After taking a bunch of pictures with visible splotches from sawdust, I figured it was time to get some proper lens cleaning tools. One of the first tools I needed was an air blower. After some searching, I found numerous recommendations for the Giottos Rocket Air Blaster blower.
Giottos offers the air blower in 4 sizes:
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- Large (in Black AA1900, and Red AA1903): 7.5″ long, 2.4″ diameter, 2.25″ long nozzle
- Medium (AA1910): 6.6″ long, 2.1″ diameter, 2.25″ long nozzle
- Small (AA1920): 5.3″ long, 2.1″ diameter, 2.0″ long nozzle
- Q-Ball (CL2810 ): 5.5″ long, 2.6″ diameter, 2.0″ long nozzle tilts 60°
Only the large has a second color option, with a red bulb and white nozzle.
Stuart’s Note: I have large and small Giottos Rocket Air Blasters and am always misplacing them. Maybe red will stand out a little better. The small is easier to travel with, the large is still small enough to keep in a drawer.
The bulbs are made from silicone rubber. Silicone rubber is relatively inert: it doesn’t react with most chemicals, and doesn’t break down with UV or heat, so the blowers should last a long time. It also “rebounds” quickly, so you can pump a lot of air with one of the bulbs.
Air enters the bulb through a separate one-way valve, so you aren’t sucking up airborne dust back into the bulb. The long thin tip helps you get into hard to reach places. The Q-Ball version of the Rocket Air Blaster even has an adjustable angle nozzle.
The small is currently an add-on item at Amazon, for $7.49, and the large is $12. The large red Rocket Air Blaster is $12 via Amazon, the black one is $12 via 3rd party seller.
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Buy Now (Large w/ Black Bulb via Amazon)
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First Impression
I picked up the black Rocket Air Blaster a few weeks ago and was really impressed. The first thing you’ll notice is that it is really large, it’s not the dainty little blower that comes in a lot of generic camera accessory kits. Above is a picture of the blower in my hand. For reference, I usually wear a medium size glove.
In fact, the full sized Rocket Air Blaster rivals the size of my Sony A5100 camera body, so it’s probably not the air blower you what to pack in your camera bag unless you carry a very large bag. Size has it’s advantages though — it can move a lot of air.
Giottos Says their Rocket Air Blaster isn’t just for blowing off cameras and lenses. They say it’s the best way to blow off filters, keyboards, and other places where dust resides. I’ve found the Rocket Air Blaster to be powerful enough to replace a pressurized air can in some circumstances.
It definitely is powerful enough to push the dust out of a keyboard. And while I used it to blow the dust out of my computer case, that was probably a little too much to ask.
I’m thinking that I’m going to order one of the smaller Rocket Air Blaster blowers for my camera bag and keep the larger one at my electronics desk with my other shop photography supplies. I think it’ll come in handy for blowing the dust out of small electronics as well as keeping my lens dust free.
Stuart’s Note: I tend to only take my small Giottos Rocket Air Blaster on longer trips when I do lots of lens changes. It’s what I’ll use in case dust gets into the camera body or on the camera-side lens interior. For clearing the front of a lens, a LensPen (~$9 via Amazon) tends to work well, with its retractable brush and cleaning pad.
Network technician is one of the many roles I’ve played, and I can also see the Rocket Air Blaster being something handy to have in your toolbox. Underneath tables and the insides of network cabinets can breed large dust bunnies. Canned air will run out and can’t be used at weird angles — plus it stops working if you get it too cold.
Finally, I created a short video do demonstrate just how much air this blower puts out.
fred
I bought one of these (1900 model) – during one of my forays into B&H Photo in Manhattan. I stop by this store from time to time when I’m in the City – and usually buy some “Beseler canned air dusters” from them .They also sell another brand (Sensei) – which I bought in the smaller size – because it was a buck cheaper than the Giottos and looked about as good. Both work well – and you don’t have to worry about any propellant . I general find that B&H has pretty decent prices – especially if you pick up items in-store and avoid shipping costs that are built into Amazon prices. I like to dust my lenses often – and now that I’m using a Canon pocket camera more than my SLRs – I think it important to try to keep the entire camera clean. I had the experience – with both a Panasonic Lumix and a Canon pocket camera of dust infiltrating the body and lodging on the sensor chip – resulting in spots on the photos.
pencil neck
A empty Elmer’s type glue bottle works nice. Pull the end nozzle off and cut the post off, put the end nozzle back on. The larger the bottle, the more “umph”.
However, I would say that the long tip on this duster has some benefits and the price of them isn’t too bad.
Jim Felt
The very best bang (or blast) for the buck is the 6 pack of canned “air” at Costco. We burn through between 2 and 4 packages a month.
