How to professionally clean your DSLR camera sensor

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A dirty sensor can cause havoc in post-processing. Largest spots are evident in a digital file, and can be removed fairly easily in digital software, but when five, ten, or even fifty spots start to show up in post, the task of removing them can be extraordinarily time consuming. It's best to take precautions to avoid dust and debris on the sensor, and when it's dirty, to clean it properly. Photographers are often nervous about cleaning their sensors for the first time for fear of scratching them, but if done properly, it can be an easy and safe process. Remember that prevention of a dirty sensor is the best policy: minimizing the times you clean your sensor will minimize the possibility of scratching the sensor.

1) Get Setup. You should have enough battery power to last you for at least several minutes. The camera will prompt you to have a full battery, but just be sure you have a substantial amount of power. You don't want the mirror to snap down on your sensor wipe while you are cleaning it. Lay out your tools: a new and clean sensor wipe, sensor cleaning fluid, and a RocketBlaster. Part of the preparation should be taking a picture against a white piece of paper or another background that is relatively light. The key is to make this picture out of focus so that you can tell where the spots are and how many exist. Switch your lens to "manual," and twist it to achieve the maximum blurred focus. Note the dirty sensors that have been brought into the store by photographers. By doing this before cleaning, you can have a good sense of how well you have done.

2) Turn on the camera, remove the lens. Make sure you are in a dust-free environment, usually indoors. Cleaning your sensor in a desert environment, near the ocean, or in a slot canyon is not the best idea, as these areas have a high content of sand, salt, and dust in the air. Take a lint-free swab and place two to three drops of E2 solution (or similar professional cleaning solution) on it or use a swab that is presoaked. I usually hold this while I perform the next steps so that it doesn't touch anything and accidentally pick up any dust or lint.

3) Find "Clean Sensor" Mode. By selecting this option in the Menu of the camera, the mirror will lock up, exposing the sensor and will only drop down when the power is turned off.

4) Rocket Blaster. With the mirror snapped up and the sensor exposed, squeeze the Rocket Blaster many times to remove the loose dust. Be careful not to touch the end of the Rocket Blaster to the sensor. Some suggest using compressed air, but we avoid it here, as there is a possibility of shooting some of the chemical in the compression bottle of these products directly onto the sensor. While this is not likely, we feel that we can avoid this problem by using simple air from a device like the Rocketblaster.

5) Gently wipe the sensor. With the pre-soaked, lint-free swab gently wipe the sensor from one side to the other, and then turn the swab over and wipe it in the opposite direction. We would recommend not using this swab again, as it may have picked up some particles that should not be wiped across the sensor again. Many photographers have specific philosophies about using these relatively expensive materials. While it's true that they are expensive, remember that the sensor is the most valuable part of the camera, so homemade remedies should be used with caution.

6) Turn off the camera. Once this is done, turn the camera off. The mirror will snap back into place. Place the lens back on the camera and test the cleanliness of the sensor by again photographing a blank sheet of paper or another homogenous scene like a sky. Again, make sure the manual focus is on, and ensure that the lens is out of focus. This will help you see dust spots that remain on the sensor. If the sensor is clean, your job here is finished.

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I love that the video is informative but short. Others explain the same in 23 min. Thanks

rampart
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Perfect video. Everything explained. Precise, clear and straight forward. Thank you.

HoLeeChit
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Thank you for including step by step image sensor shots!

marcoolariu
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Very well done! Short, sweet and to the point... thanks!

RudeRichDallas
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clear and concise, straight forward video. Thank You 

danjiles
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This guy would totally be my hero! I am always fighting these damn dust spots on my sensors!!!

derbee
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Awesome video!  Thanks for the info without rambling on, perfectly concise but still thorough!

drew-gray
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The difficult to clean spot on my sensor shows to be on the left side of my computer screen.
Would the spot on my sensor be on the left of my sensor as I hold my camera in the shooting position?

terryallen
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Finally a video that goes straight to the point :) Thank you

RadekRKasa
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well explained and for those saying the mirror won't altered the image, you are incorrect as a dusty mirror will chuck dust around inside the sensor area and you'll end up with dust on the sensor again.
take lens off whilst camera is on or power camera on with no lens attached and clean off mirror using a sensor cleaning swab.
Good video nice short and precise way of cleaning you dslr sensor

professionalgamer
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This is what an informative video should be: concise. This one is and we get all we need to know in few minutes. Thanks.

hinokikuaimu
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Great video! The video was clear as well as your presentation.

mightylens
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This was great, thanks so much. Saved me several hours of driving and time without a camera!

wendywyattwood
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Great video. Do you know if sensor cleaner residue can affect your images in any way? After I cleaned my sensor, I have these tiny little patterns from the sensor cleaner that I just can't get 100% rid of. Thx!

Tubularjake
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Hi Bryce, Is the Speckgrabber disposable ????

walterfantauzziphotography
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does this swab clean fungus too?
pls response...

shaybaldasgupta
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perfect, to the point and informative! thanks

jamielescot
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why not use a can of air instead of the blower ?

ManInTheBigHat
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My question is: Is this exactly the same procedure that some camera dealers charge up to £57 for? If so, isn't that just another example of 'Rip off Britain'?

robininspain
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My sensor is clean but how do I clean the mirror? Anyone??

lostangeljams