Delkin’s SensorScope for Cleaning Your Digital SLR Image Sensor
By Shutterbug Staff January 18, 2007 — Delkin Devices, Inc. has announced the SensorScope£ System, said by the company to be the safest and most effective system for cleaning your digital SLR image sensor. The SensorScope (patent pending) is the first and only sensor inspection device in the market designed for DSLRs. Its use of magnification and focused, high intensity light enables camera owners to inspect their camera’s sensor to see if it needs cleaning.

The SensorScope looks like a camera lens; however, it allows you to look back into your camera to inspect your sensor. The SensorScope is easily portable and provides a 5x magnification lens and 4 ultra bright LED lights, which are focused to completely illuminate the field of inspection. Although specifically designed for Canon and Nikon DSLRs, the SensorScope may be used on any manufacturer’s DSLR.

The SensorScope system includes the new DigitalDuster cleaning kit with the SensorVac, SensorWand£ and SensorSolution.

Four different types of contaminants can show up on your DSLR camera sensor. These vary by their chemical components. The most common types of debris that show up are dry, and look like dust. This “dust” can be made up of one of four materials:

• Silica/Quartz: these hard particles such as rock or sand can easily cause scratches
• Metallic: hard particles such as metal shavings from the manufacturing of the camera
• Fiber: synthetic materials such as nylon
• Organic: pollen, skin cells, and similar material

Tougher spots may be “wet” rather than “dry”. Examples include rain drops, camera lubricant, skin oils, and saliva. Surprisingly, dust and debris can originate from within the camera as well. When a new camera is used for the first time, the internal mechanism movement itself may stir up small pieces of metal, plastic, dust, fabric, and camera lubricant, which are then drawn to the sensor.

The DigitalDuster kit handles all types of dry and wet contaminants. The SensorVac is a battery or USB powered portable vacuum, which uses suction to draw out abrasive particles and dust. No more canned air that just blows debris around! The SensorVac’s tip is made of ultra-fine, non-abrasive and static-free brush filaments. These brush filaments protect against damaging the sensor screen in case of accidental contact.

Actual cleaning contact is done with the unique SensorWand. Each end of the flexible SensorWand has a soft lint-free and non-abrasive fabric head. One end is used first for wet cleaning, and the other for the dry cleanup. This ensures the photographer can complete a cleaning with just one wand, leaving no moisture behind. A novel design feature provides additional protection against over-saturation. Each wand head is wicked with small slots to pull excess liquid away from the wand tip.

SensorSolution is the exclusive chemical cleaning solution included in the DigitalDuster kit for wet cleaning. It is alcohol free and safe for check-in air travel and air shipment. SensorSolution dries quickly without the use of methanol or any other harsh chemicals, and effectively breaks the bond that holds many of the tougher contaminants onto the sensor surface. With two drops of SensorSolution and a few swipes of a SensorWand, dried raindrops, pollen, chamber lubricant, dust, and anything else that finds its way into your sensor chamber can be easily, effectively, and safely wiped away.

Delkin Devices begins shipping the SensorScope System and DigitalDuster kit in early January. More information is available on Delkin’s website: www.delkin.com. Three models are available:

DigitalDuster Refill Kit - $49.99 MSRP
• 15 SensorWands
• 1 SensorSolution
• 1 cleaning guide

DigitalDuster Kit - $89.99 MSRP
• 1 SensorVac
• 12 SensorWands
• 1 SensorSolution
• 1 cleaning guide
• 1 DigitalDuster carrying case

SensorScope System - $189.99 MSRP
• 1 SensorScope
• 1 SensorVac
• 12 SensorWands
• 1 SensorSolution
• 1 cleaning guide
• 1 SensorScope carrying case

http://www.delkin.com/