X-T4 sensor cleaning method

[Denver100]

Since the T4 has a different ibis system from the H1 does anyone have any direct experience with wet swab cleaning of the T4 sensor? Should IBIS be disabled, battery removed, etc?

 

[Joe Brush]

I don't have the XT4 but cleaning the sensor should be the same as for the XH1 or any IBIS enabled cameras.
The camera should be powered up with the IBIS set to OFF so the sensor is held stationary and doesn't float.
Shoot without lens should be set to OFF in case you accidentaly trip the shutter when cleaning - Disasterous if you catch the cleaning swab with the shutter curtain!
Apart from that, I use a lot less pressure than with a non IBIS camera since it's a sensitive bit of kit you are cleaning.

Regards,
Joe.

--
https://www.instagram.com/brushhour/

 

[Greg7579]

This is what I do in my GFX 100 and what I bet you do on the XT-4.

Sensor Cleaning:
1. Turn Camera on. (The Sensor is cleaned with power on.)
2. Set IS mode to Off. (This pulls the sensor into lock mode.)
3. Switch the shutter to ES. (So the shutter won't accidently trip.)
4. Turn "Shoot without Lens" to Off. (So the shutter won't trip w the lens off. Default is Off, but you may have turned it on to shoot adapted lenses.)
5. Turn Power Saving Mode to Off (So the camera will not power off after two minutes.)

 

[airwilf]

A little off topic as per the OP's question, but is this the same for the X-T3 ? I'm a new Fuji user.

 

[Frankintexas]

A little off topic as per the OP's question, but is this the same for the X-T3 ? I'm a new Fuji user.

No, completely different technique. X-T3 does not have IBIS so clean the X-T3 sensor with the camera off. I would take the battery out too in order to avoid turning the camera on by accident during the sensor cleaning.

 

[airwilf]

Thanks, I appreciate the info.

 

[eric333]

This is what I do in my GFX 100 and what I bet you do on the XT-4.

Sensor Cleaning:
1. Turn Camera on. (The Sensor is cleaned with power on.)
2. Set IS mode to Off. (This pulls the sensor into lock mode.)
3. Switch the shutter to ES. (So the shutter won't accidently trip.)
4. Turn "Shoot without Lens" to Off. (So the shutter won't trip w the lens off. Default is Off, but you may have turned it on to shoot adapted lenses.)
5. Turn Power Saving Mode to Off (So the camera will not power off after two minutes.)

 

[Greg7579]

This is what I do in my GFX 100 and what I bet you do on the XT-4.

Sensor Cleaning:
1. Turn Camera on. (The Sensor is cleaned with power on.)
2. Set IS mode to Off. (This pulls the sensor into lock mode.)
3. Switch the shutter to ES. (So the shutter won't accidently trip.)
4. Turn "Shoot without Lens" to Off. (So the shutter won't trip w the lens off. Default is Off, but you may have turned it on to shoot adapted lenses.)
5. Turn Power Saving Mode to Off (So the camera will not power off after two minutes.)

Thanks for this!

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a “Sensor Cleaning Mode” menu option that did all this at once?

Well, I have cleaned my XH-1 and GFX 100 sensors a lot. I get them dirty because I change lenses a lot.

I learned all this from various posts on here and it may be in the manual. Not sure. I have never looked at a Fuji manual.

But Ken did a great video on this when he was cleaning his friend's GFX 100 sensor. It was so dirty because the guy was a pro landscape shooter and had been out for weeks in the nasty weather. I stole a lot of this from watching his video.

I don't think I have ever discovered anything original in 45 years of shooting.

 

[Denver100]

So lots of advice here from folks who haven't done a wet cleaning on a T4. Is there anyone out there who has successfully followed the recipes suggested above on a T4?

 

[sirkhann]

The X-H1 manual says something like "don't".

I don't get why the camera should be "on" though. Suspend the sensor? Don't you risk a short this wa? I get it for DSLR, but not quite for mirrorless with IBIS... Good for me I don't have to wet clean my X-H1's sensor, for now...

 

[Bobo Hodls]

So lots of advice here from folks who haven't done a wet cleaning on a T4. Is there anyone out there who has successfully followed the recipes suggested above on a T4?

An X-T4 sensor cleaning isn't any different than wet cleaning any other sensor with IBIS. The sensor will move a little when wiping unless the camera is turned on and IBIS is deactivated.

