Do you spend hours setting up your camera or lens for that perfect photo opportunity? Do you enjoy spending time in front of the lens so much that you don’t want to think about the consequences of doing so for your camera gear? If so, then why not keep those pesky little creatures away from it as much as possible? After all, who wants their favorite piece of equipment damaged by insects, moisture, and germs after just being set up for a few minutes? The answer is simple: protect your photography gear! Keeping your camera, lenses, filters, and other accessories clean is an important part of caring for them. In this article, professional photographer Adina Shurkin will explain what you should do to care for your photography gear and how to do it effectively.
Check if cleaning is necessary before you start
Before you even think about cleaning your camera gear, you need to know if it is necessary. Certain cameras and lenses are more sensitive to cleaning than others, so it’s important to understand your equipment before starting to clean it. If you own a Canon camera, for example, you should know that the coating on the sensor is very delicate. When you clean your camera, you need to be careful to clean only around the sensor. Also, Adina Shurkin adds, not all lenses are created equal, either. Some lenses are more sensitive to cleaning than others. Additionally, some camera bodies are easier to clean than others. It can be helpful to write down the specifications of your camera and the lens you’re working with so that you can check the cleaning requirements of your gear before you start.
Protect your gear from dust and moisture
When you take your photography gear out into the wild, it is inevitable that dust will collect on it. It’s important to clean off any dust whenever you bring your gear inside because dust can damage your equipment. It can also cause your equipment to malfunction. Because of the delicate nature of some modern camera sensors, overexposure to dust can cause a malfunction in photos taken with some cameras. The best way to clean your equipment is to use a dusting kit. There are specialized kits designed to clean lenses and sensors without damaging them. These kits are extremely useful because they can be used repeatedly without the risk of damaging your gear. If you don’t have access to a specialized kit, you can use a microfiber cloth and alcohol or isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. New York-based photographer and visual storyteller Adina Shurkin recommends ensuring that your cleaning cloth is extremely clean and free of dust, sand, and other debris before using it to clean your equipment.
Use a kit to clean your gear
Whether it’s your lenses or your camera, there are many times when you’ll want to clean it. However, cleaning your gear can damage it and cause problems with your photos so you want to be careful. A great way to clean your gear safely is to use a lens cleaning kit. These kits are specifically designed to clean your gear, including your lenses, without damaging them. These kits usually come with a cleaning cloth, a special blower, and a dropper to help you get all the dust off your gear. There are many different types of lens cleaning kits available on the market, but they all have a few things in common: They are designed to safely and easily wipe off dust from your lenses. These kits usually have a special blower to help you remove dust from delicate surfaces. They usually have an alcohol-based solution designed to clean your lenses without damaging them.
Protect your equipment from damage
Keeping your gear safe from damage is critical to ensuring that it lasts as long as possible. There are a few ways that you can protect your gear from damage. The first is to make sure that you keep it in a dust free environment. You should also ensure that you store your gear away from heat, moisture, and extreme temperatures. It’s also important to remember to clean your gear regularly. If you don’t clean your equipment regularly, dust and grit will build up on the lenses and sensors, causing damage, explains Adina Shurkin.
Conclusion
While it’s important to clean your gear, it’s also crucial to protect it from damage. If your gear gets dirty from dust, grit, or moisture, it will start to malfunction. You can clean your gear by using a cleaning cloth, lens cleaning kit, and an alcohol-based solution. If you don’t clean your gear frequently, it will become damaged and unusable. Keeping your gear clean and protected is essential to ensuring that it lasts as long as possible. Make sure that you protect your gear with the tips provided in this article.
