Image sensor cleaning options?

Camera Fun

Senior Member
Looking for current thoughts on leaving the camera to clean the sensor at each shut-off or only when I would choose to do it. I won't be changing lenses very often and I tend to turn the camera off-&-on a lot when using it (take some pics, turn off for a while, then on again); then it will most likely not be used for a while. Pros vs Cons for either setting? Thanks.
 

Dangerspouse

Senior Member
I have mine set to clean on shutoff. There's no harm to having that brief shake knock dust off fairly frequently. If you're concerned about it, rather than "turn the camera off-&-on a lot when using it" how about just letting it go into sleep mode? Only turn it off when you know it's not going to be used for a while. That's how I've been doing it since my first D3300, and no problems so far.
 

Peter7100

Senior Member
I have always left all my cameras over the years to clean at shut off, although it is impossible to avoid a sensor clean at some stage.
 

Clovishound

Senior Member
Well, a little while back I ended up getting something besides dust on my sensor. After looking at lots of options, for better or worse, I decided to get one of the sensor cleaning kits. It took a couple cleanings to completely get whatever it was off the sensor, but in the end it worked. I was sweating bullets using the small disposable "wands" to clean the sensor. Perhaps I should have sent it back to Nikon, but it turned out OK. I use the large blower bulb that came with the kit to gently dislodge any dust that settles on the sensor now.

FWIW, I've never cleaned the sensor on my DSLR. It has never seemed to need it. One of the benefits of a mirror.
 

Danno

Senior Member
Looking for current thoughts on leaving the camera to clean the sensor at each shut-off or only when I would choose to do it. I won't be changing lenses very often and I tend to turn the camera off-&-on a lot when using it (take some pics, turn off for a while, then on again); then it will most likely not be used for a while. Pros vs Cons for either setting? Thanks.

I try to do mine when I download my photos and change my battery. It seems to be a good routine and I have only had to blow dust off the sensor a couple times on my Z6 and I have had quite a while. I have not looked into more extensive cleaning. I think I will look at Photography Life. I bought one of their sensor cleaners and since the Z sensor locks in place at shutdown I think it will work, but it is worth checking with them.
 

BF Hammer

Senior Member
Mirrorless sensors are magnets to dust. I have my Z5 set to clean each shutdown now.

When spots are visible in photos, I go to a rocket blower first. Still there, then a disposable wet-swab. It is way easy to use the swab on a mirrorless body.

And my stupid moment about 3 weeks ago: I had finally bought full-frame size swabs last month. D600, D750, and Z5 all needed a clean. After going through the menu to raise the mirror on the 2 DSLR's, I then picked up the Z5 and wasted 15 minutes looking for where I raise the mirror on this new mirrorless body!
 
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