Digital Survival KIT - Sensor Swab Type 2 (w/Eclipse)
by Photographic Solutions, Inc.
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List Price: Our Price: $19.21 You Save: $2.79 (13%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Digital Survival KIT - Sensor Swab Type 2 (w/Eclipse)
Customer Review: They are helpful but not magical
Summary: 4 Stars
Yes rec-pad leaves less hair behind than my good old a-dollar-a-bunch variety of cotton sticks. But it does still leave hairs behind, much to my dismay. The Eclipse viprates faster than my mix of alcohol and Windex (as suggested by a web source), and yet it also leaves traces behind like my cheaper variety, less trace but still... But since cleaning the sensor is such a painstaking endeavor, every little bit helps. My refurb Canon 5D got some stubborn dots on the sensor I just can't seem to get rid of. Finally I use the cotton stick with soaked Eclipse rubbing the spots back and forth forcefully several times did the trick. Then I have to deal with the traces left behind after the Eclipse dried up (in 15sec maybe). But those traces are far less nasty than the Windex mix. I used Windex/Alchohol mix successfully cleaned my two other cams for a couple of years but this Rec-Pad/Eclipse combo seem to work better with less hassle. For the price, it should be. I had my doubt when I saw the product promotion video on their website (one wipe and you are done) before I bought the thing. After using it, I think the video is just crap. It might have worked as advertized if the sensor got just one floating dust landed on the sensor a minute ago. That is not the kind of dust I got on my sensors and I usually need to clean my sensor like I do with my windows - you don't just do one swab, you rub it, and rub again, back and forth. Eventually the thing will be shining like new. But not before that. One swab and its done? Crap!
Bottom line - This product is helpful, but far less magical than they like to make you believe. Today's sensor design sucks, the requirement to clean it from time to time is worse, and the actually endeavor of doing it is the worst. But somebody's got to do it.
Here's the thing I found most useful for the job: household vaccum cleaner, luminated Sensor Loupe, Rec-Pad/Eclipse, cotton sticks (for tough spots), Giottos tripod with flex center column to hang the camera upside down with (so the dust falls down from the camera once cleaned rather than going back in). They work every time! But I am thinking, if I am out on the road without all these things to help me with, probably the next best thing would be the pre-moisturaized and sealed sensor swabs.
Customer Review: Not so scary
Summary: 4 Stars
I think anyone who considers cleaning their own sensor probably has read up on all the scary things one can encounter. I bought this kit mainly as a sample to see if it was something I wish to continue to do as camera maintenance. My sensor was very dirty mainly in the upper corners which is of course where the sky would be in most photos. So, you take some shots at the blue sky as a baseline. You apply the liquid to the pad and swipe once over your sensor. I took another set of test images of the sky, realized I had definitely moved the dust, but made huge smears (rather dust globs) with it! So, I repeated the procedure, shot some more tests and found that the sensor was nearly all clean. I left about 3 specks of dust. I am not going to go crazy getting everything off, and I have been fine with the results. So, two swipes was enough to satisfy me.
I would recommend watching the video first that the company provides online. Then my only recommendation to the company would be to provide a cheap plastic or cardboard "sensor" to use for practice first. That is basically what I learned. It is easy enough to do, but it takes a "certain touch" to get it right. Mainly the right amount of pressure and the flow of the direction. I probably could have done the job with one swipe had I been experienced with the feel of it. But certainly don't think you are apt to hurt the sensor unless you are wildly aggressive with the swiping technique.
I bought this little kit mainly to keep all the supplies neatly together, when I run out I will buy more in bulk to refill it. Just makes it handier. If the instructions had been a little more detailed about the feel of the swipe, I would probably have given this product 5 stars. It is way more convenient to do it yourself in a few seconds than to send your camera off and hope to get it back in two weeks.
Customer Review: Wish you didn't need to buy this, but......
Summary: 4 Stars
Got away with using a blower type dust remover on the sensor for several years, but finally had dirt that would not be blown away.
