Lenspen LENSK1 Sensorclear Dslr Ccd Cleaner by LensPen
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Digital camera reviews of Lenspen LENSK1 Sensorclear Dslr Ccd Cleaner
Digital camera Review: Nearly useless
Summary: 1 Stars
The pen is supposedly designed to reach the corners as well as the surfaces of the imaging sensor on digital SLR cameras. It may work just fine on some model cameras with smaller sensors (or larger sensor cavities), but on a Canon 5D it is worthless. The circumference of the pen itself is too large. In order to get close to the corners with the cleaning tip you have to tilt the pen at an extreme angle. This angle causes the flat cleaning surface to not make contact with the sensor. Since the shipping and handling was a large percentage of the total cost, and the item was not very expensive, it's not even worth it to me to deal with sending it back or trying to get a refund. It did seems to work on the parts of the sensor the tip could reach, but the poor shaft design and the inability of the tip to reach the corners makes it a useless item for me.Digital camera Review: Quick, Easy, and most importantly: Clean.
Summary: 5 Stars
This product is simple. It came with packaging, and it came with a Lenspen. And that's it. I used this with my Canon EOS D300 (Digital Rebel).
The Lenspen is a simple plastic stick (in the shape of a pen), but the top part actually pivots, which allows you to direct the tip to ensure maximum cleansing.
Speaking of cleansing, this thing did the job in a matter of seconds. I set my DSLR in sensor clean mode, removed the lens, and administered the Lenspen as instructed. It's basically a lens cleaner, but it isn't a brush. It's like a scrubber, but without the abrasiveness. It applies just enough abrasiveness to push away dust spots, and after a gentle scrub on each of the dust spots (which were visible to the naked eye), the Lenspen effectively made the spots disappear completely.
I actually had two dust spots on my DSLR sensor, and every image I took had those two invasive dark spots, literally forcing me to temporarily retire from the hobby. I searched far and wide across the WWW for effective, inexpensive ways to remove dust spots, but everywhere I looked was either too complicated, or not effective (and the "air blowing" trick doesn't work).
So this sub-$10 unit is not only reusable, but extremely effective. I can just put the cap back on the pen, and it's in my camera bag. If I'm shooting in a place where there's normally a good amount of dust (combined with lens exchanges), this Lenspen is a godsend.
I recommend this to every DSLR photographer.
Digital camera Review: There are better and safer ways to clean your sensor...
Summary: 1 Stars
Saw one of these used by a friend on a D80 sensor - no matter what he did it left crud in the corners. Not to mention there's no way I'd repeatedly press one of these down on the sensor of any of my cameras - if any grit gets in there, you're just asking for an expensive scratch. My progressive regimen for sensor cleaning 1) blast it with a Giottos Rocket Blower (don't use the cheap blowers as they can harbor all sorts of nasty sticky stuff inside, even new). This will remove any loose dust. If still not clean, 2) 'charge' a flat nylon-bristle brush by blowing canned air across it, and then gently swipe across the sensor surface. The slight static charge produced will pull anything but the stickiest residue off the sensor surface. Plain old artist's brushes will do, just make sure you wash out any 'sizing' that may be in them (the stuff that keeps them stiff and nice looking in the store display). They can also be bought on the 'bay ('Cleanskies' brushes). If you've still got spots in your images, you'll have to bring out the big guns and 3) Wet clean the sensor. Get some methanol ('Eclipse' is a brand name cleaner containing high grade methanol for just this purpose), PecPad cleaning cloths, and a swab (buy one, or I made my own out of a narrow cut-off-square spatula, cut to a sharp edge with a knife). Wrap the PecPad around the swab and put a drop of Eclipse or two on the cloth at the tip, then carefully wipe the sensor clean. Use a new cloth for each cleaning pass. A good description of the process can be found by searching on 'Copper Hill method' on the web. Doing this carefully will clean everything including the corners nicely, and leave your sensor squeaky clean.
9 out of 10 times the blower or brush quickly cleans my sensor off with no further action required, but that tenth time I'll have something sticky on there, and have to do a wet cleaning. After a few times, it becomes a pretty quick and easy operation. Much better than dragging your camera in to a shop again and again every time it needs cleaning. And after scores of cleaning operations on the several DSLR's I own, I have never damaged a sensor (actually, you're cleaning the glass anti-alias filter that covers the sensor), so with a modicum of care there's no need to worry about that.
Happy Cleaning!
PEC-PAD Lint Free Wipes 4"x4" 100per/Pkg
Giottos AA1900 Large Rocket Blaster
Eclipse Cleaning System Solution
Digital camera Review: Umm...
Summary: 2 Stars
This thing got great reviews from a lot of camera sites I read. I got it for a backup sensor cleaner for travelling, because the only method that really works (sensor swabbing) requires an ultraflammable solvent that will get you tossed into a Navy Brig, solitary, if you tried to take it onto an airplane.
When I needed to get rid of a smudge in the field, it seemed to make things much worse at first. A little fiddling and it got a bit better, but I probably would have been far better off just leaving the dust bunny on the sensor. Decent hail mary cleaning solution for the price, just don't expect much, and only use in case of emergency, like if you get a pork chop on your sensor.
Digital camera Review: it works!
Summary: 5 Stars
I had some nasty water like specs on my sensor. I tried cleaning with brush, cloth and air to no avail.
I bought this as my other alternative was to have someone else clean it at the Canon factory or a local shop for a lot more money.
A few passes with this pen and all is good. Its not really that complicated to clean the sensor its not rocket science but If you don't feel comfortable then don't do it!
peace