Dust on Sensor After Many Cleanings DSLR

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP











up vote
1
down vote

favorite












I know there have been a lot of posts on this topic, but I haven't found exactly what I am looking for.



I noticed some dust spots on my sensor for my D750 after I took a picture with some sky in it and then was playing around with "dehaze" in Lightroom. Okay no problem, I have owned the camera for a year probably time to clean the sensor.



So I do a bit of research online and land on the fact that I can do this myself. I also want to learn how so I don't need to spend $50 or $75 each time I need this done. I decide to buy this kit.



What I do is close my aperture down to F22, put my ISO on 100 and then set my shutter speed to 2 seconds or so and take a picture of a well lit white piece of paper.



I then go into Lightroom and jack the dehaze and look for dust spots. I see a ton. Okay, so now let's clean it. I wet the swab with a few drops to get it just saturated on the top of the swab, apply some pressure, wipe left to right, turn it over, wipe right to left and done.



Then I took the same picture and although the dust spots are different, they are still there! What the heck? Okay maybe it just needs a good blow out. I took my rocket blower and blow out everything I can inside of there, then I do the same cleaning method as the first time, except this time I start with a dry swab, throw it out, then get a new swab, wet it and clean it again.



I take the picture again... and they are STILL THERE. Okay let's get out the high power flashlight. I wouldn't say I scrubbed it, but I went back and forth with the swab on what seemed to be a stubborn spot (I know, sketchy). Then I clean it again with a normal swab and take another picture.



This went on and on and I have basically ran out of swabs. I still see spots. I used the same swab a few times (I know, also sketchy) because I just couldn't figure out why it wasn't getting clean. I even tried a can of air (although some don't recommend that because they have solvent in them, but I was desperate and some people on youtube did it). That actually seemed to help, but in the end I still have spots.



So obviously a lot of you will tell me to just "take it in! you're going to break your sensor", but I really want to learn how to do this. And now I am just stubborn.



The spots are at the top and bottom of the frame mostly.



Any ideas? I ordered this gel stick today, and I was going to try it out very carefully. I also ordered more swabs.



Photos of the sky F22, ISO-100, 1 second



EDIT: I tried the gel stick. It did seem to help, but on the second try something else got on the sensor so I am going to wait until tomorrow to get the swabs and then try to do a swab cleaning + the gel stick again... we will see.










share|improve this question









New contributor




chantheman is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.















  • 1




    Can you post one of your white photos?
    – scottbb
    3 hours ago










  • Sure! imgur.com/a/3TiC8SZ
    – chantheman
    2 hours ago










  • Thanks for the photos. Next question, this is the equivalent to "did you take off the lens cap?": just for clarity's sake, you are cleaning the sensor, and not the mirror, right? =)
    – scottbb
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    Haha.. yes. I lock up the mirror when cleaning it. Although I did clean the mirror too with a left over swab.
    – chantheman
    2 hours ago






  • 2




    The front silvered surface of the mirror is much more fragile than the filter stack in front of your sensor. You should never touch the mirror with anything. Even though any damage may not be visible, removing any of the silvering from the surface will reduce the reflectivity of the mirror and will affect the amount of light reaching your camera's light meter, which is located above the focusing screen in the same area as the viewfinder prism. If there is dust on your mirror, gently blow it off with a bulb blower.
    – Michael Clark
    2 hours ago















up vote
1
down vote

favorite












I know there have been a lot of posts on this topic, but I haven't found exactly what I am looking for.



I noticed some dust spots on my sensor for my D750 after I took a picture with some sky in it and then was playing around with "dehaze" in Lightroom. Okay no problem, I have owned the camera for a year probably time to clean the sensor.



So I do a bit of research online and land on the fact that I can do this myself. I also want to learn how so I don't need to spend $50 or $75 each time I need this done. I decide to buy this kit.



What I do is close my aperture down to F22, put my ISO on 100 and then set my shutter speed to 2 seconds or so and take a picture of a well lit white piece of paper.



I then go into Lightroom and jack the dehaze and look for dust spots. I see a ton. Okay, so now let's clean it. I wet the swab with a few drops to get it just saturated on the top of the swab, apply some pressure, wipe left to right, turn it over, wipe right to left and done.



Then I took the same picture and although the dust spots are different, they are still there! What the heck? Okay maybe it just needs a good blow out. I took my rocket blower and blow out everything I can inside of there, then I do the same cleaning method as the first time, except this time I start with a dry swab, throw it out, then get a new swab, wet it and clean it again.



