Cleaning dirt from the sensor of a Leica M8

I am loving my Leica! It goes everywhere with me (just in case I spot something that I can photograph).

Recently I noticed that I had a few small blemishes, and what looked like a hair, on all of my photographs. Take a look at the top left corner of this image that I took of Table Mountain in Cape Town from Robben Island (the blemishes are particularly visible when I have my Color Skopar lens on a high F stop - this photo was taken on F22).

I removed the lens and cleaned it just in case the dirt was on the lens itself. However, that made no difference. So after a little bit of investigation online I discovered that the M series cameras are prone to getting dirt on the sensor when not treated carefully. If you remove the lens in a dusty or dirty environment it is quite easy to get dirt onto the sensor.

Personally I never open my camera in a windy or dusty environment, and if I remove the lens I always put the lens cover on both ends of the lens and on the camera.

So, here's how I CAREFULLY cleaned the dirt off my Leica sensor (WARNING! This is a very delicate procedure and you do it at your own risk! The sensor is a precision piece of kit and is extremely fragile and easy to damage).

1. Purchase dust removal spray from your camera shop. Note, it should be just plain air - Don't use anything that has a solvent in it! It is also important that you test the can to ensure that only room temperature air comes out when you spray it (if the air is moist, or too cold it will leave droplets on the sensor that will damage it).

2. Remove the lens from your camera in a dust free environment. Please the lens caps on the end of your lens to protect it.

3. Press the Menu button on your Leica and scroll down to the Menu item 'Sensor cleaning'.

4. Press the 'Set' button and you will be asked if you want to inspect the sensor. Select 'Yes'.

5. If your battery has sufficient charge in it (I would suggest at least 60% charge) you will be presented with a Menu screen that reads: 'Press Release Button. After inspection switch off camera'. If your battery is not full enough the camera will not allow you to inspect the sensor and you will have to charge the battery first.

6. Next press the shutter button as if you're taking a photograph. The shutter will now open revealing the M8's sensor. Whatever you do, don't allow anything to touch the sensor!!! You have been warned! Next take your dust removal spray and hold it a good distance away from the camera (in my case I held it about 50cm away from the camera). Then gently spray room temperature air onto the sensor to remove any dust or residue from the sensor. Remember, you're doing this at your own risk! I my case I could see the hair on the sensor and as I sprayed it with the air the hair and some dust particles were removed from the sensor.

Warning! I discovered that you MUST NOT shake the aerosol can or even move it too quickly before or during the spraying process. Since it contains compressed air it gets extremely cold if you shake or move it too vigorously. That could be disastrous! It could leave droplets on your sensor. I also first sprayed the air onto my hand to feel that it was not too cold and make sure that any moisture was sprayed away before I sprayed into the camera body.

7. Having removed the grit from the sensor simply switch the camera off and you will hear the shutter closing. Next replace your lens. I then took some test photographs using a high aperture (F22) setting. It is best if the photograph is of something with a consistent texture and a light color (I actually photographed the back of a beige door). This will allow you to see any blemishes that remain on the image. I was able to see that small hair and the majority of the dust particles on my sensor had been cleaned with the air!

So, that's how I cleaned my sensor on my Leica M8 - now I can continue to take lovely photographs without having to photoshop out blemishes! Once again, this is a very delicate procedure that you do at your own risk! However, if you do have success (or failure!) please drop me a line and let me know how it goes!