TOOLS FOR CLEANING DIGITAL SENSORS

Whatever precautions you take, one day your sensor will need cleaning. Canon approves only two methods. The first you can try yourself using a blower bulb. The second means sending the camera to a Canon Service Centre, which involves a significant fee and the loss of the camera for a period of time.
 

There are also several techniques not approved by Canon. These methods are are not endorsed by EOS magazine. If you want to try them it is at your own risk – we don’t accept any liability for any damage you might cause to your camera.

The risk to the sensor is fairly small, because it is not actually the sensor which gets dirty. The sensor is protected by a glass filter and the dust settles on the surface of this. So removing the dust is rather like cleaning a lens filter – there is a risk of scratching the filter, but this risk is quite small if you follow the instructions carefully. On the other hand, if you do scratch the sensor cover, the replacement cost will be a lot more than the cost of most lens filters.

The real danger in sensor cleaning is damage to the camera shutter. Except during an exposure, the sensor is covered by the blades of the shutter. To access the sensor, you need to open the blades. If these blades accidentally close while you are touching the sensor assembly with cleaning aids, a lot of expensive damage will occur. Every EOS camera has a 'sensor clean' mode which opens the shutters for access to the sensor.

There is more information about cleaning digital sensors in an article published in the April-June 2006 issue of EOS magazine. Before you purchase any of the folowing accessories, download and read a copy of Say Goodbye to Dust (this is a PDF file which can be opened in Adobe Acrobat - if you do not have this software, a free copy of Acrobat Reader is available here).

Do not attempt this type of cleaning unless you feel confident about your ability to do it without damaging your camera.
 

Dust-aid
Here is a safe way to keep your digital sensor clean. The great feature of Dust-Aid is that it gently lifts the contamination off the sensor and out of the camera. And, unlike many swab and brush based products, nothing is rubbed along the sensor surface, eliminating the risk of scratching. There are no liquids to buy and no brushes to clean. Dust-Aid won't cause problems with airline security either. Considerable research went into the adhesive properties of Dust-Aid and it has been independently scientifically tested to ensure that it leaves no residue on the sensor surface. Finally, it's small form factor makes it easy to fit inside the smallest of gadget bags, which means that now there's no excuse for a dirty sensor wherever you are!

One size suits all EOS digital cameras.

£36.95

Digital sensor cleaning kit
We have updated our popular all-in-one sensor cleaning kit to include a large micro-fibre cloth for cleaning the camera body and LCD screen. We've also added a DSLR sensor Brush for lighter dust when swabs aren't necessary and chamber swabs for cleaning the mirror box. This gives a complete cleaning solution in one compact travel pouch.

The kit content includes:

• Rocket Blower for blasting dust from the sensor
• 6 Sensor Swabs for wiping the sensor filter
• 1 Size specific sensor brush
• 3 Chamber swabs
• One 59ml bottle of Eclipse E2 cleaning fluid
• Large microfibre cleaning cloth
• Pack of 25 10 x 10cm Pac Pads for lens cleaning
• Instruction leaflet

Further details of the consumable items are given below, where they can be bought separately to top up the kit.
 

for APS-C sensors £64.95
EOS D30, D60, 10D, 20D, 20Da, 30D, 40D, 300D, 350D, 400D

for APS-H sensors £64.95
EOS 1D, 1D Mark II, 1D Mark II N, 1D Mark III

for full-frame sensors £64.95
EOS 1Ds, 1Ds Mark II, 1Ds Mark III, 5D

Arctic Butterfly Travel Kit
Visible Dust cleaning starts with a 'dry' clean. Simply use the Arctic Butterfly's charged fibre brush to remove dust and debris from your sensor. For more extreme cases of dirt on the sensor, this kit also comprises the Visible Dust swab system which, combined with the VDust formula supplied, safely removes all stuck-on dirt. The travel kit is supplied in a handy wallet that can be clipped to your camera bag or belt loop.

