And don't forget to clean the inside of the lens cap. Caps usually just get taken off when I shoot and stuffed in a pocket.... mega source of cruft and cludge..
For mirrorless cameras with in-body stabilization (like the Sony); remember to place in Cleaning mode from the menu. This locks the sensor in place; otherwise it is floating around when trying to swab the sensor.
Good point Jeff, For mirrorless cameras with IBIS, after placing in Cleaning mode, leave camera switched on to lock sensor while cleaning. Suprised this wasn't mentioned by Tony.
Unless you have a Nikon mirrorless. It will lock the IBIS in place when you flick the power off. And please don‘t listen to people who advise you to take the battery out of your camera before cleaning because of electrostatics. That‘s BS.
@aussie8114 heck. Went through quite a lot of info before cleaning my A7 in and this was not mentioned. I did go through the pdf and nothing like this was mentioned for cleaning. I've done it now anyway. 🤷 Will just have to see how it goes.
*ATTENTION! THIS IS NOT HOW A LENS AND CAMERA SHOULD BE CLEANED!* Tony, that is not the prism, that is the focusing screen! *DO NOT EVER CLEAN WITH ANY CLOTH OR TISSUES THE FOCUSING SCREEN! IT WILL RUIN IT INSTANTLY!* It has a fine nanostructure on the exposed surface! Tampering with it will result in much dimmer viewfinder and visible scratches. The focusing screen can be removed and washed with alcohol or distilled water. The focusing screen must be held by their edges with tweezers or medical gloves to avoid grease contamination. Also a very-very soft brush is ok, but it has to be extremely clean (you should wash your brush too every few months). Also don't blow the back of a lens! You will shoot dust inside of the lens assemblies and that you will be not able to remove it ever, only if you send it to a service. Dust in the lens reduces contrast by a lot especially when shooting against a lightsource!
@@bt10ant he should take down the video and redo it properly. He should ask a few lens and camera repair guys for proper instructions. I'm shocked how irresponsible and ignorant he is.
Maybe I'm lucky but doing all of this as never impacted my equipment. At least five different dslrs over the years, a dozen lenses, outdoor photography.
Excellent description. The products you showed look really nice. A blower with an air filter is a must if you ever want to use it on a sensor. I would add two inexpensive items: a plastic cap for the lens back and one for the camera lens mount. They lock together for storage. If you have them out and unlocked when you clean, you can drastically cut the time that inner parts of cameras and lenses are exposed to dusty air. If you are doing this while sitting at a table, you don't even have to lock the caps on to get a lot of dust protection.
Thanks Tony. I have been frightened of touching my gear for 40 Years!! Even when I know camera repair people touch sensors every day of the week. Will try VSGO TODAY! Sponsorship rewarded!
The normal Rocket blower is perfectly ok. Though as the rubber degrades it should be replaced because internal rubber particles can be released into the air stream. That applies to all blowers. How often to replace depends on rubber quality, temperature changes and use.
I júst bought a lenspen with brush. Used it once for 3 seconds on my kitlens, switched to my other lens and it just spread so much dust over the second one. I'll just stick to a squeezy pump thingy when possible.
@@OttosTheName I always use the blower on the lens first. Then, if there is any stubborn particles still left on the lens I will use a brush to get those off. But I always use the blow off the brush with the blower first to make sure there is nothing in the brush that could cet on the lens and possible scratch it.
just got that same black VSGO filtered blower yesterday and what a difference it makes over cheap blowers. Just the feel and power, plus not adding dust or particles. Was hesitant to spend that kinda money on a air blower but glad I did. Single easiest step takes no time to keeping a mostly dust free sensor.
I love the thorough, conversational style that Tony consistently provides with every topic. Another fantastic tutorial, Tony. Cheers from Australia. 🙌🏾
Tony, is your Sony turned on or off when you perform the wet cleaning with the swipe? There is some recommendation in the internet to first apply the automatic cleaning cycle via the Menu and then to keep the camera powered on to hold the sensor in place.
Thanks Tony. I really appreciate this video. I have always been afraid to clean my gear and it shows. You have emboldened me to give it a try. And I don't mind if you're sponsored. You are up front with it and I get that. Besides, I have to pick a product at some point anyway and having something that you have used is helpful to me.
My work requires high apertures, about 250k images a year! I've tried nearly all the sensor cleaning products. VSGO has proved to be the absolute best.
@@chakyeungpang5920 I'm a Canon user since the 70's so I don't have Sony still camera experience. I've "heard" some Sonys are dust magnets, which rules them out for me as I shoot high quantity, high aperture content.
I have a tek vac at work (I make electronics). Not a cheap vac, but ss one source of sensor dust is what gets into the mount, and only later gets onto the sensor, a vacuum for clean rooms and such is superb. Gets out the dust that is drifting around inside your bodies and lenses.
I too have been using vsgo products for years. And sending the camera in for cleaning? LOL!!! I’d have to send it in weekly. These products are must haves for Sony mirrorless especially!
