One cleaning tip; for Sony cameras with IBIS, place your camera in cleaning mode. It locks the sensor in place while cleaning, so it does not move around.
repaired cameras for 20+ years..... the sensor assy. (notice i said assembly) is the LEAST FRAGILE part in any digital camera. PERIOD.....the most fragile are 1. shutter mech....2. MAIN BOARD
Hello, A drop of water fell onto my sensor while changing lenses in a forest. Can you suggest me how to remove it by myself since I'm at a very remote place and there's no camera repairing service available. wiping it with those cleaners will do the job?
I have a question regarding the sensor damage. In the tests it seems the scratches (from the knife) were done mainly to the filter that sits on top of the actual sensor (which I guess would be the IR-cut filter). Would it be possible to replace just the filter part instead of the whole sensor? I know some people remove that filter to make IR conversions on their cameras, so I guess it can be replaced too, right?
@@MatheusPratta The simple answer is yes (depending on the make and model). The realistic answer is no. Taking off the low-pass filter introduces a new risk of getting dirt sandwiched between the sensor and the filter. Removing the filter is also risky because it easily breaks. Overall just high risk low return from a repair perspective. Sensor replacement will be your only option unless you do it yourself.
The A7 is weak even for electronic device wise. Plastic body, plastic lens mount, rear LCD screen that fades and the overall impression of a PlayStation controller.
Ok, now I'm wayyy less concerned about the tiny dust particles I got in mine last weekend (changing lenses in windy conditions is not a great idea). Gonna try those swabs
I'd love to know if you'd really see scratchmarks in the picture of the sensor. The protective glass atop the sensor seems to be thick enough to leave scratches out of focus.
You would definitely see it, you can see a grain of sand. It might not be noticeable without a direct light source coming in, but any bright light, especially off to an angle is going to light up that scratch quite a bit.
You do realize the sensor is covered by a dust shield (the one you scratched) and below it, there’s another filter (IR blocking) and then finally the sensor.
Interesting find... my A7RIII at first was strange because at F16-22 in some lighting scenarios would expose what looked like sensor dust... after research and talking to my local camera shop-came to the conclusion that the high resolution sensor was the culprit due to vibration and sensitivity. Even if the camera is on a tripod, clean/pristine components and with or without Stabilization and IBIS (16-35GM)... it’s still had micro dots of what looks like dust. This is where In post I can clean up. I usually don’t push past F14 and that seems to be the fix. Anyway I still feel like it shouldn’t do that. The interesting thing I’ve noticed is that people complain and say the A7RIII is like a vacuum and collects dust... when it reality they are wrong. I’ve used my camera everywhere and in any condition from sand, dust, rains and windy conditions. Still no sensor dust... haha
As the recent owner of a Sony a6600 I found this test interesting, I usually don't take my lenses off when I'm out shooting and I will make sure I use a lens cap when I take do the lenses off.
Thank you for this video. I have been obsessing over a small spot that I haven't been able to remove with the Camera's cleaning mode, a dust blower, or a cleaning brush. I feared that it was the result of an accident when using a cheaper dust blower. The plastic tube shot out of the squeeze bulb either because it wasn't properly seated or because it was not a Rocket. Not sure if it hit my sensor or just hit inside of that area. I just ordered a cleaning brush/solution kit. Your video gave me peace of mind that my spot is from stubborn dust.
Given that the sensor sites are microns across, I'm not convinced you can assess the effect of the damage by examining the sensor with the naked eye. I would have been much more convinced if you had installed the sensor in an a6000 body and taken some photos at small apertures.
Arthur R, (hope you don't mind I'm going out of camera topic), this is the 2nd video of yours that I watched recently and noticed signs that your stomach or digestion system is not well. Please take care of yourself and see a doctor. Best wishes from an avid fan of yours.
