How to Clean DSLR and Mirrorless Camera Sensors

In today’s camera maintenance guide, I’ll teach you how to clean a DSLR sensor plus how to clean a mirrorless sensor.

I had always found camera maintenance cumbersome when I was still a student. I used to think it was okay to leave the sensors uncleaned.

Boy, was I wrong!

See, dust particles might be minuscule, but they pose considerable harm to your equipment and craft. It’ll affect your photograph quality and risk damaging the sensor elements.

To prevent black spots and annoying blemishes from plaguing your captures, it’s crucial to clean your camera sensors as often as possible.

Don’t worry, though. I’ll walk you through the process and spare you from the hassle of an expensive sensor replacement.

Checking Your Camera Sensor For Dust

The annoying thing about sensor screen dust particles is that they’re almost always invisible to the eye. As such, eyeballing your way through the cleaning process won’t work.

Thankfully, you can readily look for dust on your camera sensor by capturing photos in a specific way.

Here’s how you do it:

Set your camera aperture to f/22, f/16, or f/11. Then, tweak the camera to the lowest “normal range” ISO—200 for Nikon and 100 for Canon.

Remember, you’ll want your shots to be out of focus to see the specks of dust. You can do this by enabling manual focus and adjusting it according to your subject.

Now, you need a bright white wall for the subject. A clean sheet of paper or a cloudy white sky will do the trick, too.

Once you’ve captured your blurry photo, you can check for dust by checking the back LCD screen at 100% or loading the image to your computer.

Particles on the sensor will appear as dark spots scattered all over the picture. Zooming in on the photo will give you the surest view.

Too many dust spots and blemishes appearing on your screen? Then, it’s time to unpack that lens cleaner you got from Amazon.

Reminders Before Cleaning

Ensure you have your camera and suitable cleaning tools prepared before you begin. Sensor filters are delicate, so it’s best to err on the side of caution.

Here are a few points to remember:

• Prepare a clean table you can use, preferably with nothing on it aside from your camera and cleaning gear.
• I also recommend doing the cleaning indoors, away from outdoor elements.
• Turn off any ventilation or fan systems to prevent specks of dust from flying around the room.
• Keep your cleaning tools at arm’s reach—you won’t want your camera sensor exposed too long.

Finally, most modern cameras have self-cleaning functions. So, search your camera menu and give it a try before giving it a manual scrub.

Cleaning Tools You Need

Maintaining a clean sensor can be a tricky business. Luckily, there’s a wide variety of sensor cleaning kits and handy tools for you to use.

Here are the cleaning kit items you’ll need to keep your camera sensor clean:

• Commercial blower (also called rocket blower or air blower)
• Commercial camera brush
• Sensor cleaning swab
• Microfiber cloth
• Sensor cleaning solution

A sensor loupe is another practical tool to detect bits of dust and make your cleaning easier. You can also use a flashlight or a headlamp to inspect for debris.

• More: Best Camera Lens Cleaning Kits

How to Clean DSLR Lens and Sensor

Dry cleaning is a safe and excellent way to remove loose dust from the sensor surface. Plus, you’ll only need an air blower and a brush.

Step 1: Clean the Camera Periphery

First, clean any dust or debris off the camera lens’s periphery. Use a soft-bristled camera brush around the lens barrel, ensuring it’s free of particles that could fall into the sensor.

Or better, brush off the entirety of the camera body just to be on the safe side.

While brushing, get your bulb blower and blow off specks from delicate or unreachable spots of the camera’s body.

After cleaning the external peripherals, remove the camera lens cap and blast collected dust off the lens surface.

Keep your camera on full charge for the whole cleaning process.

Step 2: Set Your Camera to Manual Cleaning Mode

Next, detach the lens and set your DSLR to manual sensor cleaning. You can find this option on the camera menu.

Once set, you’ll hear the reflex mirror lock back and reveal the sensor chamber.

You can return the reflex mirror after cleaning by turning the camera off.