When you blow clean the mirror box of a DSLR you also should turn the camera upside down and blow out the AF compartment which is located at the base of the mirror box. Excessive dust in the AF compartment can cause auto focus issues.
I like this channel and Im really impressed by how knowledgable Tony is, but some of this information is not the best. Most cameras have a lowpass filter protecting the sensor so no issues there, but the eye piece part of the finder is easily scratched if you use your finger to wipe. The way he did it was alright, but dont wipe before using a brush. Also, the part he called "prism" is actually the focusing screen. Touching that thing with anything instantly scratch or smudge it. Also worth noting that keeping the mount, mirror and area around the sensor clean helps to keep the sensor clean, and tiny metal particles might scratch your sensor if youre not careful.
Great video Tony! I had a hard time finding any reviews or tutorials on how to clean your lenses or sensors. I was surprised, since there are so many photography review channels on UA-cam.
Tony.., For some reason I cannot get my mirror to lock up on my Canon 5d Mark iv....I have enabled mirror lock up in the menu orange settings and have also gone to sensor clean in the yellow tab and then to clean manually....then turned off the camera..the camera makes the noise as if the mirror has lifted .but when I turn the camera over I am looking at the mirror not the sensor.....I tried your advice about putting the camera in "live view" and that did work...the mirror was gone revealing the sensor....but I had to leave the camera on while swabbing the sensor....I hope I haven't ruined the camera....should I worry about leaving the camera ON while cleaning the sensor...???Do you have any ideas as to why the typical instructions for lifting the mirror may not have worked in me case?
Camera repair technician here. 25 years. Some truly truly terrible advice here! He says to clean the "prism" on your SLR. THAT'S THE FOCUSING SCREEN NOT THE PRISM! If you use that brush or anything other than air you WILL PERMANENTLY DAMAGE IT! you certainly can and should learn how to clean your lenses and sensors (they are quite durable) but know your limitations. I really like Tony and Chelsea but sometimes I can't take it! And I have to comment!
Thanks for this video! Im learning a lot from your channel :D My Canon has had dust on the sensor for a while and I was worried that the dust was somewhere I couldnt reach at first, like inside the lens or something. But its perfect after cleaning the sensor!
thank you. I cleaned the initial two but was sure there was a way to move the mirror and get that last one. first video didn't show me but you did and thats exactly where the piece of dust was
Is that a good way to pop eye cup off like this?? Worry about it a moment 😆 (it can be took off gently by pinching and holding the left and right side of the eyecup with two fingers, right?)
@@Glenners you do know that those "standard Chinese stuff you can get off amazon" ARE ACTUALLY VSGO products, don't you? VSGO is a Chinese brand, designed in China, made in China, imported from China.
Since I own a 5Dsr, one thing Roger from Lensrentals said stuck with me. He said they found that when they used blowers to clean the 5Dsr sensor, it sometimes lodged dust under the filter glass that reverses the anti-aliasing. So only on 5Dsr and not on 5Ds. It’s on one of his posts if you are interested but he didn’t go into detail. So maybe would be best to minimize blowing on th 5Dsr sensor, and if you do it, probably best to get one of those blowers with filters. Doesn’t sound like cleaning under the sDsr filter would be easy. Maybe not even do-able. Just something I remember that might be important or helpful.
My experience has been that if you do not want to have to get your focusing screen replaced then you don't use anything that physically touches up toward the prism on a DSLR. Those screens are extremely delicate. I would expect any brush would easily ruin it. The mirror, sure. I use the triangle shaped swabs and cleaning fluid on the sensor and that works well. With the blower, I use a delicate puff and not a blast of air because I believe that a strong blast can force dust deeper into the camera rather than a gentle puff may dislodge dust and allow it to drop away.
This is an ad. Tony's advices are really bad, you will ruin your lens and your dslr viewfinder. Don't blow in the back of the lens, and don't touch with hands or tissues the focusing screen
@@dtibor5903 this is an ad? What do you think professionals do when they clean your camera? You think they don't touch anything? You are out of your mind, because this is exactly what service centers do to your camera.
I've always been told that when I put the lens down make sure I get the back covered preferably with a lens cap so gravity doesn't add any dust to it while it's sitting there especially if I was blowing dust around,cleaning the camera
I just run all my gear through the dish washer once a month. Works like a charm. Just whatever you do, don't use the sanitize setting. Too much plastic in modern equipment that can break or deform from the excessive heat.
Hello Tony. I got the D500. I have noticed that the dirt is not visible all the time but is visible when I shoot a macro / video. So where should I clean up? Thanks
Ok I’m sold. I have the dodgiest cleaning kit that came free with some piece of gear from eBay. Do they sell a bundle with everything to cover each step of the process?
Is there a way to clean out the dust and sensor on the X100 series? I seem to have dust collected on the lens, but can’t get it off. I don’t know if it would be ok to take it apart and see if I could clean it. Maybe have a video on cleaning fixed lens cameras.
