 BetterPhoto Member |
How to Clean Your SLR Camera I have an SLR camera and it seriously needs cleaning. What do you need to do this and how? Or, is it better just to send it somewhere to get it cleaned for me? I would appreciate any tips anyone has for me. Thank You!
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Kerry Drager |
Hi Cindy: Well, it's certainly NOT fun to have a dirty camera! Following are some of the techniques I use, but keep in mind that if you ask several different photographers about their approach, you'll get several different answers on what they do. - Lens surface (the glass): First, I use a good squeeze-bulb blower to blow off particles. My blower, by the way, doesn't come with a brush (those blowers are too small). I use a bigger blower, but not every camera store carries them, so you might have to shop around. In any case, I never use canned air. If there's actual grime or fingerprints on the glass, I use a microfiber cloth (not lens tissue paper), which is sold in camera shops. You must moisten the glass first with your warm breath (that's how I do it) or with a drop of lens cleaner (it's sold in camera stores, but I find it too messy and the fluid always seems to leave a film). In any case, make short and gentle circular motions. During the process, I make have to moisten it with my breath a couple of times. If you use a microfiber cloth, be sure to keep it clean! I use mine only a few times before washing it and always keep it in a Ziploc bag inside my camera bag. I actually have several of the microfiber cloths, so there's always a clean one available. - Lens barrel and camera body: The lens blower also works well for all those nook and crannies. If there's a lot of hard-to-remove dirt and grime, I use a small brush. You can find brushes in camera stores; they're advertised for cleaning lenses, although I never use a brush on the glass itself. My brush is actually a small, soft one that I found in an art-supply store. Otherwise, for general overall cleaning of the camera body and lens barrel, a soft cloth will do. - Inside the film area: I open the back of the body upside down, and use a few puffs from the blower bulb. Be careful around the shutter mechanism, though; it's all very fragile! For example, don't clean the shutter curtain itself with a brush or cloth, and don't nail the curtain with a big puff of air! - Lens area of the camera: With the lens off and the open area of the camera facing down, perform the squeeze-blower precedure again. Just remember to keep your hands (and cleaning cloths) off the mirror and viewing screen! The mirror and its mechanism are especially fragile. If any specks remain after blowing, don't worry: The mirror and screen affect viewing only, not the photograph. This is probably more than you want to know about camera cleaning. But these ideas should get you started. Of course, if sand and grit, for instance, have really invaded any lens or camera mechanisms, then a professional cleaning may be in order. Good luck!
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Jeff S. Kennedy |
If it needs a serious cleaning then take it to a technician. There are too many fragile parts to mess around with on your own. If a tech messes it up at least you don't have to pay to fix it.
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