You read so much about the pros and cons of using a swab yourself AND pros and cons of sending your camera in to have it done in the shop, hard to decide which way to go.
Seems I had a pretty typical experience with first use and got SOME of the dirt off and left some in the corners. Didn't want to repeat process so will live with what is left until it gets worse again.
You don't get many swabs with this, but they say you should not clean the sensor that much in order to protect it from damage. Glad I didn't buy a dozen swabs at around $45 until I use all 4 of these and see how I like results over time.
Pouch is okay, but would have liked to buy just 4-6 swabs with liquid for about $10.00. I have no need for the other lens wipes they give you a ten pack of. Although I hear some re-wrap the swabs with these to save money.
Not suggesting you do that, please Note......
PEC*PAD is not recommended for cleaning the CCD...It is not the same material used in the Sensor Swabs..
Had to order from Adorama so could not get it shipped with other Amazon stocked items, shipping was a bit high for such a small and light weight item. Ends up just over $25 total cost for 4 tries at a clean sensor.
My first time ordering from them, and they did ship fast and without problems
I understand it can cost around $50. to have it cleaned once in the shop and they often come back with dirt still in place.
Newer camera models are starting to use electronic sensor cleaners build in.. nice idea, but they still need to be cleaned by hand now and then.
Customer Review: Good, I think
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought a well-used Nikon D-40 and when I looked at my first picture of an evenly lit and colored surface (a clear blue sky) I saw that the sensor was quite speckled. Blowing it out with air got rid of some of the dust, but other motes clung hard. I was surprised that the only photo store I found in my area that had a sensor cleaning kit had one that even the store's sales associate didn't recommend, so I turned to Amazon.
If you look into sensor cleaning, many make it seem pretty daunting with all sorts of warnings. One person writing about it had a calmer approach to it, saying that when you clean a sensor you're not really cleaning the sensor but the piece of glass that's over it, so be careful but you don't have to treat it like you're diffusing a bomb. This kit worked fine, but I haven't taken a photo under the right circumstances and scrutinized it yet. I haven't noticed specks in any of my photos and I'll just go with that. The case is a little bit overdone -- it's not something you're going to do so often that you need to carry this with you in your camera bag unless you're traveling for a long time and changing lenses often. At the same time, I do wish they'd supplied more than four swabs as you're supposed to make just one pass over the sensor glass with each cleaning. They give you ten 4"X4" non abrasive wipes, which is fine but not for use on sensors, unless you want to be clever and cut them up and attach them to the plastic swab with the little rubber bands holing the material on them already. If you do this, you'll have a lifetime supply of swabs.
Customer Review: Big bang for the buck
Summary: 5 Stars
Having moved up to a full frame sensor camera, I was caught with my pants down this past Saturday when I discovered some spots on my sensor that wouldn't blow off. I tried using the sensor swab and eclipse for my cropped cameras and made it even worse. I made sure I shot wide open and that got me through the event, but I ordered this kit right away.
First off, if you think that automatic sensor cleaning is going to work indefinately, you're mistaken. All it does is shake the sensor a bit. To test how dirty your sensor is, shoot a clear sky at f16. Download that image and increase the contrast a bit. You might be amazed at how filthy your sensor is. I think it's always a good idea to carefully use a blower first. The Giottos Rocket Blaster is about $10. Take another test image. If it's still dirty, check your lens for spots and then use the Sensor Swab. Test between each swab. It might take 2 or 3 swabs. The kit comes with 4 swabs with Pec Pads attached. It also includes 10 additional Pec Pads that you can attach yourself, and a pre-moistened swab. Save the pre-moistened swab for an emergency, like your Eclipse evaporating. No matter how tight you screw on the cap, this stuff disappears. Just to be on the safe side, you might want to purchase a pack of 100 Pec Pads for $10 and an extra bottle of Eclipse for $10. The case that comes with the kit is nicely constructed and perfect for the camera bag.
Adorama shipped extremely fast.
Happy shooting!
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