After storage, in a case in another case in a storage container... can moisture create a fine coating that can or will cause blurring. Another words.. it may not be dust or have dust as the issue.. yet blur remains.. is it the sensor, mirror or something else? I have not cleaned my D800 yet I do take good care of it yet it has been used in many different weathers and on the beach,. I am always careful when changing lens and it hasn't gotten wet or dropped or been mistreated.. Some photos appear blurred slightly especially when using a long lens 200 plus to 500mm
Tony: "It comes with a whole bunch of swabs, that should last you a little while." Me: "Well, I have an a7III and a7RIII so that'll last a couple weeks."
@@LoriGraceAz Any mirrorless camera really. The sensor is always super exposed. Had it professionally cleaned one time, the next day I had already a huge dust spot on it.
@@motttta The Canon R5 has the mechanical shutter than closes when you change the lens so dirt doesn't get on the sensor. The new Sony a1 also has this feature so thankfully they're finally addressing that issue.
I realize that this is a sponsored video and appreciate that they are showing off new products. I had believed that you should only use Aeroclipse on Sony Sensors. Is this new cleaning solution as safe and effective as Aeroclipse and Sensor Swabs?
Focus sensor is in the base plate under the mirror, there is a second mirror behind the main semi transparent mirror sending the image downward in the opposite direction to the viewfinder.
@@TheOtherPhotoGuy, I know where the focus sensor is. The part that Tony is calling the prism is still called the "focusing screen". It's the screen that the lens is projecting the image onto (same distance as the film/sensor just flipped 90 ° up), so the user can do see the image and do manual focusing etc. The prism sits above the focusing screen and turns the image upside up.
Hey, after all this I still see dust and string through my view finder in my DLSR. It doesn't show up on camera though when I take pictures. I've cleaned the mirrors and view finder but it's like its stuck in there. Any suggestions?
Great update video, Thank you! BTW, and I'm only saying as a point of review, I can hear the focusing motor on the lens that you're using to record this video on.
Talking of autofocus, on pentaxes there are small semi-transparent mirrors under the main mirror that often need cleaning as on my K5s and K3. After cleaning my autofocus inconsistencies go away..
I've read that BSI sensors like A7iii are manufactured differently where some more delicate components are more exposed.. Does it have any impact on the way we should clean the sensors? As for example the swabs and liquids?
Hi Tony - It has been suggested to me by a couple of professional photographers that you should not try to clean sensors that have IBIS due to the risk of damage or misalignment. Do you have any thoughts on this?
All cameras with IBIS a have mode to lock the IBIS. On Sony cameras the IBIS will lock after you activate the internal sensor cleaning mode he showed in the video. After the wobble is over you‘ll see a message on the screen and the IBIS is locked until you press ok. On Nikon mirrorless the IBIS will lock up when you switch the camera off.
If digital ISO is signal gain only, then why not shoot at base ISO and then exposure as one wishes in software afterwards? Or is there more to it than that?
Hi,,,can I do it from bottom to top, flip the swab and back again top to bottom?? Because I try to clean mold in the bottom which i cannot get it using swab amd cleaner for left to right because the pressure might be more in the middle
Is it possible that I just wet-cleaned my sensor TWICE and am still seeing black specks?? :( ... they don't move at all when I zoom in and out, so I don't think it's the lens (though I've tried to clean it as best as I can with the blower)... Any ideas??
@ 10:26 be careful not to touch the focusing screen, most have a tiny Fresnel lens built into them, some have micro dot lenses for AF confirmation lights and when cleaning the mirror be sure that the cleaning fluid is of a type that does not leave any residue, (test this on other glass first)
On sony's for sure and probably other brands first do internal cleaning mode. Then don't turn camera off since it locks the ibis so you can do a wet-clean its states so on the screen manual and yes i checked with sony. Second video where you clean it with ibis wobbeling around. Will it hurt it probably not but its easier that way and how they designed it,
It’s amazing how people don’t look after their gear. The only time my camera and lens is internally exposed is when I am swapping over a lens, which roughly takes at most five seconds, I never leave the camera or lens ‘open’ like I see people doing. I’ve never needed to clean the inside of my cameras or lens’.
Ditto. I have spare lens and body caps and always use them. I also have a filter on my lens and you would not believe the amount of dust that attaches to it. I've always been scared to clean my stuff incase I scratch the glass but...the time has come to be brave!
I think most professionals use their equipment in a way that most amateurs hobbyists would not understand. They are there to do a job and make money. So they don’t have the options to be easy with their equipment always. And since it’s making money and not a hobby it’s just a tool for making money. So when wore out they buy again. It’s like that in many businesses.
Hey Tony, I often see horror stories of people using brushes on their DSLR mirrors and somehow scratching some silver coating on it or whatever. Is it really safe? I have an original LensPen.
You are 100 percent correct he has no clue what he’s doing or talking about and hopefully a lot of his followers don’t listen to him and destroy there camera 🙈
Yeh that's what I thought as well. Was surprised when he stuck the cloth inside the body and cleaned the mirror with the cloth and his fingers. Ouch!!!
