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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 :)

Sensor/lens cleaning

david farland

david farland

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I've used all Visible Dust & Eclipse products (fluids, wipes) for cleaning the Red sensors/lens.
I was reluctant to use any fluid as I didn't know what coating were used on the OLPF or chamber.
I found doing a wet cleaning of the the Red 18-50 inside element caused the black coating round the element to dissolve!
But the sensor chamber has used a different coating (or none) and seems okay.

I've found Eclipse fluids to be by far superior...and leaves no residue!
Residues seem to be a result of impurities in the cleaning fluid.

The Eclipse 2 fluid seems to be best of all for the only time I used it in the sensor chamber.
I know it is a little 'gentler' than the Normal Eclipse fluid as it's designed for sensor coatings with tin oxide (whatever).

Would like to get the word from Red on using particular cleaning fluids though!
The 4 Visible Dust fluids are for oiled & water based stubborn particles and a general cleaner as well as a lens cleaning fluid.
don't know how much the oiled & water cleaners work but you always have to use the general Visible Dust cleaner to get rid of smears from the oiled & water cleaners.
And the more fluid you use on the sensor the more residue/stain is left.
But here's the thing...if you use a little too much Eclipse on the sensor wipe (because you don't want to scratch the surface with a dry wipe), the Eclipse fluid is much more forgiving before it leaves a residue.
I always use the 7X Visible Dust loupe to check the sensor as there are particles you won't see with the naked eye.

Just bought this stereoscopic microscope ($250) on ebay which should show up a lot more......
48_1221970775.jpg


whether it shows imperfections that will appear on the image is another thing!

Also I usually expect the Visible Dust Artic brush to leave streaks/particles even if cleaned with cleaning tablets supplied and then dried.
I've heard that some guys use the Artic brush spinning and not touching the sensor but I don't trust my hand to not accidentially begin engraving on the sensor.
I'd also be interested to know from Red what size dust particle on the OLPF actually fully blocks a pixel square on the effective ~3.8K pixel grid and how......does it just blur or black out?
Any way that's my thoughts on it.
D
 
Best stuff I've ever used is the Carl Zeiss Optikputzmichschung L, but they only want to sell little 30 ml bottles because it's flammable.
 
from what i recall ..
eclipse is good to use on RED
eclipse E2 is NOT recommended on the OLPF in front of the sensor ..
 
Thanks Martin, I saw that site...the German's not the problem (i'm fluent) but it'll probably cost 50 euros shipping to Canada! There must be a better way...
:)
 
I used the Eclipse (not E2) solution and sensor wipes, worked perfectly, no residue, and one swipe and it was clean. The wipes are $48 for a box of 12, but they're great for the few times you'd be cleaning the sensor.

I did this after calling RED support and asking what to use, they said any sensor cleaning solution would be okay, and recommended the flat blade-type wipes.

Tim
 
You can clean that low pass filter with normal sensor cleaning tools that you normally would buy for DSLR's .. Delkin makes some, and SensorSwab makes even better ones.

You can also use something called the Sensor Scope.. its a little round tube with a magnify and led light, you can look through and see dust very quickly...

BC
 
Jim,
you can also buy all that at Vanbar (Camperdown)
D
 
Hey Dave. Same price or less? I'm off to the U.S. today and could easily bring it back with me! :greedy:
 
The pecpads & cleaning fluid is cheap (~$14).

I'd suggest picking up the standard Eclipse fluid whilst you're in the States (if the economy still trades) as vanbar have it on back order.

Enjoy your time there. Catchup when you return.
D
 
Swab size?

Swab size?

david farland said:
The Eclipse 2 fluid seems to be best of all for the only time I used it in the sensor chamber.
D
Click to expand...

Do you happen to know what size swab best fits the red? I can't seem to find their dimensions anywhere online. I know the red sensor is 24.4mm x 13.7mm. But not sure how wide they different types are.
 
I found out.

I found out.

According to Photographic Solutions, the company that makes the Eclipse liquid and the the swabs I was looking at, the Type 3 swab is their largest swab and it is 24mm, so it's just shy of 24.4...It's definitely the closest. I've found so far.

Hope that helps others.
 
Eclipse works very well, it is pretty potent stuff and even though I have carried it on planes successfully with me before I wouldn't doubt there may be a possibility of airport hassles due to it's poisonous nature if it's in a carry-on.

Most important thing is use the bulb air blower first as much as possible as to try to remedy the situation without physically touching the OLPF and if you do need to treat the OLPF be gentle and use sensor swabs with Eclipse or another related DSLR sensor cleaning solution.

Beyond that- if your OLPF is not dirty don't clean it. May seem like common sense but some would be surprised.
 
Sean R. said:
Most important thing is use the bulb air blower first as much as possible ... if your OLPF is not dirty don't clean it.
Click to expand...

Every time I get a camera back from a rental, I cringe a bit as I open the port cap on the PL mount, hoping that no dirt that can't be puffed off with air is on the sensor. Luckily I've only had to do it twice, and the eclipse solution and swabs (pricey, but perfect) have worked marvelously.
 
Sean R. said:
Beyond that- if your OLPF is not dirty don't clean it. May seem like common sense but some would be surprised.
Click to expand...

What would you do with an assistant who pretended he had to clean it and then left 2 nasty smears?

regards

Michael

ps I'm digging someone on this list:bleh:
 
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