Each kit includes:
• Arctic Butterfly (for further product details see product listing below)
• 16 x corner swabs
• 12 x sensor swabs
• 1 x 8ml bottle of VDust formula
• 1 x Travel case

for APS-C sensors £119.99
EOS D30, D60, 10D, 20D, 20Da, 30D, 40D, 300D, 350D, 400D

for APS-H sensors £119.99
EOS 1D, 1D Mark II, 1D Mark II N, 1D Mark III

Green Clean
The Green Clean Sensor Cleaning System is a product developed for professional cleaning of all types of digital cameras. And not just the sensor, but all critical areas including the mirror box, lens barrels etc. This contact-free cleaning system works on the vacuum principle allowing the user to gently remove dust, fluff and friction particles from the sensor and camera housing.

Using compressed air, the 'Mini Vac' creates a vacuum action and the replaceable PickUp head gently hoovers up dust. Only if there is any kind of stain, grease or welded-on dust particles left on the sensor do you need the 'Wet & Dry' sweeper system, which is also included in the cleaning kit. The 'Wet Sweeper' is pre-soaked with the correct dosage of cleansing fluid (non-toxic, non-flammable) to dissolve dirt, which is then lifted off by the 'Dry Sweeper' with it's pre-treated textile, leaving a clean, strek-free sensor surface.
 

Sensor Cleaning Kit for non full-frame sensors £54.99
EOS 1D, 1D Mark II, 1D Mark II N, 1D Mark IIID30, D60, 10D, 20D, 20Da, 30D, 40D, 300D, 350D, 400D

Hi-Tech Air Can 400ml £12.49

Visible Dust twin brush kits
In this kit two brushes are offered, one designed to clean the full sensor and the other for lighter cleaner to sections of the sensor. The SBF (Sensor Brush™ Fan) Cannot be used as a replacement for the main Sensor Brush™. Due to lesser volume of the filaments SBF dries and cleans faster than the regular sensor brush therefore, it is easily adaptable to be charged and cleaned by a simple bulb blower. It is more often used in situations where occasional spots are the main problem. It lacks the capability and dust attraction capacity that the main sensor brush is known for. It is recommended to use the main Sensor Brush™ with canned air for a bettercleaning efficiency where heavy dust is involved.

Each kit includes:
• Sensor Brush (for cleaning the full sensor)
• SBF Brush (for cleaning sections of the sensor)
• Pelican Case with Insert
 

for APS-C sensors £64.99
EOS D30, D60, 10D, 20D, 20Da, 30D, 40D, 300D, 350D

for APS-H sensors £67.99
EOS 1D, 1D Mark II, 1D Mark II N, 1D Mark III

Visible Dust brush kits with spinning device
Visible Dust brushes are sultra-clean, and come in sizes to suit the sensor of your EOS camera. In the EOS magazine article (see above) we mention that a can of compressed air is needed to clean a brush before use, and to create a static charge. Visible Dust has now introduced a 'spinning device' (SD) which does the same job without the need for compressed air. This makes the kit much more compact for travelling, and avoids problems when flying.

Eah kit includes:
• Sensor Brush (for cleaning the full sensor)
• SBF Brush (for cleaning sections of the sensor)
• Sensor Brush SD (Spinning Device)
• Sensor Brush Adapter (Purple)
• SBF Brush Adapter (Orange)
• Pelican Case with Insert
• Instruction Guide
• 1-Year Repacement Warranty
 

for APS-C sensors £88.99
EOS D30, D60, 10D, 20D, 20Da, 30D, 40D, 300D, 350D

 

for APS-H sensors £92.99
EOS 1D, 1D Mark II, 1D Mark II N, 1D Mark III

see Visible Dust instructions if you are using the EOS 1D Mark II, IDs, iDs Mark II or 5D

Arctic Butterfly
Ideal for Travel and for Light Dusting of sensor. The Arctic Butterfly™ does not replace regular Sensor Brush™ which has more filaments and is better suited for heavier dusting. Includes an elegant carry case for added protection. Requires two AAA batteries (not supplied). Colour of case and grip may vary from that shown. Suitable for any size of sensor.

Durable plastic body
Protective twist-off cap
Snap-on battery cover
On/Off switch
Soft contoured grip
Durable carry case
 

£62.99

Rocket blower bulb
Clean your sensor the Canon recommended way with this powerful rubber blower bulb. Before using inside a camera, make sure you squeeze the bulb firmly several times to eject any small particle which may be inside the bulb.

£6.49

Sensor brush
The D-SLR Brush is a high quality, fine bristled/fiber sensor cleaning brush from Germany. The nylon bristles of the D-SLR Brush are statically charged by blowing air through them. This not only charges the brush, but also helps dislodge and remove any previously captured dust particles still in the brush. The charge on the bristles attracts dust from the sensor leaving you with a clean sensor.

No cleaning brush will totally eliminate the need for the wet method of sensor cleaning, but with the D-SLR brush you won't have to use the wet method as often, saving you time and money.
 

for APS-C sensors £17.95
EOS D30, D60, 10D, 20D, 20Da, 30D, 300D, 40D, 350D, 400D

for APS-H sensors £17.95
EOS 1D, 1D Mark II, 1D Mark II N, 1D Mark III

for full-frame sensors £17.95
EOS 1Ds, 1Ds Mark II, 1Ds Mark III, 5D

Sensor Swabs
These are designed for cleaning the delicate surface of the filter covering your digital sensor. They are manufactured in clean-room conditions and individually sealed on plastic bags to ensure they will not bring dirt to the sensor. The swab is fixed to the end of a flexible plastic spatula to help control the pressure of the swab on the glass surface. Used with two or three drops of Eclipse fluid. Each spatula should be used once only, and then discarded.
 

Supplied in packs of 10
 

for APS-C sensors £29.35
EOS D30, D60, 10D, 20D, 20Da, 30D, 40D, 300D, 350D, 400D

for APS-H sensors £29.35
EOS 1D, 1D Mark II, 1D Mark II N, 1D Mark III

for full-frame sensors £29.35
EOS 1Ds, 1Ds Mark II, 1Ds Mark III, 5D

Eclipse E2 sensor cleaner fluid
ECLIPSE E2 sensor cleaner is the highest purity Tin Oxide coated CCD cleaner available, containing less than 5 parts per million (ppm) of contamination. It dries as quickly as it can be applied leaving absolutely no residue, making it the only recommended cleaner for Tin Oxide coated CCD and CMOS sensor cleaning when used with Sensor Swabs. E2 can also be used with conventional CMOS/CCD sensors, but is not recommended for lenses or filters.
 

59ml bottle. £7.95

Pec Pads
Pec Pads should not be used for sensor cleaning. They are included here because they are the ideal companion for Eclipse fluid when cleaning lenses. Each sheet measures 10 x 10cm.
 

Pack of 25. £2.50

SpeckGRABBER Pro
A unique tool designed to remove individual dust particles from the surfaces of sensors or lenses without damaging the surfaces or causing additional contamination. The end of a SpeckGRABBER features a material with a natural tackiness. This can pick up finger oil and dirt while being handled and should be cleaned with one of the supplied wipes before each use.

The SpeckGrabber supplied in the Digital Sensor Cleaning Kit (above) does not come with wipes, but can be cleaned using Eclipse fluid on a Pec Pad. You can buy Eclipse Fuild and Pec Pads (above) when the wipes supplied with the separate SpeckGRABBER are used up.
 

£6.90

Sensor brush wash
Use this solution to clean your Sensor Brushes. These tablets are pH buffered to avoid extreme acidity or alkalinity. The end result is no affect on the existing charges on the brush. Each bottle contains 10 biodegradable tablets.
 

£9.99 per bottle