Hey guys, the mirror is pretty roboust, you can actually clean the mirror with a finger, but it's not the best ideea. The mirror slaps pretty hard when you are shooting a burst, so as a mechanical structure it is really roboust. I would recommend to use a sensor swab to clean it. Just keep away you finger and tools from the focusing screen
Try squeezing the sides of the eyepiece instead of forcing it off! ;) I sent my first DSLR for cleaning and there were still dust spots on the sensor, so I learned how to DIY, that's pretty scary the first time, but OK after that. I've not heard of VSGO here, their kit looks really good quality.
I'm curious about cleaning the Translucent mirror on my A77. Bought the camera used, using the blower didn't remove all the dust off the mirror so I had to resort to using a very fine tipped swab. This made me very nervous due to the mirror being extremely delicate. BTW I also have what looks like a couple of water spots on it. Is there any advice you can give me on the A77 mirror? Is there a fluid I can use along with the swab to remove the spots?
That‘s a bit of a delicate topic. Those translucent mirrors are very sensitive and cleaning them can be a bit of a pain in the bottom. If I remember correctly there is a special cleaning tool for them
@@romanpul thanks.. I'll keep looking around to find the cleaning solution.. Worse case scenario, I may have to buy a new mirror. I know they're not overly expensive. Truth be told - I bought the body for $300 CND with 8000 sutter actuations, even if i have to spend a few bucks for minor things, im still ahead of the game.
And don't forget to clean the inside of the lens cap. Caps usually just get taken off when I shoot and stuffed in a pocket.... mega source of cruft and cludge..
I usually get more crudd and schmutz than cruft and cludge from my lens caps.
@@falcoperegrinus82 Your trouser pockets are clearly cleaner than mine...
I normally get miff and lint on mine
Very usefully remark 👍
Thank you, I never thought about the cap being the problem!
For mirrorless cameras with in-body stabilization (like the Sony); remember to place in Cleaning mode from the menu. This locks the sensor in place; otherwise it is floating around when trying to swab the sensor.
Good point Jeff, For mirrorless cameras with IBIS, after placing in Cleaning mode, leave camera switched on to lock sensor while cleaning. Suprised this wasn't mentioned by Tony.
Unless you have a Nikon mirrorless. It will lock the IBIS in place when you flick the power off. And please don‘t listen to people who advise you to take the battery out of your camera before cleaning because of electrostatics. That‘s BS.
This should of been emphasised in the video. Swab an unlocked IBIS sensor and it will likely get messed up. They are very sensitive.
@@malcolmtruby7211 to be able or what ever e4
@aussie8114 heck. Went through quite a lot of info before cleaning my A7 in and this was not mentioned. I did go through the pdf and nothing like this was mentioned for cleaning. I've done it now anyway. 🤷 Will just have to see how it goes.
*ATTENTION! THIS IS NOT HOW A LENS AND CAMERA SHOULD BE CLEANED!*
Tony, that is not the prism, that is the focusing screen! *DO NOT EVER CLEAN WITH ANY CLOTH OR TISSUES THE FOCUSING SCREEN! IT WILL RUIN IT INSTANTLY!* It has a fine nanostructure on the exposed surface! Tampering with it will result in much dimmer viewfinder and visible scratches. The focusing screen can be removed and washed with alcohol or distilled water. The focusing screen must be held by their edges with tweezers or medical gloves to avoid grease contamination. Also a very-very soft brush is ok, but it has to be extremely clean (you should wash your brush too every few months). Also don't blow the back of a lens! You will shoot dust inside of the lens assemblies and that you will be not able to remove it ever, only if you send it to a service. Dust in the lens reduces contrast by a lot especially when shooting against a lightsource!
Agreed....Tony, can you make that change in your video? It's really needed.
@@bt10ant he should take down the video and redo it properly. He should ask a few lens and camera repair guys for proper instructions. I'm shocked how irresponsible and ignorant he is.
Ehi, I know I'm like 3 months later, but are you referring to the part on 10:36? I am going to my first cleaning today
@@alessandroguagnelli7216 yes, exactly. Don't do that. If you don't see spots in the viewfinder, don't clean the focusing screen.
Maybe I'm lucky but doing all of this as never impacted my equipment. At least five different dslrs over the years, a dozen lenses, outdoor photography.
Excellent description. The products you showed look really nice. A blower with an air filter is a must if you ever want to use it on a sensor. I would add two inexpensive items: a plastic cap for the lens back and one for the camera lens mount. They lock together for storage. If you have them out and unlocked when you clean, you can drastically cut the time that inner parts of cameras and lenses are exposed to dusty air. If you are doing this while sitting at a table, you don't even have to lock the caps on to get a lot of dust protection.
Thanks Tony. I have been frightened of touching my gear for 40 Years!! Even when I know camera repair people touch sensors every day of the week. Will try VSGO TODAY! Sponsorship rewarded!
be me "oh wow Tony has the same blower as me!" Tony "This one is GARBAGE *throws it across the room*" =(
YUP!
