How do you handle D3 sensor cleaning?

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Archive 2009 · How do you handle D3 sensor cleaning?

Jonathan
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p.1 #1 · How do you handle D3 sensor cleaning?

This question has been on my mind for some time. The way I see it, I can:

a. Continue to get rid of the one spot I have in pp which takes 5 seconds, but can be a pain if I forget.
b. Send it to Nikon(anyone know what they charge?)
c. Learn how to clean it myself

d. See if any camera shops handle the cleaning(this option scares me me more than c above.

Any thoughts?

Nov 09, 2009 at 05:15 PM

hjanssen
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p.1 #2 · How do you handle D3 sensor cleaning?

Nov 09, 2009 at 05:30 PM

Jonathan
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p.1 #3 · How do you handle D3 sensor cleaning?

Can someone possibly provide a link to how to go about it? Will a Giottos blower cause more trouble or help?

Nov 09, 2009 at 08:02 PM

ishootsports3
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p.1 #4 · How do you handle D3 sensor cleaning?

use a giottos blower first, then try swabbing it, thom hogan has a great cleaning section
doing a search will help a lot.

hope you get it clean

Nov 09, 2009 at 08:03 PM

Jonathan
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p.1 #5 · How do you handle D3 sensor cleaning?

ishootsports3 wrote:
use a giottos blower first, then try swabbing it, thom hogan has a great cleaning section
doing a search will help a lot.

hope you get it clean

Thanks. I should have checked Thom's site. I'll try the blower 1st.

Nov 09, 2009 at 08:39 PM

Avi B
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p.1 #6 · How do you handle D3 sensor cleaning?

Nov 09, 2009 at 08:48 PM

davidnholtjr
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p.1 #7 · How do you handle D3 sensor cleaning?

Jonathan wrote:
This question has been on my mind for some time. The way I see it, I can:

a. Continue to get rid of the one spot I have in pp which takes 5 seconds, but can be a pain if I forget.
b. Send it to Nikon(anyone know what they charge?)
c. Learn how to clean it myself

d. See if any camera shops handle the cleaning(this option scares me me more than c above.

Any thoughts?

Stuff I use.

Rocket blower. It should get most dust off the sensor.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/259157-REG/Giottos_AA1900_Rocket_Air_Blower_.html

If air blower does not get it off then use wet kit below,

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/308405-REG/Photographic_Solutions_SS3BOXDCS_Sensor_Swab_Type_3.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/476977-REG/Photographic_Solutions_E2DCS_Eclipse_E2_Cleaning_Fluid.html

Nov 09, 2009 at 11:47 PM

Steve Park
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p.1 #8 · How do you handle D3 sensor cleaning?

Jonathan wrote:
ishootsports3 wrote:
use a giottos blower first, then try swabbing it, thom hogan has a great cleaning section
doing a search will help a lot.

hope you get it clean

Thanks. I should have checked Thom's site. I'll try the blower 1st.

Jonathan,

I was doing the research for a while myself as well. just finished reading Thom's cleaning tutorial, very helpful and I found no other site better than Thom's.

http://www.bythom.com/cleaning.htm

For wet cleaning, he suggests to use "Dust Aid Ultra Clean (or E2)". I have never tried using Dust AId, but I've been using E2 which seemed to work fine for my D700.

Well, I just checked Photographic Solutions' website (http://www.photosol.com/documents/eclipse_e2_announcement.pdf), they discontinued E2 and now suggests Eclipse on ALL types of sensors. Hope this helped.

Also, there are quite a few YouTube clips available to help you. Here is one from Nikon Japan, in japanese, though. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPcvaJl-eS4
Steve

Nov 10, 2009 at 12:11 AM

Jonathan
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p.1 #9 · How do you handle D3 sensor cleaning?

Thanks for the replies. I tried the Giottos blower and got lucky this time because that did the trick. I had this one spot that really showed by f8, but it's gone now. Looks like I should invest in something for wet cleaning also though.

Thom's tutorial was the best I found also. I have a lot of faith in Thom's recommendations.

Nov 10, 2009 at 12:27 AM

ishootsports3
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p.1 #10 · How do you handle D3 sensor cleaning?

mighty lucky, ive done some real cleaning on mine and am only fairly happy past f11
that said i shoot wide open all day so its not such a big deal

Nov 10, 2009 at 12:55 AM

JBPhotog
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p.1 #11 · How do you handle D3 sensor cleaning?

C.

And you'll need:
1. Sensor Loupe 7x; http://www.visibledust.com/products3.php?pid=602
2. Blower (of some kind)
3. Arctic Butterfly; http://www.visibledust.com/products3.php?pid=3
4. Sensor Swabs; http://www.visibledust.com/products3.php?pid=450
5. Sensor Clean; http://www.visibledust.com/products3.php?pid=301

IMHO the 7x loupe is indispensable. With its multi-LED illumination any dust speck on the sensor will cast shadows around it making it really easy to see. This is more than half the battle since once you can see them your cleaning can be gauged on its effectiveness. Even though I think all sensor products are over priced, it's hard to argue with the fact that the good ones actually work.

I use all of these and can get my sensor spotless in pretty short order.

Nov 10, 2009 at 07:14 PM

ishootsports3
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p.1 #12 · How do you handle D3 sensor cleaning?

The is in no way needed, tho its supposed to be rather nice
the arctic butterfly is also not needed but i think some wort of sensor brush is

Nov 10, 2009 at 08:00 PM

StefanosL.
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p.1 #13 · How do you handle D3 sensor cleaning?

Yes it sucks to have to spend $300 for cleaning tools, but what can you do.

I am leaning towards visible dust too. They seem the best.

Nov 10, 2009 at 08:11 PM

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