Thank you very much for this Arthur, it increases my confidence in my A6400! Please can you continue this theme and tell us how much vibration these cameras and lenses can take? I ride an adventure motorbike and often ride rough gravel roads, taking my camera and lenses along. It's not practical to carry the camera on a back-pack (which would dampen the vibration) because a fall could cause serious damage to me and the camera, so it's in a panier, on the motorbike ... so, I'd love to see your take on vibration! (I carry a A6400 with Sony 18-135mm, mostly ... sometimes other lenses)
You do have to differentiate between house dust, which is mostly skin cells from the inhabitants, to construction dust, that consists of bits of cement, sand, glass wool dust etc - harder, heavier, more abrasive dust...
I have more a issue with you not putting that A9 in cleaning mode so it locks down the ibis and its easier to clean and keeps that part of the system unbroken.
Go to know! Thanks. I use a 10mm+16mm Meike extender tube w/my 18-135 on A6400 for macro. Needed those swabs just in case. Am truly paranoid about touching the sensor; I NEVER leave it exposed. Always capped or with a lens (comes from my Canon F1 days). Here's a tip: install the macro tubes and it is possible to focus on the surface of the outside lens element to see dust/contamination on the glass. Also just ordered the Laowa 9mm based on your review; oops sorry didn't buy it through your link to Amazon...will next time.
That is just IR filter glass. The sensor is below underneath that. Removing this front glass filter (bluish) allows full spectrum (thus IR photography using other pass filters).
i scratched my a7iii sensor and now i can't get rid of the dust any help? i already use a blower and the liquid . im cleaning mode but nothing works .. any help?
I'm more interested in the sensor cleaning swab stick you use, exactly what brand? Even better if you do a comparison of cheap wipes vs good wipes. After all, they are just cloth and glass cleaner agent (ethanol, methanol, and isopropyl alcohol).
There is a little confusion on the correct size of the Sensor Swab used on a APSC sensor like on a 6400. Some say 16MM others say only use 17MM. The product you recommend is 15MM. What size for smaller sensor cameras do you recommend & how about using the pre-moistened swabs that are also available? Thanks.
HI SIR I HAVE SONY A7S2 HAVING SOME DUST SPOTS IN MY SENSORE CAN I USE Isopropyl Alcohol IPA WITH SWAB CUS IN INDIA WE CAN BUY ONLY SWABS IN AMAZON OR ONLINE IF I USE IPA WITH CLEENING SWAB ANY PROBLEM OR CAN I USE ONLY WET SWAB PLZ REPLY THANK YOU
I think most wont know there is a glass filter infront of the sensor. Even if you scratch the filter the sensor is still fine. For astro or IR stuff you usually remove that glass aka hot mirror.
Having recently had to try to remove a VERY stubborn piece of dirt off a Sony a7s3 sensor I can confirm you can be pretty heavy handed with it all. A lot more than you'd actually think you could be. I was scraping a very damp APS-C swab many, many time over a section of my full frame sensor and it doesn't seem to have damaged the sensor at all.
As long as there are no sharp particles you should be good. Problem is that you can not be sure there are any. After a few gentle cleaning attempts it should be safe to put more pressure like you did. But, its never a guarantee. Ive had a light scratch happen just from the cleaning paper ive been using on over a hundred cameras.
why did you use an apsc swab? Because you had it around or because you didn't want to have to touch the whole sensor area? My a7iv has it's first piece of dust on the sensor, out of nowhere I have like 1 small and 4 or 5 really tiny pieces on the sensor which is strange as I hadn't changed lenses for a week and they werent there a day earlier but they are there now. I've heard of sensor swabs before but every other time ive ever had dust on a mirrorless sensor before, I could always get rid of it with a blower and never had to use one of the sensor swabs. My thinking was that if I can just avoid ever touching the sensor at all with anything then I will keep it perfect, because I'm anxious that touching with a sensor swab will leave some kind of residue and change performance from an arbitrary 'perfect from factory' (I wonder how they make sure the sensors are this clean from factory, what do they clean them with)
@@definingslawek4731 If you're worried about it like that I suggest getting it cleaned professionally. Swabs are a bad idea because sensors scratch easily horizontal and horizontal scratches tend to show up depending on the type of photo you're taking. Taking care of your equipment is always a good idea, but you will never be able to avoid getting particles on your sensor as dust will travel through your lens into your camera. A professional clean will return your sensor to it's original clean state, something a swab can't do.