We all have that same crappy blower! 😁
In a sponsored video, I'd call that a sales technique
A blower is a blower. It blows air.
The normal Rocket blower is perfectly ok. Though as the rubber degrades it should be replaced because internal rubber particles can be released into the air stream. That applies to all blowers. How often to replace depends on rubber quality, temperature changes and use.
I always use the blower on the brush before using the brush on my camera.
You should wash the brush every once in a while to get rid of the greasy stuff.
I júst bought a lenspen with brush. Used it once for 3 seconds on my kitlens, switched to my other lens and it just spread so much dust over the second one. I'll just stick to a squeezy pump thingy when possible.
@@OttosTheName I always use the blower on the lens first. Then, if there is any stubborn particles still left on the lens I will use a brush to get those off. But I always use the blow off the brush with the blower first to make sure there is nothing in the brush that could cet on the lens and possible scratch it.
With seeing this promo VSGO product was recommended by my camera shop. Good to see a tutorial by a photographer . Thanks.
just got that same black VSGO filtered blower yesterday and what a difference it makes over cheap blowers. Just the feel and power, plus not adding dust or particles. Was hesitant to spend that kinda money on a air blower but glad I did. Single easiest step takes no time to keeping a mostly dust free sensor.
I love the thorough, conversational style that Tony consistently provides with every topic. Another fantastic tutorial, Tony. Cheers from Australia. 🙌🏾
Sensor cleaning (mirrorless) 12:11 - 12:32.
Tony, is your Sony turned on or off when you perform the wet cleaning with the swipe? There is some recommendation in the internet to first apply the automatic cleaning cycle via the Menu and then to keep the camera powered on to hold the sensor in place.
Thanks Tony. I really appreciate this video. I have always been afraid to clean my gear and it shows. You have emboldened me to give it a try. And I don't mind if you're sponsored. You are up front with it and I get that. Besides, I have to pick a product at some point anyway and having something that you have used is helpful to me.
Wow, I've never seen dust bits that big on a sensor in my life, and I swap lens in the field occasionally. Lens cleaning swab kit is a must-have.
he put it there to show lol
@@Paldentseringsherpa Yeah, you're probably right.
Thanks! I just ordered the VGSO Sensor cleaner, blower and pen! Thank you for all of your teachings.
You're a salesman's dream.
My work requires high apertures, about 250k images a year! I've tried nearly all the sensor cleaning products. VSGO has proved to be the absolute best.
How often do you clean your sensor?
@@chakyeungpang5920 Really only every 6 months or so…depending on what shows up. 5D Mk4 is pretty good about sensor auto clean.
@@gbaren I got the a73 it’s only been a week and I needed a wet clean, is that normal? 😅
@@chakyeungpang5920 I'm a Canon user since the 70's so I don't have Sony still camera experience. I've "heard" some Sonys are dust magnets, which rules them out for me as I shoot high quantity, high aperture content.
Although some time has passed, I am still very moved to see this video content again! The sharing process is really great!! thank you😘
Thanks for the video. I have a cheapo dust blower like the one you tossed and it continues to serve my cameras and lenses well.
Best to replace every few years as the internal rubber can break down releasing rubber particles into the air stream,
@@aussie8114 thanks for the tip
Is that a dead pixel at 2:05, starts on the sensor of the camera and goes above the sensor (or mirror) and then to the mount ring.
What did you do, leave these cameras open in the garage while you were cutting wood on the table saw?
I have a tek vac at work (I make electronics). Not a cheap vac, but ss one source of sensor dust is what gets into the mount, and only later gets onto the sensor, a vacuum for clean rooms and such is superb. Gets out the dust that is drifting around inside your bodies and lenses.
I used a sensor swab on my sony a7iii and i got multiple streaks across my sensor, had to take it to professional sensor polishing to fix it.
How much did this cost? Same result on my Sony alpha 6300... Don't do this to your sensor people.
been using vgso for years...well worth the price.
I too have been using vsgo products for years. And sending the camera in for cleaning? LOL!!! I’d have to send it in weekly. These products are must haves for Sony mirrorless especially!
Great Video! I was wondering for the sensor cleaning do you wipe on the same size of the brush over the sensor both ways?
Excellent information. As a bonus, the tossing of empty containers over the shoulder was hysterical, and your staircase is gorgeous.
No problem. Chelsea will pick them up - NOT!😱
No, these are bad advices, you will ruin your lens and your dslr viewfinder.
When you blow clean the mirror box of a DSLR you also should turn the camera upside down and blow out the AF compartment which is located at the base of the mirror box. Excessive dust in the AF compartment can cause auto focus issues.
I like this channel and Im really impressed by how knowledgable Tony is, but some of this information is not the best.
Most cameras have a lowpass filter protecting the sensor so no issues there, but the eye piece part of the finder is easily scratched if you use your finger to wipe. The way he did it was alright, but dont wipe before using a brush.
