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Old 13-04-2008, 10:42 AM
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[1ponders] (Paul)
Retired, damn no pension

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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Obi Obi, Qld
Posts: 18,778
Can you get hold of 100% isoprop? It won't hurt the glass and if there were any oils in the original mixture (even though they are shown as being in there, there probably was. ) that should lift it off. Were they unoiled, unscented, non-cosmetic, dirt cheap, no name pure cotton tips?

Now I don't know about these new fandangle DSI pro cameras, I only have the original, but I can't get to the surface of my chip without pulling the camera apart. There is a class window that seals the camera. So if this is the case for yours then you won't have damaged the chip or get any Iso/water residue on the chip. And from the look of your dust donuts they seem to be a fair way above the actual chip, so this seems to confirm that. If they were actually on the chip the donuts would be nice and dark and sharp edged.

While your doing your cleaning did you also do the IR filter that comes with the camera? What sort of state is that in?

As long as it's only dust and dirt that is on the chip even looking like it does won't be a problem. Taking good quality flats would remove these smudges without difficulty. The problem occurs if there are oils smeared on the glass. This will bend and smear incoming light in a way the flats won't be able to deal with. If it is oily smear you will most likely find you will have problems getting a good sharp focus and that stars will have prismatic halos around them.

All is not lost though, try the 100% iso and see if that helps. If it doesn't then come on up to Ron's at the next dark sky night and I'll bring along my magic goanna oil (bintel UHTC corrector cleaner ) and we can give that a go.

I guess the secret here is if you have dust don't wet clean, unless it's really really bad and you can't blow it off with a puffer bulb.
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