I take the picture again... and they are STILL THERE. Okay let's get out the high power flashlight. I wouldn't say I scrubbed it, but I went back and forth with the swab on what seemed to be a stubborn spot (I know, sketchy). Then I clean it again with a normal swab and take another picture.



This went on and on and I have basically ran out of swabs. I still see spots. I used the same swab a few times (I know, also sketchy) because I just couldn't figure out why it wasn't getting clean. I even tried a can of air (although some don't recommend that because they have solvent in them, but I was desperate and some people on youtube did it). That actually seemed to help, but in the end I still have spots.



So obviously a lot of you will tell me to just "take it in! you're going to break your sensor", but I really want to learn how to do this. And now I am just stubborn.



The spots are at the top and bottom of the frame mostly.



Any ideas? I ordered this gel stick today, and I was going to try it out very carefully. I also ordered more swabs.



Photos of the sky F22, ISO-100, 1 second



EDIT: I tried the gel stick. It did seem to help, but on the second try something else got on the sensor so I am going to wait until tomorrow to get the swabs and then try to do a swab cleaning + the gel stick again... we will see.










share|improve this question









New contributor




chantheman is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.















  • 1




    Can you post one of your white photos?
    – scottbb
    3 hours ago










  • Sure! imgur.com/a/3TiC8SZ
    – chantheman
    2 hours ago










  • Thanks for the photos. Next question, this is the equivalent to "did you take off the lens cap?": just for clarity's sake, you are cleaning the sensor, and not the mirror, right? =)
    – scottbb
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    Haha.. yes. I lock up the mirror when cleaning it. Although I did clean the mirror too with a left over swab.
    – chantheman
    2 hours ago






  • 2




    The front silvered surface of the mirror is much more fragile than the filter stack in front of your sensor. You should never touch the mirror with anything. Even though any damage may not be visible, removing any of the silvering from the surface will reduce the reflectivity of the mirror and will affect the amount of light reaching your camera's light meter, which is located above the focusing screen in the same area as the viewfinder prism. If there is dust on your mirror, gently blow it off with a bulb blower.
    – Michael Clark
    2 hours ago













up vote
1
down vote

favorite









up vote
1
down vote

favorite











I know there have been a lot of posts on this topic, but I haven't found exactly what I am looking for.



I noticed some dust spots on my sensor for my D750 after I took a picture with some sky in it and then was playing around with "dehaze" in Lightroom. Okay no problem, I have owned the camera for a year probably time to clean the sensor.



So I do a bit of research online and land on the fact that I can do this myself. I also want to learn how so I don't need to spend $50 or $75 each time I need this done. I decide to buy this kit.



What I do is close my aperture down to F22, put my ISO on 100 and then set my shutter speed to 2 seconds or so and take a picture of a well lit white piece of paper.



I then go into Lightroom and jack the dehaze and look for dust spots. I see a ton. Okay, so now let's clean it. I wet the swab with a few drops to get it just saturated on the top of the swab, apply some pressure, wipe left to right, turn it over, wipe right to left and done.



Then I took the same picture and although the dust spots are different, they are still there! What the heck? Okay maybe it just needs a good blow out. I took my rocket blower and blow out everything I can inside of there, then I do the same cleaning method as the first time, except this time I start with a dry swab, throw it out, then get a new swab, wet it and clean it again.



I take the picture again... and they are STILL THERE. Okay let's get out the high power flashlight. I wouldn't say I scrubbed it, but I went back and forth with the swab on what seemed to be a stubborn spot (I know, sketchy). Then I clean it again with a normal swab and take another picture.



This went on and on and I have basically ran out of swabs. I still see spots. I used the same swab a few times (I know, also sketchy) because I just couldn't figure out why it wasn't getting clean. I even tried a can of air (although some don't recommend that because they have solvent in them, but I was desperate and some people on youtube did it). That actually seemed to help, but in the end I still have spots.



So obviously a lot of you will tell me to just "take it in! you're going to break your sensor", but I really want to learn how to do this. And now I am just stubborn.



The spots are at the top and bottom of the frame mostly.



Any ideas? I ordered this gel stick today, and I was going to try it out very carefully. I also ordered more swabs.



