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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> makeup brush to clean sensor?
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 02/13/2006 09:02:37 PM · #1
Just curious if anyone has done this and not completely ruined their sensors as most places on the internet (mainly places that sell sensor-cleaning-related products) claim will happen.

I have a nice one because my girlfriend accidentally bought two the last time. I tested it out on an old UV filter and really examined it closely after brushing the crap out of it under all lighting conditions, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the UV filter at all. So I used it to clean off my lenses...again, nothing wrong at all.

--

I've done everything from blowing really hard inside my camera with the mirror locked up to using a shop vac with good success -- there's just this one piece of dust left over (since the camera was new) and I'm thinking this may be the route I should take.

Now I've always been the type that would just clean my lenses with my t-shirt...I've never scratched a lens at all even with that technique -- if there is a scratch, believe me, it's completely invisible to the naked eye and doesn't affect the photo one single bit.

--

Anyway, I'm not looking for cautions or suggestions of other methods, just whether or not anyone has used this technique successfully.
 02/13/2006 09:05:05 PM · #2
I think it would depend on the type of brush... high end matural hair brush will probably be better than a harsh, cheap synthetic brush.

That being said, I have no clue, as I've never tried it
 02/13/2006 09:06:07 PM · #3
I say go for it! But use a nice rosey blush to really bring out the color in your shots.
 02/13/2006 09:07:48 PM · #4
Makeup brushes tend to lose bristles. I wouldn't use one on my sensor.
 02/13/2006 09:12:03 PM · #5
Have you done a wet cleaning yet? If the wet cleaning didn't get it, I'm thinking that a brush isn't going to either...
 02/13/2006 09:15:26 PM · #6
I've read, somewhere, that brushes not specifically made for the cameras could cause scratching on a microscopic level. I personally wouldn't use one.
 02/13/2006 09:16:48 PM · #7
I do agree with deapee about the lens cleaning with a tee-shirt I've done it numorus times. Also a soft bristled brush I dont think it has the tinsle strength to compete with glass to scratch it.

Just a thought how about scotch tape to clean the sensor. Couple of quick dabs.

02/13/2006 09:18:08 PM · #8
scotch tape = residue
 02/13/2006 09:24:07 PM · #9
Originally posted by ButterflySis:
I've read, somewhere, that brushes not specifically made for the cameras could cause scratching on a microscopic level. I personally wouldn't use one.


I read that too, from multiple sites selling their own sensor cleaning methods...

I noticed that it loses bristles...no big deal, I'll brush them back off...or vacuum them out. this brush says "all natural" and it's soft...like I said, not damage to my lenses or old UV filter.
 02/13/2006 09:25:24 PM · #10
oh, blemt, I haven't tried wet cleaning -- personally, that frightens me more than using a soft brush...

I've seen people's shots of after and where that liquid gets between the protective cover and the CCD or something, I hear it can be not pretty when you mess that up, and personally, I think I'd goof that up.
 02/13/2006 09:25:40 PM · #11
How about this brush. $13 and made for DSLR's.

Copper Hill Images

P.S. This was featured in Outdoor Photographer.

Message edited by author 2006-02-13 21:26:15.
 02/13/2006 09:27:12 PM · #12
Originally posted by ButterflySis:
How about this brush. $13 and made for DSLR's.

Copper Hill Images

P.S. This was featured in Outdoor Photographer.


Thanks...if I'd do it with that brush, I'd do it with this one too I would think, and this one way free (for me or probably like a buck ... never shopped for a makeup brush so I dunno).

I don't know if I'm going to try it or not..but it's definately staying in my bag to dust off my lenses and stuff.
 02/13/2006 09:28:12 PM · #13
I can't believe the wet method scares you but you blow (spit?) and use a shop vac to clean the sensor?! Somethings wrong here. LOL
 02/13/2006 09:29:21 PM · #14
Originally posted by ButterflySis:
I can't believe the wet method scares you but you blow (spit?) and use a shop vac to clean the sensor?! Somethings wrong here. LOL


yeah I know...I'll vac it out all day long...fortunately I've never spit on the sensor, but I've blown on my lenses and spit on them, so I know the sensor's going to get it one of these days.
 02/13/2006 10:32:12 PM · #15
remind me not to buy any of your used equipment - if you ever put any up for sale ...

02/13/2006 10:34:39 PM · #16
Originally posted by soup:
remind me not to buy any of your used equipment - if you ever put any up for sale ...


why? All my lenses are in perfect shape, my d70 is too. I'd buy any lens off of me before I bought any lens off of some guy shooting on the sidelines of a sporting event week in and week out...I take good care of my stuff. Just because I use a t-shirt to clean my lenses doesn't mean they're 'damaged'
 02/13/2006 10:35:32 PM · #17
Originally posted by soup:
remind me not to buy any of your used equipment - if you ever put any up for sale ...


oh btw...you interested in a 58mm cokin UV filter...I have two...$5.00 and a SASE...with enough postage...probably 2-3 stamps.
 02/13/2006 10:39:48 PM · #18
i don't clean my sunglasses with a t-shirt...

i just can't imagine even wondering if i could clean my sensor with a t-shirt, or paint brush, or whatever - seeing as the proper method is substantially cheaper than potentially having to replace the image sensor.

