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Archive 2019 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

Younjulius
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

With a mirrorless camera that has the sensor exposed when you change lenses, how often do you clean the sensor and how do you do it?

That concern is one of the reasons to stay away from prime lenses and prefer zoom lenses for me. Am I overreacting about it?

Jan 23, 2019 at 11:22 PM

Imagemaster
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

JFYI: If you learn to use the Search feature on this site, it will bring up a number of threads on this subject, and you can just click on the threads you want to read. This search feature is at the top right corner of every forum.

Jan 23, 2019 at 11:30 PM

smpetty
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

Younjulius wrote:
With a mirrorless camera that has the sensor exposed when you change lenses, how often do you clean the sensor and how do you do it?

That concern is one of the reasons to stay away from prime lenses and prefer zoom lenses for me. Am I overreacting about it?

I run the self cleaning function, turn off the camera, remove the lens, use a rocket blower directed at the sensor with the camera facing down for 5-10 strong puffs, replace the lens, and I'm done. I do this every few shooting days, at most. I've yet to have significant dust show up on any image.

Jan 24, 2019 at 12:02 AM

Younjulius
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

Imagemaster wrote:
JFYI: If you learn to use the Search feature on this site, it will bring up a number of threads on this subject, and you can just click on the threads you want to read. This search feature is at the top right corner of every forum.

Thanks for the suggestion and I have tried it. I consider having posts is like having a conversation and I enjoy it. The next time, when I have a question, I’ll search first.

Jan 24, 2019 at 12:21 AM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

After each photoshoot, I download the images, reformat the SD card and I clean the sensor. I run the auto cleaning mode of the camera and blow the sensor with rocket blower.

Jan 24, 2019 at 12:29 AM

MedicineMan404
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

self cleaning function, turn off the camera, remove the lens, use a rocket blower, almost every time I change a lens on the A7Riii or a9. Get religious about it and hard cleanings (wet/swab) go way down.

Jan 24, 2019 at 01:22 AM

Younjulius
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

Is cleaning after each session a preemptive measure or a norm for mirrorless?

Jan 24, 2019 at 02:05 AM

Imagemaster
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

Younjulius wrote:
Is cleaning after each session a preemptive measure or a norm for mirrorless?

There is no specific answer for a general question like that. It all depends how often and under what conditions one is changing lenses.

Don't get in a knot about it. If it can't be seen in your images, it is not a problem.

Jan 24, 2019 at 02:37 AM

Beni
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

Not often enough.

Jan 24, 2019 at 07:06 AM

retrofocus
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

I only clean the sensor if needed - if I see some spots in the image. I never cleaned a sensor wet - always dry. Best method I find is with the Arctic Butterfly system and static charge to remove dust. It works extremely well for me (use it both for DSLRs and my A7R). No matter which digital camera I have used, the internal dust cleaning function is only of very limited use IMO.

Jan 24, 2019 at 07:07 AM

Younjulius
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

My intention for this question is to get a sense of how often I may need to clean in real life situation rather than how often I would get the urge to clean. Of course, there isn’t a clean cut answer to this, but I want a ball park idea in case of normal usage in city environment. Thank you.

Jan 24, 2019 at 09:37 AM

KarmaKramer
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

Me too. Every time I change lenses(unless at an event,then I do it before and after)
Big ass Rocket blower
smpetty wrote:
I run the self cleaning function, turn off the camera, remove the lens, use a rocket blower directed at the sensor with the camera facing down for 5-10 strong puffs, replace the lens, and I'm done. I do this every few shooting days, at most. I've yet to have significant dust show up on any image.

Jan 24, 2019 at 09:43 AM

Gunzorro
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

I use Rocket blower when I see any spot on images. I never clean the sensor by touching it.

I rarely change lenses outdoors, preferring to take two bodies with lenses mounted. When needed, I carefully keep the open camera body pointed downward, and change only in calm conditions.

Jan 24, 2019 at 09:54 AM

bluloo
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

Younjulius wrote:
My intention for this question is to get a sense of how often I may need to clean in real life situation rather than how often I would get the urge to clean. Of course, there isn’t a clean cut answer to this, but I want a ball park idea in case of normal usage in city environment. Thank you.

FYI, I have gotten into the practice of blowing off the sensor each time I swap a lens, in part because I would notice occasional sensor dust on a photo even when I haven't been outdoors with the kit.

As for the in-camera sensor cleaning feature, I run it occasionally, or specifically if I see a spot of sensor dust in a pic, that a blow-off didn't remove.

There's a ton of info available here, via the search function but there's nothing wrong with asking questions.
That's why we're here.

Jan 24, 2019 at 11:25 AM

SoundHound
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

Essentially-never. I shoot wide open mostly and leave the cleaningvto professionals.

Jan 24, 2019 at 11:29 AM

chez
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

I check the sensor before I head out shooting. If it needs cleaning, I'll run it through a cleaning cycle, then Rocket Blower it and if need be swab it. Most times it does not require any cleaning.

Jan 24, 2019 at 12:35 PM

Frogfish
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

I run the auto cleaning mode of the camera and blow the sensor with a rocket blower before I go off on a shoot. If I am going on a international trip (3-4 times year) then I have it professionally cleaned just before I leave, ditto if I return and have a lot of dust showing up (during the trip I'll be doing the auto-clean and rocket daily).

I'm lucky as living in Shanghai I have an old guy who's been doing this for decades and he charges me US$10 to clean two cameras.

Edited on Jan 24, 2019 at 02:16 PM · View previous versions

Jan 24, 2019 at 12:43 PM

fuzzykeys
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

Sometimes before I go out shooting or if I can see a spot on the LCD. I try not to obsess about it and I confess to being a bit cavalier about changing lenses, but I don't mind cloning a few dust spots out of the sky if I need to. That said, shooting video with a mirrorless camera is a different story, and I have always been more meticulous when filming outdoors. Cloning spots out of a moving shot is obviously much more challenging.

Jan 24, 2019 at 01:28 PM

nandadevieast
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

I am just too scared to clean it. I imagine using even blower can potentially introduce the dust specs

Jan 24, 2019 at 01:30 PM

stjarvis
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · How and how often do you clean the sensor?

I wet wipe it with eclipse when dust spots get annoying. Usually before and after landscape trips since dust spots aren’t very noticeable in my portrait and event shooting.

Jan 24, 2019 at 08:35 PM

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