Sensor Brush/ Cleaner?

[Harry Clark]

I know it's been discussed at various times before, but now that lots of cameras are shipping and people have been using them for some time in the field, is there a consensus about which is the best kit or system (I'm assuming it's likely something made for the DSLR market)
Is there a Red-approved model?
Maybe Red should rebrand one or sell them... :)
Cheers,
Harry

[Greg M]

This is the best device..it fits in the PL mount like it was custom made:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/491136-REG/Visible_Dust_3468822_Brite_Vue_Sensor_Loupe.html

[Joe Kleber]

Or, how about a combination of both?:biggrin:

http://www.visibledust.com/products3.php?pid=702

[Ken Corben]

Been using the Arctic Butterfly since day 1- great product.

[Brent J. Craig]

Been using the Arctic Butterfly since day 1- great product.

My Visible Dust 'Arctic Butterfly' came with some sort of grease on the brush which would smear all over the sensor.

Visible Dust would absolutely NOT take it back or exchange it and instead wanted me to buy more products to clean the dirty brush they sent me. Customer service was rude and inflexible.

I would not recommend their products.

[Brian Broz]

I too have heard good things about the sensor loupe.
Is there a specific size of brush that works best with the size of the RED sensor?
Or are the swabs the best way to go? I assume the 1.0x size is the right size for the RED's full frame sensor?
Thanks for any suggestions.

BB

[Evin Grant]

I've had very god luck with Visible Dust, I haven't had to bother their customer service though. This Arctic Butterfly/Sensor loupe combo is THE kit for your Red.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/506016-REG/Visible_Dust__Arctic_Butterfly_724_with.html

[Harry Clark]

Can anyone from Red comment on the compatibility of the Visible Dust swabs and fluid for the rare spot that's NOT dust?
I have cleaned my Panasonic IR filter surfaces before with Panchro, but VD's stuff may be better since it's designed expressly for DSLRs.
Just don't want to use the wrong stuff in case I ever need to do something more than just a brush and bulb blower!
Cheers,
Harry

[Harry Clark]

Brian,
I'm not sure about which swab to get. That may mean a phone call to the rude folks at Visible Dust customer support! :)
Since Mysterium is 24.4x13.7, I would think it's the "16mm" brush. I think that the larger one is meant for FULL FRAME DSLRs, which of course use a larger chip.
In fact, VD even has a chart on the site.
http://www.visibledust.com/help_sensorchart.php
I think that we have a sensor even smaller than the "16mm" format, simply because Mysterium is 16x9. But I bet the 16mm would be "close enough".
Evin, have you used the swabs?
Jarred?
Jim?
Wait- don't spend time answering this. Call me about my camera's delivery instead! :)
Cheers,
Harry

[Paul Leeming]

Ted Schilowitz recommended the original Eclipse Sensor cleaning Fluid (NOT the newer tin oxide compatible E2 variant) along with the SensorSwipe and PecPads. He also used the SensorScope which is essentially the same as VisibleDust's Sensor Loupe in functionality.

HTH

Paul

[Brian Broz]

So the 1.5-1.6x DSLR size swabs would be correct for S35 (RED sensor size)?
Just wanted to double check. Thanks!

[Paul Leeming]

Whilst I can't say yes for sure, I CAN say that I'll be using my existing SensorSwipe (which fits the Canon APS-C size sensor). Will let you know how it goes once I actually use it.

HTH

Paul

[Wes Printz]

In cleaning the sensor, you're talking the OLPF and not the sensor directly? Or is the OLPF user removable allowing direct access to the sensor?

I would also recommend the SENSOR SWAB Brand.
http://www.photosol.com/swabproduct.htm

List of Cameras / Swab size:
http://www.photosol.com/cameras_bymfg.html

I would exercise EXTREME caution if cleaning the actual sensor surface, don't think you would want to get the repair bill for a scratched sensor. That should be a forbidden area, left to the experts to clean there. OLPF differnt story, safer to clean.

[Paul Leeming]

OLPF. Sorry for the confusion in terms, it's more due to the naming convention of these products I guess :)

Paul

[Dane Brehm]

On Monday I used a LED Lupe and Comp Air to clean the OLPF. The Sensor is isolated by the OLPF.

Checking the Gate is still as important as ever....

[Jeremy Neish]

My updated Red (now #63X) arrived with several very visible water spots on the OLPF. Does everybody think the Sensor Swab is safe for the OLPF? I already have the Visible Dust set for cleaning dust off, but it's not cleaning these spots.

[Deanan]

Sensor swab from photosol is pretty good along with their fluid (not the tin oxide one).