Cleaning lenses and mostly cleaning product to be shot. It’s way cheaper then our digital artist’s Photoshop time.
And on delicate IC boards etc. sometimes first our ion generator gun blasts. And we can use it on the camera capture chips and any lenses as well.
Farid
I have the medium size one and it works great. My only complaint is I get stopped at airport security every time I have it with me. They never bother with the heavy camera gear or anything else – just this!
It’s been years since Ive bought mine but back then there was complaints that there was some manufacturing oily residue that users ended blowing on the camera sensor. So, it might be prudent to do a test on a mirror or piece glass before using on camera. I washed mine with alcohol and never had an issue after that.
Another hint, if you plan in using this for applications other than your camera, such as cleaning dust from drilled holes, then get a one dedicated for that. Dust ingested into the bulb will ruin your camera.
Toolfreak
That’s because it has the shape of the cartoon version of a missile, and the TSA agents probably think it really is a mini version of one.
Alick
I’ve also seen the horror story floating around the internet of a guy who used a cheap (new) blower to try and dust off the sensor in his camera. The blower puffed out a load of debris on his sensor ! Fortunately Giottos have a good reputation. I’ve never had trouble with mine.
Another tip is not to use canned air on the camera sensor. There is apparently some risk of damage.
Jim Felt
No professional shooter would ever use canned air or even bottled nitrogen to clean a sensor. Too much pressure.
Toolfreak
Yeah, the knockoffs aren’t worth it.
You can use a cheap bulb syringe in a pinch, but it won’t blow nearly as hard as the Giottos. I used a bulb syringe over and over to try and clean dust spots from a DSLR sensor while waiting for the Giottos to arrive. Just one blast from the large Giottos cleaned up most of it, and after a few more blasts it was spotless. These are a must-have for any SLR/DSLR owner.
I would say that it’s best to store these in the original package or in a plastic bag to keep dust and dirt from making its way into the blaster. Even in a drawer just the regular amount of dust that accumulates on stuff could get into the vent or onto the tip and might be enough to create that one sticky speck that won’t come off a sensor, mirror, or lens.
Benjamen
That’s a good point.
Although the Rocket Air Blasters have a separate inlet to help prevent dust from getting in, it’s still a possibility.
I’m probably going to use the one I bought as a general purpose duster. I ordered the smaller one today to carry with me. I’ll probably be storing that one in a zip lock because of your comment.
Toolfreak
As a general purpose duster, sure, but when it comes to cleaning things like camera sensors, it’s definitely easier not to risk it.
When I was distraught at the dark spots on the sensor of the DSLR I was using and discovered the Giottos as the easy way to hopefully fix it, I also read the horror stories from those who were careless with the storage and handling of the cleaning devices and so blasted more contamination onto their camera’s sensors, that then requiring professional cleaning, and then horror stories on top of that of the camera shop doing a poor cleaning job, runing the sensor, or receiving back a non-functioning camera.
One other good bit of advice was to blast it a few times onto a freshly cleaned mirror or glass surface before using it on the intended surface, that way if any condensation or contamination is in there, you don’t find out by blasting it out first thing onto whatever you’re trying to clean.
Jim Felt
Photo sensor comment only…
I know this isn’t a photo forum but to be clear, as professional advertising photographers, we either send our Canons, Nikons and Hasselblads in for sensor cleaning (though almost never needed) or use this one brand of cleaning products.
visibledust.com
These guys make the only complete non OEM digital camera sensor cleaning system. Take a look if you’ve not heard of them.
You’re welcome.
;-)~
Farid
Or, if you remove the fins then it looks like medical device you buy at the pharmacy! (:-(
Farid
Oops, posted to the reply wrong person.
Anyway, I can vouch for the Arctic Butterfly.
Benjamen
I saw the swabs when I was searching for these Zeiss wipes:
https://www.amazon.com/Zeiss-Pre-Moistened-Cleaning-Wipes-5-Inches/dp/B00MVR5OD8?tag=toolguyd-20
I previously used a microfiber cloth and alcohol to clean finger prints of lenses that I couldn’t get off with lens paper, then I read that it’s better to use single use cloths because you can do more damage since the cloths can pick up dirt. Made sense to me.
Nathan
or they can make more money selling you more single use stuff. vs always only using a clean cloth that you maintain.
Koko the Talking Ape
For cleaning lens, I like the LensPen, like Stuart does. It is small, cheap, doesn’t dry out, and can actually remove fingerprints.
francis
this morning I bought one on amazon for $0,01 with free shipping. about an hour later i got a notification that it had shipped. I wonder what the odds are that it will actually arrive.
Jim Felt
Pity the poor(er) third party Amazon vendor.