Photos of the sky F22, ISO-100, 1 second



EDIT: I tried the gel stick. It did seem to help, but on the second try something else got on the sensor so I am going to wait until tomorrow to get the swabs and then try to do a swab cleaning + the gel stick again... we will see.










share|improve this question









New contributor




chantheman is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











I know there have been a lot of posts on this topic, but I haven't found exactly what I am looking for.



I noticed some dust spots on my sensor for my D750 after I took a picture with some sky in it and then was playing around with "dehaze" in Lightroom. Okay no problem, I have owned the camera for a year probably time to clean the sensor.



So I do a bit of research online and land on the fact that I can do this myself. I also want to learn how so I don't need to spend $50 or $75 each time I need this done. I decide to buy this kit.



What I do is close my aperture down to F22, put my ISO on 100 and then set my shutter speed to 2 seconds or so and take a picture of a well lit white piece of paper.



I then go into Lightroom and jack the dehaze and look for dust spots. I see a ton. Okay, so now let's clean it. I wet the swab with a few drops to get it just saturated on the top of the swab, apply some pressure, wipe left to right, turn it over, wipe right to left and done.



Then I took the same picture and although the dust spots are different, they are still there! What the heck? Okay maybe it just needs a good blow out. I took my rocket blower and blow out everything I can inside of there, then I do the same cleaning method as the first time, except this time I start with a dry swab, throw it out, then get a new swab, wet it and clean it again.



I take the picture again... and they are STILL THERE. Okay let's get out the high power flashlight. I wouldn't say I scrubbed it, but I went back and forth with the swab on what seemed to be a stubborn spot (I know, sketchy). Then I clean it again with a normal swab and take another picture.



This went on and on and I have basically ran out of swabs. I still see spots. I used the same swab a few times (I know, also sketchy) because I just couldn't figure out why it wasn't getting clean. I even tried a can of air (although some don't recommend that because they have solvent in them, but I was desperate and some people on youtube did it). That actually seemed to help, but in the end I still have spots.



So obviously a lot of you will tell me to just "take it in! you're going to break your sensor", but I really want to learn how to do this. And now I am just stubborn.



The spots are at the top and bottom of the frame mostly.



Any ideas? I ordered this gel stick today, and I was going to try it out very carefully. I also ordered more swabs.



Photos of the sky F22, ISO-100, 1 second



EDIT: I tried the gel stick. It did seem to help, but on the second try something else got on the sensor so I am going to wait until tomorrow to get the swabs and then try to do a swab cleaning + the gel stick again... we will see.







nikon digital cleaning nikon-d750






share|improve this question









New contributor




chantheman is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









New contributor




chantheman is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 1 hour ago





















New contributor




chantheman is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 3 hours ago









chantheman

1084




1084




New contributor




chantheman is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





chantheman is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






chantheman is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







  • 1




    Can you post one of your white photos?
    – scottbb
    3 hours ago










  • Sure! imgur.com/a/3TiC8SZ
    – chantheman
    2 hours ago










  • Thanks for the photos. Next question, this is the equivalent to "did you take off the lens cap?": just for clarity's sake, you are cleaning the sensor, and not the mirror, right? =)
    – scottbb
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    Haha.. yes. I lock up the mirror when cleaning it. Although I did clean the mirror too with a left over swab.
    – chantheman
    2 hours ago






  • 2




    The front silvered surface of the mirror is much more fragile than the filter stack in front of your sensor. You should never touch the mirror with anything. Even though any damage may not be visible, removing any of the silvering from the surface will reduce the reflectivity of the mirror and will affect the amount of light reaching your camera's light meter, which is located above the focusing screen in the same area as the viewfinder prism. If there is dust on your mirror, gently blow it off with a bulb blower.
    – Michael Clark
    2 hours ago













  • 1




    Can you post one of your white photos?
    – scottbb
    3 hours ago










  • Sure! imgur.com/a/3TiC8SZ
    – chantheman
    2 hours ago










  • Thanks for the photos. Next question, this is the equivalent to "did you take off the lens cap?": just for clarity's sake, you are cleaning the sensor, and not the mirror, right? =)
    – scottbb
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    Haha.. yes. I lock up the mirror when cleaning it. Although I did clean the mirror too with a left over swab.
    – chantheman
    2 hours ago






