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Airplane-Friendly Sensor Cleaning System

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David4099

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I will be traveling via airplane soon and cannot bring my Eclipse fliuid on the plane because it is flammable.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a dry and/or wet sensor cleaning system that would be airplane friendly?

Regards,

David
 
I purchased the VisiableDust econo kit for the 1.6 format DSLR. I love it. It is a little pricey, but works very well. I got mine for traveling as well. I knew I would not always be able to get the Eclipse fluid in some places.

Good luck.
--
Michael C. Andrews
 
I got the Visible Dust kit for the 1.6 sensor style, and it does the job remarkably well. I would not travel with a wet kit, and have used this dry kit almost everywhere I've gone, with great results. For the wet cleaning, right now, I'll leave that up to Canon, as it is still covered by the warranty.
--
It is all about the moment…
once passed…never retrieved…
once captured…never forgotten.

This IS the essence of photography
 
It always amazes me that a tiny bottle of Eclipse is such a dangerous thing but they can have a galley full of high-proof booze on board :)

But to be fair, the booze is probably not as flammable, and it is secured in a known location so I guess we shouldn't complain.

In any case, I've found that most of the time alcohol is not necessary for cleaning the filter on your camera's sensor. Most of the stuff that finds its way to the sensor does not need such a solvent.

I normally just use my condensed breath as the "solvent" if a solvent is needed. They can't stop me from carrying that with me - at least I hope they can't.

--
Jim H.
 
JimH said:
In any case, I've found that most of the time alcohol is not
necessary for cleaning the filter on your camera's sensor. Most of
the stuff that finds its way to the sensor does not need such a
solvent.
Click to expand...
I agree. I think that much of the reason for Eclipse fluid is to make the pads or swabs hold onto the dust better, rather than act as a real solvent to dissolve anything. The small amount of methanol left behind can then quickly evaporate. Actually, methanol is a pretty lousy solvent for much of what might get on the sensor. I have read many postings about "grease" or "oil" from the shutter getting on the sensor by using a dry brush and then how a wet cleaning with Eclipse worked wonders. Well, if it is really "grease" then it would take much more than the recommended two or three drops of methanol to dissolve it, even forgetting the quick one swipe that the cleaning method calls for. Try this for an experiment. Rub a small amount of grease on a piece of glass and then bathe it with a stream of Eclipse, not just a few drops. The grease will remain.

--
**** Thomas
Kalamazoo, MI
 
it's needed primarily for two reasons that were mentioned, but not as a solvent. As a dampening agent to hang onto dust when the cleaning swab is moved across the sensor/aafilter AND because it leaves NO RESIDUE, unlike many other liquids or cleaning fluids.

Using one's own breath would be a "less than good" idea.. it's full of contaminants and it can/will leave a residue.

icmp
 
If you cough or sneeze onto the sensor, it'll have all sorts of contaminants, but the condensed water left behind after one breathes into the mirror box and onto the sensor leaves no residue.

I've done this hundreds of times and it works extremely well.

The water left behind is, by definition, distilled. And further, it's "fractionally distilled" by virtue of the fact that the temperature of your lungs is very close to the temperature of your sensor (usually).

By what mechanism could anything that would leave a residue "carry over" in this evaporation/condensation scenario?

The only "contaminant" of interest that I've been made aware of by my chemist friends is carbon dioxide which will dissolve into the deposited water droplets creating a bit of carbonic acid in the water. This adds some ions which actually improves the ability of the water to "short out" the electrostatic forces which are holding some stubborn dust particles to the potentially charged surface of the sensor filter.

I've seen people on here worry about the condensed water from breath being full of contaminants, but none of them have ever offered any explanation as to how this would occur unless one were to cough, spit, wheeze, or sneeze into the camera.

Condensed breath has been used as a method of depositing a small amount of clean water onto optical surfaces for cleaning for many years. Often it is used as the last step after the use of another solvent to get the final finishing touch on a lens or filter cleaning job.

Anyhow, it's been my experience over many years that condensed breath works very well for cleaning lenses, filters, and now the sensor filter on my 20D.

--
Jim H.
 
Why don't you just put the Eclipse fluid in your check-in luggage? I'm sure that wouldn't be a problem. Btw, I've never had any problems taking Eclipse fluid with me on a flight. If you want to make sure that your eclipse makes it through baggage checks just take one in your check-in luggage and one in your handpack.
 
JimH said:
If you cough or sneeze onto the sensor, it'll have all sorts of
contaminants, but the condensed water left behind after one
breathes into the mirror box and onto the sensor leaves no residue.

I've done this hundreds of times and it works extremely well.

