Sensor Swabs

This is not a complaint, per se, but rather an opinion and request for input.

I just received a box of Photographic Solutions D1 sensor swabs, a bottle of eclipse solution, and a package of PEC pads. I am really disappointed with the Sensor Swabs, or should I say with the value of the sensor swabs. The Senor Swabs are $48 for a package of 12 or $4 each. The PEC pads are about $7 per hundred. I am not sure what I was expecting but the Sensor Swabs are nothing more than a swab with a piece of PEC pad attached to the end with a little rubber band. The Swabs work well enough, but I tried cutting up a PEC pad and just holding it with a pair of tweezers and it worked just as well.

Again, I am not bashing Photographic Solutions, they are welcome to charge whatever the market will bear. For me, the Sensor Swabs are just not a very good value and I don't understand the pricing structure.

Does anyone else have an opinion on these pads? Am I missing something that makes them a must have regardless of the cost?

Tom Maxwell said:

This is not a complaint, per se, but rather an opinion and request
for input.

I just received a box of Photographic Solutions D1 sensor swabs, a
bottle of eclipse solution, and a package of PEC pads. I am really
disappointed with the Sensor Swabs, or should I say with the value
of the sensor swabs. The Senor Swabs are $48 for a package of 12
or $4 each. The PEC pads are about $7 per hundred. I am not sure
what I was expecting but the Sensor Swabs are nothing more than a
swab with a piece of PEC pad attached to the end with a little
rubber band. The Swabs work well enough, but I tried cutting up a
PEC pad and just holding it with a pair of tweezers and it worked
just as well.

Again, I am not bashing Photographic Solutions, they are welcome to
charge whatever the market will bear. For me, the Sensor Swabs are
just not a very good value and I don't understand the pricing
structure.

Does anyone else have an opinion on these pads? Am I missing
something that makes them a must have regardless of the cost?

Click to expand...

I agree with you, but these are the only swabs out there. I have used many times and it take at least 2 to do the job on my D1x. Thye work ok but I belive they could be desiged better and cost less. It will take another swab maker to get some competition going.

Oh yes, I got my eclipse solution from the same place and the lid was loose and all but maybe a 3rd was gone. I will be ordering more as I worry about moisture in the remaining.

These things will have to do till someone comes out with better. Carwfull with the tweezers with a PEC pad!

Greg
jax, Fl--Greg GebhardtJacksonville, Florida

Tom Maxwell said:

The Swabs work well enough, but I tried cutting up a
PEC pad and just holding it with a pair of tweezers and it worked
just as well.

Click to expand...

If you cut a Pecpad, you'll end up with lint fibers. Often these don't immediately land on the CCD, but they will eventually ; (

Tom Maxwell said:

Does anyone else have an opinion on these pads? Am I missing
something that makes them a must have regardless of the cost?

Click to expand...

Not really. Eat at Wendy's then read http://www.bythom.com/cleaning.htm

--Thom Hoganauthor, Nikon Field Guideauthor, Nikon Flash Guideauthor, Complete Guide to the Nikon D1, D1h, & D1xwww.bythom.com

Hi,
Got to the same conclusion about sensor swab!

I now use the eclipse solution with a kimwipe or pec pad,
I just fold it on a plastic tool the size of the CCD.

It is cheaper and easier for me.
WARNING, Never cut a PecPad or KimWipe, you will always get debris!!!

--Have fun and make every Pixel Count, Dany http://www.digital-dany.com

thom - i was wondering if you can post a photo of your home made pec-pad-support-from-wendy's-plastic-knife swab concoction.

i've had for the past years accumulated a vast collection of plastic knives, spoons and forks from all them fast food chain/restaurant - after reading your 'cleaning your ccd' piece, i can finally justify my neurotic tendency to hoard plastic utensils - i can now have other use for it!

just curious! (",)

thanks.

Thom Hogan said:

Tom Maxwell said:

The Swabs work well enough, but I tried cutting up a
PEC pad and just holding it with a pair of tweezers and it worked
just as well.

Click to expand...

If you cut a Pecpad, you'll end up with lint fibers. Often these
don't immediately land on the CCD, but they will eventually ; (

Thom Hogan said:

Does anyone else have an opinion on these pads? Am I missing
something that makes them a must have regardless of the cost?

Click to expand...

Not really. Eat at Wendy's then read http://www.bythom.com/cleaning.htm

--
Thom Hogan
author, Nikon Field Guide
author, Nikon Flash Guide
author, Complete Guide to the Nikon D1, D1h, & D1x
http://www.bythom.com

Click to expand...