@@definingslawek4731 Where I work we use a lint free kind of cleaning paper made for precision instrument cleaning. It still has dust particles that come off so most of it comes down to technique.
Not sure you can really tell what affect might have been on the sensor unless you installed it in a camera and looked for problems. Could be micro damage that you won't see using the method in the video (visual examination).
The scariest thing was watching you clean your A9 with the sensor not locked. That gave me the willies. use the cleaning mode, then after it shakes the sensor it locks the IBIS allowing you to clean without the possibility of damaging the IBIS.
Arthur, you should try buying a sensor from the a6300 and try to put it in the a6000, if it does work you should do a image quality test for noise and stuff.
They must have changed the construction of the ir filter, I've seen posts where peaple have badly scrached their a6000 sensor with cotton buds, I think they must have switched from plastic to glass.
You forgot dried spit. A likely problem for someone trying to blow off dust and accidentally spraying some spit on it. I may or may not have done this.... it does not come off easy.
The first time I tried cleaning my sensor with a swap is with my Nikon D7000. I applied some amount of pressure and it left some scars. From that point onwards I never dare to do it again. I am thinking to use any other item as practice on until I get it correct.
unfortunately, this is incorrect , in the video dude dont scratch the sensor, he scratch only the infrared filter (made of glass) that is located in front of the sensor. you can find a video in RU-vid "how to remove the infrared filter from the camera sensor" and in video you will see this glass in front of the sensor
Arthur R appreciate the response, was considering going full frame from the a6000 but might just get the a6400 instead. Figured I’d get your advice lol
@@MrGoodBob5 just go FF if you need more depth of field and probably 1+ stop of ISO noise with equivalent f-stop. The price is weight, size, and more money.
Aps-c is a trap in Sony land. You never get the levels of optical performance like Fujifilm and there's always big brother Sony A7 full frame looking down at you.
@@caldera878 if you go to Sony alpha subreddit, there are plenty of amazing photo taken with a6xxx body and sometimes with kitlens. Most of the time, it's the photographer, not the gears.
No dark mode theme. :O (Good video, but needs real testing like at least viewing the sensor under a microscope if you're not willing to ruin a working camera)
Isn’t it true that there is a piece of glass actually over the sensor itself.. so technically I don’t think you scratched the sensor itself but the covering !
but in real world scenario, getting sand into your lens is pretty much impossible unless you purposely pour sand into it. Even if you drop it on the beach facing downward, apart from the fact that the sensor is buried deep inside the body, the sand will not stick to the sensor either.
@@iamwisdomsky not... I travelled once as backpacker and oh man... Camping in beach.... You don't know how that sand gets to everywhere. One of my lenses got sand and it was hard to remove. The camera got some sand as well... But it survived the trip.
I have a scratch on my sensor, it doesn't really affect when the photo is taken in a faster shutter speed, but if its slow ull be able to see the scratch(s) on the image
@@thevthinesh the amount of light directed at your sensor from the aperture ring. When the aperture is closed: 11 and up you’ll most definitely see that scratch.
@@architecture_logs Yes, I've just had a dust particle on my sensor, and shooting mostly at f1.4 I didn't notice it, only when I was closing the aperture I saw it. Made me wonder because I thought aperture would affect only the visibility of particles on the lens but anything on the sensor would always be seen as literally the light receptors are covered.
Thanks Arthur. This really helped. I now would have more courage to clean a sensor should the need arise. Fortunately in 10 years of use of 6 different ILC cameras I've never had the need to touch anything to a sensor to clean it. I have run the camera dust removal vibration feature a couple of times which worked. I do keep my lenses and sensors covered as much as possible.
You have not actually done anything to the sensor, just the sensor assembly. What you're messing with is just a piece of hard glass (maybe mineral) with an IR filter on it in front of the sensor, the tiny "scratches" are just where you scraped the IR coating off.
