Sensor cleaning
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Sensor cleaning is an area of much controversy among DSLR users. This article presents common practice — it does not make any recommendations, and Nikonians takes no responsibility for any damage or invalidation of warranty stemming from the practices described.
Sensors attract dust because of their charge, and, it is speculated that rapid mirror action can put grease onto the sensor. This is visible in finished images as shadows, often with a characteristic ring or blob shape.
The three main cleaning approaches commonly discussed are:
- Let Nikon clean it during services
- Dust cleaning, using a blower or brush
- Wet cleaning, with sensor swabs and fluid
Additionally, some cameras, such as the D300, have built-in sensor cleaning, though the efficacy of this is limited.
Many professionals refuse to clean their sensors, and return it to Nikon periodically for cleaning. NPS members can have their cameras cleaned for free at Nikon events.
Cleaning the sensor yourself requires locking up the mirror and opening the shutter. This should not be done by putting the camera onto the bulb setting without a lens. For CCD type sensors, the charge is kept on while this happens, which attracts any dust in the chamber to the sensor, meaning that the result is likely to be worse than before the procedure started. The proper process is to activate the sensor cleaning lock up through the camera menus. On earlier dSLRs, this can only be achieved when a power supply is attached. From the D2X firmware update 2, dSLRs are able to engage the sensor cleaning lock up provided that the battery is fully charged.
A blower can be used for simple dust removal. Specialist blowers are available which do not introduce additional dust from outside the camera. This method is described by Nikon in some camera manuals.
A statically charged brush can be used over the sensor, such as the Arctic Butterfly system. This method is not sanctioned by Nikon.
A sensor can be wet-cleaned with a specially designed swab and the appropriate cleaning fluid. It is essential that a combination which has been designed as a set be used, and that the manufacturer's instructions are followed. No pressure should be applied during cleaning. Although popular, this method is not sanctioned by Nikon in most territories.
After cleaning, test images should be carefully evaluated to ensure that the problem has been solved, not exacerbated.
