Cleaning Digital Camera Sensors

You would think cleaning the sensors on digital cameras would be easy and straightforward. But it turns out that there are a lot of different thoughts on cleaning, as well as products for getting the job done. And if it isn't done right, you could end up having to send your camera in to have its sensor replaced -- a costly and time-consuming proposition.

The best, most comprehensive and unbiased directions for cleaning your sensor that I've found are on the Cleaning Digital Cameras website. Among other things, they explain the pros and cons of many different ways of cleaning sensors, provide a list of sensor cleaning products, and even list the ways that camera manufacturers conduct in house cleanings (see below). How did they come up with their recommendations? They claim to have used over 150 different sources, including the repair departments of seven DSLR manufacturers, to come up with their information.

The information on their website led me to Photographic Solutions, a company that specializes in lens cleaning products. And once there, I found two videos that demonstrated wet and dry cleaning methods. While both of these videos are promoting products from Photographic Solutions, other products, from other companies, are used in similar ways.

Video One: Demonstrates Wet Cleaning

Video Two: Demonstrates Dry Cleaning

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How do Canon, Nikon, and the other major manufacturers clean cameras in house? Here's a quick list from the Cleaning Digital Cameras website:

• Canon - Blower and a Kimwipe, held by tweezers. They do not like to use fluid but when necessary they use either 90% isopropyl alcohol or a 50/50 mixture of isopropyl alcohol and Windex.

• Fuji - Photographic Solutions Sensor Swabs™ and Eclipse™

• Kodak - Photographic Solutions Sensor Swabs™ and Eclipse™

- Leica - Photographic Solutions Sensor Swabs™ and Eclipse™

• Nikon - A commercial grade lens tissue wrapped around a chopstick style piece of wood with medical grade methanol. Several forums have posts where readers have been to Nikon Service outside the USA and reported seeing the technicians using Sensors Swabs and Eclipse.

• Olympus - A Kimwipe held by tweezers and Olympus Proprietary Solution (dries quickly without streaks and is bio-degradable).

• Pentax - A special lint free cloth (provided from Japan) folded into a small square and held with a pair of tweezers as a swab moistened with a freon derivative.

• Sigma - Uses a special vacuum cleaner that was provided by Japan.

• Sony - Uses Sensor Swabs™ and Eclipse™ by Photographic Solutions.

Note: Only Kodak, Leica and Fuji support the consumer in using the same method that they themselves use for cleaning the low pass filter. All the others manufacturers only support the non-physical contact use of a hand blower. If Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax or Sigma, can tell that you have touched the low pass filter, your warranty is void. On the other hand, Photographic Solutions Inc., guarantees that you won't damage your camera, if you use their Sensor Swabs™ and Eclipse™.