There are a few sensor cleaning kits on the market that look pretty good, even those for the tin oxide coating Nikon uses in the filter part. 

Why do I mention this? The local service place will clean for free...but the kicker is they sell you the cleaning kit for $60!

About $50 will get me a good kit suitable for Nikon (though not recommended or approved by Nikon) with 12 swabs.

Do you clean your own?              TomDart.

Hello,

Just for information : I'm using my Canon EOS 5D  for more than 2 years now. This camera is (still) one of the best available in the digital world (IQ price rating) but sadly don't have a dust sensor  cleaning system and believe me on a full frame camera dust have place to play.

Here they charge you (approx.) 45$ for cleaning the sensor and of course you have to go to the service center and so on. So since the beginning (EOS 20D) I use the visible dust  arctic butterfly system. I know it's quite expensive but it's very effective it's non aggressive solution (based on electrostatic, you don't touch the sensor  AA filter ) but the best of all it's always with me in my camera bag so I can make a "cleaning" on the way. Of course the first time, you will be very impressed (sure ? may I clean it ... glups). But now I clean even the cameras of friends in about 1 or 2 minutes with confidence.

I've got the full package with cleaning fluids for the sensor and the chamber but In 2 years I've used it 2 or 3 times. The problem with dust spots on the sensor is that you can very quickly go "mad" and paranoiac. In fact avoiding dust on sensor can be pretty simple. Now I clean my sensor every 20 shoots or 10 shoots if I've changed the lens in a "dusty" environment.

On my 40D (with the sensor cleaning system) in about 4 month no sign of dust up to know. ( great relief but in case of emergency my brushes are in my bag.

Of course don't expect Nikon or Canon will recommend those "manual" cleaning systems even if they use them themselves.

Just my 2 cents.

Aegy

------------------------------
David "AEGIPAN" H. aka Aegy

AEGIPAN OFFICIAL WEBSITE - Glamour Photography At Its Best

i use a sony @100 ...... although it has a dust system it still gets the od bit.... i followed the sensor cleaning on the manual with a blower.. it worked a treat

yea, i use that Arctic Butterfly® thingy From VisibleDust. I can't find my RocketBlower which means there is still dust on the mirrors. I'm thinking of getting a dust vacuum to clean that stuff (it's only $20-USeh).

Question the question. Answer the question. Question the answer...

I wish I knew what I was gonna say :oP

I don't see the need yet to perform any (manual) sensor cleaning. After two years of using the Olympus E-500 and changing lenses, there hasn't been one single speck of dust in sight. So it must be true what they're saying about Olympus' dust reduction system (the most efficient on the market today)...

We do not see things as they are. ǝɹɐ ǝʍ sɐ sƃuıɥʇ ǝǝs ǝʍ
 

I haven't had to do it myself yet. My EOS and the self cleaning has done well alone. But from posts I have seen on other sites about cleaning the sensor themselves. Most all say the same thing. They were freaked out to do it the first time, now its no big deal and have had no probs.

My thought, if you can handle learning an SLR, you can learn to clean your own sensor without major issues...lol
B

Girsempa, you are a fortunate man to have the self cleaner.  NightGallery,  I do agree.

Between posts I have ordered the stuff to do it my self.   Should be no prob after a time or two, and with two cameras to do a two will after the first time.  : )

I use the Nikon D100 and after three years of  use the sensor had more specs than enough.
I enquired about the sensor cleaning kits but was advised against it by the Nikon dealer.
I had the dealer do it,in the UK it was about £50 but when I considered the damage I might do it seemed a good price.

I have the Visible Dust sensor brushes and a Rocket Blower....its pretty easy and takes 2-3 minutes max to clean the sensor.  Once you get over the initial "first time" fear, you'll see how easy it truly is and save yourself alot of dinero down the road!  

It seems you have succumbed to temptation TomDart 
and ordered the cleaning kit.

And every one said, 'If we only live,
We too will go to sea in a Sieve,---
To the hills of the Chankly Bore!'
Far and few, far and few, Are the lands where the Jumblies live;
Their heads are green, and their hands are blue, And they went to sea in a Sieve.

Edward Lear
http://www.nonsenselit.org/Lear/ns/jumblies.html

Good luck with the kit Tom I have found the Rocket blower I have used for over two years works just fine.. Good to hear positive responses from those who have the self cleaning systems built in. though I am still not happy with the idea of them.. Where does the dust end up? On some sticky pads that will need to be replaced at your expense? 

Danny O'Byrne  http://www.digitalartzone.co.uk/

"All the technique in the world doesn't compensate for the inability to notice" Eliott Erwitt

I had the same thought on the sticky pads.

Attached Link: Miniature Vacuum Brush

ah, i have found the (link to the) lens-vacuum that i'm planning to get.

Question the question. Answer the question. Question the answer...

I wish I knew what I was gonna say :oP

With a good battery, the D70 is fine without ac adapter.  As for the D200, that should be ok, too.

However, a question I cannot find an answer from Nikon or others:

Does the battery need to be removed to use the AC adapter?   No mention is made of it one way or the other.

Not sure about the Nikon Canon you do have to remove the battery as the device sits in place of them..

Danny O'Byrne  http://www.digitalartzone.co.uk/

"All the technique in the world doesn't compensate for the inability to notice" Eliott Erwitt

Quote - I don't see the need yet to perform any (manual) sensor cleaning. After two years of using the Olympus E-500 and changing lenses, there hasn't been one single speck of dust in sight. So it must be true what they're saying about Olympus' dust reduction system (the most efficient on the market today)...

Well, until you step into an E-3.  I have to clean mine about once a month.  I've seen a few reports from E-510 owners as well complaining of dust.  Some blame it on Live View, some blame it on in-body IS.  So it would appear that while still good, Oly's SSWF isn't as great as it used to be.

Like you, I've never seen dust on my E-500, and only once on one of my E-1s.

I use an arctic butterfly and a rocket blower on the E-3.  If I ever need a wet cleaning I'll send it in.

Regards,

Steve

I bought a cleaning kit some time ago... but a dry kit, not wet... I will upgrading soon to a either a 5D or a Mark II... so I will have to invest in a "wet kit" with swabs etc etc... But Ive heard from some of the newer Nikon owners, that the newer coating will be damaged with the older fluids... Apparently there is a newer type of fluid available for these sensors... I dont use Nikon, but just thought Id mention this.

"If toast
always lands butter-side down, and cats always land on their feet, what
happens if you strap toast on the back of a cat and drop it?"

Steven Wright

Yes, the new fluids are apparently needed.  One of these is Eclipse E2 by Photographic Solutions.   This is for sensors with a tin oxide coating.  Sales sites should tell which cameras require the "tin oxide" safe fluids.