  • 2




    The front silvered surface of the mirror is much more fragile than the filter stack in front of your sensor. You should never touch the mirror with anything. Even though any damage may not be visible, removing any of the silvering from the surface will reduce the reflectivity of the mirror and will affect the amount of light reaching your camera's light meter, which is located above the focusing screen in the same area as the viewfinder prism. If there is dust on your mirror, gently blow it off with a bulb blower.
    – Michael Clark
    2 hours ago








1




1




Can you post one of your white photos?
– scottbb
3 hours ago




Can you post one of your white photos?
– scottbb
3 hours ago












Sure! imgur.com/a/3TiC8SZ
– chantheman
2 hours ago




Sure! imgur.com/a/3TiC8SZ
– chantheman
2 hours ago












Thanks for the photos. Next question, this is the equivalent to "did you take off the lens cap?": just for clarity's sake, you are cleaning the sensor, and not the mirror, right? =)
– scottbb
2 hours ago




Thanks for the photos. Next question, this is the equivalent to "did you take off the lens cap?": just for clarity's sake, you are cleaning the sensor, and not the mirror, right? =)
– scottbb
2 hours ago




1




1




Haha.. yes. I lock up the mirror when cleaning it. Although I did clean the mirror too with a left over swab.
– chantheman
2 hours ago




Haha.. yes. I lock up the mirror when cleaning it. Although I did clean the mirror too with a left over swab.
– chantheman
2 hours ago




2




2




The front silvered surface of the mirror is much more fragile than the filter stack in front of your sensor. You should never touch the mirror with anything. Even though any damage may not be visible, removing any of the silvering from the surface will reduce the reflectivity of the mirror and will affect the amount of light reaching your camera's light meter, which is located above the focusing screen in the same area as the viewfinder prism. If there is dust on your mirror, gently blow it off with a bulb blower.
– Michael Clark
2 hours ago





The front silvered surface of the mirror is much more fragile than the filter stack in front of your sensor. You should never touch the mirror with anything. Even though any damage may not be visible, removing any of the silvering from the surface will reduce the reflectivity of the mirror and will affect the amount of light reaching your camera's light meter, which is located above the focusing screen in the same area as the viewfinder prism. If there is dust on your mirror, gently blow it off with a bulb blower.
– Michael Clark
2 hours ago











1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
3
down vote



accepted










Unless you are working in a NASA grade "clean" room, no matter what method you use you will almost never get every single dust spot. Even if you do, by the time you put a lens back on the camera, more dust has probably made its way into the mirror box of your camera and some of it may eventually find its way onto the surface of the filter stack in front of the sensor. The front of the filter stack is what is cleaned when we use an air blower, swabs, etc. on our camera's 'sensor'. So the point of sensor cleaning is not so much to get a 'perfect', dust free result as much as it is to reduce the amount and influence of dust on your images to a minimum achievable level.



When I clean one of my sensors I take test images after each pass with a swab. After early attempts to get every single spot and going through several swabs, similar to what you relate in the question, I've learned to 'quit while ahead' even if there are still a few light dust spots remaining. The next pass at that point may well result in more dust spots showing than remained after the previous attempt.



Before I use the first swab, I'll often try several clean/test cycles with the air blower. If none of the spots are staying in the same location on the sensor, I won't even use a swab. I'll just continue to use an air blower until I get a test image that gives a result that reaches the level of 'as good as can be expected'.



Corners are always the most difficult to clean with a wet swab. It takes a bit of practice to learn how to use the edges of a swab to clear out each corner by slightly rotating the stem of the swab back and forth at the end of a pass. But based on my experience, doing it yourself will never result in a perfect result with zero dust. Based on the experience of others I've talked with, neither will dropping the camera off at a local camera store and paying them for cleaning the sensor.



I've never shipped a camera to a factory service center to have a sensor cleaned. Maybe some of them have methods that can get a near perfect result. The cleaner environment in which they work on cameras and lenses certainly can't hurt.






share|improve this answer
















  • 1




    Awesome. I was hoping for this answer. I will give it one more clean tomorrow and then stop fretting about it. I honestly thought I was just doing something wrong, but it's good to hear "perfection" may not be achievable.
    – chantheman
    53 mins ago










Your Answer







StackExchange.ready(function()
var channelOptions =
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "61"
;
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
createEditor();
);

else
createEditor();

);

function createEditor()
StackExchange.prepareEditor(
heartbeatType: 'answer',
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: false,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
);



);






chantheman is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.









