Digital Camera - Maintenance and Cleaning

Maintenance and cleaning is often overlooked digital camera for the beginner or even a senior photographer, this will result in expensive damage when it occurs due to lack of maintenance of our favorite cameras.
Often being too preoccupied with the object of photography, live photography session is complete unplug the memory card, busy with the selection and editing on the computer, your camera's sock drawer.

If photography has become our livelihood or avocation, then you should take the time to go and sit somewhere quiet and take a good half an hour to an hour after the shoot to clean every piece of camera equipment used.
This kit has cost thousands and hygiene has a direct influence on the quality of my image and longevity of use. Not only that but when I upgrade my equipment, I might want to sell my old camera with the best price.

This is a check that I created;

Cleaning and Maintenance Digital Cameras - Lenses

Obviously be careful when cleaning the glass, it is what makes the lenses so expensive and costly to repair or replace. Use only a soft tissue paper and alcohol solutions designed for the optical camera. Clean both the front and rear elements using a blower brush first to remove dust particles.

The last thing you want to do is erode even the smallest piece of dust on your lens.

I also use a hair blower brush to clean in between the moving parts of the external barrel. This prevents the build up of dirt from time to time and keep smooth while helping to prevent dust from entering the internal optics.

Make sure you clean the brush or replace it too often otherwise you just end up smearing the minute particles of grease and grime on the lens.

Digital Camera Cleaning and Maintenance - Camera Sensor

The most talked about and ask about a problem with the sensor Digital SLR maintenance and dust accumulation. If you are at all unsure about how to go about it, wait until all the dust sensor is at the point where it was unbearable (specifications most easily and quickly removed in the editing), and then take it to be cleaned professionally.

Damage the sensor expensive ...

If you intend to do it yourself, just be careful. Set your camera to manual exposure to second with 30. You will need time to clean the sensor but using spherical arrangement ("B") could be a mistake.

If while cleaning the sensor, you inadvertently close the shutter you are in danger of damaging the mirror, shutter, sensor, or all three. Even if you use a remote broadcast set "B", the battery on the remote could provide, and close the shutter before his time.

With a fully charged battery in your camera and 30 second delay, you know where you are.

After the shutter is open, hold the camera so that the sensor is facing down, and use the blower (without brush) to blow the dust off the sensor.

N.B. The camera is held in this way to allow the dust to fall from the camera and the brush will be removed in case it touches the sensor and add oil or dust the stain instead of removing it.

If the sensor is really dirty, you can buy a cleaning kit with cotton where you physically touch the sensor to "swipe" dirt. Once again, you need a little care and a big hand to do this so if unsure, seek professional help.

Digital Camera Cleaning and Maintenance - Mirror / focusing screen

Unless I can barely see through the viewfinder (redundant), I tend to leave the mirror and focusing screen other than a quick punch / swipe with a blower brush. The only time I will give more attention is if you want to run the risk of transferring the dust to the sensor.

Dust on the mirror or the screen has no effect on the final image so that any dust that you see on this through the viewfinder, it will not affect the picture (although excessive dust on the screen "may" affect the accuracy of focus).

Again, be careful as the mirrors in particular are very sensitive and easily scratched.

Digital Camera Cleaning and Maintenance - Outer casing

Although most of the aesthetic, it is still important to try and keep the net external work. Dirt on the outside can easily make your way inside, especially if you change lenses often with dirty hands.

I give a quick once over with a blower brush first and then a quick rub with a cloth or lens dustcloth. I usually do the exterior before the interior. This reduces the chance of transferring own dirt inside.

Digital Camera Cleaning and Maintenance - Accessories

Accessories Most mechanical or electronic work so it is just as important to keep clean to help with their longevity. For example, the battery contacts in speedlight or remote switch needs a quick clean now and again just to prevent the build up of dirt or rust.

A failed accessory can be as disastrous as the camera fails in certain situations, especially those that are paid.

Digital Camera Cleaning and Maintenance - The Bag

This is something that many people will not consider, but the quickest way to the camera, equipment and accessories become dirty is if you have a dirty camera bag or holdall.

Dust, dirt, sand and even a bit of nature (leaves, sand, etc.) easily accumulated when out and about.

Remove all equipment once in a while and only Hoover / vacuum bag thoroughly inside and out.

All this seems a bit boring, but once I did I felt surprisingly good and happy with myself. I also know that when I go shooting, or appear to paid work, the equipment is in top condition.