Nikon DSLR Cleaning kits


Recommended Posts

I have owned my current DSLR for 2 years now and never really given it a clean out. I try and look after it the best I can by being quick with lens changed and in a clean area but as you know over a couple of years bits of dust and marks appear out of nowhere.

 

Do any of you guys have any recommendations on how to clean the camera, sensor and lens? Do Nikon make a little kit to use? Now I dont have loads of cash to be spending on this so cheap will always be a winner but I dont really want to be buy cheap china stuff thats going to do more damage then good.

 

Its a Nikon D5100 with 18-55mm kit lens, 55-200mm kit lens 35mm f1.8 and 50mm f1.8.

 

 

Any help would be fantastic, Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You will use something like this:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Polaroid-Blower-Perfomance-Silicon-Squeeze/dp/B0046UJFAG/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1407425531&sr=8-7 

 

and

 

lens cleaning cloth like this:

 

http://www.amazon.com/HeroFiber-Cleaning-Cameras-Tablets-delicate/dp/B00FRS479A/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1407425636&sr=8-5

 

 

If you can not able to get the dust out at all, take it to the camera store and they will clean it professionally for you.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Shozillas spot on:

 

 A couple of other suggestions, shutterbugs swear by giotto rocket blowers

http://www.amazon.com/Giottos-AA1900-Rocket-Blaster-Large/dp/B00017LSPI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407425959&sr=8-1&keywords=giotto

 

http://www.amazon.com/Sensor-Swab-Type-Box-12/dp/B0029WUKVG/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1407426013&sr=1-3&keywords=nikon+sensor+cleaning+kit  (Buy according to sensor size)

 

 

Also, I would try your cameras built in ultrasonic sensor cleaner a couple of times, before buying anything.

 

I wouldn't take it to a shop unless it had heavy unremovable gunk, they charge premium. Teh interwebs has plenty of newbie guides and products which everyone uses.

 

 

This is a very nice walk through of the products that exist, very indepth, a must read for beginners:

 

http://www.bythom.com/cleaning.htm

 

 

Then another with a couple of videos:

 

https://fstoppers.com/gear/how-clean-dust-your-dslr-sensor-sensor-gel-stick-8226

 

http://www.howtogeek.com/162413/how-to-cheaply-and-safely-clean-your-cameras-dslr-sensor/

 

 

More pro approach:

 

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/30918712

 

 

A couple of products:

http://photosol.com/  --- I'd say this would be your solution, giotto rocket blower (which is a NEED ) and sensor swabs

http://www.visibledust.com/index.php

 

 

In  90% of the cases, rocket blower does the job, since you are on a limited budget, I would suggest, getting the rocket blower first and then move on to a more in depth cleaning (sensor swab)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks guys thats gonna help,

 

 

The photos still come up fine but the lens are starting to look a bit messy.

 

DSC_7878_zps05423db9.jpg

 

DSC_0003_zps28b1d3ba.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks guys thats gonna help,

 

 

The photos still come up fine but the lens are starting to look a bit messy.

 

DSC_7878_zps05423db9.jpg

 

DSC_0003_zps28b1d3ba.jpg

Any microfiber cleaning cloth should do the job for the lens and for thorough cleaning a normal soft bristle brush

 

http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Cleaning-Cameras-Canon-Pentax/dp/B0048IW030/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1407428818&sr=8-5&keywords=camera+brush

 

http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Lens-Pen-Cleaning-System/dp/B003ES61EE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1407428818&sr=8-3&keywords=camera+brush

 

 

To check for sensor dust, shoot at F16 or great on a white background.

 

The sort of microfiber cloth that comes with new glasses should be good enough as well.

 

http://www.amazon.com/MagicFiber%C2%AE-Premium-Microfiber-Cleaning-Cloths/dp/B0050R67U0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407428898&sr=8-1&keywords=microfiber+cloth

 

I buy these bulk  for my electronics:

 

http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Microfiber-Cleaning-Cloth-Pack/dp/B009FUF6DM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1407428898&sr=8-2&keywords=microfiber+cloth

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks guys thats gonna help,

 

 

The photos still come up fine but the lens are starting to look a bit messy.

 

DSC_7878_zps05423db9.jpg

 

DSC_0003_zps28b1d3ba.jpg

 

After you finish cleaning those lens, you might want to consider getting these protective lens like this:

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002CVTVPU/ref=s9_simh_gw_p421_d0_i4?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1DHF2AX44BZZWJHYVEAE&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846

 

That way, you wouldn't worry about getting the dust on that lens except the protective lens which you can clean it easily.. If unable to clean it, you can change protective lens for cheap.

 

I have those on all of my lens. :)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

After you finish cleaning those lens, you might want to consider getting these protective lens like this:

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002CVTVPU/ref=s9_simh_gw_p421_d0_i4?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1DHF2AX44BZZWJHYVEAE&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846

 

That way, you wouldn't worry about getting the dust on that lens except the protective lens which you can clean it easily.. If unable to clean it, you can change protective lens for cheap.

 

I have those on all of my lens. :)

Did you ever have problems with reflections?

