I tried to clean my Fuji X-S10 sensor and made it much worse. Did I also break something?

I tried to clean the sensor on my Fuji X-S10 using the Pentax Sensor Cleaning Kit (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QUYERE?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details). In terms of removing dust, I completely failed. There is a lot more dust on the sensor now than before. I will try to wet clean it using this next (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B0TX6UA?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details).

I'm more concerned about something else though. The pictures below show test frames to see the sensor dust. The first one is after I used the Pentax the first time. The second one is after I used the Pentax again. And then the third one is after I used the Pentax a third time.

I know it's hard to see without being able to flip through them, but the dust pattern is essentially the same, but shifted slightly between all the pictures. Between first and second, the pattern shifts down and a little to the right. Between second and third, the pattern shifts up and left. But there is still a difference between the first and third patterns.

First question: what happened? Did I push to hard with the Pentax and somehow drag the glass covering the sensor, shifting it slightly each time? Or did something else happen? Has anyone seen this before?

Second question: is this a problem? If the glass covering the sensor was shifted slightly, would that affect my image quality at all?

Everything is probably fine.  Do the wet cleaning and with the amount of dust you have it may take a few passes.

What you broke is probably a sweat!

Morris

Morris0 wrote:

Everything is probably fine. Do the wet cleaning and with the amount of dust you have it may take a few passes.

What you broke is probably a sweat!

Morris

Agreed! And for what it's worth, I highly doubt it's even possible to 'drag' the glass covering the sensor by applying some force to it. It's an integral part of the image sensor, not just a loose piece of glass mounted above the sensor. If you applied enough force to break the glass loose from the sensor, you would have basically wrecked the camera and that doesn't seem to be the case here.

I confess I’ve never come across a cleaning kit anything like that Pentax one.

My sensor cleaning hierarchy goes:

1. Blower; then if there are still marks,

2. Dry wipe with a swab as per your second link; then if there are still marks,

3. Wet wipe with same; then if there are still marks something’s probably wrong.

Thanks for the comments and advice. Just a quick update, I used the wet cleaning and it was much easier and more effective than the Pentax. Sensor is pretty much pristine now. I must have done something wrong with the Pentax but I'm not sure what. Anyway, the wet cleaning works great for me.

If I did damage my sensor, I haven't noticed anything obvious yet. Anyone know what symptoms I might see? Is it just glass in front of the sensor, or also some filters or special coatings?

Thanks again. I appreciate all the responses.

If you damaged the camera the first, very first, look at the first image would immediately say to you that it was wrecked and needed repair.  Don't worry.

I hate sensor cleaning.

With IBIS be careful

https://www.fujirumors.com/sensor-cleaning-and-ibis/

Bob

rbrown97 wrote:

Thanks for the comments and advice. Just a quick update, I used the wet cleaning and it was much easier and more effective than the Pentax. Sensor is pretty much pristine now. I must have done something wrong with the Pentax but I'm not sure what. Anyway, the wet cleaning works great for me.

If I did damage my sensor, I haven't noticed anything obvious yet. Anyone know what symptoms I might see? Is it just glass in front of the sensor, or also some filters or special coatings?

Thanks again. I appreciate all the responses.

This type of sticky gumball product has been around for a long time. It has generated some controversy. It can be very sticky and I would not use it on an IBIS camera.

Stick with traditional wet swabs and you will get better results.

Here is an 8 year old review of the Sensor Gel Stick which is the same product: