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What is the actual solution used in DSLR sensor cleaning kits?

xiota
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Michael
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  • Is DALR a typo (probably?) or a specific cleaning kit? – mattdm Apr 25 '19 at 03:42
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    Is this just curiousity or do you have a specific problem? – mattdm Apr 25 '19 at 03:42
  • My money on isopropyl alcohol. – xenoid Apr 25 '19 at 06:03
  • Last time I cleaned my sensor, I used a couple drops of distilled water. Nothing crazy. – xiota Apr 25 '19 at 06:04
  • vtc b/c Not relevant to the practice of photography. Not something someone photographers would necessarily be expected to have expertise in. – xiota Apr 25 '19 at 18:32
  • I don't know what the kits contain, but isopropanol (ie isopropyl alcohol) works well: I have a lot of the the little prepackaged sachets with isopropanol & tissue to clean anti-newton glass &c and I've used them with success. The advantage of them is that you are very sure there's no abrasive crud when you open them. –  Apr 26 '19 at 20:13

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If you are asking about sensor (really the filter in front of the sensor) cleaning solutions -- such as "Eclipse" ... that's nearly pure methanol. It is used because it evaporates rapidly and leaves no residue.

See: https://photosol.com/products/eclipse-optic-fluid/

Tim Campbell
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  • Probably also because it's cheaper than Ethanol, which has higher taxes and can be "abused". – xiota Apr 25 '19 at 20:19
  • I appreciate the response. The reason for me asking is because I needed to find a local source so I could clean my sensors because of the Black Dot invasion on all of my photos. Unfortunately no one sells locally in New Orleans. I already have the lens cleaning kit, but not the little swabs and the solution. If I would have been able to clean with rubbing alcohol that would have been great but Methanol is not a house hold item and honestly I would not know where to start... Thank you all. – Michael Apr 26 '19 at 22:22
  • If you can find a dedicated camera store (e.g. not a big-box store that also sells cameras) they'll be more likely to have the cleaning solutions & supplies. You can also order from online vendors. – Tim Campbell Apr 27 '19 at 17:09