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Nicholas R. | all galleries >> Sensor Cleaning Tutorial > #2 - Preparing a Copperhill Swab
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#2 - Preparing a Copperhill Swab

#2 - Preparing a Copperhill Swab


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awstyle 27-May-2005 10:53
It really does help to restore your faith in human nature when you find someone who is prepared to go to such great lengths to provide such a detailed tutorial for the benefit of others. I also like the humouristic style in which it is written.

I shall be obtaining the necessary 'gear' shortly and then my 10D will get the clean of its life!
Sam Bala 13-May-2005 04:05
I was absolutley stressing deluxe over the 19 dust specs that set up camp, 3 swipes later i am down to 5!!! One of which is only prominent. I am way to nerve wracked to do it 4 times in 5 mins, need that stiff drink.
Either way this is a godsend for my D70

Sam Bala.
Sydney, Australia
beachwalker 03-May-2005 22:53
I just finished cleaning my 20D for the first time. I did just llike I was told and it is now absolutely spotless.
Thanks,
Al Schlegel, Del Mar, CA
Jakub Serych 02-Apr-2005 18:20
Thanks for your great describtion of the great cleaning method.
I made just one change in the preparing cleaning swab. I'm not taping the PecPad, but I'm using so called "Fast Clips" with the clipping tool, which you can buy in Office Supplies shops. It is very fast, safe and reusable.
Rudy Trindade 24-Feb-2005 13:04
Spectacular the attendance, I received SensorSwipe in Brazil in little time.
Excuse for having complained previously of the delay because I forgot that in Brazil the times the customs puts back.
The product is excellent and I am very satisfied.
I write in a translating program because I don't write in English, excuse the mistakes.
Nigel from OZ 18-Feb-2005 13:39
Thank you so much for your thorough, camera saving guide. I recently purcased an EOS20D to find that there was dust on the sensor from the factory. Going on holidays i did not favour waiting for canon to clean so I gave it a go with a blower and a brush ...

To anyone reading this... DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CLEAN CMOS OR CCD WITH A BRUSH!!!!!

I had made it so much worse that i was afraid i had damaged the cmos... After a very stressful few days, i acquired some pec pads, eclipse and a rubber spatula, and gave it a go....

Thank You , Thank You, Thank You

ps: It works really well :)
Use a Clean Roll of Tape! 30-Aug-2004 06:45
Thanks for the folding and wrapping directions. I learned this fast: get a clean roll of Scotch brand tape that comes sealed, e.g. in a green box. If you're like me, that old roll of tape that has been kicking around your office has edges are probably covered with dust, and the tape will be used on the Swipe that enters your camera chamber. Avoid bringing dust into the chamber via dirty tape - use clean tape and store it in a ZipLoc bag until next time! -Paul
NJP 22-Dec-2003 20:15
Thank You very much on your fantastic tutorial. I followed it and voila my Nikon D 100 sensor is clean. In Canada ( Toronto) Pac Pads and Eclipse are available at Haedshots Rental 290 Shuter St. NJP
mrbobco 10-Nov-2003 16:56
with much trepidation i entered this foray into cleaning. i was experienced in all things technical...but not entirely prepared for this one. my 1ds had collected an INTENSE about of pesky dust bunnies...so much so, even shots at f/2.0 were looking filthy. your clear, concise directions (and what NOT to do) really helped keep me from wasting too many sensor swabs (although i purchased them before i read this article...i'll be using the spat-u-swab i just made for cleaning in the future).

thanks for all your time and effort...perhaps there's a karmic payoff for you somewhere :)

bob
Candace 22-Oct-2003 02:31
I just cleaned the sensor on my 1D, and I'm so impressed! The tutorial is outstanding-- I probably wouldn't have attempted this if I didn't feel confident that I knew exactly what I was doing. I have a suggestion that some might find helpful: I took a fresh sheet from the center of a stack of printer paper, and used that clean surface to lay the PecPad and spatula on while I wrapped and taped them.
Mike 29-Sep-2003 21:51
I can't express how much I appreciate the effort that you put into this tutorial. It took me three attempts to get all of the dust out but the proceedure is excellent and very easy to follow.

Thank you so much!
Regards,
Mike
Tom Lloyd 08-Jun-2003 13:21
Having recently purchsed a Canon 1Ds I was surprised at its ability to attract dust compared to my 1D. The blower option only made matters worse - much worse.
The dire warnings in the handbook re. touching the sensor and the instruction to return to Canon Service Dept were very explicit. Not an easy choice with such an expensive piece of kit.
Your tutorial gave me added confidence that the process was not beyond the capabilities of most "normal" users. My only modification was to trim down the handle so that it was thinner. This improved access and any additional pressure translates to bending the handle rather than increased pressure on the sensor.
I just wanted to express my gratitude for your efforts with this web tutorial. The system works (at least it does with my 1Ds) and I shall now finish each shoot with a stopped down image of the sky - confident that I can deal with any new "dust bunnies" that have accumulated.
Many thanks
Donlad Race 13-Apr-2003 00:39
Nick,
Thanks for the great description of this cleaning process. Just got a Canon 10D and was using alot of bracketed exposures and voila I had three or four spots on the sensor. After reading your article went to Walmart to get the spatula and to a photo shop for the pecpads and eclipse. Followed instructions to a tee and was a lil nervous about seeing the sensor face to face for the first time but plunged in and followed your technique just once and after taking a few shots the sensor was clean as a whistle.... Thanks again.