Personally, I've wet cleaned more than a few m4/3 and Sony IBIS sensors multiple times, as well as the X-H1 sensor. The necessity for wet cleaning can be reduced significantly if one blows the sensor area with camera facing down (a Rocket Blower is the safest blower to use) at the end of every day the camera is used. As well, the mount end of lenses and their end caps should be inspected.

When a wet cleaning was in order, I've never done it with the camera turned on, and despite the sensor being able to move it's not a problem to accomplish, while avoiding the tedious check list needed having the camera turned on while cleaning.

Another method for cleaning is to use an Eyelead sticky gell stick . Since running out of wet-wipes, I've used that method with quite satisfactory results.

--
"Well, sometimes the magic works. . . Sometimes, it doesn't."
------ Chief Dan George, Little Big Man
@ bobtullis.com / flickr.com/photos/bobtullis
.
My opinions are my own and not those of DPR or its administration.

 

[Denver100]

Bob,

Thank you. That was very useful. I agree that wet cleaning is a last resort as the rocket often solves the problem. I abandoned the sticky sticks as I found them not to be a reliable substitute when wet cleaning was needed.

 

[Bobo Hodls]

Bob,

Thank you. That was very useful. I agree that wet cleaning is a last resort as the rocket often solves the problem. I abandoned the sticky sticks as I found them not to be a reliable substitute when wet cleaning was needed.

I appreciate that. Of course, how long one goes between any cleanings, blowing or otherwise, can matter too. It's pollen that gives the most trouble - except for that one time I coughed a glob of mucus onto the sensor during a cleaning [g].

 

[Greg7579]

Bob,

Thank you. That was very useful. I agree that wet cleaning is a last resort as the rocket often solves the problem. I abandoned the sticky sticks as I found them not to be a reliable substitute when wet cleaning was needed.

Wet cleaning is not a last resort. It is routine if you shoot like I do.

 

[Bobo Hodls]

Bob,

Thank you. That was very useful. I agree that wet cleaning is a last resort as the rocket often solves the problem. I abandoned the sticky sticks as I found them not to be a reliable substitute when wet cleaning was needed.

Wet cleaning is not a last resort. It is routine if you shoot like I do.

[eye roll] Yea, your field practices are rather well known by now, Greg.

But for typical amateurs & enthusiasts, circumspect with routine blowing, wet cleaning doesn't have to be a routine practiced more than once a week or once a month, if that much.

 

[Greg7579]

Bob,

Thank you. That was very useful. I agree that wet cleaning is a last resort as the rocket often solves the problem. I abandoned the sticky sticks as I found them not to be a reliable substitute when wet cleaning was needed.

Wet cleaning is not a last resort. It is routine if you shoot like I do.

[eye roll] Yea, your field practices are rather well known by now, Greg.

But for typical amateurs & enthusiasts, circumspect with routine blowing, wet cleaning doesn't have to be a routine practiced more than once a week or once a month, if that much.

I hear you. I don't clean my sensors routinely. That is probably the wrong word. I just am not afraid to clean the sensor. It is not big deal. I have cleaned my GFX 1oo sensor maybe 4 times. 50r maybe 4 times. XH-1 maybe 8 or 10 times back when I was shooting it.

 

[Bobo Hodls]

Bob,

Thank you. That was very useful. I agree that wet cleaning is a last resort as the rocket often solves the problem. I abandoned the sticky sticks as I found them not to be a reliable substitute when wet cleaning was needed.

Wet cleaning is not a last resort. It is routine if you shoot like I do.

[eye roll] Yea, your field practices are rather well known by now, Greg.

But for typical amateurs & enthusiasts, circumspect with routine blowing, wet cleaning doesn't have to be a routine practiced more than once a week or once a month, if that much.

I hear you. I don't clean my sensors routinely. That is probably the wrong word. I just am not afraid to clean the sensor. It is not big deal. I have cleaned my GFX 1oo sensor maybe 4 times. 50r maybe 4 times. XH-1 maybe 8 or 10 times back when I was shooting it.

Fair enough - similarly, that's how I got wet cleaning practice on prior cameras, not paying it much mind until it was hard to ignore and only a wet cleaning would do.

 

[eric333]

So lots of advice here from folks who haven't done a wet cleaning on a T4. Is there anyone out there who has successfully followed the recipes suggested above on a T4?

Someone has to be the first. Looks like it’s you!