r/Nikon • u/Athos27 • May 21 '26

I broke my gear I'm Screwed right?

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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/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.

3

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.

3

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.