Cleaning the sensor of a D7100

<p>Well, this isn't the problem with my new D7100 I was thinking I'd be posting about first! And, having owned a D300 since 2008, I should know how to deal with this but I don't, so I'll beg your indulgence.</p>

<p>Although I haven't changed the lens for quite a while, large, intrusive dust has cropped up on the sensor. This happened once before, a few weeks ago, and my trusty Rocket Blower took care of the problem. Not this time. It's made it even worse, in fact.</p>

<p>I suppose I will have to attempt a wet cleaning, though I have read that this voids the warranty.</p>

<p>When I looked into doing this with my D300--long after the warranty period!--I seem to recall that different sensors require different types of wet cleaner. Any suggestions regarding what brand and type should be used for the D7100?</p>

<p>(And, if you feel like commenting, how risky is this procedure? Should I just send it in to Nikon? There is a dealer in town here who does servicing, including cleaning, but although they are a Nikon dealer, they are not--so far as I know--a Nikon authorized service center.)</p>

<p> </p>

<p>On a related note: My D300's built-in sensor-cleaner produced a faint but audible "squeak." The D7100 is completely silent during this process. Is it really working, or is this, perhaps, another problem?</p>

<p>One of the dust specks is big enough for me to see with my unaided (but naturally myopic) eye. No amount of blowing causes it to budge.</p>

<p>Sooner or later you have to clean your sensor. In fact I know a landscape photographer who cleans his after every shoot. I've had my d800 for a year and finally cleaned my sensor for the first time yesterday. I should of done it sooner. I use: http://www.visibledust.com/products3.php?pid=3</p>

<p>I use the Visible Dust Artic Butterfly for dust and wet swabs for oil and stuff that will not come off with the Artic Butterfly. These two links should help you:<br>

<a href="http://www.naturescapes.net/articles/techniques/digital-sensor-cleaning/">http://www.naturescapes.net/articles/techniques/digital-sensor-cleaning/</a><br>

<a href="http://www.naturescapes.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=231515">http://www.naturescapes.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=231515</a><br>

Joe Smith</p>

<blockquote>

<p>my trusty Rocket Blower took care of the problem. Not this time. It's made it even worse, in fact.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>This is a very well known problem with the D7100. :-)</p>

<p>Rene', obviously not well known enough! :(</p>

<p>Hugh and Joseph, thanks. I'll check out Visible Dust. </p>

<p>I'd meanwhile welcome other suggestions. Could anyone with a D7100 report whether they can hear its sensor cleaning at work? If mine is defective that way, I will soon or later (likely sooner) send it in for repair.</p>

<p>Just manually initiated sensor cleaning on my D7100. I couldn't hear a thing.</p>

<p>You may need different cleaning swabs due to different sensor sizes. For example, FX, APS-H (e.g. those Canon 1D series DSLRs that have a 1.3x crop factor), DX/APS-C, 4/3, Nikon 1 CX ... need different swab widths. However, since both the D300 and D7100 are DX, you should be able to use the same cleaning kits.</p>

<p>I just did cleaning cycle with my d7100 and, like Shun, did not hear a thing.</p>

<p>-O</p>

<p>Thank you for confirming that, gentlemen! One less thing to worry about.</p>

<p>And, Shun, yes, maybe it was sensor size that made the difference in what I needed. I had thought that it was something else (a different solvent or kind of pad) but could well be misremembering.</p>

<p>I just cleaned the sensor on my D7000 and did not hear anything. Yesterday and today are demo days at Camera Mart in Pontiac MI, and besides all the sales promos, the will professionally clean two DSLRs per person - FREE. Had two of mine cleaned yesterday.</p>

<p>Now I'm beginning to wonder if my D300's squeak is amiss. :)</p>

<p>Because this time I didn't have time to waste, I had them both cleaned by a pro here in Tucson. I don't regret spending the money this time, though I will be ready to try it myself (maybe on the D300?) next time.</p>

<p>He told me where the dust was coming from in the D7100. I had not realized that zooming a lens will let dust into a camera body, even if you don't change the lens. Now there's a lens improvement I'd like to see!</p>

<p>I basically use this kit with my D300:<br>

http://www.copperhillimages.com/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=3&=SID#MOREINFO<br>

I actually bought it all separately a while back, I'm sure the design of the Sensor Swab has been "improved" a bit in the meantime. Works a charm, easy to DIY, the kit will probably cost you less than a single visit to a professional and your results will be just as good, and it's good for dozens of uses.<br>

You might, if you decide this suits your needs, see if the Eclipse fluid that comes with it is the second version. Eclipse 1 worked with my D70, but my D300 required Eclipse 2. One of these days--as I teach a bit of chemistry, it is of casual interest--I may see what the difference is between the two.</p>

<p>Copper Hill! Yes, that is the brand I remember looking at some years ago.<br>

Especially if zooming is responsible for the dust in the body, I do indeed need to find a cheaper solution than what I did today. (Though I will give thanks to Tucson Camera Repair for prompt and professional service.)</p>

<p>Vis-a-vis the noise when the internal sensor cleaning function runs. The D300 I (sadly) sold made a little high-pitched beep (or whine or whatever you want to call the noise) when the internal sensor cleaning cycle ran, but my D90 didn't. And the D7100 that I sold my D300 to afford doesn't make any noise either during sensor cleaning.<br>

I checked for dust, my D7100 has only a few specks after about 800 shots or so (it's almost two weeks old now!). Oddly about the same number that have recollected on my 3 or 4 year old D90 that was cleaned a few weeks ago.<br>

I'm not certain what type of cleaning fluid you (and I suspect that in a bit, I) need to use, but I remember reading that the different formulations are due to different coatings on the top surface of the filters that sit on top of the sensor, and the wrong fluid combined with the wrong camera can apparently dissolve the coating applied by the manufacturer.</p>

<p>I annually attend 'Demo Days' at Camera Mart in Pontiac, MI. They will clean the sensors on two of your cameras, free of charge. They mostly clean Nikons and Canons but will clean all DSLRs. All three service men (from Midwest Camera in Wyandotte, MI) use "Eclipse". </p>

<p>And a clarification about my comment about selling my d300 to buy the d7100.</p>

<p>I'm not sad about buying the d7100, not at all. I just wish I could have also kept my d300 as well, but I had to choose.</p>

<p>I have tried to clean my D7100 sensor with a Lenspen kit that I got for my D70S and then used on my D300. I have not been able to clean the D7100 sensor. It seems to just move the spots around. I read in another forum that somebody used a Q-Tip with 100% C.P. Ethanol. I have Ethanol because I used it for cleaning laser printer drums and computer contacts.<br>

Can anybody recommend this method? Could it damage the sensor? The Ethanol dries very fast and leaves no residue.<br>

All ideas and thoughts would be appreciated.<br>

Thanks,</p>

 

<p>That might well work--but I'd probably be cautious and use Eclipse 2 fluid, which is supposedly safer for Nikon's newer sensors, which are coated with tin oxide. One place you can find it is here:</p>

<p>http://photosol.com/product/eclipse-2-oz-bottle/</p>

<p>Of course, if we did an analysis of Eclipse 2, it might well turn out to be ethanol...relabelled and sold at a significantly higher price.</p>