2. September 2009 by Curt Fargo.

Finally a case to carry all your esentials in for Sensor Cleaning.  This is a semi-ridged zippered case.  Not brand specific but task specific. Interior panels are movable to meet the end users specific needs.

Designed to carry your favorite tools like the following:

• Swabs
• Solution
• Brush
• Blower
• Sensor Inspection Device

Available From Micro-Tools

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17. August 2009 by Curt Fargo.

Photographic Solutions is officially discontinuing Eclipse E2 as the concerns of Eclipse “Possibly” being too strong for use on Tin Oxide coated sensors has been unfounded.

I have done many tests on this subject myself and concur that Eclipse is safe and better for use on all DSLR sensor no matter what coating they have on them.

So is E2 bad, NO but Eclipse is easier to use with better results.

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13. April 2009 by Curt Fargo.

One of my readers has sent me their version of the comparison. In their video they compare the Zeeion by Visibledust to the Fire Fly by NRD. Again the Zeeion fails to show any resemblance of it’s marketing claim of being an anti static blower.

View The Video Here 

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6. April 2009 by Curt Fargo.

Visible Dust ZEEION - Versus - NRD FireFly

Let me just say I learned quite a bit doing this comparison. You can see the technical version here or even download it in a PDF format. We also have a  video version here.

After doing some very thorough testing, the FireFly performed as advertised and removed the static charge. I wish I could say the same for the ZEEION but it failed miserably.  The ZEEION had no more of an effect at removing a static charge than a standard rubber Giottos Rocket Blower. Please watch the video to see this for yourself.

So just because one wants to call their blower anti static doesn’t mean it is.  As a matter of fact the ZEEION is quite the opposite, because it is made of Silicone it is very static, not anti static.  Squeezing the ZEEION with your dry hand creates a very high static charge around the bulb that we measured at -14,890 volts.  Yes, that is a negative 14 thousand volts. After squeezing the blower 5 times, the measured voltage averaged 322 volts over a 30 second period at a distance of 1 inch. This is enough voltage that if placed in the vicinity of the contacts in the lens mount area of your camera (the ones that are used for your camera to communicate with the lens) it could damage the electronics in your camera. Will it actually cause damage to each and every model of camera?  This is not an experiment that my budget can afford, but it is a big enough concern of mine that I will never allow any silicone blower near any of my cameras. Damage may very well not be seen immediately as quite often static damage is latent.

This high voltage issue isn’t particular to the ZEEION but all silicone blowers. It has everything to do with the Triboelectric effect which can be explained a little better here.  This high voltage isn’t blown out of the blower but exists around the bulb part of the blower itself.

As Jamie and Adam would say  “FireFly – Confirmed” and “ZEEION – Busted”  

For the record, we DO sell the ZEEION but the FireFly is only available through the manufacturer NRD or Adorama

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31. March 2009 by Curt Fargo.

I finally got a chance today to do a side by side comparison of the KOH HEPA Jet filter blower to Visible Dust’s Zeeion filtered blower. Right off the bat the Zeeion is overall smaller then the HEPA Jet.  The big difference is that the HEPPA Jet has a large HEPA regulator filter attached to its bottom where the Zeeion has a small internal filter. Size does matter here as the small filter in the Zeeion greatly restricts the refill rate of the blower to the point you have to wait about 5 seconds in between each squeeze.  The HEPA filter on the other hand allows a much larger volume of air to pass through much faster due to its much large filter. The HEPA Jet can be used like a regular blower as the delay in filling is almost nonexistent.

The exit valve on the Zeeion is smaller than on the HEPA Jet which in turn give you a lower output volume of air from the Zeeion.

If I felt the need for a filtered blower I would defiantly choose the KOH HEPA Jet over the VisibleDust Zeeion not only because it is about 1/2 the price at $24.95 compared to $45.98, but because it puts out much more air and doesn’t have the long lag time in between squeezes.

VisibleDust does make claims of negative ionization with the Zeeion that we are in the middle of testing for and will report back in the next day or two on.

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31. March 2009 by Curt Fargo.

 Dot Line Corp is importing the GGS Sensor Inspection Loupe and rebranding it as the SensorVu Loupe.  This is a decent Loupe at an OK price.

Dot Line Corp is also Importing the Matin M-6361 and Rebadging it as the SensorVu Cleaner II DL-AC02. This is a sticky method Similar to Canon’s. 

Dot Line is also bringing in the ADIDT AC-01 Sticky method to be rebadged as the SensorVu Cleaner DL-AC01.

Visit Dotline Corp at http://www.dotlinecorp.com/

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13. March 2009 by Curt Fargo.

We have put up a cost per cleaning comparison chart up on our main site.  We will periodically update it.

http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/cost.html

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8. March 2009 by Curt Fargo.

There really wasn’t anything truly new at PMA for sensor cleaning, just new spins on existing items. Although I did get a chance to see and acquire samples of the Koh Dustless Bag System that has been on the market for a short while already. I will be putting this preventative tool through its paces and report back soon.

Erma Inc. of Tokyo has a new Sticky method kit they are looking at introducing to the US Market. Canon Japan was the originator of the sticky method, it is a dry method of sensor cleaning where you use a tacky devise on the end of a stick/applicator to remove loose dust. We do have samples of their product and will be doing some testing to compare it to the some of the others Canon Sticky Method clones currently on the market like eyelead & Dust-Aid.    

The other thing that Erma Inc. had that peaked my interest was a vacuum. Unlike the other keyboard type vacuums currently be marked to clean sensors, Erma’s has softer bristles and a device to protect the bristles from becoming contaminated when not in use. Again I have a sample and will be doing some testing and report back.

American Recorder has released their UltraPure solution for use on Tin Oxide Coated sensors. They have also been redesigning their kits that currently contain Co2 to have Nitrogen. Nitrogen is propellant free and doesn’t have any moisture in it, which makes it the only “canned air” safe for sensor cleaning.

The current push by 3 different companies is to have a blower with filters to keep dust from being sucked into the blower and blown back out onto the sensor. The other marketing spins being put on these new blowers being introduced is a soft tip to keep you from damaging your sensor. The other is a claim of a blower that is made from a silicone that reduces the static charge on the air that is being blown.

Lets start with filters, this sounds like a great idea although I haven’t been hearing of reports of blowers sucking in and spewing out dust. The reports that I have received thus far from blowers spewing out unwanted material hasn’t been dust but rubber particles of the inside of low quality blowers. I will admit that over the years I have been asked multiple times as to if this was a problem especially with the foot blowers. My response was to have the person find a cleaner environment if they were concerned with this being a problem. So if you are cleaning your camera in a high dust environment then one of these might be the answer or better yet use a Koh Dustless Bag. For the majority out there, if you already have a quality blower I see no need in replacing it with one of these with a built in filter although if you are in the market for a new blower, these give you more options.

Ok now for those soft tipped blowers. Not a bad idea but if you are getting your blower so close to the sensor that you have to worry about bumping the tip into it, you are doing it WRONG. The tip need not enter the mirror cage or get within striking distance of the sensor. If this is a concern of yours, it might be time to have a professional clean your camera as there is no guarantee that you won’t damage your sensor if you strike it even with a soft tip. 

As for the claim of less static being created by 1 blower over another, we will be doing some testing and get back to you.

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7. March 2009 by Curt Fargo.

We are moving all the Sensor Cleaning News from CleaningDigitalCameras.com site to this blog.

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