Rocket Blower

I have seen Rocket Blowers recommended here in various threads. Those of you who own or have used the Rocket Blower for dust removal for lenses, what is their advantage over other bulb type blowers? Is it just the legs that you can stand it up on? The reason I ask is that I own a bulb blower, but not a Rocket and was wondering if I needed to get one to improve function. Thanks

I've only had one for a week now, but it does seem quite a bit better than an old cheapie i used years ago. It shoots out of there pretty good.

I have a cheap blower. Can't imagine the Rocket blower is all that better. Not enough for me to buy one to find out. My cheap one does every thing I want it to.

It's got a built in check valve so you don't suck the same dust back in and blow it back on the lens , with repeated squeezings.

I've only ever owned the rocket and am happy with it.
Sure gives a nice blast.

I only use the Giottos rocket blower now because it has a filter on the back end to prevent sucking in dust then blowing inside the camera's body (as mustang mentioned). The large is pretty big. The medium size still packs a punch. The small isn't worth it in my opinion. It doesn't give off enough air to do a decent job.

Giottos Large: Amazon.com : Giottos AA1900 Rocket Air Blaster Large - Black : Camera Cleaning Kits : Camera & Photo

Giottos Medium: Amazon.com : Giottos AA1910 Medium Rocket Air Blaster (6.6) : Compressed Air Camera Cleaners : Camera & Photo

hark said:

I only use the Giottos rocket blower now because it has a filter on the back end to prevent sucking in dust then blowing inside the camera's body (as mustang mentioned). The large is pretty big. The medium size still packs a punch. The small isn't worth it in my opinion. It doesn't give off enough air to do a decent job.

Giottos Large: Amazon.com : Giottos AA1900 Rocket Air Blaster Large - Black : Camera Cleaning Kits : Camera & Photo

Giottos Medium: Amazon.com : Giottos AA1910 Medium Rocket Air Blaster (6.6) : Compressed Air Camera Cleaners : Camera & Photo

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I can't see any filter on mine. ?????

cwgrizz said:

I have seen Rocket Blowers recommended here in various threads. Those of you who own or have used the Rocket Blower for dust removal for lenses, what is their advantage over other bulb type blowers? Is it just the legs that you can stand it up on? The reason I ask is that I own a bulb blower, but not a Rocket and was wondering if I needed to get one to improve function. Thanks

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Walt,

If yours works for you, I wouldn't worry about getting another until it either breaks or it stops doing the job you need it to do. Rockets Blowers are nice, but others also do the job.

However, please let me take this opportunity to emphatically recommend that you never use canned/compressed air to clean your camera gear!!! Never!! Ever!!! These can ruin both cameras and lenses, and I know this because it's happened to me. (Actually, I did it to myself, but you get the point.)

WM

Lawrence said:

I can't see any filter on mine. ?????

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Fair enough. It used to be described as a filter. Their web site now lists it as a one-way valve on the bottom brings in clean air and does not re-distribute the dust!

Giottos Rocket Blasters

hark said:

Fair enough. It used to be described as a filter. Their web site now lists it as a one-way valve on the bottom brings in clean air and does not re-distribute the dust!

Giottos Rocket Blasters

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ha! Found what it is. Underneath between the legs is the inlet valve so as soon as air is blown out the top (and the valve prevents it being blown out the bottom) fresh air comes in via the bottom. Quite clever.

Lawrence said:

ha! Found what it is. Underneath between the legs is the inlet valve so as soon as air is blown out the top (and the valve prevents it being blown out the bottom) fresh air comes in via the bottom. Quite clever.

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It's being described differently than I remember from when I bought mine. Adorama's web site says, It has an air valve to prevent it from breathing in dust and blows out a powerful stream of air to blow dust away, to make cleaning lenses, cameras, filters a breeze. Not sure how it can suck in air without pulling in minuscule dust particles, but I haven't had an issue with any of mine (and I own several). I keep mediums in my bags and larges at home.

I am thinking there isn't much difference in what I have and a Rocket other than the legs to give it the rocket appearance. The one I have has a check valve in the large inlet opening on the butt end and the blast nozzle on the other end. As Hark said "Not sure how it can suck in air without pulling in minuscule dust particles, but I haven't had an issue with any of mine." I can't see how either, but it seems to work. I blow the lens off at an angle and I hold the camera body with lens mounting face down when I blast it.

Thanks all for the comparisons and descriptions. I guess when I replace I will have to check out the Rocket and see if it is worth the few pennies more. Ha!

cwgrizz said:

I am thinking there isn't much difference in what I have and a Rocket other than the legs to give it the rocket appearance. The one I have has a check valve in the large inlet opening on the butt end and the blast nozzle on the other end. As Hark said "Not sure how it can suck in air without pulling in minuscule dust particles, but I haven't had an issue with any of mine." I can't see how either, but it seems to work. I blow the lens off at an angle and I hold the camera body with lens mounting face down when I blast it.

Thanks all for the comparisons and descriptions. I guess when I replace I will have to check out the Rocket and see if it is worth the few pennies more. Ha!

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I used to use a Hurricane blower until I read where someone tested one by blowing air out onto a white piece of paper. He found small, dark particles from the inside of the blower on the paper. You may want to test your blower to see if any particles are visible. Just a thought.... In fact I may try it with my Giottos blower.

I like watching non-photog people that come to visit and my blower is sitting out.

They glance at it, look away, and turn back again.

Invariably, I have to tell them what it's for.

I don't want their imagination running wild.



Before


After

So...Walt....which blower do you have? Got a picture of it? I'm curious to see it.

I have the Rocket myself, but...I'm sure there are others out there.

fotojack said:

So...Walt....which blower do you have? Got a picture of it? I'm curious to see it.

I have the Rocket myself, but...I'm sure there are others out there.

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Also have the Rocket (2 sizes). The smaller is for carrying in the bag when traveling...

Pat in GA

fotojack said:

So...Walt....which blower do you have? Got a picture of it? I'm curious to see it.

I have the Rocket myself, but...I'm sure there are others out there.

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The one I have came from Digital Goja. It was part of the "Professional Cleaning Kit" by Altura. It can be found here:
Amazon.com : Professional Cleaning Kit for DSLR Cameras and Sensitive Electronics (Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Telescopes and Binoculars) - Includes: Lens Cleaning Pen System + High Quality Lens Brush + Air Blower Cleaner + 50 Sheets Lens Tissue Pape

I don't mind paying a little more for a good product that is specifically designed and manufactured for a purpose. We spend hundreds and thousands on bodies and lenses, so a few bucks for a better product to keep things cleaned up doesn't seem like a big deal to me.