As photographers, we invest a lot of money and time into our beloved Canon DSLR cameras. Despite our best efforts to keep them safe, it’s only natural for them to get dirty after months of regular use. That’s why it’s important to regularly clean your camera gear to maintain the best image quality.
Cleaning your camera can be daunting, but it’s worth it. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process step-by-step and share tips on how to keep your Canon DSLR in top condition.
1. Start with a Lens Wipe
Most of us have a lens cloth, but it’s probably collecting dirt in the corner of our camera bag. Microfiber cloths act like magnets to dust, so it’s important to keep them in a clean waterproof bag. Wipe away any dry dust particles on the lenses to ensure the best image quality. Don’t forget the rear element, which can often get just as dusty.
2. Clean the Outside of the Camera Body
Use a combination of lens cloth and rocket blower to dislodge any dirt around the buttons. Make sure that any parts of the body that open and close get a clean. Turn your attention to the LCD screen and viewfinder, and remove the eye cup to give better access to the glass.
3. Clean Inside the Camera Body
Fibers and dust on the sensor can be visible in our photographs and the more troublesome sensor spots can form leaving a mark on all of our shots. To give the inside of your camera a good clean, try Canon’s built-in sensor cleaning feature. This vibrates the sensor and any loose dust should fall off into the dust trap beneath the sensor.
After doing this, if you still see some particles on the mirror and sensor, give it a few blasts from an air blower while pointing the camera down. This should encourage any dust to fall out. To remove those stubborn sensor spots, invest in a sensor cleaning kit that includes a sensor brush, some swab sticks, and sensor cleaning fluid.
Sensor brushes have a market of their own, with visible dust leading the way with their Arctic butterfly. The bristles on the brush get statically charged and should lift the dust off the sensor. Use the sensor cleaning menu and select clean manually to lock the mirror out of the way. Use the sensor brush first, then take out a swab and add some cleaning solution to the corner. Insert the swab into the chamber, starting at one end of the sensor, and wipe across with gentle pressure.
4. Double Check
Give the sensor time to dry before releasing the shutter and taking another image to check the area where you had the sensor spots. If they’re being stubborn, repeat the process until they are successfully removed.
In conclusion, there’s no shortage of products to help keep your camera clean, with prices ranging from about ten pounds for an air blower to over 100 pounds for sensor loops and hi-tech sensor brushes. However, the most important thing is that your camera has had a good clean, and the next time you’re out taking photographs, you can be confident that your images will be spotless.