 

draft saved


draft discarded


















StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fphoto.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f102253%2fdust-on-sensor-after-many-cleanings-dslr%23new-answer', 'question_page');

);

Post as a guest






























1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes








up vote
3
down vote



accepted










Unless you are working in a NASA grade "clean" room, no matter what method you use you will almost never get every single dust spot. Even if you do, by the time you put a lens back on the camera, more dust has probably made its way into the mirror box of your camera and some of it may eventually find its way onto the surface of the filter stack in front of the sensor. The front of the filter stack is what is cleaned when we use an air blower, swabs, etc. on our camera's 'sensor'. So the point of sensor cleaning is not so much to get a 'perfect', dust free result as much as it is to reduce the amount and influence of dust on your images to a minimum achievable level.



When I clean one of my sensors I take test images after each pass with a swab. After early attempts to get every single spot and going through several swabs, similar to what you relate in the question, I've learned to 'quit while ahead' even if there are still a few light dust spots remaining. The next pass at that point may well result in more dust spots showing than remained after the previous attempt.



Before I use the first swab, I'll often try several clean/test cycles with the air blower. If none of the spots are staying in the same location on the sensor, I won't even use a swab. I'll just continue to use an air blower until I get a test image that gives a result that reaches the level of 'as good as can be expected'.



Corners are always the most difficult to clean with a wet swab. It takes a bit of practice to learn how to use the edges of a swab to clear out each corner by slightly rotating the stem of the swab back and forth at the end of a pass. But based on my experience, doing it yourself will never result in a perfect result with zero dust. Based on the experience of others I've talked with, neither will dropping the camera off at a local camera store and paying them for cleaning the sensor.



I've never shipped a camera to a factory service center to have a sensor cleaned. Maybe some of them have methods that can get a near perfect result. The cleaner environment in which they work on cameras and lenses certainly can't hurt.






share|improve this answer
















  • 1




    Awesome. I was hoping for this answer. I will give it one more clean tomorrow and then stop fretting about it. I honestly thought I was just doing something wrong, but it's good to hear "perfection" may not be achievable.
    – chantheman
    53 mins ago














up vote
3
down vote



accepted










Unless you are working in a NASA grade "clean" room, no matter what method you use you will almost never get every single dust spot. Even if you do, by the time you put a lens back on the camera, more dust has probably made its way into the mirror box of your camera and some of it may eventually find its way onto the surface of the filter stack in front of the sensor. The front of the filter stack is what is cleaned when we use an air blower, swabs, etc. on our camera's 'sensor'. So the point of sensor cleaning is not so much to get a 'perfect', dust free result as much as it is to reduce the amount and influence of dust on your images to a minimum achievable level.



When I clean one of my sensors I take test images after each pass with a swab. After early attempts to get every single spot and going through several swabs, similar to what you relate in the question, I've learned to 'quit while ahead' even if there are still a few light dust spots remaining. The next pass at that point may well result in more dust spots showing than remained after the previous attempt.



Before I use the first swab, I'll often try several clean/test cycles with the air blower. If none of the spots are staying in the same location on the sensor, I won't even use a swab. I'll just continue to use an air blower until I get a test image that gives a result that reaches the level of 'as good as can be expected'.



Corners are always the most difficult to clean with a wet swab. It takes a bit of practice to learn how to use the edges of a swab to clear out each corner by slightly rotating the stem of the swab back and forth at the end of a pass. But based on my experience, doing it yourself will never result in a perfect result with zero dust. Based on the experience of others I've talked with, neither will dropping the camera off at a local camera store and paying them for cleaning the sensor.



I've never shipped a camera to a factory service center to have a sensor cleaned. Maybe some of them have methods that can get a near perfect result. The cleaner environment in which they work on cameras and lenses certainly can't hurt.






share|improve this answer
















  • 1




    Awesome. I was hoping for this answer. I will give it one more clean tomorrow and then stop fretting about it. I honestly thought I was just doing something wrong, but it's good to hear "perfection" may not be achievable.
    – chantheman
    53 mins ago












up vote
3
down vote



accepted







up vote
3
down vote



accepted






Unless you are working in a NASA grade "clean" room, no matter what method you use you will almost never get every single dust spot. Even if you do, by the time you put a lens back on the camera, more dust has probably made its way into the mirror box of your camera and some of it may eventually find its way onto the surface of the filter stack in front of the sensor. The front of the filter stack is what is cleaned when we use an air blower, swabs, etc. on our camera's 'sensor'. So the point of sensor cleaning is not so much to get a 'perfect', dust free result as much as it is to reduce the amount and influence of dust on your images to a minimum achievable level.



