Kit cleaning

[SwissJon]

Having spent a couple of weeks near the seaside, I now realise my sensor is covered in crap, and most likely my lenses are salty.. I tried to do the "Sensor cleaning" in camera, but there's still tiny dust spots.

Does anyone have any tips for cleaning salt off a lens? I can't see any, but I know it was there, in the air.. A damp rag?

And since I've never cleaned a sensor before, should I take it into a shop to do or get some products and try it myself? (There is an area in our house where the dog and cat don't go, so I can get reasonably dust free) If so, what products? I'm someone that prefers to try things themself than pay someone to do something I could have don with a bit of time and patience so if I'm not likely to damage my camera, I'll give it a go.

[SwissJon]

So nobody on here cleans their kit ever??

[Dodge]

I just use a kit like this one AF Carl Zeiss Camera Cleaning Kit Lens cleaning kit

I can see the North sea from my house so all my gear lives by the sea and I've had most of it for two years + now. I just use a soft cloth with a bit of solution on it for the glass and never had a problem. Filters on all my lenses though which may help. Haven't had the sensor issue though, which I really should have had if it's seaside related.

Maybe some solution on a cotton bud for stubborn sensor specks? I wouldn't touch it though unless reassured by someone that it would be ok to do.

[Dodge]

just found this, not read it thoroughly but might help. seem to know what they're about;
Introduction - Cleaning Digital Cameras - D-SLR Sensor Cleaning.
http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/methods.html

[Hill Country Hack]

There are multiple ways to clean your sensor. Google it and you'll get many results.

[SwissJon]

Thanks Dodge.. I'll dig out the solution and see how it goes..

I think the sensor was grubby because of the dust in the air when I change the lenses.. I haven't been too careful about how I did it, there was often a breeze, and in my house there's a dog and a cat that constantly shed hair... And hey presto, if I point the camera at a clear blue sky and set the focus to infinity at F/22 I can see spots on the image.

Ahh.. Found the thread I was looking for

Woohoo! Copper Hill sensor-cleaning method: Success!

[Krusty79]

I knew there was another thread on this recently:

DSLR Sensor Cleaning

[sk66]

Ok, my 2c on this.
Cleaning saltwater/mineral deposits from a lens is a two part process. Minerals form crystals, and regardless of how small they are, just rubbing them off is akin to grinding sand into the lens.

Use a soft rag (something like a microfiber cloth) wet down with CLEAN water (probably not tap water). Take care, the point is to dissolve/loosen/remove the mineral deposits NOT to get the lens "clean". Once that is done you will likely have water spots and maybe some lint to remove. Standard cleaning practices work well for this.

The sensor should be in much better shape. Basic careful cleaning w/ sensor swabs/solution should do the trick. Just do it in two stages like for the lens. One to wet it down/loosen/remove. A second cleaning (with new swab) to get it actually "clean".

[SwissJon]

Thanks Steve..

I was curious about the salt. I think I'll use the lens fluid for both stages, the waters quite hard round here. I could use distilled water I guess, but I think it's better to use the cleaning fluid.

I know there's plenty of stuff on google, but there's nothing better than first hand knowledge, I don't know one kit from another.

[sk66]

I don't think the kit matters much.
I got a basic sensor cleaning kit at the local shop and it's worked well for me.