How to Clean SLR Cameras

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By Chris Rowe
eHow Contributing Writer

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Nikon D80

Particles of dust and dirt may work their way into and around your SLR camera's seals and damage the electronics and mechanical movements. Any dirt on the lens will reduce the amount of light passing through the lens and reduce the quality of any photographs taken. Keeping your SLR camera clean will result in better pictures and prolong the camera's life.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Camera
Camera brush
Air blower, Giottos or equivalent.
Two micro fiber clothes
Alcohol lens cleaning solution

Step 1

Turn off the camera.
Step 2

Remove any loose dirt, dust, or other material on the camera with the brush.
Step 3

Remove any dust and debris from any crevices or holes in the camera with the air blower.
Step 4

Wipe the outside of the camera with one of the micro fiber cloths. To remove any stuck-on dirt, apply a couple of drops of the alcohol solution to the cloth and use it to complete the cleaning. Mark this cloth so it is used only to clean the outside of the camera.
Step 5

Remove the lens cap.
Step 6

Remove any dust from the front of the lens with the air blower.
Step 7

Dampen the second micro fiber cloth with a couple of drops of the lens-cleaning solution.
Step 8

Wipe the front of the lens with the damp portion of the cloth.
Step 9

Allow the glass to dry, then replace the lens cap.

Tips & Warnings

You should always keep a lens cap on the lens when you are not shooting. Many experts recommend that a UV filter be used on the front of the lens to protect the lens's surface. It is a lot cheaper to replace the filter than it is to pay to replace the glass in a lens. The filter will reduce the amount of light reaching the sensor but not enough to outweigh the advantages of the filter
You should always blow off the front of the lens before cleaning it with the micro fiber lens cleaning cloth. Any dirt particles on the lens will scratch the glass. The lens cleaning kit manufacturers recommend that only a couple of drops of liquid be applied to the cleaning cloth. Any excess liquid may seep into the insides of the camera or leave a film.