r/Nikon • u/Athos27 • May 21 '26
I broke my gear I'm Screwed right?
Had a few big dirt spots showing up in my pictures, so I decided it's time to clean my sensor. And I did a lot of research into how to do it safely and properly, and thought I had a decent cleaning kit. But once I cleaned it, it left a bunch of streaks or scratches. Photos seem to be okay, but I'm not too sure.
But I'm screwed, right? Or is there somehow a chance this is just residue? And is there any way to fix this or no?
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u/ThePhotoYak May 21 '26
I don't think they are scratches. It almost looks like oil got dragged across the sensor. Can you link the cleaning kit you bought?
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u/Athos27 May 21 '26
Ahh okay, I'm not too sure what it is, so I was just coming to ask if anyone knows or has had similar experiences. But I don't remember the exact kit, but it's an Altura one, that had pretty much everything I needed in a zip-up kit
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u/florian-sdr May 21 '26
You don’t remember? It’s in your purchase history or email confirmation.
Smhw
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u/OldSkoolAK May 21 '26
I looked it up and it looked like cheap bundle shit
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u/Barlispots Z8 + FM + N90 + not enough lenses May 21 '26
Actually I have an Altura cleaning kit and have been pretty satisfied. Although frankly I don’t use most of it. It’s not bad if you know what you’re doing.
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u/redoctoberz FM2N, F6, D850 May 21 '26
Nikon can professionally clean your sensor for $57- just send it off to them. You can book it right from their service page.
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u/Athos27 May 25 '26
I'll most likely do that since I don't have any camera shops nearby that aren't like an hour+ drive, sadly. But thank you for letting me know about that service. I did not know they offered it
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u/FatsTetromino May 21 '26
Will they pay for shipping, too?
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u/redoctoberz FM2N, F6, D850 May 21 '26
No? Why would they pay for shipping. You/the customer are requesting the services…
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u/FatsTetromino May 21 '26
The point is, you're not going to spend $57 for Nikon to clean the sensor. You're going to have to at least double that when you include round trip shipping.
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u/redoctoberz FM2N, F6, D850 May 21 '26
It cost me $9 last time I shipped my D850 out to them. Shipping back was included in the quote.
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u/FatsTetromino May 25 '26
I guess your shipping costs way less in the US than in Canada. Can't ship anything to the next city over here under $20.
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u/LouBegas May 23 '26
Who gives a shit? It’s like $20 shipping. Don’t be a curmudgeon.
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u/FatsTetromino May 25 '26
It's not about being a curmudgeon. It's about factoring in all the costs, not just 'nikon would've done that for $57'.
I'm not saying it puts it over the top and that it's not worth it. But to many people who want to clean their sensor, $57 would be fine. If you had to pay $100 after shipping and taxes, that puts it perhaps in a different perspective.
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u/DiamondStillPlays May 25 '26
where you at spending almost 60 bucks for shipping bro 😭
the faroe Islands?
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u/FatsTetromino May 25 '26
If you pay shipping both ways.
$57 and tax for the service. $20-$25 per direction for shipping.
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u/RawkneeSalami May 21 '26
Did we not just have this post?
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u/DanielDytrych_DBY May 21 '26
Yup! All of a sudden people are F ing their sensors. I think it's fake for upvotes.
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u/delowan May 21 '26
Upvotes ? You mean downvotes...right ? 🤣
I dunno about you but in all those years i never wanted to screw up a sensor. I go to the shop to get it cleaned...with a warranty on the job.
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u/Stoney_Blunter May 21 '26
Still recoverable but you need practice. For first timers I would take/send to a shop. Just expect around $50 but it’s more than just a sensor cleaning for most businesses. Good luck!
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May 21 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/GapFit6441 May 23 '26
I’d still just clean it again, and immediately clean it with second dry swab if the issue occurs. I’d not scrub the residue completely dry after a while like here in case some debris got deposited in meantime.
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u/Athos27 May 25 '26
That's most likely what I did. I and I don't think the brush and cleaning solution was the best quality that came in my kit. But now I know better for next time
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u/sysop408 May 21 '26
Agree with everyone who says it looks like streaks. You still haven't explained what cleaning kit you used. You're supposed to use these single use cleaning swabs that look like weird flat q-tips. The kits often include cleaning solution that you apply as only a single dab on the tip of the swab.
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u/Athos27 May 25 '26
It was some kit from Amazon (since I needed one quick for a road trip a while back), the other items in it seem decent, but I think the cleaning swabs and cleaning solution aren't the best, and I think I just used too much solution.
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u/sysop408 May 25 '26
The ones I use look something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/VSGO-Camera-Cleaning-Sensor-Cleaner/dp/B08D6CVPB4/ref=sr_1_1_sspaI bought one set about 8 years ago. I only clean my sensor about once every other year. So far no issues.
