Sensor cleaning?

[Skip Hobbie]

If you had to clean your Epic's sensor (Well not the sensor itself, but the filter in front) what product would be best. Arctic Butterfly? Swabs?

This hasn't been an issue for me yet, but I'm in the early weeks of 5 months of continuous filming in a damp rainforest. Quick xmas break in the city, and a chance to order supplies and have them shipped over. It seems inevitable that this may be necessary, and while I've got every tool imaginable for lens cleaning, I don't have anything for the sensor aside from a blower bulb (not compressed air, just the hand pump).

Any suggestions or recommendations from REDusers or RED themselves? Fingers crossed that I can keep it clean, but with frequent lens changes in this kind of humid environment, I want to be prepared.

Thanks and Merry Christmas,
Skip

 

[Frank Martin]

We have been using lightly blown air from a bulb,
an artic butterfly if
if that doesnt work and if there is any
smearing then we 'll use a few drops of sensor cleaning
soltion and swabs.

 

[Skip Hobbie]

Thanks Frank. Which solution / swabs have you used? I always fear the wrong solution might leave some kind of film.

-s

 

[Björn Benckert]

Our camera doctor mix his own out of medical alcohol and battery water. I think most alcohol and a little bit of that water. And it actually cleans and dries of like nothing else, the stuff I bought on amazon was not half that good but still works well. Usually I wet one swab and "spackel around" with it in there then I take a dry swab and wipe the glass almost dry and let the last remain evaporate away, Usually then it's perfectly spot free, if not I just repeat the procedure. First time I had this done I was a bit terrified and thought it was game over as the guy how was going to help me clean it really used a lot of liquid and let the swab move around like a hockey stick in there, and in my mind the sensor should not even be touched by anything, but then the guy that did it assured me that he cleaned all the sensors for Fincher on dragon tattoo this way and he tough me later that the filter in front of the sensor is actually very durable and it's not to much to be afraid of.

 

[Vithya Sharma]

Our camera doctor mix his own out of medical alcohol and battery water. I think most alcohol and a little bit of that water. And it actually cleans and dries of like nothing else, the stuff I bought on amazon was not half that good but still works well. Usually I wet one swab and "spackel around" with it in there then I take a dry swab and wipe the glass almost dry and let the last remain evaporate away, Usually then it's perfectly spot free, if not I just repeat the procedure. First time I had this done I was a bit terrified and thought it was game over as the guy how was going to help me clean it really used a lot of liquid and let the swab move around like a hockey stick in there, and in my mind the sensor should not even be touched by anything, but then the guy that did it assured me that he cleaned all the sensors for Fincher on dragon tattoo this way and he tough me later that the filter in front of the sensor is actually very durable and it's not to much to be afraid of.

Grade Tip

 

[Eric Santiago]

Is there a tell if this needs to be done?

 

[ericyoung]

Is there a tell if this needs to be done?

Just inspect with Arctic Sensor Loupe/bright Maglite/LEd torch at beginning of shoot, and while changing lenses - especially on a dusty, wet shoot. Tiny bits of dust will be very out of focus on the OLPF at more usual open apertures, and probably not visible unless against flat areas of colour like the sky or a blank wall/window. Closing down will make them more prominent.

 

[Dominik Muench]

First I clean all dust with an arctic butterfly. and if there are any smears or fingertips....which happens more than people thing when the camera comes back from a rental gig....then I use a cotton tip dipped in isopropyl alcohol. works great.
Like Bjoern said, there is actually another layer ontop of the sensor so its quite safe...just be careful what solution you use and don't push too hard.

 

[Les Dittert]

The danger is if you happen to snag a grain of sand while you wipe over the glass, making a scratch. If wiping, it's best if you simultaneously roll the wiper upwards to minimize this danger. Luckily the surface that would get dust on it is far from the actual sensor, so the dust usually has to be pretty big to actually show up on the picture.