Photography Tip—How to Remove DSLR Sensor Dust and Particles, Part 1

Digital photography has certainly made it easier for more people to take pictures and discover an interesting and enjoyable hobby. What hasn’t changed since the first photographs were taken is that dust and particles still find their way inside cameras. One of the biggest culprits is sensor dust, which is especially a problem in DSLR cameras. To be accurate, sensor dust is found on a piece of glass called the low-pass filter, which is located in front of the camera’s sensor. This two-part PhotographyTalk.com article provides a number of tips, ideas and dos and don’ts for removing sensor dust and particles.

Many digital photographers, especially those with their first DSLR, may first notice sensor dust when viewing their photos on a computer or as a print. Photo-editing software will be required to hide the dust marks captured in photos; however, the dust is still on the sensor. You can’t spend hours correcting all of your photos; you must learn how to solve the problem at the point of origin: your camera’s sensor.

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The first, and most important, tip is that it is unadvisable for any DSLR camera owner (especially first-time owners) to clean his or her camera’s sensor. It is a delicate task; and you don’t have to make much of a mistake to damage your camera beyond repair. If you decide to clean it yourself, then read this PhotographyTalk.com article carefully and take heed of any of its warnings. You can also ask someone with the skills and experience to teach you.

Understandably, many photographers will consider removing the sensor dust with air, either blowing on the surface or using one of the canned-air products for photography. These would be your first mistakes. There is moisture in your breath, so blowing on the surface could deposit minute amounts of saliva. The canned air may work, except it also exhausts propellant, which may adhere to the sensor. The better solution is to use a hand blower, although it is not absolute either, as it might simply move some of the dust from one part of the sensor to another.

If dust is still present, then your next alternatives are to send your camera to a service center or clean the surface of the sensor yourself by touching it with a cleaning tool or product. The people at the service center will certainly know how to clean the sensor correctly and carefully, but your camera may be there for a number of weeks. To clean the surface of the sensor yourself, you can use the dry or wet method.

The Dry Method

The dry method employs one of a number of brushes, swabs or products that allow you to touch individual dust particles and remove them.

A battery-powered brush: This brush spins, which imparts an electrostatic charge to the bristles. This attracts the dust from the surface of the sensor that then sticks to the bristles. Take the brush to another part of the room or outside and spin it again to discharge the collected particles.
Spot-touch products: There are a number of products in various forms that you use to touch the separate pieces of dust and lift them from the surface of the sensor. To be able to see such small particles, you will probably need a sensor loupe that magnifies the surface and dust.

The dry method may not do a complete job, as some particles, such as pollen grains, are moist and may be stuck to the sensor too securely to be removed. Your next step is to try the wet method.

The Wet Method

You’ll find a number of liquid cleaners that are made especially for this job. Many of them are made of methanol compounds, which are very quick drying, so no moisture is left on the sensor. These products are applied in very small amounts with a swab. Some are manufactured specifically for cameras with tin oxide sensors.

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