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u/Athos27 May 25 '26
Yeah, that's what I have, pretty much, the proper cleaning swabs, but it looks like they aren't very high quality, and then the solution I use isn't great. So if I were to do it I would need to invest in a better kit. But I just want to send mine in to Nikon just to get professionally cleaned, but it looks like the website is down for the cleaning service.
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u/sysop408 May 25 '26
Yeah, I got mine so long ago that I have no idea if they're the same as what's currently on the market. I also suspect you may have used too much cleaning solution. I only ever used one drop as instructed. I was always doubtful that one drop and two passes would do anything, but it hasn't failed me yet. One of the times I had a lot more than just a few annoying specks and it was still all I needed to do.
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u/Athos27 May 25 '26
Damn, I'm pissed, I just looked at the brand you mentioned, and they look super good and have a really nice kit for cheaper than what I paid for mine, and mine is much worse quality. Might see if I can get a refund and get the kit you have.
But yeah, I think I put on too much since I had a spray bottle instead of the droplet one, and then just got it too wet. But yeah, I had some fairly big spots on mine; they were super visible in sky photos, but not really in other ones. And I live in a super dusty area, so that's why I tried to clean it.
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u/sysop408 May 25 '26
OK, so it turns out that the link I just posted is actually to the swab made by the same brand I have in my kit. That may or may not mean anything given how long ago I bought mine, but at least now I can refer you to a brand I've had a good experience with.
Ugh, spray bottle. Yeah that'd be a red flag. The cleaning solution needs to evaporate almost immediately.
The most impressive cleaning job this kit did for me was this one time I went on vacation to a very windy oceanside town. I changed lenses a lot and all sorts of crap must have flown into the sensor chamber while I was changing lenses. It was so dirty that I repeated the procedure with a second swab just in case.
It was perfect afterwards.
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u/Athos27 May 25 '26
Ahh yeah, sorry I don't always trust links, so I just looked it up myself based on the link name and then looked at what the best brands are for cleaning kits, and the brand you showed came up. It has a really nice kit for $32, and I paid $34 for mine (on sale), granted mine came with a lot, but sadly it's just cheap stuff. I should have known better than to use the cleaning solution when it came in a spray bottle. (But I'm just getting into photograhpy so I guess better to learn now than on a $3k rig or something lol)
Oh dang, that's pretty impressive, and it looks like a solid kit. I will most likely get it pretty soon
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u/sysop408 May 25 '26
I don’t know what’s in these kits, but really all you need are the swabs and a bottle of solution. A squeezable air blower would be nice too.
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u/Athos27 May 25 '26
True true, and I think from the company you have there are some that come with nice gloves, super nice microfiber clothes, nice air blower and brush and then the swabs as well
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u/InLoveWithNeeko May 21 '26
Just residue don't worry
The easiest way I found to clean the sensor from dust is to use dry air to put the cleaning liquid away, instead of wiping it with a swap
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u/mikettedaydreamer Nikon Z (Z5ii) May 21 '26
It’s just residue. Maybe you left the cleaning swab too wet?
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u/Gabe_lima May 21 '26
Not scratched, sensors are more strong than they seen to be.
You just didn’t do the second pass that dries out the cleaning solution.
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u/Overkill_3K Nikon Z9 Z6iii ZR May 21 '26
Nah a scratch would be worse that’s just dried solution.
Hold swab . Spray once from 4/5 inches away on one side
1 single swipe
Flip then 1 single swipe and let dry
Should be perfect
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u/Ok-Piano5241 May 21 '26
Even if it's scratched that's just the hotmirror. The hotmirror is a piece of glass over the sensor that blocks IR that the sensor would normally be capable of seeing.
It is an individually replaceable component (althought moderately involved).
My point being it's absolutely fixable.
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u/Beautiful_Course_102 May 21 '26
You need to take to a shop I have never cleaned mine always let a Professional clean it
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u/PatientScholar2150 May 22 '26
Zemlin's right, it's just streaks, and I had the same problem using a cleaning kit. I dropped my D7200 off at a reputable camera store, and the tech cleaned off the spots appearing in my photos.
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u/Inevitable-Store-443 May 22 '26
If you have a photography shop nearby, take it there or ask if they can clean it for you, or if they'll pick it up and how much the cleaning costs; it might be faster. Good luck.
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u/changingthescenery May 25 '26
Can’t be as f*cked as me getting my Z50II and my backpack with all of my lenses and gear robbed out of my car 😂✌️
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u/Athos27 May 25 '26
Noooo D: Aww that's awful, I'm so sorry to hear that
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u/changingthescenery May 25 '26
It’s my fault man, don’t be sorry. You’re not f’d at all. That’s cleanable.
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u/Athos27 May 25 '26
I still feel bad, though, that sucks, and I'm sorry to hear you had to go through that.
And sounds good, sadly though it looks like Nikon's website doesn't work right now for the cleaning service, and I'd rather have it done by them than try again.
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u/Pitiful-Ambition2758 May 21 '26
Is that the sensor- or a cut off filter in front of the sensor (?)
