Photography Thailand Forum

[AlienBees]

Hi All,

I have a stuborn spot on my sensor, that will not come off with the sensor brushes, nor an aqueous based sensor cleaning fluid.  Does anyone know where I could get an alcohol based sensor cleaning fluid, or better yet, a small amount of very high purity methanol?

I asked in Boots if they had high purity alcohol and all I got was blank stares.  LOL.

Thanks.

[Marc Schultz]

Why don't you try taking it to the camera manufacturer's service center. It sounds like if you start using chemicals that are not recommended you could damage something. Also, have you looked at the http://www.visibledust.com/products.php web site? They sell some liquid cleaning solutions that are probably the most advanced out there. Expensive probably in comparison to something you would buy at a pharmacy, but safer too I would think.

[bjorn slis]

Agreed with the above, you won't be the first to ruin a sensor :-(

[AlienBees]

The Visible Dust solutions are aqueous based, and as such will not work.  An aqueous solution will not remove stubborn organic material and especially not a dried organic spot.  That will require an organic solvent.  Basic chemistry 101 guys.

Methanol will not harm the sensor as it is a very mild organic solvent.  Plus I have used high purity methanol in the past.  I just do not have any available to me here in Bangkok at the moment, which is why I was asking if anyone know of a source.

[Marc Schultz]

Sorry, I jumped right to rocket science and skipped chemistry in grade school. Is there a reason that you simply don't want to take the camera to the service center of the camera manufacturer in Bangkok? Normally they only charge a few hundred Baht for a sensor cleaning and then the responsibility to care for your camera and remove the spot falls on them. A small price I think for safety of your equipment and piece of mind.

[AlienBees]

Sorry, been on the move.  Koh Chang is beautiful, and busy.

My camera is a Kodak SLR/n, so I don't think there is a manufacturer's rep I can take it in to, but, as a photographer of over 45 years, I am more than capable of cleaning my own sensor.  Something I have done many times in the past.  But in the past I had the tools and materials I needed to get the job done.

And that is my problem.  I don't have any methanol.  Unfortunately, what I have is the useless visible dust aqueous fluid, and it does not work. 

Surely not everyone in Thailand takes their camera in to get their sensor cleaned.  Just cannot imagine paying someone to do something so simple.

[Adzz]

Sinar give you nice little case when you get a back from them. In it they give you a little bottle of sensor cleaner. Its blue and looks just like Windolean, Windex...
Domestic glass cleaner.. When I asked the Rep what it was, he said its basically just that, Windolean but high quality?!
So whatever the main chemical is in that stuff, could be OK? But Im no expert...

[Marc Schultz]

For those who were following this thread, this web site is worth looking into in detail as it covers everything about what you should and shouldn't use on your sensors, techniques, and etc:

http://www.sensorcleaning.com/main.php