Also, the part he called "prism" is actually the focusing screen. Touching that thing with anything instantly scratch or smudge it.
Also worth noting that keeping the mount, mirror and area around the sensor clean helps to keep the sensor clean, and tiny metal particles might scratch your sensor if youre not careful.
Do you throw away the swab? Single-use only?
Thanks for putting up the vid. Are those sensor swabs a 1 time use?
Great video Tony! I had a hard time finding any reviews or tutorials on how to clean your lenses or sensors. I was surprised, since there are so many photography review channels on UA-cam.
Thank you for demystifying what would otherwise be an expensive trip to the camera store.
Tony.., For some reason I cannot get my mirror to lock up on my Canon 5d Mark iv....I have enabled mirror lock up in the menu orange settings and have also gone to sensor clean in the yellow tab and then to clean manually....then turned off the camera..the camera makes the noise as if the mirror has lifted .but when I turn the camera over I am looking at the mirror not the sensor.....I tried your advice about putting the camera in "live view" and that did work...the mirror was gone revealing the sensor....but I had to leave the camera on while swabbing the sensor....I hope I haven't ruined the camera....should I worry about leaving the camera ON while cleaning the sensor...???Do you have any ideas as to why the typical instructions for lifting the mirror may not have worked in me case?
Camera repair technician here. 25 years.
Some truly truly terrible advice here!
He says to clean the "prism" on your SLR. THAT'S THE FOCUSING SCREEN NOT THE PRISM!
If you use that brush or anything other than air you WILL PERMANENTLY DAMAGE IT!
you certainly can and should learn how to clean your lenses and sensors (they are quite durable) but know your limitations. I really like Tony and Chelsea but sometimes I can't take it! And I have to comment!
Thanks for this video! Im learning a lot from your channel :D My Canon has had dust on the sensor for a while and I was worried that the dust was somewhere I couldnt reach at first, like inside the lens or something. But its perfect after cleaning the sensor!
thank you. I cleaned the initial two but was sure there was a way to move the mirror and get that last one. first video didn't show me but you did and thats exactly where the piece of dust was
Is that a good way to pop eye cup off like this?? Worry about it a moment 😆 (it can be took off gently by pinching and holding the left and right side of the eyecup with two fingers, right?)
products are fairly priced which is nice to see, thanks for the recommendations tony!
besides the blower the rest just looks like rebrand of the standard chinese stuff you can get off amazon
@@Glenners you do know that those "standard Chinese stuff you can get off amazon" ARE ACTUALLY VSGO products, don't you? VSGO is a Chinese brand, designed in China, made in China, imported from China.
Tony which leather case is that?
Thank you this was super helpful as I’m having trouble with lens or sensor dust. I took so many cool photos but they are ruined do to dust spots.
Can that sensor cleaning kit work with the Canon R5?
Since I own a 5Dsr, one thing Roger from Lensrentals said stuck with me. He said they found that when they used blowers to clean the 5Dsr sensor, it sometimes lodged dust under the filter glass that reverses the anti-aliasing. So only on 5Dsr and not on 5Ds. It’s on one of his posts if you are interested but he didn’t go into detail. So maybe would be best to minimize blowing on th 5Dsr sensor, and if you do it, probably best to get one of those blowers with filters. Doesn’t sound like cleaning under the sDsr filter would be easy. Maybe not even do-able. Just something I remember that might be important or helpful.
Is that okay to expose the camera sensor to direct light like tony did using the smartphone flash? Does it damage the sensor?
My experience has been that if you do not want to have to get your focusing screen replaced then you don't use anything that physically touches up toward the prism on a DSLR. Those screens are extremely delicate. I would expect any brush would easily ruin it. The mirror, sure. I use the triangle shaped swabs and cleaning fluid on the sensor and that works well. With the blower, I use a delicate puff and not a blast of air because I believe that a strong blast can force dust deeper into the camera rather than a gentle puff may dislodge dust and allow it to drop away.
This is an ad. Tony's advices are really bad, you will ruin your lens and your dslr viewfinder. Don't blow in the back of the lens, and don't touch with hands or tissues the focusing screen
@@dtibor5903 this is an ad? What do you think professionals do when they clean your camera? You think they don't touch anything? You are out of your mind, because this is exactly what service centers do to your camera.
@@dimitrijekrstic7567 relax
@@looptimelapse you added nothing to this conversation, great job bozo 😂
@@dimitrijekrstic7567 so much that you took the hassle to write me a nice lil comment ...things fan boyz do _^
amazing video, my prism had tons of dust on it and I couldn't figure out where all the dust was.
Great video. I love making technical videos like this for my channel
I've always been told that when I put the lens down make sure I get the back covered preferably with a lens cap so gravity doesn't add any dust to it while it's sitting there especially if I was blowing dust around,cleaning the camera
Interesting products. I have a basic blower and now I might change for a VGSO.
Thankyou Tony, this was a very helpful episode, I bought the kit on Amazon!!! My regards to your family!
Just ordered VSG Blower & got up the nerve to clean my mirrorless full frame sensor. Thank you!