When I clean one of my sensors I take test images after each pass with a swab. After early attempts to get every single spot and going through several swabs, similar to what you relate in the question, I've learned to 'quit while ahead' even if there are still a few light dust spots remaining. The next pass at that point may well result in more dust spots showing than remained after the previous attempt.



Before I use the first swab, I'll often try several clean/test cycles with the air blower. If none of the spots are staying in the same location on the sensor, I won't even use a swab. I'll just continue to use an air blower until I get a test image that gives a result that reaches the level of 'as good as can be expected'.



Corners are always the most difficult to clean with a wet swab. It takes a bit of practice to learn how to use the edges of a swab to clear out each corner by slightly rotating the stem of the swab back and forth at the end of a pass. But based on my experience, doing it yourself will never result in a perfect result with zero dust. Based on the experience of others I've talked with, neither will dropping the camera off at a local camera store and paying them for cleaning the sensor.



I've never shipped a camera to a factory service center to have a sensor cleaned. Maybe some of them have methods that can get a near perfect result. The cleaner environment in which they work on cameras and lenses certainly can't hurt.






share|improve this answer












Unless you are working in a NASA grade "clean" room, no matter what method you use you will almost never get every single dust spot. Even if you do, by the time you put a lens back on the camera, more dust has probably made its way into the mirror box of your camera and some of it may eventually find its way onto the surface of the filter stack in front of the sensor. The front of the filter stack is what is cleaned when we use an air blower, swabs, etc. on our camera's 'sensor'. So the point of sensor cleaning is not so much to get a 'perfect', dust free result as much as it is to reduce the amount and influence of dust on your images to a minimum achievable level.



When I clean one of my sensors I take test images after each pass with a swab. After early attempts to get every single spot and going through several swabs, similar to what you relate in the question, I've learned to 'quit while ahead' even if there are still a few light dust spots remaining. The next pass at that point may well result in more dust spots showing than remained after the previous attempt.



Before I use the first swab, I'll often try several clean/test cycles with the air blower. If none of the spots are staying in the same location on the sensor, I won't even use a swab. I'll just continue to use an air blower until I get a test image that gives a result that reaches the level of 'as good as can be expected'.



Corners are always the most difficult to clean with a wet swab. It takes a bit of practice to learn how to use the edges of a swab to clear out each corner by slightly rotating the stem of the swab back and forth at the end of a pass. But based on my experience, doing it yourself will never result in a perfect result with zero dust. Based on the experience of others I've talked with, neither will dropping the camera off at a local camera store and paying them for cleaning the sensor.



I've never shipped a camera to a factory service center to have a sensor cleaned. Maybe some of them have methods that can get a near perfect result. The cleaner environment in which they work on cameras and lenses certainly can't hurt.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 1 hour ago









Michael Clark

123k7138344




123k7138344







  • 1




    Awesome. I was hoping for this answer. I will give it one more clean tomorrow and then stop fretting about it. I honestly thought I was just doing something wrong, but it's good to hear "perfection" may not be achievable.
    – chantheman
    53 mins ago












  • 1




    Awesome. I was hoping for this answer. I will give it one more clean tomorrow and then stop fretting about it. I honestly thought I was just doing something wrong, but it's good to hear "perfection" may not be achievable.
    – chantheman
    53 mins ago







1




1




Awesome. I was hoping for this answer. I will give it one more clean tomorrow and then stop fretting about it. I honestly thought I was just doing something wrong, but it's good to hear "perfection" may not be achievable.
– chantheman
53 mins ago




Awesome. I was hoping for this answer. I will give it one more clean tomorrow and then stop fretting about it. I honestly thought I was just doing something wrong, but it's good to hear "perfection" may not be achievable.
– chantheman
53 mins ago










chantheman is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.









 

draft saved


draft discarded


















chantheman is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.












chantheman is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.











chantheman is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.













 


draft saved


draft discarded














StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fphoto.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f102253%2fdust-on-sensor-after-many-cleanings-dslr%23new-answer', 'question_page');

);

Post as a guest













































































Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What does second last employer means? [closed]

Installing NextGIS Connect into QGIS 3?

One-line joke