[donatello b]

i have the 5x & 7x visual dust loupes ( prefer the new 7x) , their orange & green swabs -AND i have all 3 of their cleaning soultions ( sensor , smear, Vdust plus) plus the artic butterfly thing, & cleaning solution for artic brush ...
look very carefully at their chart on wet cleaning solutions - each has their + & - ... you might need a combination at times=IE: the smear is very strong for cleaning tough spots but is weak in the streaking area .. the senor clean is excellent in the preventing streaking but weak in removing tough spots ...

i also have all the photosol products - eclipse , #2 swabs , brush off , e-wipes ...

i prefer the artic butterfly brush on set and prefer the photosol brush-off when prep & cleaning sensor when not on set ...

photosol E-wipes is very good/fast for cleaning the tips of the brushes ..

[Brent J. Craig]

Wow, donatello! Why exactly are your sensors getting so dirty? I have only ever seen one occasion when sensor dust wouldn't come off with a simple puff of air.

[Andrew M.]

Arctic Brush is what I use and it is works great.

What would be good to have on RED is some kind of non evaporating glue strip around the sensor like Canon has so the dust particles do not fly all over the sensor chamber once loosened by puff of air or even the centrifugal force of spinning Arctic Brush.

Though the brush is electrostaticaly charged so it attracts most of the dust particle during the cleaning

[Adrian T.]

What would be good to have on RED is some kind of non evaporating glue strip around the sensor like Canon has so the dust particles do not fly all over the sensor chamber once loosened by puff of air or even the centrifugal force of spinning Arctic Brush.

You're not supposed to spin the Arctic Brush within the gate! Spinning is to charge the fibers and to get rid of dust on them. RTFM!

[Andrew M.]

You're not supposed to spin the Arctic Brush within the gate! Spinning is to charge the fibers and to get rid of dust on them. RTFM!

I didn't express myself properly.
When you move the brush from one side of the sensor to the other, some dust particle may not stick to the brush in spite that brush is statically charged and these particles land on the side of the sensor, just to be picked back by the sensor statics right after you put your lenses back on.

Yes, most of the dust is picked up by the brush and you can repeat the process of swiping not only the sensor but also the sides of the chamber

[donatello b]

"Why exactly are your sensors getting so dirty?"

i ended up buying all those cleaners because i had 4 dust spots that would NOT come off ... when one product didn't work i moved on to the next , then there were 3 left , then tried next wet solution then there were 2 -so in the end i ended up with everything ...
now while trying the different products i did noticed the streaking left by the solutions ... in the end the "eclipse" ( photosol) is excellent at preventing streaking & "sensor" ( visual product) is very good - the others are more difficult to work with at preventing streaking ...
i think the photosol swabs are the BEST and i find the new 7x visual dust loupe excellent- they improved the reflection of the light from bouncing back into your eyes ( i don't use the 5x anymore)
https://www.micro-tools.com/store/SearchByCategory.aspx?CategoryCode=6

after trying out several different canned air products i have banned all from use on 103 .. they all spit out something at some point ....

[Paris Remillard]

Most people probably won't recommend this, but on my dSLR I just use a synthetic fiber makeup brush that I charge by rubbing the plastic handle on my shirt. Works great. It was like $2 at Target.

[Brent J. Craig]

Most people probably won't recommend this, but on my dSLR I just use a synthetic fiber makeup brush that I charge by rubbing the plastic handle on my shirt. Works great. It was like $2 at Target.

Sacrilege! Heretic! Everyone knows you can't get expensive results from inexpensive stuff!

I like using a little piece of chamois on a q-tip myself. Wet it with some pure isopropyl or good lens fluid and you're good to go. This is what I had to do to repair the damage my defective/dirty Arctic Butterfly brush did!

[David Wyatt]

Sacrilege! Heretic! Everyone knows you can't get expensive results from inexpensive stuff!

I like using a little piece of chamois on a q-tip myself. Wet it with some pure isopropyl or good lens fluid and you're good to go. This is what I had to do to repair the damage my defective/dirty Arctic Butterfly brush did!

Someone told me recently if your Arctic Butterfly has picked up grease somehow (don't know how that would be possible with all the protectors and cases etc!) you can work it loose by running the brush for a long time (30 minutes or so). Haven't had the need to try this yet but you might want to give it a test before you chuck it away!

p.s. let us know if it works!!

[donatello b]

visual makes a special cleaning thing ( drop pill type thing into water - clean brush) ...
http://www.visibledust.com/products3.php?pid=501

or photosol makes a moisture pad for cleaning their brush ( i use it on visual product 724 butterfly brush)
here's link to their wet cleaning video of brush & sensor
http://www.photosol.com/brushoffdemo.htm