How To Do Just About Everything
Digital SLR
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Digital cameras require consistent cleaning to keep the camera operational and to make sure you take the best pictures possible. Small point and shoot digital cameras have little to clean. The exterior needs to be kept clean with camera cloth or other lint free cloth. The front lens element needs to be cleaned with canned air to keep it dust free. The eyepiece and front lens element should be periodically cleaned with lens tissue and lens cleaner. Digital single lens reflex (SLR) cameras are more complicated. In all cases consult the manual that came with your camera and follow these simple techniques below.
Cleaning Supplies
Thoroughly clean the exterior of the camera with a soft, dry lint-free cloth. These can be purchased at a camera store or you can use any chemical-free soft cloth you have available. Clean the exterior first to prevent dust and dirt from falling into the camera when you remove the lens.
Clean the Mirror and Screen
Clean the mirror and the focusing screen with canned air. You can also lock up the mirror and clean the sensor with canned air if it is required. Never touch the sensor or use anything on the sensor besides canned air. The sensor is only exposed when the mirror flips up during exposure. While you need to clean the focusing screen and mirror regularly, it is unusual to have to clean the sensor. Since replacing the sensor is very expensive you should take it to a camera service specialist if you are not sure. Usually the camera and mirror will only have dust to clean off. Hold the camera body face down when cleaning to allow dust to fall off rather then back into the camera body. If the mirror is smudged you can use a small amount of lens cleaner and lens tissue to clean it.
Lens Front Element
Clean the front element of the lens with canned air to remove the dust. If the lens is smudged use lens tissue and a small amount of lens cleaner to clean off the smudges. You can use skylight filters to protect the front of the camera lens. Make sure you remove the filters and clean both sides of the filter as well as the front of the camera lens.
Lens Rear Element
It is very important to clean the rear element of the lens. The light is more focused when it passes through the rear element and dust on the rear elements will cause more artifacts then the dust on the front element. Clean the rear element in the same manner as the front element with canned air and then lens tissue and cleaner.
Camera Back and Top
Clean the camera back and top glass areas. Always clean the eyepiece in the same way you clean any lens. The operating screen and viewing screen are not as critical as the other glass parts of a camera, but I always clean them the same way as I clean the lens. It is very important to be consistent in cleaning your camera. Never use any cleaning supplies that are not manufactured for camera cleaning. Windex and other alcohol-based cleaners will damage camera elements. Facial tissue and paper towels are manufactured with chemicals that could damage camera elements. To be safe, always clean with the same materials that are recommended for cameras.
Comments
coachmac4 said
on 6/2/2008 Thanks for your tips on cleaning the digital camera!
onederland said
on 4/22/2008 Thanks for the tips! After our last trip, our camera is badly in need of cleaning!
dsarokin said
on 4/21/2008 Thanks, Richard. I'm not always as conscientious as I should be, but this is a good reminder and guide. A definite 5-star answer.
ursaminor said
on 4/10/2008 Wow, this is a really impressive article! I plan to print it out and put it into my camera case! Very helpful; thank you so much!