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Sensor Cleaning for the SD9 and SD10

Disclaimer:
Review the instructions in the Users Guide for your SD9 or SD10. Cleaning a sensor is delicate work and best left to professionals at a Sigma service center. Making a mistake, such as not using the AC power supply, can cause severe damage to your camera. The authors, the Sigma Users Group, the Sigma companies and importers, and Pbase will not accept liability in any form for any camera damaged when attempting to follow these procedures.

If it is not possible to get your camera to a service center or if you feel confident to undertake this on your own, here are two procedures which work.

Tip: Always lay your camera face down between steps.

Click on the first image and use the Next link to go through the procedure step-by-step.

A pdf file with all of the steps is available for downloading here.
(Left click and select "Save link as" to download it to your computer or right click and open it in a pdf reader.)

©2004 Günter Hördt & Laurence Matson
What we use to clean the sensor in an SD9 or SD10
What we use to clean the sensor in an SD9 or SD10
Remove the screw at the bottom of the dust protector.
Remove the screw at the bottom of the dust protector.
Carefully lift out the screw using the screwdriver and tweezers.
Carefully lift out the screw using the screwdriver and tweezers.
Note the position of the top edge of the dust cover,
Note the position of the top edge of the dust cover,
Blow dust off dust protector and set aside;
Blow dust off dust protector and set aside;
Remove the CF card.
Remove the CF card.
Attach the AC power cord to the camera and plug it into the wall.
Attach the AC power cord to the camera and plug it into the wall.
Set the camera’s left dial to AB.
Set the camera’s left dial to AB.
Hold the RES and +/- buttons.
Hold the RES and +/- buttons.
Blow out any obvious dust from the mirror chamber.
Blow out any obvious dust from the mirror chamber.
Using the lamp and magnifying glass,
Using the lamp and magnifying glass,
Do not touch the sensor surface with the lamp.
Do not touch the sensor surface with the lamp.
Remove the white cloth from its plastic holder.
Remove the white cloth from its plastic holder.
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Dry: To make a dry cleaner,
Dry: To make a dry cleaner,
Dry: Cut off a strip wide enough
Dry: Cut off a strip wide enough
Dry: Pinch the cloth between the right-angle tweezers.
Dry: Pinch the cloth between the right-angle tweezers.
Dry: Wrap the cloth around the end of the tweezers.
Dry: Wrap the cloth around the end of the tweezers.
Dry: Tape the end of the cloth around the tweezers to hold it in place.
Dry: Tape the end of the cloth around the tweezers to hold it in place.
Dry: This is the finished dry cloth.
Dry: This is the finished dry cloth.
Dry: Gently wipe the dry cleaner back and forth across the sensor.
Dry: Gently wipe the dry cleaner back and forth across the sensor.
Dry: You can also go top to bottom.
Dry: You can also go top to bottom.
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Wet: To make a wet cleaner, fold the white cloth in half.
Wet: To make a wet cleaner, fold the white cloth in half.
Wet: Pinch one end of the cloth between the straight tweezers
Wet: Pinch one end of the cloth between the straight tweezers
Wet: Tape the top of the cloth around the tweezers to hold it in place.
Wet: Tape the top of the cloth around the tweezers to hold it in place.
Wet: Dip the wet cleaner into the alcohol.
Wet: Dip the wet cleaner into the alcohol.
Wet: Pass the cleaner over the sensor.
Wet: Pass the cleaner over the sensor.
Wet: Check that the sensor has dried.
Wet: Check that the sensor has dried.
Wet: Use the lamp to see better.
Wet: Use the lamp to see better.
Check your work with the magnifying glass and lamp.
Check your work with the magnifying glass and lamp.
Turn the camera dial to OFF.
Turn the camera dial to OFF.
The shutter is now closed and the mirror dropped.
The shutter is now closed and the mirror dropped.
Blow dust off dust protector again.
Blow dust off dust protector again.
Hold the dust cover near the screw hole
Hold the dust cover near the screw hole
Using the tweezers and screw driver,
Using the tweezers and screw driver,
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comment | share
Ted 14-Mar-2012 06:20
Helped me a lot. Thanks!
Charles 21-May-2009 12:06
Thank you. This is very helpful.
Michael Wu 01-Nov-2005 03:20
I am not yet a SD10 user. But curious to know if the sensor is 'air tight' (by the protector) enough to keep out most, if not all the dust.

Understand dust is a big problem for Digtal Camera, wonder how often we have to 'clean' the sensor, which is kind of risky!

Also would like to know how well is the dust-protection compare to other like D70 or 20D etc.
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