The water left behind is, by definition, distilled. And further,
it's "fractionally distilled" by virtue of the fact that the
temperature of your lungs is very close to the temperature of your
sensor (usually).

By what mechanism could anything that would leave a residue "carry
over" in this evaporation/condensation scenario?

The only "contaminant" of interest that I've been made aware of by
my chemist friends is carbon dioxide which will dissolve into the
deposited water droplets creating a bit of carbonic acid in the
water. This adds some ions which actually improves the ability of
the water to "short out" the electrostatic forces which are holding
some stubborn dust particles to the potentially charged surface of
the sensor filter.

I've seen people on here worry about the condensed water from
breath being full of contaminants, but none of them have ever
offered any explanation as to how this would occur unless one were
to cough, spit, wheeze, or sneeze into the camera.

Condensed breath has been used as a method of depositing a small
amount of clean water onto optical surfaces for cleaning for many
years. Often it is used as the last step after the use of another
solvent to get the final finishing touch on a lens or filter
cleaning job.

Anyhow, it's been my experience over many years that condensed
breath works very well for cleaning lenses, filters, and now the
sensor filter on my 20D.

--
Jim H.
Click to expand...
Jim I have used your method on my 10D,20D.30D, many times with no ill effects, the condensed water that comes from our breathing one breath on the sensor leaves a very small film of condensed water which works unbelievably well when removed a lintless media such as pec pads.

I'll continue to use this method because it works, doesn't cost a dime and I can attest to say that I have cleaned my sensors more than 100 times with this method with no ill effect.

Steve

--
If you would like to view my gallery http://froggy.smugmug.com/
 
David4099 said:
I will be traveling via airplane soon and cannot bring my Eclipse
fliuid on the plane because it is flammable.
Click to expand...
Well, I've carried a bottle of Eclipse in my handluggage on every single flight I have taken around the world in the last 3 years - and that's probably close to 200 flights and includes commercial and private charter

I have never been pulled up on it and I cannot imagine anyone doing so - I wouldn't even give it another thought.
 
Just so we are all aware, flammable liquids (in any quantity) are on the prohibited list for airline carry-on AND checked baggage. Whether or not you get caught is another question. The least that would happen is that they would confiscate the Eclipse. If they decided to fine you the stated range is $250 - $1500. Aggravating factors include "artful concealment", so transferring your Eclipse to an old aftershave bottle is probably not a good idea.

By the way, when I checked the TSA list to be certain of the facts I did note that martial arts throwing stars are not allowed in carry-ons, but you can carry them in checked luggage. It is good to know that someone has taken the time to get the list of definitions down to this fine a level.

--
**** Thomas
Kalamazoo, MI
 
when you get to your destination. It is easily found at any drug store for about $1 US and can be used just like Eclipse with Pecpads. Try to avoid 70% since it has too much water in it and will not dry rapidly enough in most climates.

I have used it and it works great.
 
How often do you need a new Sensorklear?

I am sure it gets dirty and you may need a new one--any experience as to how often you can use it before it needs to be replaced?
--
Dave
 
Thank you everyone. I appreciate the suggestions and evaluation of risk!

I will give the Sensorklear and/or Visible Dust products a try.

Oh, and concerning the issue of the use of alchohol and whether breathing on the sensor causes contamination. What if I drink some vodka on the plane, then breath on my sensor and then wipe with my Sensor pad. That would about cover everything! ;)

Regards,

David
 
icmp said:
it's needed primarily for two reasons that were mentioned, but not
as a solvent. As a dampening agent to hang onto dust when the
cleaning swab is moved across the sensor/aafilter AND because it
leaves NO RESIDUE, unlike many other liquids or cleaning fluids.

Using one's own breath would be a "less than good" idea.. it's full
of contaminants and it can/will leave a residue.
Click to expand...
That's what I thought until I actually tried it. I used JimH's method about a week ago, and I have the cleanest sensor that I have ever had, and it didn't just clean up - it stayed clean longer than ever. If there is residue on the areas not swabbed, maybe that residue glues the dirt in the rest of the chamber in place?

It may be just a coincidence, but just two breath swabbings a week ago have turned my sensor from a dirt/dust magnet into a clean machine. Eclipse did not work for me, not with Pec-Pads, not with the wipes made by the company that makes Eclipse; they just pushed the dirt around, most of the time.

I did the breath swabbing, sort of convinced that it would make the problem worse, and to my surprise, after the first swabbing all I could see at f/32 was a little grease or oil along one edge. The second attempt at breath swabbing left it clean, and it is still clean about a week later.

--
John

 
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