Step 3: Blow Off Collected Dust From the Sensor

With a clear view of the sensor, blast a few puffs of air inside using your air blower.

Do this step while holding the camera upside-down—with the lens elements facing the floor. This hack ensures all particles fall down and not back into the camera.

Use a flashlight or a sensor loupe to single out the remaining particles on the filter.

Be careful not to touch the image sensor surface with your blower!

I know I’m saying this a bunch, but sensors are incredibly delicate. Dust, moisture, heat, and the slightest impact can mean a costly replacement.

So, keep the rocket blower several inches from the lens elements and avoid inserting the tube inside.

• More: How to Remove Camera Lens Fungus

Step 4: Turn Off the Camera After Cleaning

Once satisfied, turn your DSLR off to replace the reflex mirror. Put back the lens and take your camera on a test run to see if any blemishes remain in your shots.

Wet Cleaning a DSLR Camera Sensor

Wet cleaning is a fantastic deep-cleaning method for a DSLR camera. It removes tough stains and particles you can’t blast off with dry air.

You’ll need a sensor cleaning solution, swab, and microfiber cloth to wet-clean your DSLR sensor.

Step 1: Prep Your Camera

Clean the peripherals of your DSLR before wet cleaning. Use an air blower and commercial brush to blast residual dust off the camera body and lens.

Detach the lens and set your DSLR to manual cleaning mode to access the sensor filter.

Step 2: Ready Your Sensor Swab

Take one sensor-cleaning swab and use the bulb blower to remove unwanted pieces of lint. Then, pour two to three drops of cleaning solution on the swab tip.

Avoid pouring more than necessary to prevent leaving streaks on the delicate sensor.

Step 3: Wipe the Sensor Carefully

With your swab and cleaning solution ready, give the DSLR sensor a careful and thorough sweep to clean the dust particles.

Carefully place the swab on one side of the filter. And very gently, move it across in one smooth motion.

Once done, turn the swab over and sweep your way back to where you started.

Don’t apply more pressure than necessary—you want to avoid accidentally scratching the delicate sensor surface.

Step 4: Check For Remaining Grime

For this part, a sensor loupe would be handy for checking remaining dust particles. It’s a cheap but handy device to keep up with your sensor maintenance.

If you notice streaks on the filter, it means you poured too much cleaning solution on the swab.

To remedy this hitch, allow the streaks to dry for a few minutes before repeating the process with fewer drops of solution.

• More: How to Fix Lens Haze

Step 5: Give the Camera a Test Shot

After mopping the sensor, give the camera a few test shots to see if the blemishes are gone.

Turn the camera off, and while you’re at it, give your camera lens a clean-up before placing it back. Lightly dampen a microfiber cloth with your cleaning solution and give it a good but gentle sweep.

Once done, take a few test pictures and repeat the cleaning process if necessary.

How to Clean a Mirrorless Camera Sensor

Cleaning a mirrorless camera sensor is far more straightforward than a DSLR. Without the mirror, accessing the sensor only requires removing the lens and cap.

However, it also means you’ll have to be extra careful while cleaning.

So, give the camera body a thorough dusting before you take the lens off. Use a soft-bristled brush and a blower.

After dry cleaning, remove the body cap and lens to access the camera sensor.

Hold your camera upside-down, with the LCD screen facing up. Then, aim your blower at the sensor chamber and blast off several puffs.

I’d also recommend using a sensor swab and a cleaning solution for this part. And if your camera has one, give the sensor cleaning function a go for an extra cleanup.

FAQs

Is it safe to touch a camera sensor?

Do not touch a camera sensor with your bare hands, as this can scratch it or leave dirt on the surface. In case of accidental touching, clean it with sensor cleaners or bring it to the nearest camera store for a professional cleaning service.

Can you clean a mirrorless camera sensor with alcohol?

I wouldn’t recommend using rubbing alcohol to clean your camera sensor. Isopropyl alcohol contains glycerin and could leave residues that might be difficult to remove.