My new camera sensor cleaning fluid

[toomanycanons]

Maybe you full frame shooters would be interested in this.

I have six camera maybe needing sensor cleaning, so today was the day. I checked all the sensors, Some were pretty clean, some were in bigtime need of cleaning, but I went ahead and cleaned all of them.

The news is: I've only been cleaning my own sensors for maybe three years and have only used one cleaning fluid--Photosol Eclipse, using VSGO swabs.

Until today. Today I used the "VSGO Sensor Cleaner" (eco-friendly, alcohol-free and volatile). And what a difference a change of fluids makes!

All I've ever known has been the PITA factor of cleaning sensors with the Eclipse, thinking that's just how it is, clean once, clean twice, clean a third time to get the streaks out, clean again...eventually I'd have a clean sensor. I never knew any different.

With the VSGO Sensor Cleaner and VSGO swabs usually one pass did the trick, spots gone and no streaks. I repeat, no streaks. A totally new experience for me.

FWIW, my D610 needed cleaning the most (so much for the "new improved shutter" on the D610 sort of taking care of that problem. My D850, after 4000 shots, really didn't need any cleaning (one or two spots). My D800 was still clean after two trips to Utah and around 4000 shots. My two D7200 needed very little, nothing really visible at f/8 but I did anyway. My D600, which I'd already cleaned a few months ago and haven't shot with it since, was still clean, a miracle in itself.

I remember when I used to be nervous about doing this my own self. Those days are gone and now that I've got the new fluid it's all good.

 

[avalvo]

I recently is the VSGO too, It worked perfectly.

 

[David Lal]

Until today. Today I used the "VSGO Sensor Cleaner" (eco-friendly, alcohol-free and volatile). And what a difference a change of fluids makes!

Do you know what the ingredients are in the VSGO fluid?

I tried intensive Googling but all I could find was some nonsense about 'ultrapure water', whatever that is. No doubt with some kind of surfactant or detergent in it.

I would not pay GBP£11 for 30ml of water and indeed, I would not put anything inside the camera if I did not know what is in it. I've never had any problem with Eclipse (=methanol) which I have been using for 16 years on 3 DSLRs.

I can't see that a water-based, 'alcohol-free' product is going to deal effectively with organic deposits or for example, Nikon shutter oil splatter.

So, good that you have found a product that is effective for you but it would not be for me. For lenses and filters I use lab-grade methanol, about GBP£ 12 per litre including postage. For the sensor, Eclipse.

 

[toomanycanons]

Until today. Today I used the "VSGO Sensor Cleaner" (eco-friendly, alcohol-free and volatile). And what a difference a change of fluids makes!

Do you know what the ingredients are in the VSGO fluid?

I tried intensive Googling but all I could find was some nonsense about 'ultrapure water', whatever that is. No doubt with some kind of surfactant or detergent in it.

I would not pay GBP£11 for 30ml of water and indeed, I would not put anything inside the camera if I did not know what is in it. I've never had any problem with Eclipse (=methanol) which I have been using for 16 years on 3 DSLRs.

I can't see that a water-based, 'alcohol-free' product is going to deal effectively with organic deposits or for example, Nikon shutter oil splatter.

So, good that you have found a product that is effective for you but it would not be for me. For lenses and filters I use lab-grade methanol, about GBP£ 12 per litre including postage. For the sensor, Eclipse.

Well, now that I know how badly Eclipse works for me I'm glad I found an alternative. I trust that VSGO doesn't include anything harmful in the fluid I used yesterday.

Eclipse: many cleanings to finally get the job done, much streaking, much frustration

VSGO Sensor Cleaner: typically one pass, sensor totally clean, no streaking

 

[michaeladawson]

Until today. Today I used the "VSGO Sensor Cleaner" (eco-friendly, alcohol-free and volatile). And what a difference a change of fluids makes!

Do you know what the ingredients are in the VSGO fluid?

I tried intensive Googling but all I could find was some nonsense about 'ultrapure water', whatever that is. No doubt with some kind of surfactant or detergent in it.

I would not pay GBP£11 for 30ml of water and indeed, I would not put anything inside the camera if I did not know what is in it. I've never had any problem with Eclipse (=methanol) which I have been using for 16 years on 3 DSLRs.

I can't see that a water-based, 'alcohol-free' product is going to deal effectively with organic deposits or for example, Nikon shutter oil splatter.

So, good that you have found a product that is effective for you but it would not be for me. For lenses and filters I use lab-grade methanol, about GBP£ 12 per litre including postage. For the sensor, Eclipse.

If VSGO was basically water I would think you could tell pretty easily when you swab the sensor. You would get tiny droplets of water across the sensor that would take a bit to dry.

 

[David Lal]

If VSGO was basically water I would think you could tell pretty easily when you swab the sensor. You would get tiny droplets of water across the sensor that would take a bit to dry.

No, Mike. I think there is a fancy surfactant in solution in there, lowering the surface tension: thus no droplets. I'd want to know what that surfactant is but the only ingredient to which I can find a reference is 'ultrapure' water.

 

[toomanycanons]

I did notice that any residual fluid left on the sensor after a few passes of the swab just evaporated into nothing pretty quickly. At first I was thinking, oh no, once that evaporates something will be left behind.

But no, it evaporated and the sensor was left spotless. I did this on six camera sensors.

 

[Mark_A]

Well, now that I know how badly Eclipse works for me I'm glad I found an alternative. I trust that VSGO doesn't include anything harmful in the fluid I used yesterday.

Eclipse: many cleanings to finally get the job done, much streaking, much frustration

VSGO Sensor Cleaner: typically one pass, sensor totally clean, no streaking

I am interested. I haven't cleaned a sensor in perhaps 3 years but always used to use Eclipse, I expect my bottle must be out of date now.

But I didn't used to have problems with smearing. I used to only pop a couple of drops of eclipse on my pad before cleaning. I think smearing comes from using too much liquid.

My current sensor has a big dust bunny at bottom right, such that shooting landscape it disappears into stuff but in portrait it appears in the sky, I probably should do a clean.

Mark_A

 

[WildlifePhotog]

Yeah I’ve been cleaning sensors since 1999 with the Eclipse and I’ve never once had any streaking or issues. Just three drops on the swab, when you do it tight it costs both sides. Then I shake the little wand of the swab a couple times to help it dry a bit, then I swipe once to the right and once to the left. Done. Never had any issues and the only issue I see with this VSGO fluid is it’s not sold separately, except possibly a Chinese knockoff is on eBay. So you have to buy it with a pack of swabs, no big deal except I already have a ton of swabs. I’ll just stick with the Eclipse, I don’t know what the heck you guys are doing wrong, but it’s always working for me!

 

[pluton]

I can't see that a water-based, 'alcohol-free' product is going to deal effectively with organic deposits or for example, Nikon shutter oil splatter.

You wouldn't think so, but the standard, green-cap Visible Dust non-alcohol, water plus surfactant cleaner often succeeds at cleaning when the Eclipse product fails. I keep both in stock.

I haven't used the VSGO fluid yet, but it is a certainty that the known major brands are overcharging for their products.

 

[Leonard Shepherd]

it is a certainty that the known major brands are overcharging for their products.

Plus 10 - except retailers also get a high mark up.

I have just "invested" in an Eyelead cleaning pad kit - at £31.

The tin the eyelead comes in is similar to the tin for a pedal cycle repair kit. The cycle repair kit contains more items - and costs about £2 :-O