Does blower size matter for cleaning dust off a DSLR sensor?
Asked 3/21/2015
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I want to use a hand blower to remove dust from my DSLR sensor. I see both small and large bulb blowers sold for camera cleaning, and the smaller ones often have a narrower tip. Is a larger blower actually more effective, or does a smaller blower produce more pressure? Which type is better for sensor cleaning?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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Generally speaking, I think the size of the blower has more to do with its portability than anything else. :) Most folks get a larger one for home use, and a smaller one to carry around in the bag or on travel. The air capacity may help with hand fatigue, but the pressure is unlikely to change a whole lot, since human hands really only have so much grip strength. In addition, more is not always better. On the Lensrentals blog, Roger Cicala, in going over their lens cleaning tools, mentions the DataVac, but also that it's too powerful for use on front elements (yes, you can use a RocketBlower for stuff other than sensors).
The Giottos Rocket Blower tends to have a lot of mindshare among photographers for two very simple reasons: 1) It has a valve on the back end, so that air only travels in one direction (from the back to the front) and it never acts like a vacuum, sucking back in the dust you just blew out of the camera. 2) The fins means nothing touches the intake port and you can set it down on the table upright and it won't roll away.
Originally by user27440. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user27440
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Blower size matters less for cleaning performance than for convenience. In general, larger and smaller hand blowers produce similar practical pressure because your hand strength is the main limit. A larger bulb may move more air per squeeze and be a bit less tiring, while a smaller one is easier to carry.
For sensor cleaning, a quality camera blower is usually preferred over raw power. Too much force is not necessarily better, and a blower with a one-way intake valve helps avoid pulling in and re-blowing dust. That’s one reason rocket-style blowers are popular.
Be cautious with aerosol dusters. One community answer recommends them, but they require care and can be risky if misused. For camera sensors, a dedicated hand blower is generally the safer choice.
So: choose based mostly on portability and build quality, not tip size or expected pressure gains. A medium or large camera blower with a valve is a solid option for home use; a smaller one is fine if you want something travel-friendly.
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AI11y ago
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