Sorry being newb on this, I have never need to clean a sensor before. I notice a few dust when I take long exposure or using aperture 8 or smaller, I did use a rocket blower after self clean does not help. Rocket blower removed most but there are few spots still there, it is not visible when I shoot with aperture larger than 8.
If the blower didn't get everything (or move the dust) then wet cleaning is a good idea, IMHO. I use the basic kit with QuickStrips from http://www.copperhillimages.com/ It's pretty easy to do once you get the hand of it. And they have a pretty good tutorial on their site.
Thanks guys, I did read both on my searches. I will just leave it for now and clean it it later since it is not visible for most of the pictures I take.
I do, but I'm not sure someone new to the process should do it. You don't want to throw a big loogie in there from the can propellant. Depends on the camera body value I guess. Which body is it?
Same here, prefer not to touch the sensor too. The few tiny tiny spots does not brother me that much yet, I mostly shoot aperture 2-4. I will order the kit just incase I need it.
Pure Acetone and pure organic cotton buds on wooden sticks. Had been using it several times on my D3X and other dslr bodies (and lenses). Just make sure you don't touch any of those black coating inside the camera. I did try the commercial swabs etc...no good, leaves residues or rainbow colours on the sensor surface or that milky look, while pure acetone evaporates immediately.
ReyGay wrote:
Pure Acetone and pure organic cotton buds on wooden sticks
Doesn't pure acetone dissolve some plastics? Which is why it's stored in metal containers (I work in a boat yard and we go though a lot of acetone). I've never cleaned my sensor so I'm not an expert on this topic, but I would think using acetone could cause problems if you get it on areas it shouldn't be on. It is a great "cleaner" though.
jc9394 wrote:
D800E, I will not use the canned air. Just wondering.
Going to order the wet/dry kit.
The D800's were having oil spatter from shutter. Is it dust or oil? If it's its oil send it to Nikon they're fixing it.
If it's dust.. I would recommend not using acetone; posters are right - it can melt plastic
I like Bestine - a trade name for a fast disappearing solvent that doesn't leave spots. Available in art stores
It's really important to use a sensor swab (no lint); since I scratched my sensor (low pass filter actually) using a handbuilt deal.
If it's dust, it can come from shooting environment or from the camera sensor dust off. I used to dust off the sensor with the cam on it's side - thereby dislodging gravity held dust and redepositing it on the sensor - drove me nuts.
shmn wrote:
Doesn't pure acetone dissolve some plastics? Which is why it's stored in metal containers (I work in a boat yard and we go though a lot of acetone). I've never cleaned my sensor so I'm not an expert on this topic, but I would think using acetone could cause problems if you get it on areas it shouldn't be on. It is a great "cleaner" though.
It does dissolve some plastics. So using acetone for this purpose needs proper tools. I use a lamp with a magnifying glass and a pair of steady hands. Nikon has made sure the corners of the dslr sensors are metal so when cleaned with acetone, it won't dissolve and no it won't dissolve the low pass filter, it's made of hard glass with a hard coating on it that's resistant to acetone. Big reason why Nikon service centers use acetone to do the same task. People call this crazy but it is apparently suggested by Nikon engineers themselves, at least that's what I was told many years ago. Again, I suggest doing this after practicing on older dslrs, so you know your clearances so not to touch the black internal non reflective paint.
Rags Hef wrote:
The D800's were having oil spatter from shutter. Is it dust or oil? If it's its oil send it to Nikon they're fixing it.
If it's dust.. I would recommend not using acetone; posters are right - it can melt plastic
I like Bestine - a trade name for a fast disappearing solvent that doesn't leave spots. Available in art stores
It's really important to use a sensor swab (no lint); since I scratched my sensor (low pass filter actually) using a handbuilt deal.
If it's dust, it can come from shooting environment or from the camera sensor dust off. I used to dust off the sensor with the cam on it's side - thereby dislodging gravity held dust and redepositing it on the sensor - drove me nuts.
Good call on the oil, it may be since I tried rocket blower few times and it did not come loose. I will wait for another 1,000 clicks before sending in to Nikon service. It only have around 3,000 now.
I never heard of an oil issue with the D800 or D800e. There is no free Nikon fix that I'm aware of. D600 - yes.
Forget the acetone. There are other perfectly safe products out there.
The proper steps in order to try:
Blowing. Then inspect.
Light brushing of the sensor with a Arctic Butterfly type brush to loosen any statically charged stubborn dust specs..
Blow again. (Or skip because sometimes it redistributes dust).
Inspect.
Wet clean if still needed.
I don't have the time to send a camera body in to Nikon with their current time frame.
You really just need to learn it yourself. But don't get discouraged. Often after the first attempt by someone, it becomes worse. Just patience and a redo.
ckcarr wrote:
I never heard of an oil issue with the D800 or D800e. There is no free Nikon fix that I'm aware of. D600 - yes.
Forget the acetone. There are other perfectly safe products out there.
The proper steps in order to try:
Blowing. Then inspect.
Light brushing of the sensor with a Arctic Butterfly type brush to loosen any statically charged stubborn dust specs..
Blow again. (Or skip because sometimes it redistributes dust).
Inspect.
Wet clean if still needed.
I don't have the time to send a camera body in to Nikon with their current time frame.
You really just need to learn it yourself. But don't get discouraged. Often after the first attempt by someone, it becomes worse. Just patience and a redo.
ckcarr wrote:
I never heard of an oil issue with the D800 or D800e. There is no free Nikon fix that I'm aware of. D600 - yes.
Forget the acetone. There are other perfectly safe products out there.
The proper steps in order to try:
Blowing. Then inspect.
Light brushing of the sensor with a Arctic Butterfly type brush to loosen any statically charged stubborn dust specs..
Blow again. (Or skip because sometimes it redistributes dust).
Inspect.
Wet clean if still needed.
I don't have the time to send a camera body in to Nikon with their current time frame.
You really just need to learn it yourself. But don't get discouraged. Often after the first attempt by someone, it becomes worse. Just patience and a redo.
Had been using it several times on my D3X and other dslr bodies (and lenses). Just make sure you don't touch any of those black coating inside the camera. 
