Originally posted by Medium FormatPro It doesn't take much to damage the sensor in any camera.
Hi
How do you do that? I guess you are talking as result of cleaning ? You can easily damage the sensor if you put your mind to it.
The sensor assembly, while it is a delicate piece of engineering, is remarkable robust. The sensor itself is easily damaged, but you are not going to be able to get anywhere near it during cleaning. What you are touching with your cleaning implements, in other words where the dust settles down, is the AA filter which sits on top of the sensor. This AA filter, as I understand it, is harder then your common window glass.
You can test the implements which are used for sensor cleaning on a CD or DVD which is much softer. I bet you'll find it difficult to make a mark on the CD if you employ the same cleaning procedure as you should when cleaning the sensor. Lens cleaning, to name another example, can be more detrimental then sensor cleaning because some of the coating is quite soft (modern ones are better now). I have not heard of many people having buggered up their lens glass by cleaning it. If it was you would not find almost every second hand lens on e-bay described as faultless.
You must also understand that camera manufacturers know that the sensor needs cleaning. Otherwise they would not provide a "mirror up" function for this task. They also know that someone will have to do it, either the owner him/herself or their service staff. They also know that service staff can have an "off day" (and often they are no better than the camera owner). And you will imagine that cam manufacturers don't wish to be called to the party for replacement claims. Also camera repairers would not want to provide this service if there is a lot of danger associated with it. Do you really think camera manufacturers will build this part of the camera, which in essence is a user serviceable item, in such a way it will easily be ruined ? Hardly. I attribute a lot of stupidity to manufacturers but not this one.
There is enough scaremongering by sensor cleaning vendors, and they love horror stories (if they don't invent them themselves) because then they can sell a one dollar item at $37.95.
Greetings