Prolonging the life of your mirrorless camera is a no-brainer, and the best way to do this is to properly clean your camera. Cleaning your camera would not only prolong your camera’s life, but it also ensures you high quality, dark spot free photographs.
Cleaning may sound easy and simple, but it’s a delicate procedure that will have a negative effect on your camera if done improperly. To assist you with this, here are some tips on how to properly clean your digital camera.
Cleaning the sensor
In digital photography, one should already know that the sensor is the most delicate, fragile and the most expensive component of your camera. It’s up to the judgment of the owner on how to conduct the cleaning of the sensor.
Determine if there are black spots – You can do this by setting the camera’s to aperture-priority and adjust it to the highest f-number (This is the smallest aperture). Then, take a photograph of a neutral background (plain white is recommended). Check if there are any dark spots once you preview the image.
- Lock the mirror up. If you’re not familiar with this feature, you may refer to your owner’s manual for more information.
- Place the camera on a stable platform in an isolated area where there is very little dust. Usually, you can do this in the bathroom.
- Remove the lens from the camera body of your mirrorless camera.
- When you blow the larger dust particles, don’t use your mouth. Use a blower to blow out the dust particles.
- Gently wipe the sensor by using a sensor cleaner.
- For you to remove the dirt or dust away from the center, wipe the sensor either in a linear pattern or a spiral pattern starting from the center.
- After checking if all the dust has been removed, you can attach the lens back onto the body.
- If dust is still present, you can the steps above
Cleaning the lens
Your camera’s lens is also a fragile component of your camera. As much as you want it cleaned, you should also be careful by not scratching them. Handle the lens with care while you clean them.
- Place your lens on a stable platform in an isolated area where there is very little dust. Usually, you can do this in the bathroom.
- Use a blower on the front side of the lens to blow some of the larger dust particles away.
- When you blow the larger dust particles, don’t use your mouth. Use a blower to blow out the dust particles on the front end of the lens.
- Use about 5-6 drops of lens solution onto the front side of the lens.
- Gently wipe the lens using a clean microfiber cloth in a spiral movement starting from the center. Repeat this process for a couple of times.
- Use the blower again to blow remaining dust particles.
- Repeat the steps above to clean the filter.
- For the back side of the lens, don’t use lens solution. It may damage it. Use a soft brush to brush the dust and use a blower to blow off the dust particles.
Additional information
- Use different brushes for the lens and the reflex mirror.
- Pressing your sensor too hard while cleaning is might damage your sensors.
- When blowing dust particles, don’t use your mouth. This is to prevent any water or saliva droplets from getting on your sensor or lenses.
Cleaning your mirrorless camera takes time, one very important thing to take note of is that when you clean your camera, don’t be in rush. Be patient and be prepared beforehand before you conduct the cleaning.