How to Clean Your Digital SLR Camera

• Also try: Digital SLR Camera | Lens Cleaning Kits

Introduction

• Your digital SLR camera can take marvelous photos, but if you notice tiny flecks and dark spots on your photos, it can mean that your camera needs cleaning.

• It's perfectly reasonable to clean your camera yourself, but be aware that anytime you clean the lens, or the sensor, you risk damaging the camera. If you're at all uncomfortable with the process, it's better to send your camera back to the manufacturer, or bring it to a professional photography shop, for cleaning. Should you choose this option, a shop cleaning will cost you anywhere between $30 and $100.

Before You Clean Your Camera

• Before you begin the cleaning process, check if dust is the reason for your camera's marred photos.

Cleaning kit. (Photo by Mahalo)

1. Set your camera to a small aperture and take a picture of a plain surface, like a piece of white paper or a clear sky.
2. Look at the photo on your computer.
3. Zoom in to look for blemishes.
4. Increase the contrast as you view the photo, to make the blemishes stand out even more.
5. If you see dust specks and blemishes, it's time for a cleaning!

Step 1: Clean Your Camera

Clean your camera's outside first. (Photo by Mahalo)

• Even if your ultimate aim is to clean off your lens and sensor, clean your camera body first. This will keep dust and grime from getting inside your camera during the cleaning process.

What You'll Need

• A soft microfiber cloth or camera wipes.

Clean Your Camera's Body

1. Wipe off the exterior with a soft cloth, or use a brand-name camera wipe.
2. Make sure to clean around the lens mount, so dirt trapped there does not get in when you clean the lens.

Step 2: Clean Your Lens

• Cleaning the lens can help you improve image quality as well. After all, it's the front part of camera that takes in the image when you point and shoot - it's pretty important!

Don't put cleaning fluid directly on the lens. (Photo by Mahalo)

What You'll Need

1. Air blower
2. Lens cleaning fluid
3. Soft microfiber cloth

Clean Your Camera's Lens

1. Blow the lens with air from your blower to remove dust and particles. Shutterbug recommends the Giottos Rocket Air Blower.
   • Do not use compressed air.
2. Put lens cleaning fluid on a microfiber cloth and wipe the lens.
   • Do not put fluid directly on the lens; doing so risks damaging the lens.
3. Use your soft cloth to wipe off any excess fluid left on the lens.

Step 3: Clean Your Sensor

• Actually, you're cleaning the filter that protects your sensor, but you still have to be very cautious. You don't want to scratch the filter, which will cause permanent damage and affect every photo you take.

What You'll Need

Lift the mirror to access the sensor for cleaning. (Photo by Mahalo)

1. Air blower
2. Sensor brush (optional)
3. Sensor swab (optional)
4. Delkin Sensor Scope (optional)

Clean Your Camera's Sensor

1. Make sure you're in a dust-free area.
2. Roll up your sleeves so fibers from your clothes don't get into the camera.
3. Check your manual to put your camera in sensor cleaning mode.
   • It's important to do this, to avert camera shutter mishaps while you're cleaning.
   • Cleaning Digital Cameras has a list of camera models and their manuals so you can find out how to put your camera in cleaning mode.
4. You do not have to clean the mirror; it does not impact image quality and it's easy to damage. Just move it out of the way to reach the sensor.
5. Blow air on the sensor. Shutterbug recommends the Giottos Rocket Air Blower.
   • Keep your camera pointing downward as you blow air, so gravity works for you and the dust falls out.
   • It's important to do this before using a brush or wiping the sensor, to remove any dirt or dust on the surface. You can scratch the sensor if you wipe it with a brush or cloth when it still has dust particles on it.
   • Do not use compressed air; it can damage the sensor.
   • 

     Blow air on the sensor before using a brush. (Photo by Mahalo)
6. After you've blown air on the sensor, you may feel that the camera is clean enough to use again. If you want to clean it further, you have two basic options: you can wipe your sensor with a sensor cleaning brush, or clean the camera with a wet swab.
   • Gizmodo suggests also using the Delkin Sensor Scope, which can magnify your camera's CCD by a power of 5, making it easier to see the dust on its surface.
   • The sensor scope sells for about $80.
7. For a comprehensive overview of your cleaning options, with the pros and cons of each one, check Cleaning Digital Cameras' list here.

Step 4: Delay Another Cleaning for as Long as Possible

• Now that you've cleaned your camera, here are a few tips to delay the next cleaning for as long as possible.

1. Keep your camera in a bag when it's not in use.
2. Vacuum your camera bag to keep dust out.
3. Always keep your lens cap on when not using your camera.
4. Try to change lenses quickly. If you can avoid it, do not change lenses in the middle of a sandstorm!
5. Clean around the lens mount regularly; this will decrease the odds of dust getting into the camera.

Resources for How to Clean Your Digital SLR Camera

• Cleaning Digital Cameras
• Shutterbug: Cleaning The D-SLR Sensor... (December 2006)
• About.com: The Dirt on Digital SLRs' Dust
• CNET.co.uk: How to clean your digital SLR camera
• BetterPhoto.com: Cleaning a DSLR Camera’s Sensor
• Digital SLR cameras: Building a Digital SLR Camera System
• Gizmodo: Sensor Scope Helps Clean SLR CCDs

Products for Cleaning Your Digital SLR Camera

• Amazon.com: Giottos Rocket Air Blower
• Amazon.com: Cleaning Kits
• Amazon.com: Delkin SensorScope

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