This is a known issue regarding a small number of Canon's coated filters. The first published issue can be seen here, which used the Copperhill method to damage this camera's weak bonded filter coating. Copperhill method damages sensor filter >>
The Copperhill method, PhotoSol and Dust-Aid are just catalysts that can expose a weakness in a small number of Canon coated sensor filters. If anyone should step up, it should be Canon. But, both PhotoSol and Dust-Aid will take the proper steps and will fix the damaged filter, good for them. No word if Copperhill would do the same.
BTW, methanol will do nothing to a properly coated sensor filter... but Pec Pads will, hence PhotoSol not warranting them for sensor filter cleaning.
Regarding Dust-Aid's worth, here is a quote directly from Nicholas, owner of Copperhill Images. And I quote from his website posted in March of 2007:
"In January, 2007 I discovered a new website with a new tool to be released called Dust-Aid. I contacted the company and was sent a sample pack to try. I allowed my sensor to accumulate 13 specks of dust for the initial cleaning. It took all of one minute to read the instructions, and then I prepared my camera for the task. I applied the foam pad to the sensor wand and proceeded to dab my CCD in each of the four corners. My results showed that Dust-Aid eliminated 95% of the particles.
MY CONCLUSIONS:
• Dust-Aid completely removed 100% of the loose dust specks on the first attempt.
• There was virtually NO learning curve to use this tool. My opinion is that practically everyone who uses it will pick up 100% of the loose dust particles with the first pad.
• The soft, forgiving texture of the foam gave me complete confidence in pressing it on my sensor.
• After using all 12 pads over a two week period (for testing purposes only), there is absolutely NO residual adhesive left on my sensor.
• In the chamber, just rocking the wand to the side a little allowed the adhesive pad to be released from the sensor very easily.
• Dust-Aid is a great value for the money. Take it in the field, use it according to the directions, and you can bet your life your sensor is clean as a whistle. It's a great value because ONE PAD will do the job - there is NO waste with Dust-Aid. Let me restate this important point: when you see how efficient this system is, you won't wonder how much dust you've just removed and you won't need to check your results after each pad. Again, ONE PAD.....you're done."
Just thought you'd all like to know. It's good to archive sites for later viewing.
Peacemaker,
How nice of you to join this forum today and make your first and only post in this thread. But who are you really, and why are you citing a dead page?
Nicholas
www.copperhillimages.com
www.pbase.com/image/44646301
I used the dust aid on a recent trip to the hebrides on my 5D and it worked a treat... a combination of sandstorm rain and 40mph wind and changing lenses regularly meant there was lots of crap.. blower did 95% but I'd have hated to scrape a brush or pad over the remaining quartz cutting compound that was stuck to the sensor..
One application of the Dust Aid removed the lot..
I'll still be using and if I get a problem I am reassured that it will be handled (and at worst I can replace the hot mirror for a fairly cheap fee).
peacemaker1873 wrote:
This is a known issue regarding a small number of Canon's coated filters.....
[Lots of 'peacemaking' text deleted]
....Just thought you'd all like to know. It's good to archive sites for later viewing.
Please refrain from re-registering multiple accounts in order to further your (rather subjective) viewpoint. Please use the original account you activated three days ago.
Any new recent comments/problems/testimonials concerning the dust aid product? Just want to stay informed on the latest before I try it on my 5D. Thanks,
I just used it to clean a 20D, 30D and two 5D's on Wednesday night. Worked perfectly. I also did a pass with Eclipse and SensorSwabs *after* the Dust-Aid, and found specs of lint from the swabs on the sensor from that...a second pass with the Dust-Aid got those, too. One one of the cameras, I tried VDust and Orange Swabs, and had the same lint problem I'd had with the sensor swabs, to a slightly worse degree. Again, a second pass with the Dust-Aid got the swab lint, too. No problems, and I did inspect the sensor before and after with a magnifier. No signs of damage.
Sorry to hear about your sensor -- found this on Dust Aid's website:
"Canon
Note: Our tests show the Dichroic mirror coatings on Canon's factory standard low pass filters meet MIL-C-48497A and ISO 9211-4:2006 coating standards and are not compromised when a sensor cleaning method is used. However, the sensor cleaning industry is seeing a small number of Dichroic coatings that do not meet this standard and therefore fail, causing de-coating of the sensor filter.
So far Dust-Aid has seen a few of these below standard coated filters. If you discover that you have a below standard coated filter from Canon, which Dust-Aid has de-coated, we will replace the filter for you.
This has been a long discussion. I'm interested in Dust-Aid, but not sure on my 20D, although perhaps for my MKII and Xti. Anyone try lenspen according to the Arthur Morris, Birds as Art recommendations? I've tried tried the lens pen and it seems to work just fine, but am a bit nervous each time I do it since I haven't read many reports on how safe it is.
Nate Ersig wrote:
Sorry to hear about your sensor -- found this on Dust Aid's website:
"Canon
Note: Our tests show the Dichroic mirror coatings on Canon's factory standard low pass filters meet MIL-C-48497A and ISO 9211-4:2006 coating standards and are not compromised when a sensor cleaning method is used. However, the sensor cleaning industry is seeing a small number of Dichroic coatings that do not meet this standard and therefore fail, causing de-coating of the sensor filter.
So far Dust-Aid has seen a few of these below standard coated filters. If you discover that you have a below standard coated filter from Canon, which Dust-Aid has de-coated, we will replace the filter for you.
Excuse me, but I am totally sick and tired of seeing this BS mentioned by Dust-Aid and their proponents. Who says Canon does, or has to meet, these over quoted, and often mis-quoted Mil-spec and ISO standards? Canon can make their sensors any way they damn well please, and unless you've damaged your sensor using a method specifically approved by Canon, you are, and should be SOL. I use a LensPen, and if I were to damage my sensor with it, I'd be enough of an adult to blame no one but myself. The fact that Dust-Aid continues to blame Canon, regardless of whether or not Dust-Aid is paying for repairs (which would be in fact sub-standard, unless they're done by Canon), is simply outrageous.
coppertop wrote:
I wonder if Canon would take issue with DustAid's comments?
Is there any proof, asides from the DustAid camp, that Canon does not meet industry standards on some of the filters? Does it affect image quality?
And can you replace the filter without replacing the entire sensor housing?
I'm surprised Canon hasn't sued Dust-Aid for claiming their sensors are defective. I've said this before, but I'd like to see some (OK, any) proof that Canon has to meet anyone's standards but their own, except of course they don't. FWIW, Canon will not replace the filter alone, because they don't have a clean-room here in the US, so they replace the entire sensor assembly. If anything's sub-standard, it would only be the repairs (paid for by Dust-Aid, or not) performed by anyone other than Canon.
dcains wrote:
I'm surprised Canon hasn't sued Dust-Aid for claiming their sensors are defective. I've said this before, but I'd like to see some (OK, any) proof that Canon has to meet anyone's standards but their own, except of course they don't. FWIW, Canon will not replace the filter alone, because they don't have a clean-room here in the US, so they replace the entire sensor assembly. If anything's sub-standard, it would only be the repairs (paid for by Dust-Aid, or not) performed by anyone other than Canon.
I do find it funny that you rant about this and yet canon sells a very similar product in Japan just not here. I cant read the fine print because it is in Japanese and maybe they say which models it can and cant be used on but they sell it.
I have used it on a couple Canon and now my Nikon with no issue and it is a no brainer, quick and easy way of doing it. (where my blower does not work.)
