D800 Sensor Cleaning

Just cleaned up my D800's sensor with 11K shutter actuations. Had done a horse arena shoot and it was very dirty. Took 4 sensor swabs with eclipse and good as new. Sorry my house has grey walls.

Before


After


​Now my sky won't have those specs!

I had those specs in my D600 for a while but I swabbed it a couple of times and wala it was all better. Great examples to show with the thread, thanks for sharing!

Jeremy V

Just wanted to show and express how easy it is to do it yourself.

I've been scared to do it... I'll send you my camera and 5$

What aperture did you use for your test? Looks great!

I have cleaned sensors many times (4th dslr), never paid to have it done. Buy Sensor swabs, eclipse and a loupe so you can actually see the dust on the sensor.

Raise up the mirror, Blow air first, look with the loupe, moisten the swab with a couple of drops, wait 10 seconds for it to absorb (wick) and wipe in one direction. Check for dust, still there do it again until clean.

Very simple with common sense caution and care.

Rick M said:

What aperture did you use for your test? Looks great!

Click to expand...

​Just mounted my 50 at f22

I have blown my sensor clean after every shoot since I had my D800. Eventually, there was some stuff stuck on. After trying a couple swabs it was still dirty. So I dropped it off at the Nikon certified shop. Got it back and it had streaks!... $50 or $70... I was shocked. I took it back, and got it back and it wasn't any better (but the streaks had moved)! I will never do that again! What a rip off... A D800 has a piece of glass (the morie filter) in front of the sensor. I suspect you would really have to screw up to damage it. Like get some sand on the swab and push hard. I got a ring light and some more swabs (wet) and had it cleaned after four swabs. Now I blow it with a rocket for a few months, then get out the ring light and swabs and clean. I am really irratated that there is this mystique to cleaning them led me to be reticence of doing it myself. Once I thought it through, I realized it isn't rocket science. If I had a 800E I would have to learn more about how fragile they are, not having the filter over the sensor. JD

I think we can do a better job on our gear than a stranger whom might not really care. I don't think they realize how many people will check to make sure it was done right.

I bought the copper hill with eclipse and for some reason it will leave streaks on my sensor and the dust will go elsewhere, but I also ordered this last week
Would You Buy This?

I have to use three or four swabs to get my sensor cleaner... I use decreasing quantities of eclipse. I tried a sticky stick... Or similar... It was kind of funky, adhesive on a stick... I prefer the wets. You can recover the swabs. Also, I'm going to just blow them afterwards and reuse. I bet I don't have any issues doing that. Note, I don't live in the SW anymore... I would probably re-cover the swab there... Lots of dust from sand the air. JD

I use 1 wet swap and give the sensor a good scrubbing with a little pressure (only one drop of fluid on each corner of the swab). I follow up with a dry swap to eliminate any streaks and buff off any residue. The second swab is saved to be my next wet scrubbing swab. So this process only wastes 1 swab and has worked well for me.

Rick, that sounds like the right way to do it.the swab instructions make it sound like anything more than moving across the sensor once will damage it. I'll do it that way next time. JD

JDFlood said:

If I had a 800E I would have to learn more about how fragile they are, not having the filter over the sensor. JD

Click to expand...

Doesn't the d7100 the same issue?.

I would never be careless with it are there special precautions when cleaning directly on the sensor?

teagueAMX said:

Doesn't the d7100 the same issue?.

I would never be careless with it are there special precautions when cleaning directly on the sensor?

Click to expand...

The D800 and D7100 have a glass filter in front of the sensor, hence shouldn't need precautions like you were disarming a bomb. I concluded the Nikon shop was just dropping a couple drops of cleaner in a swab flipping it across the sensor a couple times and charging $70. All the instructions I have heard sound like they were written by lawyers. My point is, I just don't think it is that fragile. Don't rub sand on it, but on the other hand a limitless light scrubbing with a clean swab is fine. That has been my experience anyway. Also, you don't want so much fluid so as to form a big drop. JD

JDFlood said:

The D800 and D7100 have a glass filter in front of the sensor, hence shouldn't need precautions like you were disarming a bomb. I concluded the Nikon shop was just dropping a couple drops of cleaner in a swab flipping it across the sensor a couple times and charging $70. All the instructions I have heard sound like they were written by lawyers. My point is, I just don't think it is that fragile. Don't rub sand on it, but on the other hand a limitless light scrubbing with a clean swab is fine. That has been my experience anyway. Also, you don't want so much fluid so as to form a big drop. JD

Click to expand...

There is some confusion on this:

DxoMark
The D7100 . . . a sensor without an anti-alias filter. . .

Click to expand...

Nikon D7100 review: Update to popular DSLR drops anti-alias filter for sharper images - DxOMark

But I think the point of your post is to be very careful and don't drown the sensor with cleaning fluid.

That's good advice and I will follow it. Really appreciate it.

teagueAMX said:

There is some confusion on this:



Nikon D7100 review: Update to popular DSLR drops anti-alias filter for sharper images - DxOMark

But I think the point of your post is to be very careful and don't drown the sensor with cleaning fluid.

That's good advice and I will follow it. Really appreciate it.

Click to expand...

Oops, my mistake. I guess I don't pay close attention to the DX cameras. Interesting, no anti-aliasing filter. I guess, when they released the D800E... there was seldom issues that needed correcting, so it saves money and increases resolution, so why bother adding the filter. You know thinking back to my semiconductor days when I worked for a company with wafer fabs. The top of the wafer is covered with... I think a silica layer. So, actually I would not think it would be that fragile either. But I would still watch out for drops. So, I bet the sensor is not that fragile without the filter. JD

Thanks for your help

JDFlood said:

Rick, that sounds like the right way to do it.the swab instructions make it sound like anything more than moving across the sensor once will damage it. I'll do it that way next time. JD

Click to expand...

I also use the blower first. I was too gentle at first and went through allot of swabs. With the wet swab I use a scrubbing motion with about the pressure I would use with a Qtip in the ear. Then I go side to side with the same wet swab. About the same motions with the dry swab. After a test shot I may use the blower again to get any the dry swab may have left behind.

Very good thread. I too have had spots on my sensor. Dust and oil over the year that I have owned it. I take lenses off everywhere, so dirt is bound to get in and does.

I have had it professionally cleaned and I have done it myself after being shown how to do it at a Photo Trade show. I have an Arctic Butterfly and a SensorKlear Loupe Kit. Sorry for the red, I copied and pasted this from another site I did a review on.

This kit has NO chemicals and works very nicely. You get a loupe and cleaning pen and instructions and I couldn't believe how simple it was. The kit was $60 if memory serves. If you go to YouTube, you can see the demo on how it is done.

I used to be afraid to even look at my sensor…. no big deal. There is a heavy piece of glass over the sensor on a D800 and you have to be a real putz to damage it. I would avoid liquid cleaners. These still give me some trepidation.

It is not at all difficult to do this and you save a bundle of money and always have a clean sensor.