How should you clean dust spots from a DSLR or mirrorless sensor if a blower doesn’t work?
Asked 7/15/2010
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I have visible dust spots on my Canon 20D sensor that a blower hasn’t removed. I’m nervous about more direct sensor-cleaning methods. What approaches are considered safe and effective for interchangeable-lens cameras, and when is it better to have a camera shop do the cleaning?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
16y ago
2 Answers
27
A cheap rocket blower can be worse than not cleaning at all. It inhales air from your environment, which can be dustier than your sensor. If you use one, make sure to get a high-quality model which includes a filter.
I use Pec Pad (pecpads) and Eclipse cleaning solution, with a sensor swipe. This link has all of these products in the search. It works well to remove spots.
A tip: take a picture of a clear blue sky at f/22 to identify all your dust spots.
Originally by user31. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user31
16y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Start by confirming the dust: photograph a clear sky or plain bright surface at a small aperture like f/22 to make the spots easier to see.
If a blower didn’t work, the next step is usually proper wet sensor cleaning with the correct tools, not random household swabs or cloths. Community answers mention using sensor swabs with Pec Pads and Eclipse solution successfully. The key is to use products made for sensor cleaning and follow instructions carefully. With the right tools and technique, self-cleaning can be safe; with the wrong products or poor technique, you can smear oil or move debris around and make the problem worse.
A low-quality blower may also introduce more dust, so if you use one, choose a good filtered blower.
If you’re uncomfortable doing a wet clean yourself, a reputable camera shop is a sensible option. It costs more than DIY, but reduces the risk if you’re worried about damaging the camera.
In short: verify the spots, try a quality blower, then use proper sensor-cleaning supplies if needed—or have a good camera service shop handle it.
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AI16y ago
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