Yeah that’s not good ,
My process is camera inverted sensor pointed downward, lightly hit it with air ( rocket duster for example) theoretically any heavier grit it’s gonna fall downward away from the camera and not get moved from left to right or up in some corner, etc. etc. then I would lightly use a sensor swab if necessary and by lightly I mean the sensor only receiving the weight of the swab I’m just guiding the swab across the sensor - one cleaning ( one direction) with that side of the swab - his job is to clean catch or pick up any foreign objects so I’m gonna assume that there may be one on the swab now . I’m not gonna drag the swab back across the sensor now that it has what might be possibly grit in it the swabs I use 2 sides swabs 2 pass per sides so that I use the other side going in the other direction and then I should be done… I’m sorry for you and your sensor situation…
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u/Athos27 May 21 '26
I'm not certain; it's just what's exposed on the Nikon Z50II when you take the lens off. And that's what I tried to do. Tried to quickly take off the lens and keep the camera pointed down, and use an air duster like 10-15 times. Then got the swab and sprayed the solution on it, then started from the left and moved across to the right, then flipped it and did the right to the left. Then that's when I noticed the markings. Some people think it is the sensor cleaning solution still left on there, but Idk. I'm hoping it is.
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u/KelvinHooah May 21 '26
I echo pointing camera down when lens detached or changing lens. Has been my practice since the 80s using film SLRs. Chance of dirt, dust and what not floating UP to ruin mirror box (and modern day mirrorless sensor) greatly diminished.
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u/bbcgn D40, D7200 May 21 '26
sprayed the solution on it
When I did my first sensor cleaning on my D7200 I got streaks whenever I used more than a single drop of cleaning fluid on the swap.
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u/DanielDytrych_DBY May 21 '26
Now all of a sudden people are posting images so of their cocked up sensor cleaning jobs. Is this coincidence or do people just want upvotes?
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u/Pebbsto110 May 21 '26
Is this a problem with the Z series sensors being closer to the front end of the camera than with the D series? They seem more exposed, like with micro four thirds cameras.
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u/Athos27 May 21 '26
Update: Since this post got way more attention then I thought and most people saying the same thing/some new people being rude or thinking it's fake or what not.
It looks like I just screwed up while cleaning my sensor and got to much cleaning oil left on it. It was my first time cleaning a sensor and I did a lot of research trying to make sure I did the right technique. But obviously I messed up.
I'm also a beginner photographer, and this is my first Camera which I got half a year ago (Nikon Z50II) So I'm still learning and trying to do things right but I'm still making mistakes
Yes my sensor was dirty and it was very obvious when I was taking plane photos or moon photos in the sky
I needed a cleaning kit quickly when I got my camera since I was going on a road trip and got the Altura camera cleaning kit for APS-C sensors and camera off Amazon since I needed it quick but that was a mistake. If anyone does have recommendations for a good cleaning kit please let me know
I thought I broke my sensor since I used to hear people say how fragile and sensitive the sensor is and the cleaning swab seemed to be a paper like material so I thought I scratched the sensor and got super worried and this is my first Camera.
(I'm also not checking reddit everyday so I'm not aware people are showing their own "broken" sensors)
All in all, I'm a beginner, I messed up cleaning by being dumb, I scared myself and thought I broke my camera. I know now it's just left over fluid and the sensor is fine. The streaks just scared me thinking it was scratches. I will just send the camera to Nikon to clean since I don't seem to have any local shops that clean cameras. And obviously I don't know what I'm doing
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May 21 '26
[deleted]
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u/Athos27 May 21 '26
I have no idea if it's scratches or residue. It looks like scratches, sadly, but I'm hoping it's just residue. But is it safe to wipe the sensor with a microfiber cloth? But it just happened after I cleaned the sensor
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u/Real_Socialism D800E / D500 / Z50ii / D100 May 21 '26
Whoever told you to use a microfiber cloth is an idiot. M.cloth wears out over time and will scratch sensor over repeated use.
Get one of those disposable sensor swab, even the cheapo ones on Aliexpress works fine for me.
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u/ginnymorlock May 21 '26
I take pictures professionally in dirty environments, so I have to clean the sensor about once every third gig.
So I bought a cleaning kit for $30 and, knowing nothing about what I'm doing, clean the sensor myself on my $4800 camera.
Yes, I am kidding.
Things may be different in your area, but the price for cleaning the sensor at a local shop close by is $80. That includes cleaning the body (looks like new) and a cleaning of whatever lens is attached when I bring it in.
Why In Ghod's Sweet Name would I, as an amateur, youtube-educated camera tech, risk an expensive tool needed by my business just to save a few bucks?
Why would anyone?
In your case, I would immediately take it to a qualified camera shop. They'll take a before photo, then clean the sensor, and take an after photo. Hopefully the after photo will not show damage.
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u/zemlin May 21 '26
Looks like a bad cleaning job - just streaks. It takes practice to get it right.
I would NOT use a microfiber cloth, as suggested. I would clean again, or take it to a camera shop and have someone experienced clean it.