The best ones are those Swiss made ones for repairing watches. I have being using one for over 15 years and the rubber is still as if new.
I just run all my gear through the dish washer once a month. Works like a charm. Just whatever you do, don't use the sanitize setting. Too much plastic in modern equipment that can break or deform from the excessive heat.
Wow that really works? Gonna try that, thnx!
I'm going to put my new R5 in for a load!
Hello Tony. I got the D500. I have noticed that the dirt is not visible all the time but is visible when I shoot a macro / video. So where should I clean up? Thanks
Ok I’m sold. I have the dodgiest cleaning kit that came free with some piece of gear from eBay. Do they sell a bundle with everything to cover each step of the process?
Is there a way to clean out the dust and sensor on the X100 series? I seem to have dust collected on the lens, but can’t get it off. I don’t know if it would be ok to take it apart and see if I could clean it. Maybe have a video on cleaning fixed lens cameras.
After storage, in a case in another case in a storage container... can moisture create a fine coating that can or will cause blurring. Another words.. it may not be dust or have dust as the issue.. yet blur remains.. is it the sensor, mirror or something else? I have not cleaned my D800 yet I do take good care of it yet it has been used in many different weathers and on the beach,. I am always careful when changing lens and it hasn't gotten wet or dropped or been mistreated.. Some photos appear blurred slightly especially when using a long lens 200 plus to 500mm
Tony: "It comes with a whole bunch of swabs, that should last you a little while." Me: "Well, I have an a7III and a7RIII so that'll last a couple weeks."
What’s wrong with a7III
@@chakyeungpang5920 just very prone to dust spots.
@@LoriGraceAz Any mirrorless camera really. The sensor is always super exposed. Had it professionally cleaned one time, the next day I had already a huge dust spot on it.
@@motttta The Canon R5 has the mechanical shutter than closes when you change the lens so dirt doesn't get on the sensor. The new Sony a1 also has this feature so thankfully they're finally addressing that issue.
You got me hooked! I have great content. Really sophisticated way of delivering the knowledge! You're golden
Does anyone have experience with Arctic Butterfly 724S Super Bright Sensor Brush for cleaning sensor of digital cameras?
10:44 squeeze the sides of the cover where the ribs are. There are locking levers inside that hold it on.
after you dab the sensor. do you have to let it dry for a minute?
I realize that this is a sponsored video and appreciate that they are showing off new products. I had believed that you should only use Aeroclipse on Sony Sensors. Is this new cleaning solution as safe and effective as Aeroclipse and Sensor Swabs?
Very clever, and using the current technology...thank you Tony
2:25 That is not the prism. That's the focusing screen you're looking at.
And he is just ruining it by rubbing with a wet tissue.
Focus sensor is in the base plate under the mirror, there is a second mirror behind the main semi transparent mirror sending the image downward in the opposite direction to the viewfinder.
@@TheOtherPhotoGuy, I know where the focus sensor is. The part that Tony is calling the prism is still called the "focusing screen". It's the screen that the lens is projecting the image onto (same distance as the film/sensor just flipped 90 ° up), so the user can do see the image and do manual focusing etc. The prism sits above the focusing screen and turns the image upside up.
Yes you are extremely knowledgeable nice one
Very helpful! Thanks so much, Tony. 💛🙏🏽
very nice tutorial
Hey, after all this I still see dust and string through my view finder in my DLSR. It doesn't show up on camera though when I take pictures. I've cleaned the mirrors and view finder but it's like its stuck in there. Any suggestions?
Don't forget to clean your lens caps (front and back) as well or you will be transferring dirt and dust back onto your lens and sensor!
Damn I never thought of it and carried those literally in my pocket during big on-location shoots
Wth was I thinking 🤦♀️😂
Great update video, Thank you! BTW, and I'm only saying as a point of review, I can hear the focusing motor on the lens that you're using to record this video on.
Talking of autofocus, on pentaxes there are small semi-transparent mirrors under the main mirror that often need cleaning as on my K5s and K3. After cleaning my autofocus inconsistencies go away..
as i can see, you only use the brush on the DSLR camera, not on the mirrorles, is not safe to a mirrorless camera?
Wow! Thanks! I’ll be ordering these VSGO products ASAP through the links provided!
I've read that BSI sensors like A7iii are manufactured differently where some more delicate components are more exposed.. Does it have any impact on the way we should clean the sensors? As for example the swabs and liquids?
Would a Compressed Air Spray, like those used for cleaning IT equipment be too high pressure for cleaning a DSLR?
Yes, absolutely. They also make things very cold, which could damage equipment.
Very cool. Will definitely try
Hi Tony - It has been suggested to me by a couple of professional photographers that you should not try to clean sensors that have IBIS due to the risk of damage or misalignment. Do you have any thoughts on this?
All cameras with IBIS a have mode to lock the IBIS. On Sony cameras the IBIS will lock after you activate the internal sensor cleaning mode he showed in the video. After the wobble is over you‘ll see a message on the screen and the IBIS is locked until you press ok. On Nikon mirrorless the IBIS will lock up when you switch the camera off.