Message edited by author 2006-02-13 22:40:07.
 02/13/2006 10:55:44 PM · #19
Originally posted by hdogg4u:
I do agree with deapee about the lens cleaning with a tee-shirt I've done it numorus times. Also a soft bristled brush I dont think it has the tinsle strength to compete with glass to scratch it.

Just a thought how about scotch tape to clean the sensor. Couple of quick dabs.


Ok here is how idiots clean sensors:
1. Read ideas from others and try them.
2. Try something else to eliminate the problems from first attempt.
3. Go another step to remove the residue from the residues residue.
4. Send the camera to Canon for a new sensor .... $358.

Yes I'm the idiot. Just sent the 20D to canon and yes it does cost $358 to replace the sensor and a couple weeks with no camera.

So how did I do it.
1. Suggestion was to use very thin strips of postem notes. Yup leaves a residue.
2. Camera quality cottom swab to try to remove the residue. Nope just smears it.
3. Camera quality cotton swab with lens cleaner to help dissolve the smeared residue. Nope just smears it further.
4. Too late but now into the pro cleaning using the Cooper Hill method. Too late what appears as smears is really scratches on the sensor. BUSTED.

Try a good bulb blower before anything else, $10 for a good one is cheaper than all the methods out there and then end up paying for a new sensor.

Yes, I'm the sucker on this one.
 02/13/2006 10:59:55 PM · #20
ouch !
 02/13/2006 11:03:10 PM · #21
Ouch, is right! So sorry for your (temporary) loss. :-(

I agree with soup, the bulb blower does a great job as well.
 02/13/2006 11:09:41 PM · #22
Originally posted by soup:
i don't clean my sunglasses with a t-shirt...

i just can't imagine even wondering if i could clean my sensor with a t-shirt, or paint brush, or whatever - seeing as the proper method is substantially cheaper than potentially having to replace the image sensor.


what would be the harm with the makeup brush though? It obviously doesn't scratch glass, and the protective glass cover over the CCD has to be just as hard as the lens, right?

Glass is hard...you can clean bugs off your windshield with a razor blade, i've done it hundreds of times...I don't know, I'm going to do it just because you think I'll damage something...then I'll post before/after results.
 02/13/2006 11:36:43 PM · #23
I bought a sensor brush from a third party off ebay. It was advertised "as good as" the trademarked sensorbrushes. I got the address from someone here, so I am not the only one.

I had purchased eclipse, pecpads, and the sensor swab a while back, but never had the need or guts to use them. Normally, I just use a hurricane blower.

I had some dust that didn't blow off, so I thought I'd give the brush a try. After one pass, instead of dust, I had a blob of gook on my relatively new 350D. I have the image if you want to see the disgusting beast.

I broke out the eclipse and pecpads, and went through a number of them, as you do the first time, but moreso, when you just put gook on your sensor.

I was able to get it off fortunately.

I am not sure if it was on the brush, or as I've read, sometimes, you can accidentally move lubricant from the chamber onto the sensor using a brush. Needless to say, I haven't tried the brush again.

But if you get a brush--especially a third party one, but even a real sensor brush--I recommend testing it first on a filter or piece of glass and look for residue.

Still, even after using the copperhill method successfully, I don't want to have to do it again. It was a bit traumatic, and took me a number of times, and you always risk getting dirt under the pecpad and scraping it across the sensor. So I may end up investing in the more expensive sensor brush--maybe the new whirly one!

Message edited by author 2006-02-13 23:59:39.
 02/14/2006 01:28:29 AM · #24
I like the copperhill method, and have done it enough to not fear it any more, but I also have a cosmetic brush to use between the blower and the full out eclipes and pecpad drama.
There are three things to look for in a brush;
1.The right width to cover your sensor in one sweep.
2.Good quality synthetic fibers with blunted tips. The static charge that blowing across the fibers puts on the brush does the cleaning, so natural fibers aren't as good at holding the charge, plus the natural hair fibers are naturally oily, which diminshes over use, but you don't want that oil on your sensor. This is also the reason why canned air as a charger is bad, bad, bad. The propellant in the canned air will get on your brush, and then on your sensor: use an oilless compressor or a blower, or a spinner.
3. A good brush doesn't shed fibers if it has a good ferrill, and is well made. This is expensive, but not too hard to find.

Visible dust, the makers of the specially made sensor brush claims that they coat the "surface of the fibers with special molecules charged opposite to that of dust. These charges are permanent and do not dissipate as electrostatic charges do." Which sounds like so much BS to me. If they have found a substance which never looses it's charge then they have a source of never ending energy, and we can give them the noble prize and stop relying on oil as a power source. Lots of people love their brush, but the reasons they claim their brush is better than another brush of similar size and quality is based on snake oil salesmanship and not hard science. The brushes they sell are good, but the claims of what make them special have enough pure hokum in them that I distrust all their claims.
02/14/2006 01:41:33 AM · #25
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
scotch tape = residue

Very true.
I use 3M Post-It Notes.
I carry a strip of them, with the non-sticky paper portion cut off cleanly. Peel off a strip, gently place on top of sensor,
lightly rub to stick it, lift & toss. Repeat to cover whole surface.
Works well. 3M brand Post-It Notes' adhesive leaves no residue.
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