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how to clean mirrorless sensor


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8 replies to this topic

#1
fallout666

fallout666
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some how i got tons spots on my sensor and need to clean it. but i can not see well with glass up close and do not have steady hands too. best option to clean or take to shop to clean 

 



#2
Fletch

Fletch
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I ruined a sensor once due to my heavy handedness, after that I always took it to a service center.



#3
Merco_61

Merco_61
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If you don't have good eyesight at the distance you need and a steady hand, professional cleaning is cheap.



#4
ScottinPollock

ScottinPollock
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My biggest conundrum about ibis equipped cameras is that there appears to be no empirical information about having the camera on / ibis on / ibis off / camera off when cleaning the sensor.

I know Sony has a cleaning mode that shakes the sensor and then locks it down afterwards for using a swab. But I am pretty sure Oly and Nikon have no such mode, and am certain Panasonic doesn't.

I've cleaned my G9's sensor once, with.the camera off. Yes, the sensor jiggled a bit, but with a very light touch (and repeating the process with another swab) I was successful.

Still, I would much prefer some factual information about what the proper way to do this is, and short of unqualified opinions, the internet seems void of it.

#5
Merco_61

Merco_61
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Here's what Moose Peterson has to say: Nikon Z7 / Z6 Sensor Cleaning | Moose Peterson's Website



#6
ScottinPollock

ScottinPollock
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Thanks Peter... but unless you're able read something between the lines of his post that I can't see, this is another non-answer.



#7
Merco_61

Merco_61
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My take on the Moose post is that until we know more, use nothing more risky than a Rocket blower and follow Nikon's recommendation to let the insured pros handle electrostatic or wet cleaning.

 

One nice thing about the Z series cameras is that the mounting gimbal locks on power off, which will probably lead to some kind of DIY process when more people need to clean their sensors.

 

A cleaning mode or camera off is safest as the sensor is electrostatically charged when it is powered up.



#8
ScottinPollock

ScottinPollock
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until we know more

 
LOL. Of course Nikon says send it for service in the manual. I think every user manual I've ever read says the same thing, yet most of us lock up the mirror and swab our sensors.
 
I find it almost shocking that IBIS has been around for years and we are no closer to knowing what the preferred method is. I have heard everything from "turn the camera off and remove the battery" to "power up the camera so that the IBIS system steadies the sensor"… and these are all simply assumptions made by a B/Vlogger.

But whatever it is… it's clear the OEMs ain't sayin'. (c;

#9
fallout666

fallout666
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well thanks for the tips and i just recalled what caused the issue i thought it was dust spot or something wrong with camera. for got at time it was raining and caught all light or misting rain drops. do not know why i forgot about it or not. but so weird to recall that today. also fact saw so much pollen in air so made me do double check. then just recalled light to misting rain we had. just glad Z6 weather prof and gen 1 70-200mm nikon some what weather prof. also will take to local camera store in Orlando just west of Asia  market colonial photo and hobby. which is best local camera store near me.