kosin
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therealthings wrote:
I was wondering, since we have a few very confident cleaners here on FM, if you could share your cleaning method/technique with us, and how clean that method gets your 1dx II sensor.
I'd like to know the exact products used, and method to use them step by step.
I just watched a video from Lensrentals but i can not believe anyone can walk through those steps in a few minutes. So please share...
For those sending your cameras to Canon everytime you need sensor cleaned, are you guys insuring the package? If not, you are nuts. I would rather clean the sensor myself than risk shipping $6000 camera and have it lost or damaged during shipping.
Unless you live nearby a Canon facility, so you can drop off your camera for free, or are Platinum ($300) CPS member (that covers shipping both ways), you have to cover the shipping cost. Here in US, the cheapest way of shipping is via USPS which caps off the insurance at $5000. Just the insurance alone costs over $60 - This can quickly add up if you are really picky about the cleanliness of your sensor... Adding the time without the camera, sensor swabs don't look so expensive anymore, do they? 
Here is how I go about cleaning sensors:
1. Test shot.
2. Blowing the dust off in/around the mirror assembly/chamber with a rocket blower http://amzn.to/2iL6tPk After initiating the "manual sensor clean" in the menu, blowing the sensor off.
3. Test shot.
4. If more cleaning needed, I use the GelStick: http://amzn.to/2kKIvb4 -
5. Test shot.
6. If there is more dust, I target the problem area (while referencing the last test shot on the computer monitor) with the GelStick.
7. Test shot.
8. If there are still stubborn spots that didn't move, I perform the wet clean using swab and Eclipse fluid: http://amzn.to/2kfjGQt
Following above steps in that particular order, assures that I don't have any "hard" particles left on the sensor that could damage it while swiping the swab across. In those instances that sensors were scratched during the wet clean, most likely the tech picked the wet method right away to "save time".
If between the test shots new dust spots show up, it means that new dust just entered and can be easily cleaned with another pass with a GelStick or Rocket Blower.
I barely ever had to perform the "wet clean" as either GelStick picked up everything that was on the sensor or tiny spots that were still there, didn't bother me much. A fun fact: until recently, I was still on my original 12-pack of VisibleDust Swabs from the days when 20D came out! Yep, that's exactly how often I needed to wet clean my cameras, and this includes 2x 1DXs with over 200,000 shots each and 1DXII with over 150,000 shots. Go figure.
As this thread continues to spread a "dust paranoia" in me  , I just bought a proper new set of swabs. By proper, I mean full frame size, as the ones I had were for 1.6x crop cameras. Someone referred to me this, less known company: The Dust Patrol. Apparently, their swabs are being used in many camera labs, as their swabs are made from a folded material and not "welded" one. Something I've never considered until now. "Alpha Premium Sensor Cleaning Swabs are folded, not welded. Welding the edges is a cheaper way to manufacturer swabs, but it leaves sharp corners that can scratch the coating on the sensor." - Dust Patrol
For those looking to save money, you can buy just a 4-pack of these swabs http://amzn.to/2Bps2jR and reuse swabs/sticks with these wipes http://amzn.to/2AO8nbU using the Cooperhill's method:
Overall, it doesn't take long to clean the sensor. The most time consuming part are the test shots. Taking a photo, uploading it to the computer etc. Therefore, I bought this cheap sensor loupe: http://amzn.to/2kgy2Af Of course, there are more expensive ones on the market: http://visibledust.com/products/quasar-r-5x-sensor-loupe-magnifier-with-dark-adaptation-technology/ but this one does the job. Funny, right after opening it, I spent 10 minutes lurking around the 1DXII's chamber looking for signs of lubricant splatter to no avail. Damn you Chimping for "creating" this paranoia  Amazing how much dust there is in the chamber and around the mirror box waiting to land on the sensor. Next big thing should be "How to clean the chamber/mirror assembly" 
Just a side note. Take a look at the mirror. Mine was covered with a "foggy" residue, just like a windshield in your car if you don't clean it for long period of time. I bet this has a negative affect on AF and exposure accuracy as well. Just a gentle pass with a microfiber cloth (http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/canon-ef-lens-cleaning-cloth) and it was clean as new
Happy cleaning!
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