First of all, a scratch is not likely if you have not intentionally
touched the sensor with something hard. That is not likely to happen by
accident because you have to have the mirror up for anything to get there.
So you probably have a smudge left by something like a raindrop off the
back of a lens or sunscreen or something.
If you do a Google search for "clean digital sensor" or any such search
term, you will find a long list of sites with advice.
I can't find it today, but one day I came across a video a photographer
had put together where he cleaned the sensor on his digital SLR and
showed step by step how to do it. He used commercial methanol based
solution and those wide Q-tip like swabs you can buy at B&H and camera
shops. Twenty of them are like $40.
Be sure your lens cloth is clean.
I use vodka, one bottle lasts a long time if you don't drink it, and I
have a 15 mm wide, 2.5 mm thick, 20 cm long piece of mahogany that I
keep in my camera case. I take a lens cleaning cloth and wrap it around
the mahogany stick at one end, lapping it over a couple of times so the
mahogany is well covered and cushioned. Then I take a rubber band and
wrap it around the stick and the cloth to hold the cloth in place. You
can do with out the rubber band if necessary.
ALWAYS VACUUM OFF THE SENSOR BEFORE TRYING TO WIPE IT!!!!
That is because there is likely to be dust - finely ground rocks, maybe
hard rocks like quartz - on the sensor. You want to get as much of that
off as possible before you try and wipe the dust that is stuck to the
surface of the sensor off because the quartz has very hard, sharp edges
that could very well scratch the sensor if you stroke them across its
surface with the swab. I have a Euro-Pro Mini Shark vacuum that I got
free as a bonus from Tiger Direct when I ordered computer parts from
them. I use it to vacuum negatives before I scan them, and it works
perfect for vacuuming out my Nikon D200.
Don't touch anything with the vacuum. Hold your finger against the end
of the vacuum nozzle and touch your finger to the outside of the opening
where the sensor is and hold the vacuum firmly in place for a long time
until it's boring and then move to the other side and wait until it gets
too boring again.
Now it's safe to swab the sensor. Put a few drops of vodka (distilled
water and ethyl alcohol) on the cleaning cloth at the end of the stick.
I use a 15 mm wide stick because that is how wide the sensor is.
Starting at one edge and pressing only very lightly, swab the dampened
cloth across the lens. Repeat once for a total of two passes.
That's it. Your lens is clean. If you used too much vodka it may leave
a residue like a blob or a dark spot. If this happens, don't panic.
Repeat the swab action, only this time use less vodka.
REMEMBER - ALWAYS VACUUM OFF THE SENSOR BEFORE TRYING TO WIPE IT!!!!
If so desired, you may drink one shot at this time, as you are
finished. Please do not sample the cleaning fluid before cleaning the
sensor as it may make you clumsy.
I use Smirnoff because it is "Triple Distilled for Exceptional
Smoothness," and I figure anything that smooth will not scratch my
lenses or sensors.
While there are perhaps some laughs generated by the above suggestions,
I am serious, and this is really how I clean the sensor on my D200.
Of course you are free to pay $40.00 for $0.15 worth of wide Q-tips if
you want.
Paul Fretheim
Inyo Pro
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