Knowing how to maintain the best digital camera can make the difference between an excellent investment and a machine that degrades due to excessive wear and tear. Poor maintenance practices can lead to poor image quality, dirt build-up, error messages, and more. As such, you might find it hard to perform key actions such as loading pictures from a digital camera to a Windows 10 computer.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Both external components and internal components need regular cleaning and maintenance to stay in good condition.
- Dust particles can cause severe damage to your sensors if you do not clean regularly, so make sure you invest in a complete camera cleaning kit.
- If you need professional assistance with specific maintenance issues, don’t be afraid to reach out to customer support, such as Canon Maintenance Service.
How to Maintain a Digital Camera
Learning how to maintain a digital camera, whether it is a homemade digital camera or a new camera, is an aspect of photography that you cannot ignore. All digital photographers need to keep their camera and all of its parts clear of dust and debris.
Insider Tip
Maintenance means regular cleaning of your digital camera.
The Parts You Should Clean
Maintenance means regular cleaning of your digital camera. Several different parts make up your camera, and knowing which ones to clean makes a huge difference. Both external components and internal components require regular cleaning to stay in shape. There are a few parts you should focus on keeping clean:
- Outer Casing
- Lens Body
- Lens Elements
- Image Sensor
How to Improve Cleaning Technique
First off, make sure you aren’t engaging in unnecessary cleaning. While it’s great to clean your camera once a month or so, cleaning too often can cause damage. Make sure that you follow a strict sensor cleaning process. This part of your camera is super sensitive and needs to be handled carefully. You should clean it with a microfiber cloth but stick to just one cloth. If you use the same microfibre cloth on other products, your camera might fall victim to damage from chemicals in other cleaners.
Tips for Better Maintenance
There are a few things you should be doing to keep your camera alive for longer. A digital camera is an investment, whether you’re a hobbyist or an active photographer. Use the tips below to keep your investment safe:
- Always store lens models properly
- Use a dedicated carrying case with padding
- Contact Canon maintenance service for repairs
- Take out a warranty to further protect your purchase
- Avoid unnecessary cleaning when you can
Warning
Both external components and internal components require regular cleaning to stay in shape.
F.A.Q.
Why is sensor dust a problem?
The build-up of sensor dust can cause significant damage to your digital camera. You can always invest in a digital sensor cleaning kit for better results.
How to check if your sensor is dirty?
To check for sensor dust, simply take a photo. You’ll be able to see if there are any spots on the images in your viewfinder.
Are self-cleaning sensors sufficient?
Self-cleaning sensors are not entirely sufficient, and they do not replace cleaning your camera. While they can decrease the need for a thorough cleaning, you still have to clean now and then.
What to do before cleaning the sensor?
Always make sure that you charge your camera fully before cleaning the image sensor. This is because the camera must be running for the component to stay open. If it dies, the part will close, and this can cause severe damage.
STAT: Here’s a 50% zoom of the above sensor check image. (source)
REFERENCES:
- https://www.cameraclean.co.uk/Pdfs/Digital_SLR_Sensor_Cleaning_for_Beginners.pdf
- https://www.wikihow.com/Repair-Lens-Problems-on-Your-Digital-Camera
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_sensorr
- http://www.cfargo.com/pdf/SensorCleaningInstructions.pdf
- https://cdn-10.nikon-cdn.com/pdf/manuals/dslr/D60_en.pdf
