Comments on: Cleaning the Sensor on a DSLR

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:46:43 +0000

Thanks Sunset, I’ve been doing okay cleaning my sensor on my worktable but it would be nice to be able to change lenses in a cleaner environment than I’m in many times.

By: sunset

sunset — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:41:08 +0000

Yea, I’ve been using the koh dustless bag system too. You can use the bag for sensor cleaning and changing camera lenses. It’s really cool. Now you don’t have to wait for Nikon or Canon to clean your sensor in their multi-million dollar clean room where they perform the sensor cleaning because you can get a portable clean room for yourself. Check it out: http://www.kohglobal.com

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:29:07 +0000

Thanks for this Niles. Is this bag for lens changing, sensor cleaning, both?

By: Niles

Niles — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:55:24 +0000

I have been using the Koh Dustless Bag system recently. It works better than anything else I have used or seen on the market. It has a HEPA air filtering unit that cleans out the air inside the bag and hand ports make it easy to stick your hand in without contaminating the inner environment. I ordered it directly from their website http://www.kohglobal.com. I have been very pleased.

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 02:25:16 +0000

Randy, all three times I went to have my sensor cleaned they did it while I waited. The minimum time was an hour and max 2 hours. They were busy both times as other people were waiting to have things cleaned. I suppose it would be better if they allowed people to make appointments but they don’t, you just walk in and take a chance. I know, it’s a risk and I drove 3 hours to take that risk but so far, it’s worked out well for me.

You can also mail them your camera body and they’ll mail it back. Or, as you say, you can drop it off and they’ll mail it back. Best to call about this first. Let us know how it goes when you do it.

By: Randy

Randy — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 16:21:52 +0000

Thank for the response Richard. I may give them another call, or just show up down there. So is it typical for them to clean it while you wait? That would be great, I was under the impression I’d have to leave it and have it mailed to me.

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 02:25:55 +0000

Randy: that’s odd, it really is and I say that because I’ve had nothing but good experiences at the New Jersey Center and I’ve heard that the San Diego center is better and friendlier. I’d try calling back and see if you get someone else on the phone.

I’m sure that sensor cleaning is free at both of these service centers although that’s all that’s free. If you want other parts of your camera worked on or checked they’ll charge you for that. I will say, however, that just last week I went to the NJ service center with both my 20D and my 5D. I was having the 20D cleaned before selling it (it’s sold now) and I not only wanted the 5D cleaned but somehow I’d gotten a few pieces of dirt under the focusing screen and maybe up into the prism. I called them about this and they said that I’d probably have to leave the camera to have that cleaned and it might cost something depending on what was involved. They cleaned the 20D and took another hour with the 5D but cleaned both sensor and prism, no charge and perfectly. I was and am delighted.

I’m sure not every case is like mine, but this is the third time I’ve been to that center and each time I’ve been treated well. I have to say it’s not a pleasant drive through NY and NJ to get there and it’s sort of a dumpy office in a larger Canon corporate park but they do get things done there. I’ve also had two lenses fixed by them, under warranty. I filled out the web forms and sent them in. They kept them for what seemed like a bit too long a time (14 days) but they came back perfect.

I’d try again Randy, my guess is you just got the wrong person.

By: Randy

Randy — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 23:31:26 +0000

I just called the Canon service center in Irvine and was told that he could not give me any information about how much it would or would not cost. I told him I had heard about them cleaning it for free and all I could get out of him was “it may or may not be” and that I’d have to drive all the way there and talk to the person at the counter. Not the glowing service I had heard of :-/

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 13:02:03 +0000

Daniel: I’m delighted you got your sensor cleaned and of course I’m delighted you know me on flickr and now here too.

I’ll call the NJ service center today and ask. I need to have the focus screen on my 5D cleaned and I’d like them to do it while I wait, should I find the time to drive down there. Stay tuned…

By: Daniel Rodriguez

Daniel Rodriguez — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 02:39:49 +0000

hey richard, thanks for the great write up. i’ve been looking into cleaning my rebelxt’s sensor for quite a while, and now that i’ve started shooting weddings i really had to!

anyways, i just finished and i’m about to look at my images full size and i think they’ll be fine. i used the eclipse drops and swabs (which was the only method glazers in seattle even carries b/c they say it is just the best).

great blog by the way. i’ve seen it before from your flickr profile and posts, but i found this particular entry by searching google for “canon service center”. which reminds me.. my brother told me that in LA they don’t really do drop in cleaning anymore (recently). he was living down there this last year and found that out. his friend is fairly promenent photographer and was able to convince them to clean at least one sensor for both of them, but they were insistant that the bodies be left there for longer (days) or mailed (allegidly).