Visible Dust SD800 Review

I am a photographer. I use digital SLR cameras. That automatically means that I need to constantly keep the sensors in my cameras clean. It is a difficult job, because I am a Fire Photographer, and my cameras are constantly exposed to rapid moisture content changes, temperature changes, and flying soot and debris. On top of all that, I also do astrophotography, allowing my sensor to be exposed to the environment for minutes at a time. Sensor cleaning was a part of the equation that I never looked forward to...... Until now.

I have tried a variety of cleaning systems on the market. Some of them you can find on this website. Cleaning the sensor is a touchy job, but it has to be done. Anything that manufacturers can do to ease the pain of this task is highly appreciated by photographers around the world. Some manufacturers have rushed to get into the market, and have put their products out for us to buy and use. I often wonder how hard they test their products, or if they even test them at all. When I started talking to the people at Visible Dust, and surfed their website, I could tell immediately that these people take their job seriously. And their product seems to prove that fact.

I received the Visible Dust SD800 Pro System for evaluation. The company also sent me the 5X Sensor Loupe, a pack of MDX100 Sensor Swabs, and the Sensor Clean fluid.

One of the first things I noticed was the extremely high quality of the product packaging. The SD800 Pro kit was in a clean, fitted plastic case. That case was in a classy leatherette carry bag. Very nice indeed. In the case, all of the brushes were protected by clear plastic brish cases. No cheap plastic here. These brush cases are sturdy. The Sensor Loupe was also in a leatherette case, and also placed in a soft carry bag to protect the surfaces of the optics. The disposables of the MDX100 swabs and Sensor Clean fluid came in plastic cartons.

The build quality of this system is astonishing. The Arctic Butterfly 724 motor handle for the brushes is stout, yet comfortable. The brushes are all top quality, sturdy, and gave me no cause for concern when the motor was spinning the brushes. The Sensor Loupe has 6 bright white LEDs to illuminate the sensor area, and a large loupe objective that made it extremely easy to inspect the sensor surface. These items are high quality, well engineered, and well built. Visible Dust produces an excellent product.

The nice thing about testing equipment such as sensor cleaners is that there is very little room to fudge results. The product either works or it doesn't. I have tested products that didn't work, and I can tell you, it is a miserable process.

I could not wait to try out the SD800Pro Kit. I grabbed one of my Canon Digital SLR's and shot a flat to show the dust on the sensor. Then I read the instructions for the Visible Dust system. It is very easy to use, and I had no problem putting the brush to use. I set my Canon to Sensor Clean, and it opened up to show me the sensor. I grabbed the Sensor Loupe and turned it on. It is bright and even in illumination. the six bright white LED's put out more than sufficient light to work with. Placing the Loupe over the mirror chamber, I could see the scattered dust on the sensor.

I placed the appropriate brush on the motor and gave it a spin. Then, I carefully inserted the brush into the mirror chamber to brush the sensor from one side to the other. I grabbed the Loupe and looked again. All of the dust was gone. Not only the dust on the sensor, but most of the dust on the walls around the sensor. I was stunned. This little brush with a small amount of static attraction swept all of the dust off my sensor. It was simple, It was easy. It is a remarkable thing to watch and use.

Needless to say, the rest of my Digital SLR's were quickly in a line to be cleaned with this new system. One by one, I was able to expose the sensor, spin the Arctic Butterfly brush, and clean the sensor free of debris. I did find out that when the Visible Dust people say to keep the brushes on the sensor surface and away from the areas around the sensor, there is a good reason for it. On one of my cleanings, I lost my concentration (Probably due to how happy I was that this thing really works great) and the brush slipped into the area around the sensor frame and behind the mirror chamber. I didn't think anything of it, because it was a minor slip. NOT!!! The next pass I took over the sensor with the brush left a fine trail of some kind of grease on the sensor. Ooops!

Not to worry. I broke open the MDX100 SensorSwab pack and the SensorClean solution. Following the instructions on the box, I dampened one of the swabs with the solution and made one pass across the sensor. Done. The solution did not puddle or streak, cleaning the grease from the surface, leaving no residue behind. I grabbed another brush and put it on the Arctic Butterfly 724 motor and gave it a spin, then, with more care, making sure that the sensor was free of any dust that might have fallen when I was wiping the sensor with the pad and fluid. A quick check showed that the sensor was clean and ready to go. With the one brush soiled after my unintended trek into the nether regions of my camera, I gave the brush a quick clean with some Isopropyl Alcohol to clean the contaminant from the brush. Visible Dust recommends that you clean the brushes occasionally to keep them free of contaminants. It is a good idea.


Sensor before cleaning with the SD800Pro Kit This is one of my flats that I shot to show the debris on the sensor. This particular time, there is one large piece of debris, and at least 5 smaller pieces of debris.	Sensor after cleaning with the SD800Pro Kit After using the Arctic Butterfly 724, the debris almost jumps off the sensor, clearly preferring the soft, static covered bristles to the cold, dark surface of the sensor. That's a good thing.

I can only do one thing here. I can only sing praises about the Visible Dust SD800Pro kit, with the Arctic Butterfly 724. This system works. It is easy. It is fast. It makes cleaning your sensor a second thought. I used to dread having to clean my sensor, shoot a flat, then find trouble areas, or missed dust, then clean it again. I have used this system for a few months before writing this review. To be honest with you, I was sure that the newness would wear off and it would become more difficult to use. Not so. It works every time.

I can now open up the sensor, spin the Arctic Butterfly, sweep my sensor, and know that I am ready to go again. I never, and I repeat, never, had to clean my sensor a second time in a cleaning. This system got all the dust the first time, every time. I have had a few people tell me that this system is a bit pricey. Well, compared to other systems that are only marginally less expensive, this system walks all over every other system I have used. I cannot imagine anything that could do a better job. Kudos to VisibleDust with their Arctic Butterfly and the SD800Pro Sensor cleaning system. If you shoot with Digital SLR's, you should not be without this sensor cleaning system... Period. A Must Buy in my book, and worth every penny.

You can get the Visible Dust SD800Pro System and consumables at VisibleDust.com


The Visible Dust SD800 Pro The SD800 Pro kit comes complete with motor and brushes.	SD800 Pro Kit with Case The Leatherette case makes the SD800 Pro Kit a nice package


The 5X Sensor Loupe The 5X (Five Power) illuminated Sensor Loupe uses 6 ultra-bright LED's to evenly illuminate the sensor for evaluation.	The 5X Sensor Loupe showing the illuminated area This view shows the brightness of the area under the Sensor Loupe


The Sensor Loupe Package The Sensor Loupe comes in a very nice, soft carry bag and a handy protective leatherette carry case.	The Accessories Here are the accessories for the SD800Pro kit. The SensorClean solution and the MDX100 Sensor Swabs.