Sensor Cleaning on Z6

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RonLacy

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I have a Z6 and it is the first IBIS camera I have ever owned so I don't have a lot of experience with it yet. I read someplace that cleaning the sensor on an IBIS camera is not recommended or discouraged, because the sensor is so sensitive because of the IBIS. The first question, is that a legitimate concern? Second question, if it is legitimate, how do you clean the dust off of the sensor? I have some dust spots now, but I am nervous about cleaning it. I don't want to damage it. Any information would be helpful.
 
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I looked into this before and Nikon recommends that you to send it to them. I have cleaned mine before - carefully - but it's nerve-wracking. I don't use much pressure and I shut VR off before turning the camera off (it should park anyway). However, it does sound like too much pressure can damage it. So far, so good. Although, most of the time I try really hard with a Rocket Blower first and usually that does it. Hopefully a few more Z6 owners will chime in and let us know their experiences too.
 
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RonLacy said:
I have a Z6 and it is the first IBIS camera I have ever owned so I don't have a lot of experience with it yet. I read someplace that cleaning the sensor on an IBIS camera is not recommended or discouraged, because the sensor is so sensitive because of the IBIS. The first question, is that a legitimate concern? Second question, if it is legitimate, how do you clean the dust off of the sensor? I have some dust spots now, but I am nervous about cleaning it. I don't want to damage it. Any information would be helpful.
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I have a Z7. My camera got really dirty during the beginning of the pandemic. I had no option but to clean it myself. I bought a kit before going to Africa in February, just in case I needed it. I cleaned the camera three times. It smeared the first two times. I finally pressed a little harder and the sensor came clean. I haven't seen any damage since. I had the camera store clean it recently. They did not report any problems. If you buy a kit make sure the squeegee thing is the same size as the sensor. Mine was smaller.
 
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Thanks for the replies and the information. You guys have confirmed what I thought. Seems like a pain to take it to Nikon everytime the sensor gets dirty. Maybe the Rocket Blower will get most of the stuff off the sensor. Thanks again.
 
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I’ve been cleaning my own sensors for some time, D300 to D3s to D810 to D850 and Z7 now. It is not difficult if you are comfortable dealing with somewhat delicate electronic systems, etc. However, you must get the cleaning materials that are specifically made for cleaning camera sensors. I use photosol.com's sensor swabs and Eclipse solution, but there are other companies out there. Also, watch a few YouTube videos on how to clean a sensor with the swabs.

Just don’t use something you’d clean a lens with. While on a trip to Central America a few years ago, another photographer did just that and it made his sensor so dirty that he was unable to use his camera for the rest of the trip, as none of us had brought sensor cleaning materials with us.
 
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I use an Arctic Butterfly device for sensor cleaning. If you look at the topic "25 'must haves' always in my kit" on GymerImages.com , I have a picture and brief description there (scroll down to "anti-static sensor cleaner"). It is effective and needs no chemicals to clean the sensor carefully.
 
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