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Q: Will this leave adhesive residue on my sensor filter?
A: The ultra low tack adhesive we use for cleaning the sensor has been especially designed for coated glass. We have tested the adhesive using FTIR analysis and the results show no detectable traces of residue. You can read more here. >>
Q: Does it work on static stuck-on dust?
A: You betcha! Here is a before and after of my 1Ds. I did one cleaning with three clockwise passes of the adhesive foam tape. Roll over the image to see the before and after. I have also zipped a folder with my full rez before and after so you can see the amount of static stuck-on dust that was removed and what was left behind. Download full rez before and after.>>
Roll over image to see the after effects of using DUST-AID.
Q: Can it remove the welded on specks and liquid stains?
A: If your camera has not been cleaned in a while then it might have what is called "welded on" specks. These specks can only be removed with a product like SensorSwipe, Pec-Pads, liquid and/or swabs. Dust-Aid has no effect on liquid stains. Dust-Aid is great for regular monthly cleanings to prevent dust particles from becoming "welded on" and it's great for removing the corner dust that other swiping products leave behind.
Q: Dust-Aid left a thin black line on the filter after application, what's that all about?
A: We see this very seldom but it does happen. The black line is formed from micro black foam particles that are left behind on the top edge of the cleaning adhesive tape when the pad is die cut. When the foam is leaned too far on it's side the micro foam cut particles are attracted to the filter and form a micro black hairline. To remove the line simply apply Dust-Aid again, this time noting not to lean the wand to far over on it's side when releasing the adhesion.
Q: Is it easy and safe to do myself?
A: This was one of my main driving forces of why I created DUST-AID, to be easy and safe so that any person could clean their own sensor, anywhere at any time. It takes about 15 seconds to clean one's sensor and then you're good to go.
Q: Can I use it on my DSLR that has an internal self cleaning ultrasonic filter?
A: With the addition of the Canon cleaner tape attached to Dust-Aid it is possible to clean these cameras.
Q: Will the cleaning adhesive change if it's exposed to high temperatures?
A: We have heated a pad in an oven for an hour at 170 degrees and cleaned a sensor immediately after taking it out. There was no change to the cleaning adhesive and it left no residue on the sensor filter. The top, strong adhesive used to hold the foam to the wand was a little soft, but it did it's job. On the user manual we have stated not to use it in temperatures above 115 degrees, mainly because if it's any hotter then you've got some more serious issues to consider than cleaning your sensor.
Q: When I pull straight up on the wand, the foam adhesion seams kinda strong, what's up?
A: The low tack cleaning adhesive used by Dust-Aid is an adhesion to steel level of 1oz. per inch, one of the lowest adhesion levels available. By leaning the wand to one side and releasing the adhesion horizontally, the adhesion level is reduced to half the strength of the vertical resistance. So, always lean the wand to one side when it's adhered. It will greatly reduce the pressure needed to release the adhesive and reduce the possibility of accidentally touching the sides of the inner walls of the camera when the adhesive tension is released.
Q: Can Dust-Aid lift my sensor filter up or dislodge it?
A: The sensor filter on every dslr camera is held in place with a steel frame, kinda like a picture frame holding in a piece of glass. Plus, many of the camera manufacturers glue the filter right to the sensor housing. So there is no way the low tack adhesive used by Dust-Aid will dislodge or lift up your sensor filter.
Q: Can Dust-Aid affect exposed dichroic coatings?
A: Dust-Aid is compatible with single or multi-layer coated sensor filters that meet the minimum durability standards outlined in MIL-C-48497A. Since 1980, this mil-spec has become the accepted standard for testing coating quality in the interference coating industry. Another optical coating standard that Dust-Aid is campatible with is ISO 9211-4:2006. This current ISO standard outlines the durability of optical coatings, like Dichroic mirror coatings, that are subjected to adhesion tests.
The Canon Dichroic mirror coatings on their low pass filters meet MIL-C-48497A and ISO 9211-4:2006 section 6 coating standards which are not compromised when our sensor cleaning method is used. However, the sensor cleaning industry is seeing a small number of Dichroic coatings that do not meet this standard and therefore fail, causing damage to the sensor coating after using their products.
So far Dust-Aid has seen a few of these below standard coated filters. If you discover that you have a below standard coated filter from Canon, which Dust-Aid has de-coated, we will replace the filter for you.
We are not alone with this issue and are working with another sensor cleaning company to compile affected camera serial numbers so we can obtain an overview and scope of this problem.
Please contact us at service@Dust-Aid.com with any questions.
Q: My sensor filter has an after market modification, can I use Dust-Aid to clean it?
A: Cleaning after market modified sensor filters is not recommended. This includes the Infrared sensor filter after market modification. Q: How much will it cost?
A: Compared to all of the choices out there regarding sensor cleaning, it's one of the less expensive options. It retails for $39.95 and contains 12 cleaning foam tapes. This breaks down to $3.33 per cleaning, which is peanuts when compared to the time spent removing countless dust spots from a dirty sensor. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention saves hours of headache. I know... I've been there for hours cleaning and cloning the same dust spots off of 125 digital images from one shoot. This was one of the driving forces why I set out to create this product. How much is your time worth? I would have gladly paid $3.33 to save me those hours of cloning the same dust spots, over and over again.
Q: Still, $3.33 a cleaning is pretty spendy. Why so much for a piece of foam tape?
A: I've been getting this question a lot lately so I'll address it. First, this is not an "off the shelf" foam tape, it's custom made in small quantities, all within a very expensive clean room. Plus, every part that goes into the pad is cleaned, ionized and brought up to the level of the clean room. So, right there we have three strikes against us; custom, small run and clean room. On top of that, every pad is Quality Assured... every single one. Most manufacturers do what is called random pulls of a production run for QA. I wanted tighter QA on every pad because these are going on $8K camera sensor filters. Just this one QA step increased my cost $5 per pad. Then add the profit margins for the distributors and the retailers, the cost of trade shows, trade show mark-ups, marketing, salaries, employee tax, rent, phones, office supplies, trademarks, patent applications and on and on and on... and you can see why it's priced where it is. The final topper is the "Made In America" stamp. Lets just face it, it's a fortune to get something made in the States when compared to China. I'm trying my hardest to keep that stamp. It's a spendy stamp to keep but I think it's worth it.
So, hopefully that gives everyone a look into the world of manufacturing, bringing a product to market and product pricing. If it's still to spendy for you and you don't see the value in time saved while post processing then maybe this product is not right for you. Speaking as a shooter who takes up to 200-300 shots a day while on assignment, it's a vital product in my pack.
Q: Where is it all made?
A: The application wand, foam pad and tape, clamshell and the manual are made right here in the old USA. The Tin can is made over in China. I tried finding a US maker of tin cans but there just isn't any. It's all assembled in Bend, Oregon. I'm a big believer in sourcing elements in this order: local, to regional, to national, to international. It cost's more to get it made in the states, but I can sleep at night knowing I've helped out the US economy in a small way.
Q: Where can I get it?
A: Call or go to you're favorite retail camera store and tell them you want to try DUST-AID. Have them call us so we can set up an account. The phone number is 1-800-941-3860.
Thanks for your questions. Please e-mail me any more questions that you might have at contact@dust-aid.com.
Ross Wordhouse
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