Cleaning Mode For Sony A7 Series Cameras With Built-In Image Stabilization

Sony cameras such at the a7 II, a7R II and a7S II have built in image stabilization. So if you try cleaning the sensor with a wet method such as with the Alpha Swabs and Beta Optical Cleaning Solution, the sensor will want to move around on you while swabbing the sensor. There is a process in which you can get the sensor to become more stable for the wet cleaning process. This technique doesn’t make it as stable as the non-built in image stabilization but its much better than without using it.

1. Make sure your battery has at least 50% life left
2. Enter into the cameras menu and select cleaning mode. I have found this to be under option 3 in the toolbox section of most cameras.
3. Move the cursor so that the “Enter” option is highlighted and press the select button. The camera will now shake, trying to shake the dust particles off of the sensor.
4. After the shaking is completed you will be shown a screen that tells you to “Turn the power off.” Do NOT turn the power off as you are now in the manual cleaning mode. When you are done doing the wet cleaning, you should power the camera off.

New Sensor Cleaning Fluid

The Dust Patrol
Has released a new Travel Friendly sensor cleaning fluid called Beta Optical Cleaning Fluid. This sensor cleaning fluid dries fast and clean making it one of the best options for sensor cleaning.

Web Site Update

We just added direct links that you can use for some of the major on-line retailer to be able to buy any of the items discussed on www.CleaningDigitalCameras.com. This is of course that you don't have a local retailer that is stocking these items for you.

New Web Site Is Live!

After a lot of work including re-evaluating all major sensor cleaning products we are live with the new site. I am sure that we will be tweaking areas from time to time but if you see anything that needs some attention please don't hesitate to let us know.

Sensor Swab Ultra and Sony Cameras

We have received multiple inquiries in response to Photographic Solutions, Inc.'s urgent bulletin about using their New Sensor Swab Ultra™ with Eclipse® (Methanol) on Sony Cameras. This issue is only being reported by Photographic Solutions, Inc. and is unique to their Sensor Swab Ultra™. As reported by Photographic Solutions, Inc., the Sensor Swab Ultra™ requires more pressure and more solution than their original Sensor Swab®. It is very easy to tell the difference between the two versions as the original Sensor Swab® has a rubber band holding the material to the handle and the Sensor Swab Ultra™ does not. Their fix for using the Sensor Swab Ultra™ on Sony cameras is to use their Aeroclipse™ instead of Eclipse®.

Aeroclipse™ is suitable for cleaning sensors but Methanol (Eclipse®) is the better cleaner of the two and much less expensive. If you still have some of the original Sensor Swab's®, they are safe and good to use on all cameras with Methanol (Eclipse®).

The original Sensor Swab® has been the best sensor cleaning swab on the market since 1998. As you can see we have endorsed it heavily on this web site and elsewhere since the beginning. Unfortunately in 2015 Photographic Solutions, Inc. started replacing the original Sensor Swab® with the Sensor Swab Ultra™. Although the name is very similar and in appearance they look similar but these are two very different swabs. The original Sensor Swab® was made in the USA and the Sensor Swab Ultra's are being imported. The material used on the paddle is very different too, the original Sensor Swab® used a clean room wiping material which was folded and held on with a rubber band. The material used on the Sensor Swab Ultra™ is polyester which is attached by heat and requires more pressure and more chemical for the cleaning process. The Sensor Swab Ultra's™ corners are rounded making it harder to get edge to edge cleaning results. Around the same time of this change, we noticed that Photographic Solutions, Inc. also stopped offering their no scratch guarantee for their swabs. Their current guarantee against chemical dame can be found on their web site.

For us, the biggest concern we have with the Sensor Swab Ultra™ is the possible sharp corners that can come in contact with the sensor. These sharp corners are caused by the melting of the polyester material in the manufacturing process. We have tested many samples of the Sensor Swab Ultra™ and came across too many sharp corners and therefore we would never use them on our own cameras nor would we recommend them to anyone else.

Major revisons in the works

We are currently working on a major revision to CleaningDigitalCameras.com due to some major changes made by existing brands in the market. Namely Photographic Solutions discontinuing the Sensor Swab®. Yes they have come out with a new swab that they are calling the Sensor Swab Ultra but this new swab is a totally different product and we don't recommend it.