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Photo Forum / Digital Photography / Digital Photo / September 2006

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lens cleaner/blower

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Philip Bailey - 29 Sep 2006 23:57 GMT
Arrgh. I apologise if this seems to be a repost...

On a recent trip to the Grand Canyon, I needed a "lens
cleaner/blower" to remove some dust from the sensor of
my 20D... the only one the local shop had was a cheap
one that seemed to cause more problems than it solved.

I've since bought a "Sensor Swab" kit from Photographic
Solutions, but I'd prefer not to "overuse" it.

I've seen a "Giottos Lens Cleaning Kit" with a "rocket
blower" recommended on several sites...

Anyone have any experience with it? Or an alternative
suggestion?

Thanks.
frederick - 30 Sep 2006 00:14 GMT
> Arrgh. I apologise if this seems to be a repost...
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Thanks.
I use cheap disposable plastic lab pipettes to direct a small puff of
air to the dust spot itself.  The plastic pipettes work really well for
me - I'm happy to get the end really close to the sensor surface - as if
it does accidentally touch, then it's not going to do any damage.  When
I've used larger blowers, it seemed to me that shifting so much air
around sometimes resulted in more dust on the sensor than before I started.
If the dust spot is too small to see on the sensor filter, then IMO it's
too small to worry about at normal working apertures (I've got quite
good close vision without glasses though).  I last needed to wet-clean
the sensor about 9 months ago.  However, as it's spring here now, I
expect more problems over the next month or so - as I think some of the
really sticky stuff is pollen from flowers. While most pollens in the
air are from wind pollinated flowers and aren't sticky pollens from
insect pollinated flowers - there seems to be enough of the latter in
the air to cause problems.
Philip Bailey - 30 Sep 2006 00:20 GMT
> I use cheap disposable plastic lab pipettes to direct a small puff of
> air to the dust spot itself.

Thanks. I've got glass pipettes, but no plastic ones. What
do you use for the "puff of air"? Rubber bulb?
frederick - 30 Sep 2006 00:38 GMT
>> I use cheap disposable plastic lab pipettes to direct a small puff of
>> air to the dust spot itself.
>
> Thanks. I've got glass pipettes, but no plastic ones. What
> do you use for the "puff of air"? Rubber bulb?

Oh - don't use glass - if you slip you may damage the filter.
They are 3ml disposable plastic (polyethylene) "transfer pipets" made by
Samco California.  The bulb is built in.  They are about 5 or 6 inches
long - so relatively easy to hold in position.
Philip Bailey - 30 Sep 2006 00:40 GMT
> Oh - don't use glass - if you slip you may damage the filter.

Yup, I figured that!

> They are 3ml disposable plastic (polyethylene) "transfer pipets" made by
> Samco California.  The bulb is built in.  They are about 5 or 6 inches
> long - so relatively easy to hold in position.

OK, I think I've seen the ones you're talking about.

Thanks again...
 
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