Photographic Solutions Sensor swab and Eclipse

Photographic Solutions Sensor swab and Eclipse

The 59ml (2oz) bottle of Eclipse and packet of Sensor Swabs came in cardboard packages that didn't have the quantity or size on the outside. The actual bottle of Eclipse does have the size on, and I count 8 swabs in the swab box.[edit: according to photosolutions site there should be 12 per box - so check when you get it; as it's not sealed anyone can nick a couple and you won't be any the wiser until too late - as I just found out:()

First I'd like to say these products are reasonably priced and they do work;)

However you may need to repeat the process several times before you get the results you need, I used 6 of the 8 swabs before I got the results I wanted. This was no doubt due to inexperience though and I expect to need less attempts on my next try.

The instructions say to put one or two drops on the 'tip' of the swab, the diagram says two drops but their demo [URL="http://www.photosol.com/swabdemo.htm"]video says two to four drops. This is confusing as most reports of using this product also state that it works best with one or two drops at the very most.

A diagram to show what the 'tip' is would be helpful (does it mean leading edge, where it joins the handle, or one of each of the corners?) In the video it doesn't seem to be important exactly where it goes as long as it goes on the right end

How hard to apply the swab? I was being too gentle I believe to start with, I mean I was scared of scratching the sensor! Average pressure seems to be the thing, [URL="http://www.photosol.com/swabproduct.htm"]they recommend 'firm' pressure - just enough to be sure the swab is fully located on the sensor, but not enough to 'scrub', seems to be the way to go. However the [URL="http://www.photosol.com/swabdemo.htm"]video says enough pressure to bend the swab handle slightly!

After one swipe [URL="http://www.photosol.com/swabproduct.htm"]they instruct to 'turn over to use opposite side' or 'rotate 180 degrees'. However on the diagram they then drag in the opposite direction having rotated it, -- er doesn't this present the same side to the sensor? Shouldn't it be swiped in the same direction once rotated, or not rotated if swiped in the reverse direction? i.e. if reversing the direction do not 'rotate' but simply lean handle to use opposite side? Fortunately the video concurs i.e. they just swab back in the opposite direction without any rotating of the swab.

The Eclipse bottle doesn't deliver drops until you get te hang of it, what it does is pour. Not ideal when you're trying for one drop! It needs to be tipped very slowly and carefully against a dark background in good light so you can see exactly what is coming out

However once I got the hang of it, it produced the results needed at a cost that was affordable. This is a product I will stay with.