Clean and Maintain Your Camera Gear – DIY in 5 Ep 217

Опубликовано 25 февраля 2024, 14:00

This video is about the best ways to clean and maintain camera equipment. You’ll need several tools to do a good job (a small blower, brushes, and a synthetic fiber cleaning cloth). However, do not use compressed air or dirty fingers, since compressed air can damage the image sensor. A brush can gently sweep away dust or debris loose on the camera surface or in the corners. The blower can remove dust or dirt in areas that are harder to get to. Remove the lens cap and use your blower again. If the lens has a stubborn mess on it, spray lens cleaner solution onto your soft cloth (never apply it directly to the lens) or simply dampen the cloth. Wipe in a circular motion from the center of the lens outward. Some people keep a second cloth just for drying. Make sure to wash your cloth between each cleaning, or if you can’t do that, invest in disposable lens cleaning tissues instead.

It's unlikely you’ll need to get inside your camera to clean your sensor, unless you change your lenses constantly. If you want to see if your camera sensor has dust on it, take a photo of a blank white sheet of paper, then look for dark dots or smudges on the photo. Be very careful cleaning your sensor, as it’s very delicate! Don’t touch its surface at all, and don’t blow air on it too hard either. If you are uncomfortable cleaning it yourself, there are camera shops that will clean it professionally for you. However some photographers treat the process of laying out all their camera equipment and cleaning it as a kind of ritual or self-care, to be performed periodically. After all, maintaining your camera equipment so it lasts is certainly a less expensive way to go than repairing something unusable or buying new.

On the topic of camera maintenance, some tips to help you avoid getting your camera gear getting dirty in the first place, or taking other unnecessary wear and tear. Use a filter: a screw-on protection filter not only protects the lens from dirt, but will take the brunt of the impact should your camera or lens be dropped. If you’re shooting outdoors where it may rain, or anywhere near water, a wet-weather cover for your camera is a great idea, even if your camera is weather-sealed or water-resistant. If your camera gets wet, wipe it down with a microfiber cloth and wait until it fully dries before turning it back on.

Traveling photographers should use a protective travel bag, with separate padded compartments for each item to protect their camera and lenses from bumps and drops, and also keep dirt and water far away. Finally, don’t leave your equipment in humid places, or expose it to extreme temperatures (such as overnight in your car). If you live or work in a naturally humid place, put silica packets in your camera bag to help keep it drier. The best option is to lay your gear out separately to air when not in use, even taking out the battery.

Your main takeaways from this video should be: protect your gear from dirt, water, bumps, humidity, and extreme weather. Don’t forget to take everything apart for occasional cleanings. When you do clean your gear, use the correct items to clean each part and be delicate—i.e. don’t use a damp cloth to wipe sand off a lens.

If you have your own camera cleaning and maintenance tips, share them in the comments!
Thanks for watching our video! If you have any tech topics you’d like us to take on in a future DIY in 5 episode, leave a comment!

Got questions about the video or Kingston products? COMMENT or contact us on SOCIAL MEDIA:
Twitter: twitter.com/kingstontech
Instagram: instagram.com/kingstontechnolo...
Facebook: facebook.com/kingstontechnolog...
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/kingston
SUBSCRIBE for more DIY in 5 videos, and receive updates on the latest in Kingston’s memory & storage development, plus guides on getting peak performance from your hardware:
youtube.com/channel/UCLlmpSSdR...

0:33 Intro
0:43 Tools for cleaning
0:59 How to use the tools
1:45 Cleaning sensors
2:36 Preventative care
3:53 Conclusion