 

Whenever I used protective filters... I always got ghosted images of lights and other bright objects in my photos. Very annoying.

 

I was using relatively cheap filters... so maybe that was the problem.  But you're still adding an additional piece of glass in front of the lens... so that's another surface for light to reflect off of.

 

I don't use those filters anymore... I'm just more careful with my cameras. No more ghosts!

 

The following pictures were from a Nikon D60 with a UV filter on the lens:

 

XdHdS9I.jpg8OAn9Yg.jpg

 

My camcorder was even worse.  The UV filter was picking up reflections of overhead lights that weren't even in the frame!  :|

 

RT4AIG7.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Did you ever have problems with reflections?

 

Whenever I used protective filters... I always got ghosted images of lights and other bright objects in my photos. Very annoying.

 

I was using relatively cheap filters... so maybe that was the problem.  But you're still adding an additional piece of glass in front of the lens... so that's another surface for light to reflect off of.

 

I don't use those filters anymore... I'm just more careful with my cameras. No more ghosts!

 

The following pictures were from a Nikon D60 with a UV filter on the lens:

 

XdHdS9I.jpg8OAn9Yg.jpg

 

My camcorder was even worse.  The UV filter was picking up reflections of overhead lights that weren't even in the frame!  :|

 

RT4AIG7.jpg

 

You might have bought the wrong kind or something.

 

I have no problems with mine.

 

Look at my pics in the photos thread, starting here. There are more in the rest of the pages in that thread.

 

I have been taking outdoor and indoor photos all these years .. no ghosts or anything like that like you mentioned.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have never been a big fan of having another piece of glass to shoot through. Mostly due to the fact there will be a loss in quality noticeable or not. But thanks for the tips. i'll give them a quick clean now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You might have bought the wrong kind or something.

 

I have no problems with mine.

 

Look at my pics in the photos thread, starting here. There are more in the rest of the pages in that thread.

 

I have been taking outdoor and indoor photos all these years .. no ghosts or anything like that like you mentioned.

Hmmmm... they were just standard UV filters like the one you linked earlier.

 

Weird, huh.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Did you ever have problems with reflections?

 

Whenever I used protective filters... I always got ghosted images of lights and other bright objects in my photos. Very annoying.

 

I was using relatively cheap filters... so maybe that was the problem.  But you're still adding an additional piece of glass in front of the lens... so that's another surface for light to reflect off of.

 

I don't use those filters anymore... I'm just more careful with my cameras. No more ghosts!

 

The following pictures were from a Nikon D60 with a UV filter on the lens:

 

XdHdS9I.jpg8OAn9Yg.jpg

 

My camcorder was even worse.  The UV filter was picking up reflections of overhead lights that weren't even in the frame!  :|

 

RT4AIG7.jpg

 

 

Yep.... I was getting ghosting on 2 different cameras using 2 different UV filters under the same circumstances they discussed.

This has to do with low quality UV filters,  specially if they came bundled... It happen to me, then, I found out, on dpreview, that cheap no name filters, don't have a no-mirroring coating, so what happends is light gets trapped between the lens and the filters causing ghosting.

 

For filters, hoya is the go to:

 

http://www.hoyafilter.com/  they are  a bit more expensive  but whats $20   on  a $200+ lens

 

 

home-hoya-main01.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This has to do with low quality UV filters,  specially if they came bundled... It happen to me, then, I found out, on dpreview, that cheap no name filters, don't have a no-mirroring coating, so what happends is light gets trapped between the lens and the filters causing ghosting.

 

For filters, hoya is the go to:

 

http://www.hoyafilter.com/  they are  a bit more expensive  but whats $20   on  a $200+ lens

Awesome... thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yep.... I was getting ghosting on 2 different cameras using 2 different UV filters under the same circumstances they discussed.

 

I understand but I have not had any ghost or anything on my photos like you guys talked about.

 

You might try to use lens hood and/or stay away from sun or lights if you get this problem again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I understand but I have not had any ghost or anything on my photos like you guys talked about.

 

You might try to use lens hood and/or stay away from sun or lights if you get this problem again.

Well... I obviously experienced it.  I didn't fake those shots :)

 

If I ever feel the need to add protection to my lenses... I will go for a more expensive, quality filter.

 

But to be honest... I've been filter-free for years.

 

My camcorder never really needed a filter at all... it's a semi-pro camcorder with a huge lens hood and integrated lens cap. But I put a cheap filter on it anyway and you saw what happened.  Not anymore!

 

I just bought a Canon 70D... and if I need a filter I will definitely spend the bucks to get a good one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well... I obviously experienced it.  I didn't fake those shots :)

 

If I ever feel the need to add protection to my lenses... I will go for a more expensive, quality filter.

 

But to be honest... I've been filter-free for years.

 

My camcorder never really needed a filter at all... it's a semi-pro camcorder with a huge lens hood and integrated lens cap. But I put a cheap filter on it anyway and you saw what happened.  Not anymore!

 

I just bought a Canon 70D... and if I need a filter I will definitely spend the bucks to get a good one.

Yup... just compare the price of your 70D versus a $20 filter :)

 

Though, that's not to say all cheapish filters are bad, problem is, you never know.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.