Sensor dust on the M9

[New2digital]

:nono: :nono: :nono:

Sensor Cleaning

If you have a friend who paint with an airbrush, borrow the compressor from him. These compressor produce clean and dry air which are excellent for blowing off dust. I used to use airbrush for selected photo touch-up a very long time ago and I still have my Badger set which I use occasionally to blow clean my camera equipment, especially when they get a little wet after shooting on a rainy day. Can air is never good for photographic equipment as reported above, they are not free of other stuff and even CO2 canister cannot guarantee dry air. An airbrush compressor normally has a filter attached which filter both liquid and solid particles.

A picture of my Old, but still working Badger compressor:

 

[rramesh]

Don't look at pixels. Look at the picture. It will make you happier.

 

[Canonised]

I believe every M9 owners have the same problem. The sensor simply attracts dusts. I learn to live with them because every time I see the M9 images, I smile!

 

[virtualme78]

Its difficult not to pixel-peep when you are using an expensive equipment like the M9.

Don't look at pixels. Look at the picture. It will make you happier.

 

[spinworkxroy]

Don't use the can of air from challenger. It does blow out liquid very often..i made that mistake once because it was cheap and i thought air is air..boy was i wrong.
Use the one from Cathay Photo..More expensive but it's some japanese can of air that doesn't blow out any liquid at all..i've never had problems with that brand, it's called eco-jet. White can with green words…all in japanese

 

[FBA]

If you have a friend who paint with an airbrush, borrow the compressor from him. These compressor produce clean and dry air which are excellent for blowing off dust. I used to use airbrush for selected photo touch-up a very long time ago and I still have my Badger set which I use occasionally to blow clean my camera equipment, especially when they get a little wet after shooting on a rainy day. Can air is never good for photographic equipment as reported above, they are not free of other stuff and even CO2 canister cannot guarantee dry air. An airbrush compressor normally has a filter attached which filter both liquid and solid particles.

A picture of my Old, but still working Badger compressor:

Wah piang!

 

[FBA]

Don't use the can of air from challenger. It does blow out liquid very often..i made that mistake once because it was cheap and i thought air is air..boy was i wrong.
Use the one from Cathay Photo..More expensive but it's some japanese can of air that doesn't blow out any liquid at all..i've never had problems with that brand, it's called eco-jet. White can with green words…all in japanese

Thanks bro! How much is it for the eco-jet?

FARI

 

[zixaw]

I had the most trouble with dust or grease spots in the first few months of owning my M9. After 1 wet cleaning, the problem went away. Now it is just dust that can be easily blown away with a Rocket blower.

I always change my lens by facing my camera downwards and checking the lens for dust before mounting. Every time before I go on a trip, I will set the camera to sensor cleaning mode, look at the sensor, if needed, face it downwards and blow with the Rocket blower.

Don't use compressed air cans from Challenger, the amount of goops that comes out will ruin your sensor.

 

[crispy12]

When you use canned air, make sure the base is always pointed to the ground otherwise you will get liquid coming out

 

[FBA]

I had the most trouble with dust or grease spots in the first few months of owning my M9. After 1 wet cleaning, the problem went away. Now it is just dust that can be easily blown away with a Rocket blower.

I always change my lens by facing my camera downwards and checking the lens for dust before mounting. Every time before I go on a trip, I will set the camera to sensor cleaning mode, look at the sensor, if needed, face it downwards and blow with the Rocket blower.

Don't use compressed air cans from Challenger, the amount of goops that comes out will ruin your sensor.

Thanks bro. Ok so no compressed air cans from Challenger. Good to know! BTW, what's your wet method of cleaning bro?

I'm using the quasar loupe and giottos rocket blower but still dots show on the images. There's also one tiny, visible speck of dust that's refusing to dislodge from my sensor no matter how hard i push the giottos. Looks like I have to pay a visit to Andrew @ Leica again.

FARI

 

[zixaw]

I use Visible Dust swabs. The sensor is a little sticky in the beginning, for some reason it comes from the factory that way. Once you get rid of the sticky stuff, maintaining your sensor is quite easy.

 

[astroboy888]

I send my camera in to Leica Singapore every time there is dust on the sensor and Andrew has been nothing but great at cleaning the sensor. He has also advised me on certain methods to employ while changing lenses out in the field. I've gotten to the stage where I hardly change lenses anymore and even if I do I always face the camera down and with my back to the wind. A little common sense here goes a long way especially dusty places like Kathmandu.

Don't forget that the lens that is going on to the camera should also be clean. Don't forget to blow the rear element of your lens for any dust when you are in the comfort of your hotel room the night before you go out. Also does not hurt to clean out your camera bag ever now and again. The Billingham padded bags do collect a lot of dust inside if you leave them open, I use a vacuum cleaner to clean my bag. Does a good job.

It is important to build up a relationship with Leica and the end results are always more then satisfactory.

 

[artspraken]

The Billingham padded bags do collect a lot of dust inside if you leave them open,

this is very very true. camera bags can be dust buckets if not careful. Must get down to vacuuming my bag on of these days.

 

[FBA]

I send my camera in to Leica Singapore every time there is dust on the sensor and Andrew has been nothing but great at cleaning the sensor. He has also advised me on certain methods to employ while changing lenses out in the field. I've gotten to the stage where I hardly change lenses anymore and even if I do I always face the camera down and with my back to the wind. A little common sense here goes a long way especially dusty places like Kathmandu.

Don't forget that the lens that is going on to the camera should also be clean. Don't forget to blow the rear element of your lens for any dust when you are in the comfort of your hotel room the night before you go out. Also does not hurt to clean out your camera bag ever now and again. The Billingham padded bags do collect a lot of dust inside if you leave them open, I use a vacuum cleaner to clean my bag. Does a good job.

It is important to build up a relationship with Leica and the end results are always more then satisfactory.

Very sensible advice bro. Thanks. I'll be visiting Andrew on Monday to get the M9 sensor thoroughly cleaned.

Cheers

FARI

 

[ALFREDC]

I dont change so much outdoors so its ok.

I also prefer to shoot the M3 film body too so the M9 get less used.

 

[Nikkornos]

All D cams suffer from dust. Get the agent to do it.

DIY cleaning of dust = the more you clean the more dust you get

You need a controlled clean room setup, with a constant flow of air (thru filter)

As for compressed air, don't be surprised when a whole lump of fluid spray onto the sensor at the same time.

 

[FBA]

Hiyah. I brought the M9 to Leica Singapore. Andrew did the cleaning but when I went back home and took some shots at F8, can still see spots! Arrrghhh!!!

How ah? ;(

 

[NazgulKing]

Hiyah. I brought the M9 to Leica Singapore. Andrew did the cleaning but when I went back home and took some shots at F8, can still see spots! Arrrghhh!!!

How ah? ;(

... Are you lenses clean too?

 

[artspraken]

Can u post pics?

I'm starting to become curious hehe

 

[FBA]

Can u post pics?

I'm starting to become curious hehe

I have not swapped/removed the lens when I collected it from Leica on Monday. But I'm pretty sure its not the dirty lens because earlier (before I sent in for sensor cleaning) I shot with my 50mm Hexanon and the spots roughly appear around the same areas on the photos. I'll take few shots early tomorrow morning at F8 and F11 and upload a 100% crop version.

Sigh......

FARI