Sensor cleaning warnings

[David Kilpatrick]

Following some findings about BF/FF and issues connected with using Dust-Aid sensor cleaning on the A100 (now not recommended by Dust-Aid, but for the wrong reasons) I should put out this warning - do not use Dust-Aid on 5D, 7D or A100. Do not use any cleaning system which involved firm pressure on the sensor cover glass, as the sensor carriage is spring loaded. It may possible to alter the position of the sensor temporarily or permanently by pressing it in against the spring pressure when cleaning (this happens with Dust-Aid every time). It may or may not recover its correct position.

I have contacted Sony, Dust-Aid and Dust-Aid's UK importer and hope to get a proper answer on the potential dangers of using systems like this on AS/SSS equipped sensors.

David

[paulobro]

Will certainly be looking forward to hearing how your contacts return.

I've used Dust-Aid a couple times on both my 5D and A100 and I've noticed no change on focus on either of them. As Dust-Aid states on their site the use of the gadget is not recommended for any camera with internal dust removal systems I wrote them regarding its use on the A100, since it IS approved for use on the 5D, asking did they know of any specific problems related to A100. They said they didn't but that indeed they do not recommend using their product on the A100 and, should I use it, the risk would be on me.

I'm guessing Sony will answer, like Canon and Nikon, that touching the sensor cover, or any sensor part for that matter, in any way for any reason is a no, no, no, period.

Don't know is the absence of problems on my cameras due to blind luck or is the procedure safe to perform. In any case I'll refrain from using Dust-Aid untill further info is made available.

[David Kilpatrick]

I am now in touch with Ross Wordhouse. He's asked me if I can help them with an ISO specification working party, which I can not as I don't have the knowledge. I've put him in touch with OCLI, who can best help him over problems with Canon's AA filter coatings being susceptible to damage. They are investigating the issue of sprung carriage/SSS sensor assemblies. As you say, I do not think I will get an answer from Sony. Paul Genge has been as helpful as he is able to be in the UK. Sony execs can not make speculative statements or chat on email, the corporation is very focused on legal aspects and therefore no-one is permitted to make any statement about anything unless it goes through the system and is approved. This rules out a lot of casual exchange of ideas. However, I am sure Paul has set enquiries in motion within Sony to find more about this issue of the spring-mounting and whether any disturbance to calibration is possible.

I do know that the second cleaning cycle yesterday caused a slight shift in focus, from about 1 cm BF in 1 metre, to spot-on accuracy at 1m, with the 16-80mm.

Anyway, Dust-Aid is now fully mobilised to issue proper warnings and include them in the retail pack. It is one of the best cleaning products I have used so I really hope they can get past this one.

David

[Greg Beetham]

Don't hold you're breath David, waiting for a reply from Sony.
I'm still waiting for a reply on the 1200 Ring Flash and new macro flash controller compatibility issue, that I asked Sony about, over a month ago.
There might be a log-jam of info requests, maybe, but I doubt it. All they had too do was look at one in stock to see if it still had the access port for the Ring Flash, (not too difficult).
Maybe they are log-jammed internally, by corporate inertia.
The people we really need to be able to talk too such as, Engineers and designers eg, lab rats on the technical side of things, are not allowed to answer questions or talk directly to the public at large, as they don't have a clue how to promote the best attributes of anything and are liable to mention "gasp" managerial decisions, resulting in shortcomings and faults etc. without proper regard to Corporate Image.
Whereas salesmen, marketing people etc. (those not responsible for policy) arn't allowed to engage in speculation on developments, improvements, performance and specification anomalies regarding a given product, if the actual performance/specifications appear to differ from those quoted in official material, (the legal liability issue you mention looming large I'd say).
So, we are unfortunately left with the unhelpful equation of,
0+0=0
Regards Greg

[Gagauza]

I bought the artic butterfly brush for cleaning the ccd sensor on alpha100 and i want to be sure this will couse no harm to the sensor that is why i will ask one more time: Is it safe to touch the sensor with that brush?!