What's the best way to clean OLPFs in cinema cameras?
If digital ISO is signal gain only, then why not shoot at base ISO and then exposure as one wishes in software afterwards? Or is there more to it than that?
I found this very useful.....Thank you
I like that case where did you get it?
Does the cleaning fluid ever streak on you?
Is it OK to clean an IBIS sensor in his way? Or do special precautions have to be taken?
You should never clean an IBIS sensor without carefully reading the manual. Different cameras will have different methods of locking the IBIS.
The fancy packaging must add to the price.
Hi,,,can I do it from bottom to top, flip the swab and back again top to bottom?? Because I try to clean mold in the bottom which i cannot get it using swab amd cleaner for left to right because the pressure might be more in the middle
Is it possible that I just wet-cleaned my sensor TWICE and am still seeing black specks?? :( ... they don't move at all when I zoom in and out, so I don't think it's the lens (though I've tried to clean it as best as I can with the blower)... Any ideas??
@ 10:26 be careful not to touch the focusing screen, most have a tiny Fresnel lens built into them, some have micro dot lenses for AF confirmation lights
and when cleaning the mirror be sure that the cleaning fluid is of a type that does not leave any residue, (test this on other glass first)
can I use compressed air? the ones used to clean/blow PC dusts?
I could hear your lens' autofocus motor vibrating the table in this video. Is that normal?
how do i get a small bug out of my camera lens, i only noticed it today, any suggestions
The filter you replaced did you not see all the dust on it?
the full frame swaps are a one time use?
Yeah they all are
so glad this video came out
How can I remove the dust from the side of the sensor? With the wipe I could just move everything from the middle to the side. :(
On sony's for sure and probably other brands first do internal cleaning mode. Then don't turn camera off since it locks the ibis so you can do a wet-clean its states so on the screen manual and yes i checked with sony. Second video where you clean it with ibis wobbeling around. Will it hurt it probably not but its easier that way and how they designed it,
It’s amazing how people don’t look after their gear. The only time my camera and lens is internally exposed is when I am swapping over a lens, which roughly takes at most five seconds, I never leave the camera or lens ‘open’ like I see people doing. I’ve never needed to clean the inside of my cameras or lens’.
Yeah it's like my car I keep it in the garage and hardly drive it. Never gets dust.
Ditto. I have spare lens and body caps and always use them. I also have a filter on my lens and you would not believe the amount of dust that attaches to it. I've always been scared to clean my stuff incase I scratch the glass but...the time has come to be brave!
I think most professionals use their equipment in a way that most amateurs hobbyists would not understand. They are there to do a job and make money. So they don’t have the options to be easy with their equipment always. And since it’s making money and not a hobby it’s just a tool for making money. So when wore out they buy again. It’s like that in many businesses.
Hey Tony, I often see horror stories of people using brushes on their DSLR mirrors and somehow scratching some silver coating on it or whatever. Is it really safe? I have an original LensPen.
The camera mirror is a “first surface mirror”. Trying to clean it as indicated will damage it immediately! DON’T DO IT!
You are 100 percent correct he has no clue what he’s doing or talking about and hopefully a lot of his followers don’t listen to him and destroy there camera 🙈
Yeh that's what I thought as well. Was surprised when he stuck the cloth inside the body and cleaned the mirror with the cloth and his fingers. Ouch!!!
Bhahahaha! My mind was blown. 😂😂😂😂
Way to say "go mirrorless" :D
Hey guys, the mirror is pretty roboust, you can actually clean the mirror with a finger, but it's not the best ideea. The mirror slaps pretty hard when you are shooting a burst, so as a mechanical structure it is really roboust. I would recommend to use a sensor swab to clean it. Just keep away you finger and tools from the focusing screen
Try squeezing the sides of the eyepiece instead of forcing it off! ;)
I sent my first DSLR for cleaning and there were still dust spots on the sensor, so I learned how to DIY, that's pretty scary the first time, but OK after that.
I've not heard of VSGO here, their kit looks really good quality.
I'm curious about cleaning the Translucent mirror on my A77. Bought the camera used, using the blower didn't remove all the dust off the mirror so I had to resort to using a very fine tipped swab. This made me very nervous due to the mirror being extremely delicate. BTW I also have what looks like a couple of water spots on it. Is there any advice you can give me on the A77 mirror? Is there a fluid I can use along with the swab to remove the spots?
That‘s a bit of a delicate topic. Those translucent mirrors are very sensitive and cleaning them can be a bit of a pain in the bottom. If I remember correctly there is a special cleaning tool for them
@@romanpul thanks.. I'll keep looking around to find the cleaning solution.. Worse case scenario, I may have to buy a new mirror. I know they're not overly expensive. Truth be told - I bought the body for $300 CND with 8000 sutter actuations, even if i have to spend a few bucks for minor things, im still ahead of the game.
Great video Tony