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self cleaning sensor

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golf007sd

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kanuck said:
golf007sd, I wish I could have kept my D700 and had a second body, but $4 grand had to come from somewhere for the D800e :( Your right though there is nothing like having two bodies especially for avoiding crap collecting on your sensor. When I finish my graduate studies I will have a D700 again as my second body. The D700 is still the best camera I have ever used even after nearly four months and nearly 20,000 captures on the D800e now..

Kanuck, given that you already have an amazing FX body, I would recommend considering a DX body as a backup. The added 1.5 crop factor really does come in handy, specially if you have good glass...which I know do. Moreover, it sure help keep the cost down, which as we all know, goes toward more Nikon kick-ass glass. :P

Cheers

Posted 11 months ago #
sevencrossing

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kanuck said:
:( Your right though there is nothing like having two bodies especially for avoiding crap collecting on your sensor.

Even If you cleaned your sensor one a month, you could buy enough swabs to last about 100 years for the price of a second body

I don't think your will completely eliminate dust on the sensor, but regular cleaning of the mirror box should help

As you say, the D700 is a fabulous camera but now you are used to the 800, you will not want to go back to a 700 . I think the perfect back up for the 800 is a D4 ( no I cant afford one ether but given sufficient funds that's what I would buy )

Posted 11 months ago #
OnTheRopes

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@ Sevencrossing - The D4 would be my perfect companion for the D800 too. However it may have to be the D400 if it happens. we shall see.

So, today is sensor cleaning day, wish me luck if you never hear from me again then you know it didn't go well ;)

Posted 11 months ago #
andyp

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Does anyone know what happens to the dust removed by the self cleaning sensor?

Posted 11 months ago #
OnTheRopes

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@ Andyp - I believe, but stand to be corrected that it is supposed to drop onto a sticky pad below or something?

Update - So I cleaned my sensor using Sensor Swab Eclipse 3
Followed the instructions on the pack. I used all 4 swabs and still the sensor was dirty. I did apply some pressure as instructed and did full sweeps each way with the swab.

So, having about an hour of shopping time left I legged it down to the LCS who sorted it out for £40.

Next time I will try again myself but I did invest in a Quasar sensor loupe to make it easier.

Posted 11 months ago #
spraynpray

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You're a brave man - nobody but a Nikon repair centre touches my sensor.....

Posted 11 months ago #
SkintBrit

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spraynpray said:
You're a brave man - nobody but a Nikon repair centre touches my sensor.....

I'm also too much of a coward to have ever tried "wet" cleaning, but I do have and use an Arctic Butterfly brush. Normally does a great job.

Posted 11 months ago #
SkintBrit

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andyp said:
Does anyone know what happens to the dust removed by the self cleaning sensor?

I believe there is a sticky strip inside the mirror box.

Posted 11 months ago #
golf007sd

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OnTheRopes said:
@ Andyp - I believe, but stand to be corrected that it is supposed to drop onto a sticky pad below or something?

Update - So I cleaned my sensor using Sensor Swab Eclipse 3
Followed the instructions on the pack. I used all 4 swabs and still the sensor was dirty. I did apply some pressure as instructed and did full sweeps each way with the swab.

So, having about an hour of shopping time left I legged it down to the LCS who sorted it out for £40.

Next time I will try again myself but I did invest in a Quasar sensor loupe to make it easier.

You need to make sure your swabs are not to dry...hence you will need to apply some Eclipse Fluid...about 2-3 drops.

Posted 11 months ago #
andyp

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Proper lodging for homeless dust is good. Like others I too am afraid of the shining light that is the sensor, I cower in fear once the surface is seen and cry and shiver until it is once again hidden. I mean this all in humor and in deep appreciation for the accounts shared here

Posted 11 months ago #
kanuck

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Your probably right golf a dx body might be nice like a D7000 maybe? Obviously a D4 as you suggest sevencrossing would be amazing but I can't afford one. I've seen them in action most recently yesterday at an auto convention and they are really outstanding.

Is it just me or do you find the FX sensors to be much worse for crap collection? Makes sense larger sensor, more static? I didn't have a problem no matter how many times I changed lenses on my D40x, D80, D300 cameras, but noticed it on my D700 and now the D800e. My Leica M9 is prown to spots as well, but my Nikon F90x and F100 film cameras were fine. I know film and digital are completely different animals but...

Posted 11 months ago #
OnTheRopes

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@ golf007sd - These were the pre-moistened swabs. They actually seemd quite wet I have since bought some Visible dust swabs. These have three variations, one for water, one for oil and one in between. I am guessing the Eclipse ones couldn't cope with the oil they just seemed to smear it across the sensor.
The beauty about the sensor loupe which has 7 x magnification and LED lighting I can now see exactly what is on the sensor though hopefully a while before i have to tackle this again.
If it was oil blobs off the oil mechanism then i suppose because I have been shooting a fair bit of wildlife and sport at high frame rate this has accelerated the problem.

Posted 11 months ago #
hannes61

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Joined: Dec '12
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On my D800:
The auto sensor cleaning during switching the camera on or off seems not to work.
When switching the camera on it's immediately ready. It seems that the cleaning needs no time.

When i manually call the cleaning if have to wait some seconds and the
camera shows the busy status in the upper display.

(On a D3000 set to auto cleaning you see on starting the camera
a busy message. )

I think this is another bug.
Maybe Nikon can be informed about that and fix it in the next firmware update,
or give more info about this behavior.

Best regards, Hannes

Posted 6 months ago #

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self cleaning sensor

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