[David Kilpatrick]

Yes, it's OK. And I have used the adhesive pad system with very gentle pressure, again, to remove a serious dust/dirt artefact which arrived on one corner of my sensor. No pressure, very gently three steps of dust removal. It worked. The Butterfly is no problem, no issue. It can not harm to sensor.

David

[plevyadophy]

Following some findings about BF/FF and issues connected with using Dust-Aid sensor cleaning on the A100 (now not recommended by Dust-Aid, but for the wrong reasons) I should put out this warning - do not use Dust-Aid on 5D, 7D or A100. Do not use any cleaning system which involved firm pressure on the sensor cover glass, as the sensor carriage is spring loaded. It may possible to alter the position of the sensor temporarily or permanently by pressing it in against the spring pressure when cleaning (this happens with Dust-Aid every time). It may or may not recover its correct position.

I have contacted Sony, Dust-Aid and Dust-Aid's UK importer and hope to get a proper answer on the potential dangers of using systems like this on AS/SSS equipped sensors.

David

Has this issue now been resolved?

And if so, what is the recommended regimen for cleaning (inlcuding wet cleaning) a Sony Alpha sensor?

And what products and/or materials are safe to use?

Thanks in advance.

[MFS]

I use a Visible Dust Brush 1.6. A dry cleaning system (just a brush, no fluids). Used it several times on my KM D7D. No spots yet on my A700 but I think the VD Brush is OK for the A700 also?

[David Kilpatrick]

Following some findings about BF/FF and issues connected with using Dust-Aid sensor cleaning on the A100 (now not recommended by Dust-Aid, but for the wrong reasons) I should put out this warning - do not use Dust-Aid on 5D, 7D or A100. Do not use any cleaning system which involved firm pressure on the sensor cover glass, as the sensor carriage is spring loaded. It may possible to alter the position of the sensor temporarily or permanently by pressing it in against the spring pressure when cleaning (this happens with Dust-Aid every time). It may or may not recover its correct position.

I have contacted Sony, Dust-Aid and Dust-Aid's UK importer and hope to get a proper answer on the potential dangers of using systems like this on AS/SSS equipped sensors.

David

Has this issue now been resolved?

And if so, what is the recommended regimen for cleaning (inlcuding wet cleaning) a Sony Alpha sensor?

And what products and/or materials are safe to use?

Thanks in advance.

Dust-Aid recommend using the 'Canon type' cleaning pad on all sensors with dust-repellent coatings - it is a new type of pad. They say that all SSS/AS type cameras are not compatible, which is a I guess their legal disclaimer. With care, you can use the pads for Sony models but I feel it's undesirable. My present solution is to use nothing and rely on the inbuilt cleaning, unless a visible spot appears. Then I will use a blower, once, in clean conditions. So far I have not cleaned a sensor since June, when I was forced to do use the blower repeatedly on the A700. I have never used any solutions, or brushes. The Visible Dust brush does look like the safest solution.

David

[Dr. Harout]

I guess you could say I rely on the on-board cleaning system as well.

-Sonolta

That makes 2 of us.

[bakubo]

I occasionally needed to clean the sensor on my KM 7D and Canon 30D, but so far I haven't cleaned the A700 or A100. From time to time I notice a spot or two in the sky but usually it is gone the next time I use the camera -- I guess the sensor shake works fairly well. I don't recall ever cleaning the sensor on the Canon DRebel/300D I bought in 2003, but maybe I was just lucky because it didn't have any self-cleaning mode.

[aster]

I don't fear cleaning the sensor of my A100 and I'm sure I will not hesitate to clean a much more expensive , complex advanced camera. I learned how it's done and use a pen-like special tool with a soft wet padding with a special solution to softly pick the dust off of the surface layer that protects the sensor. A full battery and a maximum of 10 minutes is enough to get the cleanest exposures at all apertures.

I was assured that I can't harm the protective layer as long as I used what the camera manufacturer recommended. I cleaned 4 times till now and everything is looking good.

Yildiz

[dynaxfl]

I found my a700 got the dust very easily. It went to the point I got really frustrated because I had to clean it almost every single time, there is always one spot that seems attract the big dust. To clean the dust, I use the sensor brush and it works extremely well. For a900 I just bought, so far I haven't had any problem of dust issue.