Liquid Sensor Cleaner?

[Rick Darge]

If you get a smudge on your Red sensor, what are you guys using to get it out?

I went to go clean out the sensor just now and noticed some small smudges towards the edges of the sensor frame.. I am using the Arctic Butterfly and Loupe to clean my sensor.. I noticed that as I was using the butterfly, the smudge became worse..

[Sean R.]

I usually use Eclipse and check with a Sensor Scope by Delkin Devices.
And I'm sure you're aware Richard but for everyone else- you won't ever be cleaning the sensor you can only reach the optical low-pass filter in front of the sensor.

[Michael Lindsay]

Hi Sean

Since the OLPF is not on the sensor is it more fragile?

How thin is the OLPF?

thanks

Michael

[Deanan]

The OLPF is not more fragile being detached from the sensor and it's reasonably thick to not worry about breaking it easily.

You do however have to take caution to not scratch it or damage the coatings.

[Michael Lindsay]

Thanks for your quick reply..

Is the thickness of the OLPF a top secret? If not I'd love to know?

I'm sure you know why:biggrin:

thanks again

Michael

[Deanan]

Not sure I know why...

[Rick Darge]

Thanks guys.. Eclipse cleaner... is that something I can easily get at any photo store or does it need to be ordered at B&H? I am in Houston, TX right now and don't have time to look just yet..

If we don't have any liquid cleaner, can we use a lens shammy to clean it up?

[Kevin Halverson]

Thanks for your quick reply..

Is the thickness of the OLPF a top secret? If not I'd love to know?

I'm sure you know why:biggrin:

thanks again

Michael

Are you attempting to infer the location of the imager plane based upon the "thickness" of the OLPF so you can attempt to use a mechanical FFD setting technique? If so, I would recommend that you dispense with this approach as the results will not be what you anticipate. Really, you need to be using any of the optical methodologies, not a mechanical one, to achieve a proper back focus adjustment.

[Mark Crabtree]

Cleaners are full of chemicals. Chemicals do not entirely evaporate and often leave trace smudges behind. My method is the one I have used to clean smudges and finger prints from my lenses for years. My hot breath. I fog the olpf with my breath and use lens cleaning tissue and a bellows type blower. You have to do this gently, you do not want bodily fulids blown into the camera. If my camera temperature and the ambient temperature does not allow my breath to fog the olpf, I use a drop of distilled water on lens cleaning tissue.I also use a synthetic makup brush statically charged from a compressed air can to pick up small dust bits. I also use the Delkin scope to check the sensor, but the cleaning wipes and chemical fluid just doesn't work well for me. Another issue to avoid seeing dust on the olpf when shooting is to stay at f4 or wider. Above f4 you are progressively straightening the light rays hitting the sensor which will project the shadows of the dust particles onto the sensor.

[donatello b]

i don't think you'll find Eclipse cleaner at local camera store ..
visable dust also makes cleaners

http://www.photosol.com/

http://www.micro-tools.com/store/SearchByCategory.aspx?CategoryCode=6
click on either photographic solutions or visable dust

[Adam Levins]

I would not breath onto the OLPF as excess saliva can spray out and saliva has acid in it that can damage the coating.

Use you index finger on a piece of Lens cleaning paper, suspend it in your mouth and ahhhhhh.

circular motions from the center outward, use a dry paper again to end the process, spinning brushes are good as well.

when it comes to cleaning sensitive ares like this less is more.

one thing to note, I worked with a DP who has been on major films inc. Tomb Raider, Mission Impossible and Howard's End. He sometimes uses over the counter window cleaner on the lenses. so who knows, maybe all the fuss is over nothing.

[jbeale]

I've heard about professionals using Windex on camera lenses also (but note there are something like four different formulations of Windex (tm)).

Given the potential consequences, I think caution is well-advised when getting any material or chemical on your OLPF. I bought my second DSLR used. Only after I got it home did I notice the sizable scratch on the sensor/OLPF... someone wasn't careful enough.

In 7 years of shooting DSLRs I've never had occasion to need liquid sensor cleaning. The dry static-attraction type brushes (eg. visibledust.com) have always worked well for me.

[Rick Darge]

I agree, I don't want to touch the OLPF at all, except I think the arctic butterfly smudged the sensor or somthing, I don't know why else that would have happened. I'll try the lens tissue, hot breath trick.

[Robert P. Hogue]

Almost all OLPF's are made of CaF2. Precautions have to be taken as to not use any harsh chemicals to clean the OLPF. Acids are particularly nasty. Great care must also be taken to avoid using any sort of cloth using wood fibers, as it can scratch the OLPF. Any water based solution is also a no-no, as it can run into the camera body and short out the electronics. There are special formulations available at finer photography stores to clean the OLPF. In order to be safe, it must be non-aqueous, non-acidic, non-conductive, and must be a highly volatile liquid that leaves no residue.