HI Thom

I think that eating at Wendy's would be more expensive than the swabs! I made something similar out of a redundant credit card - seems to work okay.

thank you for your page - it gave me the confidence needed to really get at it.

Incidentally - have you any opinions on using Isopropyl alcohol instead of methanol?

kind regards
jono slack

http://www.slack.co.uk

Thom Hogan said:

Tom Maxwell said:

The Swabs work well enough, but I tried cutting up a
PEC pad and just holding it with a pair of tweezers and it worked
just as well.

Click to expand...

If you cut a Pecpad, you'll end up with lint fibers. Often these
don't immediately land on the CCD, but they will eventually ; (

Thom Hogan said:

Does anyone else have an opinion on these pads? Am I missing
something that makes them a must have regardless of the cost?

Click to expand...

Not really. Eat at Wendy's then read http://www.bythom.com/cleaning.htm

--
Thom Hogan
author, Nikon Field Guide
author, Nikon Flash Guide
author, Complete Guide to the Nikon D1, D1h, & D1x
http://www.bythom.com

Click to expand...

--Jono Slack http://www.slack.co.uk

Jono Slack said:

I think that eating at Wendy's would be more expensive than the
swabs!

Click to expand...

Well, you'd only have to do it once...

Jono Slack said:

I made something similar out of a redundant credit card -
seems to work okay.

Click to expand...

Yep, I considered that, too. My only problem with that was it provided too small a "handle." Also, it was easier to file down the Wendy's knife to a thinner edge. But credit cards are about the right stiffness.

Jono Slack said:

Incidentally - have you any opinions on using Isopropyl alcohol
instead of methanol?

Click to expand...

Yes, use methanol. Even methanol can pick up moisture and leave streaks, but Isopropyl is far worse in this respect. You'll be tempted to use less liquid with Isopropyl to avoid streaking, and liquid is your helper in getting the dust to stick to the pad instead of the CCD.--Thom Hoganauthor, Nikon Field Guideauthor, Nikon Flash Guideauthor, Complete Guide to the Nikon D1, D1h, & D1xwww.bythom.com

Hello Tom

You bring up a good point, the cost is expensive. However there are some points to consider.

The swabs are being made in a clean room environment. I don't know if its the same specs as chip making, and I don't think it is, but its still better then the average manufacturing environment. Each swab is made by hand, so human cost is there also. They then are put in a sep. plastic bag and it is sealed. All of this is very labor intensive and since Nikon has never blessed this design, Photographic solutions is taking a risk. I also realize I am taking a risk everytime I use them as I could damage the filter and I have no way of getting Photographic solutiion to pay the damages. Its one of those delicate balances out there.

I agree that you can cut the PEC pads but you will run into a issue with the fibers like Thom Hogan pointed out. Plus you can run the risk of contamination when you handle the pads, i.e. skin oil, or anything else you recently touched.

I realize that this may seem taking something to the extreme, however you are cleaning a pretty delicate device and Nikon's design didn't make this a easy process to start with. Since they bury the sensor down in the slight recess. Because of this you never really can get all the dust off, especially the edges.

The cost is alot, the cost of replacement of fliter and CCD is much more. As one of the people how really pushed David Stone of Photographic solutions to get this product out, I understand the issues and costs. Sure I wish they were less and I believe if Nikon would bless them, they might be since more people would start buying them. However thats not Nikon's style.

Take care, and remember you can use the same swab in two wipes just make sure you flip it before you start back the other direction.

Paul

Tom Maxwell said:

This is not a complaint, per se, but rather an opinion and request
for input.

I just received a box of Photographic Solutions D1 sensor swabs, a
bottle of eclipse solution, and a package of PEC pads. I am really
disappointed with the Sensor Swabs, or should I say with the value
of the sensor swabs. The Senor Swabs are $48 for a package of 12
or $4 each. The PEC pads are about $7 per hundred. I am not sure
what I was expecting but the Sensor Swabs are nothing more than a
swab with a piece of PEC pad attached to the end with a little
rubber band. The Swabs work well enough, but I tried cutting up a
PEC pad and just holding it with a pair of tweezers and it worked
just as well.

Again, I am not bashing Photographic Solutions, they are welcome to
charge whatever the market will bear. For me, the Sensor Swabs are
just not a very good value and I don't understand the pricing
structure.

Does anyone else have an opinion on these pads? Am I missing
something that makes them a must have regardless of the cost?

Click to expand...

The following link refers:
http://www.nikond1.net/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000472.html

Has anyone here ever tried the cotton buds? Or how about wrapping it with a piece of high quality lens cleaning tissue?

Peter LO