Sensor cleaning with isopropyl alcohol

[pontiac1940]

I bought my Sony A7III in March 2018. Last night's last photo was number 129,136. 

Until now, the sensor has only been cleaned by using a digi blower to blow away dust particles. But last night I saw a smudge on the sensor. See below. 

I have never needed to swab the sensor until now. But I don't have a cleaning kit with me. On another camera I used 99.9% isopropyl alcohol to clean the sensor, but was reluctant do so now. I have a bottle of 99.9% iso with me. So I searched the internet and found all sorts of dire warnings about using iso but a few saying it was fine. 

So I carefully wiped the sensor glass with a small swab dipped in iso. Worked like a charm.  

Results may vary. Use at own risk. 
 

[VickiD]

Aug 5, 2022 14:11:39 GMT pontiac1940 said:

Until now, the sensor has only been cleaned by using a digi blower to blow away dust particles.

Clyde, I'm the same way, but, when the sensor is really bad, I take it to our local camera store. I make an appointment so they can do it on the spot, and take a shopping break or a lunch break, then go back for my camera. It's been that bad twice. For some reason, I feel the mirrorless cameras are worse for getting gunk on the sensors and...being extra careful while changing lensess doesn't really help. Oh well...if this is my worst problem with my camera, I'll be very happy!

[BuckSkin]

Between myself and the wife, we have five DSLR cameras; I had to equip myself and become adept at sensor cleaning out of pure necessity.

It is not the scary black magic task that many would have you believe and is completely doable in a few minutes by oneself.

It really helps to have a Carlson Sensor Loupe; you can see every speck and also see what you are doing in there.

I have three weapons, well actually four --- I forgot about the LensPen Sensor Pen.

I have a purpose-made sensor brush that lives in a clear plastic tube.

I have a bunch of little plastic flag-looking thingies that you dab straight down on the sensor and anything on the sensor adheres to them --- they work exceedingly well.

I recently also bought some purpose-made sensor swabs for the simple reason that they can also be used to clean the mirror; these are basically a microfibre cloth stretched over a sensor-sized plastic squeegee; they are sensor-size specific.

If anyone is interested enough, I can dig up the Amazon links for all this stuff and post them.


It has been my experience that you can clean the inside of the camera, every piece, part, and participle, until it is immaculate; install the lens in a negative-pressure air chamber; and, silicone seal around the connection and never remove the lens and sooner or later the sensor will get filthy.

Two questions for pontiac1941:

What did you use for a cleaning instrument ?

Where on earth did you find 99.9% Isopropyl Alcohol ?

The purest I have been able to find around here is 91%

I, myself, have often used it inside the camera on mirror and sensor --- everyone says keep it away from the focus screen.

Many also say that the stuff that they put in Alcohol to make drunks violently sick will leave a stubborn film on whatever surface you are cleaning.....; however, that has not been my experience; I have used even 70% Alcohol to clean many things and it evaporates clear just as quickly as you apply it.

If it leaves a residue, I can't tell it.

[pontiac1940]

Aug 6, 2022 4:58:50 GMT BuckSkin said:

What did you use for a cleaning instrument ?

Where on earth did you find 99.9% Isopropyl Alcohol ?

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I used a Q-tip which sounds aggressive, but the sensors do have a glass coating so no different than lenses. BUT you can't apply much pressure becuase of the "floating" image stilization system... it wiggles. 

Our Costco sells 99.0% iso .. I said 99.9%. Ooops. They say 99% to cover their butts.  

Ahhh .. this is made in Canada. Maybe not available elsewhere. I always have some on hand for general cleaning. 

[pontiac1940]

Aug 6, 2022 4:58:50 GMT BuckSkin said:

Where on earth did you find 99.9% Isopropyl Alcohol ?

See here. But they only sell by the case....13 lifetime supply. 

[Chris]

Interesting thread. I did buy a sensor cleaning kit some years ago and occasionally use it on my slr's. I also have a "Rocket" blower brush and a lens cleaning pen and camel hair blower brush.

I use isopropyl for cleaning various things. I get my pure isopropyl alcohol from a pharmacy (Think maybe a drug store in the USA/Canada). Ask for the pure form. (Not rubbing alcohol which has other things added). Pure isopropyl alcohol is a drying agent and can also be used for cleaning gunk from old negatives and slides very carefully with a soft cloth or tissue. (as a precaution scan the negs before cleaning as a backup).



Kind regards
Chris

PS From what I recall, a substance is added to methylated spirit (methyl alcohol) to make it foul tasting. Methylated spirit is highly poisonous. Isopropyl alcohol is used in hand sanitiser but is also very poisonous if accidentally consumed.

[BuckSkin]

Aug 7, 2022 16:11:57 GMT Chris said:

as a precaution scan the negs before cleaning

That is great advice and I totally agree with you === scan what you have before you destroy it in the cleaning process.

I couldn't count the articles I have read on scanning, photos, film, and negatives; and, although almost all of them go on for pages about cleaning before you scan, not a single one of them suggests the idea that it might be wise to scan everything before the cleaning/scanning process.


As for the Alcohol, in the United States of America, so far as I know, all Alcohols sold without a license/liquor tax have an additive that makes one violently sick if ingested.

I wouldn't be surprised if the 0.01% of that 99.9% stuff was that sickening agent.