Sensor Gel Stick

SkvLTD

Senior Member
Think its about time I got one of these for routine cleanings. I got some amount of spots when shooting in low apertures, but no idea whether its oil or just routine FX thing. Got about 36k clicks on the shutter since its replacement in spring, so definitely not pressed to try and mild Nikon for a new one using spots as an excuse. Far easier to clean them myself as needed.
 

PapaST

Senior Member
I think that would be a wise purchase. I'll tell you my limited experience story. I actually see more spots on my D7100 than my D600. I bought a gel stick to use for routine and stay with wet cleanings for a once or twice a year cleanup. Just recently I've noticed the spots on both and finally decided to give the gel stick a go. I have no idea if they were oil or dust bunnies or what... but the gel stick cleaned it up completely on both cameras.

Most spots are in the corners and that (for me) is the toughest to clean because when I "stamp" down I'm not exactly sure how close to the edge I can get before I'm off the sensor (not sure if that really even matters). Despite all of that I still get it very clean. After a couple of runs you can tell that the sensor is actually a fairly sturdy surface. I'm very pleased with my gel stick.

The next concern is how long does the stick hold its stickiness and how often can you use/reuse the white transfer strips. If those prove to last a good bit then the purchase price is well worth it in my opinion.
 
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What brand are you using? I remember @Dave_W talking about using something like this but I have not seen him around here in a while. I think it is probably time to clean my D7100 and D7000. I had a spot recently but was able to blow it off with a rocket blower.
 

PapaST

Senior Member
I bought mine, eyelead, from Amazon a few months ago. It took awhile for shipping because it came from Europe. I think the ones they sell now are also branded as eyelead but I think I saw they came from China. Not sure if these are authenticate or if there's really a difference.
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
I actually see more spots on my D7100 than my D600.



Same here. I get more spots on my 7100 then I used to on my 300 or my 3100. However I only wet cleaned it once so far. A rocket blower takes care of it the rest of the time.
 

Rob Bye

Senior Member
I've had my gel stick for almost a year. It's still got the same amount of stickiness as when it was new. The strips, of course, are not reuseable (cheap anyway).
 

SkvLTD

Senior Member
Only know of one on the whole market, Eyelead, and from what I've watched online its VERY easy. Look at Photographylife or youtube. I remember PL or some other place saying these are what the repair centers use to clean, so it's like the best kept secret kinda deal.
 

Scott Murray

Senior Member
I have used the eyelead and actually have two of them, I do find that they tend to leave marks and I end up cleaning the sensor with a proper sensor cleaning tool. But maybe its just me and the way I use it?
 

Felisek

Senior Member
I used the Eyelead a couple of times. It is very easy to use and it removed most of the spots quickly, but left one or two quite persistent speckles. It took a lot of dabbing to remove them all when I used it the first time.

Right now, after using it for the second time, I have a visible particle of dust right in the middle of the sensor. I tried dabbing it with the gel stick perhaps a dozen of times, but it is still there. Just wouldn't budge.

I might be just unlucky with this one spot, but my impression is that you can sometimes hammer a speckle of dirt into the sensor this way. The gel is sticky and is supposed to collect dust, but if a dust particle happens to be more sticky towards the sensor, the gel will beat it into it instead of lifting.

I'm a bit worried about it now. My Eclipse liquid and swabs have just arrived, so I'm going to try a wet method and see if I can dislodge the persistent little bugger.

I don't want to dismiss the gel stick based on just one spot. However, if you use it and there is a persistent spot, don't keep dabbing it as I did. Use a wet swab instead.
 

SkvLTD

Senior Member
I have used the eyelead and actually have two of them, I do find that they tend to leave marks and I end up cleaning the sensor with a proper sensor cleaning tool. But maybe its just me and the way I use it?

Think perhaps "pre-cleaning" a fresh one using the sticky paper stuff might be a way to go then? Or did they leave residue every time you used them, not just the very first time?
 

Scott Murray

Senior Member
Think perhaps "pre-cleaning" a fresh one using the sticky paper stuff might be a way to go then? Or did they leave residue every time you used them, not just the very first time?
It does seem to leave a residue everytime I use it, I am just wondering if the high temps and humidity are affecting mine. I will have another go later and see what I end up with, I will post before and after shots. PS my internet will be on hopefully on the 12th January.
 

Felisek

Senior Member
I have to withdraw what I said about Eyelead gel stick. It works perfectly, it was me using it incorrectly!

The stick comes with special sticky paper to clean the gel. It is a piece of thick glossy paper covered with much thinner peel-off paper. Instructions simply say "use the sticky paper to clean the gel". And I used the thick glossy paper. It turns I was wrong! It is the thinner peel-off that is really sticky and removes all the muck from the gel easily. After this treatment the gel regained its dust collecting power and cleaned my sensor perfectly!

By the way, I just had a bad experience with wet swabs. I bought Eclipse cleaning liquid and wanted to get recommended Photographic Solutions Sensor Swabs. However, when I was ordering, they were unavailable in the UK, so I went for a cheaper alternative (made in the UK). Usually I'm not so keen on "cheaper alternatives", but these had really good reviews on Amazon.

Well, I followed instructions (two drops of liquid on the swab) and ended up with the sensor covered with filth. Not only smudges of the liquid, but also lots of lint from the swab itself. I was horrified! I used another swab, with one drop only, which helped slightly, but left my sensor quite dirty anyway. So, I came back to my Eyelead stick and carefully and patiently removed all the muck, little by little (using the correct side of the sticky paper). Eventually got a very clean sensor.

The moral from my adventure is:

- Eyelead gel stick works very well (if you do it properly)
- Cheap sensor swabs are crap
- Wet cleaning is tricky!

As a result, I'd recommend the gel stick.
 
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