{"id":1935,"date":"2016-08-24T11:23:00","date_gmt":"2016-08-24T15:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.wordpress\/?p=1935"},"modified":"2017-03-13T04:41:47","modified_gmt":"2017-03-13T08:41:47","slug":"the-secret-of-effectively-and-safely-cleaning-your-digital-camera-sensor-yourself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/the-secret-of-effectively-and-safely-cleaning-your-digital-camera-sensor-yourself\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Clean Camera Sensors: The Secret to Safely and Effectively Cleaning Sensor Dust"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever wondered what causes those mysterious spots that appear in your photos? For photographers, particularly those who use interchangeable lens cameras, this is a common occurrence.<\/p>\n

If you are constantly using your camera and switching lenses during photo shoots, then you\u2019ve probably experienced this problem before.<\/p>\n

These mysterious spots are caused by dust or dirt on your sensor, which is completely normal and virtually unavoidable. To combat this problem, most camera makers have included a sensor cleaning function in newer camera models. However, sometimes this handy little feature just isn\u2019t enough, which is why cleaning the camera sensor is a painstaking chore that every photographer has to deal with every so often.<\/p>\n

What is sensor dust?<\/h4>\n

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The term sensor dust is used to describe the particles or elements that enter a camera and stick to its sensor. This usually happens when the camera user exposes the sensor by removing the body cap or switching lenses.<\/p>\n

Camera sensors are dust magnets and notoriously prone to dust buildup if you\u2019re not careful, so you will inevitably have to clean your camera\u2019s sensor every so often, or once you start to discern those annoying spots on your photos.<\/p>\n

Why is sensor dust a problem?<\/h4>\n
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Sensor dust exposed in light<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you\u2019re not professionally selling your photos<\/a>, sensor dust really isn\u2019t a big deal. As long as you\u2019re satisfied with the photos, you can just crop them out (if they\u2019re near the edges) or use Photoshop to get rid of them.<\/p>\n

But if you\u2019re a professional photographer who takes hundreds of photos in a single photo shoot, these quick fixes aren\u2019t advisable since it would be too time-consuming to have to edit out sensor dust in every single picture. So, if you do this for a living, you\u2019ll have to keep your camera\u2019s sensor clean at all times.<\/p>\n

Are self-cleaning sensors sufficient?<\/h4>\n

You can\u2019t always rely on new technology to assure you of a clean digital camera sensor. Many interchangeable lens cameras<\/a>\u2014DSLRs and MILCs\u2014made in recent years have self-cleaning sensors that vibrate at ultrasonic speeds when the camera is turned on or off. This may help shake some of the dirt loose, but it shouldn\u2019t be a substitute for manual sensor cleaning.<\/p>\n

With a self-cleaning sensor, you may not need to clean your sensor as often, but it still needs to be cleaned manually every once in a while to ensure that it\u2019s completely dust-free. Some photographers usually send it in to the manufacturer\u2019s service center for cleaning, but due to the significant downtime (it will take a while for you to get your camera back) and the expensive cost, most just end up doing it themselves.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re planning on going the DIY route, you can find a lot of information online and elsewhere about how to clean camera sensors, but I believe my sensor cleaning method is more thorough than any others I\u2019ve seen.<\/p>\n

Even with self-cleaning, sensor spots are actually more of an issue today than they were a few years ago. Image manipulations such as HDR or the tone mapping-like contrast increases, including those in many popular filters such as those from Nik and Topaz, will show spots that you didn\u2019t notice before.<\/p>\n

Is DIY sensor cleaning safe?<\/h4>\n

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DIY sensor cleaning is completely safe. As long as you do it the right way, you shouldn\u2019t have any problems. Many photographers regularly do their own sensor cleaning without any issues. Yes, there\u2019s always the risk of damaging the sensor if done incorrectly, but if you take a few basic precautions and handle your sensor with care, the potential for damage is small.<\/p>\n

There has been a lot of debate on the merits of do-it-yourself versus sending it out when it comes to cleaning sensors. Having it cleaned by professionals is ultimately the easier option, but as previously mentioned, it will cost you money and you won\u2019t be able to use your camera for a certain period of time. I personally want to be able to clean my sensor whenever necessary, which can be at inconvenient times, and I want to have it done quickly. And, frankly, I think I\u2019d do a better job than anyone else.<\/p>\n

Sensor cleaning can be tedious, and it\u2019s a job that you wouldn\u2019t want to entrust to just anyone. Sometimes it gets worse before it gets better, but I\u2019ll stay at it until I\u2019m satisfied with the results.<\/p>\n

Knowing how to clean your own camera sensor is not only economical and convenient, but ultimately more effective and thorough because you are doing the work yourself. You can save a bundle (you\u2019ll only need to spend on a reliable camera cleaning kit<\/a>) and do a better job by cleaning your camera\u2019s sensor yourself.<\/p>\n

How to check if your sensor is dirty<\/h4>\n

It\u2019s easy to find out how dirty the sensor is by shooting a clear sky or a clean piece of paper. It will give you an idea of what you\u2019ll need to clone out on the images, as well as how badly you need to clean the sensor.<\/p>\n

1. Shoot a sensor check image<\/h5>\n