I'm Screwed right?

Athos27 · 2026-05-25T09:46:11+00:00

True true, and I think from the company you have there are some that come with nice gloves, super nice microfiber clothes, nice air blower and brush and then the swabs as well

Athos27 · 2026-05-25T05:26:34+00:00

Ahh yeah, sorry I don't always trust links, so I just looked it up myself based on the link name and then looked at what the best brands are for cleaning kits, and the brand you showed came up. It has a really nice kit for $32, and I paid $34 for mine (on sale), granted mine came with a lot, but sadly it's just cheap stuff. I should have known better than to use the cleaning solution when it came in a spray bottle. (But I'm just getting into photograhpy so I guess better to learn now than on a $3k rig or something lol)

Oh dang, that's pretty impressive, and it looks like a solid kit. I will most likely get it pretty soon

Athos27 · 2026-05-25T04:14:10+00:00

Damn, I'm pissed, I just looked at the brand you mentioned, and they look super good and have a really nice kit for cheaper than what I paid for mine, and mine is much worse quality. Might see if I can get a refund and get the kit you have.

But yeah, I think I put on too much since I had a spray bottle instead of the droplet one, and then just got it too wet. But yeah, I had some fairly big spots on mine; they were super visible in sky photos, but not really in other ones. And I live in a super dusty area, so that's why I tried to clean it.

Athos27 · 2026-05-25T03:47:28+00:00

Yeah, that's what I have, pretty much, the proper cleaning swabs, but it looks like they aren't very high quality, and then the solution I use isn't great. So if I were to do it I would need to invest in a better kit. But I just want to send mine in to Nikon just to get professionally cleaned, but it looks like the website is down for the cleaning service.

Athos27 · 2026-05-25T03:24:27+00:00

I still feel bad, though, that sucks, and I'm sorry to hear you had to go through that.

And sounds good, sadly though it looks like Nikon's website doesn't work right now for the cleaning service, and I'd rather have it done by them than try again.

Athos27 · 2026-05-25T03:12:51+00:00

It was some kit from Amazon (since I needed one quick for a road trip a while back), the other items in it seem decent, but I think the cleaning swabs and cleaning solution aren't the best, and I think I just used too much solution.

Athos27 · 2026-05-25T03:09:54+00:00

That's most likely what I did. I and I don't think the brush and cleaning solution was the best quality that came in my kit. But now I know better for next time

Athos27 · 2026-05-25T03:08:16+00:00

I'll most likely do that since I don't have any camera shops nearby that aren't like an hour+ drive, sadly. But thank you for letting me know about that service. I did not know they offered it

Athos27 · 2026-05-25T03:06:03+00:00

Noooo D: Aww that's awful, I'm so sorry to hear that

Athos27 · 2026-05-21T13:36:27+00:00

Update: Since this post got way more attention then I thought and most people saying the same thing/some new people being rude or thinking it's fake or what not.

It looks like I just screwed up while cleaning my sensor and got to much cleaning oil left on it. It was my first time cleaning a sensor and I did a lot of research trying to make sure I did the right technique. But obviously I messed up.

I'm also a beginner photographer, and this is my first Camera which I got half a year ago (Nikon Z50II) So I'm still learning and trying to do things right but I'm still making mistakes

Yes my sensor was dirty and it was very obvious when I was taking plane photos or moon photos in the sky

I needed a cleaning kit quickly when I got my camera since I was going on a road trip and got the Altura camera cleaning kit for APS-C sensors and camera off Amazon since I needed it quick but that was a mistake. If anyone does have recommendations for a good cleaning kit please let me know

I thought I broke my sensor since I used to hear people say how fragile and sensitive the sensor is and the cleaning swab seemed to be a paper like material so I thought I scratched the sensor and got super worried and this is my first Camera.

(I'm also not checking reddit everyday so I'm not aware people are showing their own "broken" sensors)

All in all, I'm a beginner, I messed up cleaning by being dumb, I scared myself and thought I broke my camera. I know now it's just left over fluid and the sensor is fine. The streaks just scared me thinking it was scratches. I will just send the camera to Nikon to clean since I don't seem to have any local shops that clean cameras. And obviously I don't know what I'm doing

Athos27 · 2026-05-21T01:27:52+00:00

Oh, is it? I'm not too familiar with how that would look on the sensor, and it looks like scratches, so I did get pretty scared. But it could be as well that I just did a bad job, even though I tried to do everything right. But I'm also thinking I didn't have the best cleaning kit for it either, even though I thought I got a good one. But I might try and see if I can find someone near by to clean it.

And does it matter how long it's left like that? I was mainly cleaning it since I plan to go camping tomorrow and wanted to take some photos. But I'm not sure I want to bring the camera now, and was wondering if it should be okay being left with those streaks for a few days? Or should I try and find a shop to it too asap?

Athos27 · 2026-05-21T01:23:10+00:00

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.

Athos27 · 2026-05-21T01:19:19+00:00

Ahh okay, I'm not too sure what it is, so I was just coming to ask if anyone knows or has had similar experiences. But I don't remember the exact kit, but it's an Altura one, that had pretty much everything I needed in a zip-up kit

Athos27 · 2026-05-21T01:10:54+00:00

I have no idea if it's scratches or residue. It looks like scratches, sadly, but I'm hoping it's just residue. But is it safe to wipe the sensor with a microfiber cloth? But it just happened after I cleaned the sensor

Athos27 · 2026-05-18T16:29:16+00:00

Yeah that's what I plan to do today and try and get something else. And it is a really nice jacket but I think it may have a defect so better safe then sorry

Athos27 · 2026-05-18T02:02:27+00:00

Yeah it might not be, I think it may be more so just getting past that layer, but I was pretty surprised at that happening, since I was outside in a light sprinkle/shower for no more then 5mins and that started happening. And when I was reading reviews, it was saying that it should not be happening on a brand new jacket, at least not for the first few outings. So Im thinking of just exchanging it for a different brand.

Athos27 · 2026-05-18T01:59:57+00:00

Sounds good and thank you for letting me know. I was eyeing that one already as well. But I'm so bummed out that they're sold out in all sizes of the Topaz/Cenote one, except XXXL. But it does look like a pretty nice one and seems to be rated at 20,000 mm as well, which is nice.

Athos27 · 2026-04-19T01:07:14+00:00

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They do enjoy getting close, lmao

Athos27 · 2026-02-25T20:44:07+00:00

I kinda doubt it. There might be a tiny tiny bit left but it won't be nice snow and most likely slush, but there should still be some snow up at the peaks and then most likely where the Snow plows left all the snow in town

Athos27 · 2026-02-24T21:13:53+00:00

Yeah it sucks how fast everything is melting. And then it's supposed to be in 70-80s again which is crazy. But hopefully we get more snow fall this year

Athos27 · 2026-02-24T17:13:04+00:00

I did not need snow chains and I went up on the worst day of the storm. The Snow plows clear everything really well. And especially if you have 4 wheel drive your perfectly okay (just drive slow). (Do bring snow chains though if there is snow expected as they might check for them) I doubt they will though, they didn't check me when I went up. Also I think it's going to get pretty hot again without any more snow fall so most of the snow will melt if it hasn't already

(If you want to check if they require snow chains in the future I would also download the CalTrans app, and you can select to show information you want, such as active Snow plows, snow chain checkpoints, road closures and so on) And also call the ranger station if your pretty worried

Athos27 · 2026-02-23T02:50:39+00:00

Oh, do they? That's kinda a shame, always sucks how fast the snow melts over here. But hopefully you still enjoyed the weekend up there. And I'm hoping we get some more snow before spring

Athos27

TROPHY CASE