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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Cleaning OLPF

S

Stuart Cameron

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I just got my low light OLPF from RED and installed it. When I was looking at the highlight OLPF I noticed some specks of dust, I went to blow them off and my puffer blew tons of other sh*t all over it.... so I used some pancro and now its just a smudgy mess. Are these filters able to be cleaned by traditional methods or did I just invest in a new hightlight OLPF? Anyone got tips, hints, experience let me know.

thanks,

S.
 
I went to swap mine only to discover greasy fingerprints all over it. My seven year old daughter decided to see if there was something in the OLPF box and used her fingers to find out. I used some fresh paper lens tissues with cleaning fluid to clean it. Because of the oils it took a bunch of applications and a few tissues but it cleaned up nicely. Let's also say, I wouldn't want to do it again and may have gotten lucky, but it worked.

I'm also sure others who are more technical than I am and may also weigh in on what to do.
 
I did the same, but I worry that I removed the coating with the amount that I had to clean it. There are also still some little specs that you can see if you hold a flashlight up to the glass, but they are not visible any other way.... so its hard to say. I will have to shoot some tests to see if any of the particles or oils/marks/scratches that may exist are visible. I know there are other threads on the topic as well, but they all tend to go off in a different direction before anyone really chimes in on their experiences - so thanks for letting me know whats up with your situation Chris.

S.
 
I had the same issue when I went to clean the LLOLPF and i know of another friend with the same issue. There is some sort of film/oil covering the glass and its not easy to clean since its such a small area. I spent about 1 hour carefully cleaning it with Pancro, sensor cleaners and a lens cleaning pen. After it was cleaned I see no difference in the image but it was a tedious process and I would NOT want to do that on set.
 
Once you've done it a few times you can get the technique down.

If there's any kind of grease you need to use a lot of cleaning fluid and lens tissue to remove it, one wipe per piece of the tissue otherwise you're just moving the dirt around.

Once you've dealt with that one or two proper sensor swabs and you'll be done. I prefer slightly undersized swabs.

If if you ever have to do it, the sensor cover glass is actually way easier, as there's heaps of 'spare' glass outside the image area. This means the stop-marks of a swab are no big deal.

It's definitely a skill that takes some developing, but I'd have to suggest that and AC in the digital age should be armed with both the skill and a nice bag full of cleaning options for sensor dirt. Critical stuff and not rocket science, just practice.
 
Stuart Cameron said:
I just got my low light OLPF from RED and installed it. When I was looking at the highlight OLPF I noticed some specks of dust, I went to blow them off and my puffer blew tons of other sh*t all over it.... so I used some pancro and now its just a smudgy mess. Are these filters able to be cleaned by traditional methods or did I just invest in a new hightlight OLPF? Anyone got tips, hints, experience let me know.

thanks,

S.
Click to expand...

Don't blow.

ARCTIC BUTTERFLY for the win. http://www.visibledust.com/products3.php?pid=3

The brush spins and creates a static charge. When you bring the brush close to a sensor or OLPF - the dust "jumps" onto the brush. You do not even make contact with the OLPF or sensor.
 
Stuart Cameron said:
I just got my low light OLPF from RED and installed it. When I was looking at the highlight OLPF I noticed some specks of dust, I went to blow them off and my puffer blew tons of other sh*t all over it.... so I used some pancro and now its just a smudgy mess. Are these filters able to be cleaned by traditional methods or did I just invest in a new hightlight OLPF? Anyone got tips, hints, experience let me know.

thanks,

S.
Click to expand...

You need a dust filtered blower e.g. the Giottos Rocket Blower! :)
 
Kelsey W. Smith said:
Came across this video from Able Cine. Some good info.
Click to expand...

Obviously a little difficult for her to demonstrate without her hand being in an awkward position to not obscure the video, but avoid dragging the Visible Dust brush over anywhere except the OLPF/Sensor to avoid picking up dust in the lens port or even grease or other dirt.
 
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