is a set of correctly sized spatulas for the various sensor sizes. Along with the spatulas are clips and instructions detailing how to wrap a Pec-Pad to make your own 'Sensor Swab' and a tiny fraction of the cost of a box of swabs. I've been using the kit (with Eclipse not the fluid included) and it has worked great.
Here is a link for the wand/spatula
http://www.dust-aid.com/08dustwandkit.html |
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Kent Miller, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 9:31 AM on 11.09.09 |
->> Thanks for the update Eric. That little bottle lasts a very long time.
k |
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Josh Peckler, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Vernon Hills | IL | | Posted: 6:16 PM on 11.10.09 |
->> Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I just got the D3 a few weeks ago and heard about how it was a dust magnet. Rumors were right.
I got a few emails telling me to get it done professionally, but in January I will be moving to Kenya where there are very few camera stores, so I will be forced to clean myself. I will most likely get it cleaned before I leave.
I am a little worried since I have never cleaned a sensor before and I know if you do not do it right, it can completely ruin the sensor.
Thanks Josh |
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Michael Troutman, Photographer
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Carmel | CA | USA | Posted: 6:45 PM on 11.10.09 |
->> Your first several cleanings on the D3 will sometimes involve grease from near the edge of the sensor getting onto the sensor itself (usually from using a sensor brush). It *does* swab off, and once you've worked your way through that bit of fun a few times (there's a limited amount of the stuff), it's smooth sailing.
Definitely, 100%, learn how to do it yourself. It's a basic skill any pro digital photographer should have IMHO. |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 7:38 PM on 11.10.09 |
->> Josh if you are REALLY worried buy a d100 or D1 something or for that matter something even older and relatively worthless. So long as the shutter opens so you can practice cleaning it.
Having watched a real live 100% Nikon tech do cleanings at an NPS event I am MUCH less worried about the alleged sensitivity of my sensor. These guys were blowing the dust off the sensor and out of the mirror box using :::SHUDDER::: canned air. Using a swab TWICE. Making there own swabs. I walked away knowing that I would have to REALLY do something stupid to damage an AA filter.
Michael is correct, the first time I cleaned my D3 I had streaking from some substance. It took 4 or 5 swabbings to get a clean sensor. |
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Kevin Novak, Photographer, Assistant
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Bel Air (Baltimore) | MD | USA | Posted: 8:46 AM on 11.11.09 |
->> Eric,
I'm with you on the Nikon techs. They completely took any fear out of it for me. They actually wrapped a swab around a wooden stick and used that to clean the sensor.... |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 10:20 AM on 11.11.09 |
->> Kevin when I saw them "make" a swab with a pec pad and a skewer I almost lost it. When I asked the tech about all the voodoo and chants that are advocated on various websites, the warnings about canned air, the wipe it in that direction but not the other way round etc. He looked up at me and smiled broadly. He called all the fear job security and went back to cleaning my camera.
Watch one of those guys clean a sensor and you get the impressions that a Wendy's napkin and a coffee stirrer is all you need. And damn if the camera isn't factory fresh when they're done with it.
One thing that I did notice was how meticulous he was cleaning the mounting ring. He must have wiped it down 7 or 8 times. |
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