Have you ever wondered why your photos don’t turn out as well as they could? Perhaps you have noticed some scratches on your lens or LCD screen. If this is your case then you may want to keep reading! There are a few easy tips for keeping your camera in good condition and ensuring your photos come out crisp and clear.
One of the simplest ways to take care of your camera is by keeping it in a case. This will protect it from getting scratches and cosmetics dings or dents. You can buy a camera case at just about any electronic store. They also sell pretty cheap ones at drugstores. If you’re thinking, “I don’t have the money to buy a camera case” you can use a (clean) athletic sock. They tend to be pretty thick and will keep your camera from getting nicked. I know it sounds silly but it honestly works!
Another way to keep your camera in top condition is to clean the optical viewfinder/lens (see picture below). You can do this very easily by picking up a lens cleaning kit at the drugstore. They usually cost around 5 dollars. This may be the most essential key to getting great photos! Think of it like the eye of your camera. If something irritates or scratches your eye it affects your vision. If your lens/ optical viewfinder is dirty or scratched it will affect you pictures. Follow the instructions on the kit and viola, clean lens and better photographs!
A lot of people understand that taking care of the outside of a camera is important. However, the inside components are just as vital! It is very important to keep your battery clean. If it gets crusty then it will not hold a charge very long or be able to give power to the camera. You can use an ear swab to gently brush any crusty bits off of it. Be very careful not to scratch the metallic coating on the contact point.
The part of your camera that takes the most abuse is the memory card slot! People constantly take their memory cards out of their cameras to upload photos. The only issue with this is sometimes when people try to put the memory cards back in they put them in wrong or they try to force it. Most memory card slots are spring loaded. If you just push down a bit it will fit in perfectly. I actually ruined one of my first cameras this way. Trust me, it happens!
If your camera has any sort of dust, dirt, or grime on the inside (the battery or memory card compartment), fear not! The easiest and most inexpensive ways to clean it out is to buy compressed air in a can. They typically come with a tiny nozzle you can use to clean out small spaces. Use short bursts of air to blast the particles out of your camera.
DSLR Sensor Cleaning
Lastly, if you continually see blotches or dots on your photos and they appear in all the same positions you might want to try cleaning your DSLR (Digital Single-lens Reflex) camera. I will caution that this is a bit more complex then the other quick tips in this article. However, if you have a steady hand and want to do a bit more of a ‘in depth’ cleaning of your camera I’d say go for it! It really does make a difference!
First you will need a lens cleaning kit mentioned above. The kit should come with a little air bulb that has a brush attached to the top. Just take the brush off (you don’t need it). I would not suggest using the pressurized air canisters for cleaning this part of your camera. They are pretty strong and this is a more ‘sensitive’ area of your device.
Before you can start cleaning your sensor you have to go into your cameras settings raise the mirror so you will have access to the sensor. Turn on your camera and go into your settings menu find the ‘manual cleaning’ or ‘lock up mirror’ function. (Depending on what sort of camera you own the menus will look different and have different names for their functions). Once you have selected one of these functions the mirror should flip up and lock into place. Holding the camera up facedown remove the lens and use the air bulb to loosen and dislodge any dust particles clinging to the sensor.
After you have done this turn your camera right side up (lens facing you) and examine the sensor. Are there still dust particles on it? If so use a sensor cleaning brush to pick up the rest of those pesky particles. ! You can find sensor-cleaning brushes at most electronic stores. If you are lucky your lens cleaning kit may have even come with one. Insert the brush into the chamber and gently sweep it across the lens. Be very careful not to touch the border of the sensor. There are oils on it and if any of that oil gets onto your brush it will get on the senor and make everything look smeary! Now you are ready to test and see if your pictures come of speck free!
Place the lens back on your camera. In most cases turning your camera off and then back on again will turn off the “lock up mirror’ or ‘manual cleaning function’. Now you are ready to take a picture! It is best to take a picture of something light and plain; if you have an empty wall that works best. If not you can also take a picture of Xerox (printer) paper. After you have taken the picture zoom in to different parts and see if those dust sots are still there. No? Congratulations your sensor is clean! If the answer was ‘yes’ and you still see dust particles you can repeat the process or take it to a camera store or local electronic specialist to see if they can help you out.
These are just ways to take basic care of your camera. If you have major problems with your camera you should take it to the store you bought it from or consult the factory that produced it. All new cameras come with a help number you can call. If you bought your camera used you can look the make model up online and find the help number that way. Now that your camera is clean and ready to go, get out there, get creative and have fun!
Ok....I am an 'adult' who struggles with desires to remain a kid yet grow up. I like to write and create. I am very curious about the world around me. One of my favorite ways to express myself is through photography. I spend a lot of time taking pictures of my friends and the world around me. Occasionally I will take senior portraits for people or work on a special project but, I really like to keep photography fun! I have spent a few years learning how to edit photos and work with different programs to create mixed media pieces. To me photography is a way to show people your world through a camera lens. Its beautiful and expressive! I absolutely love cameras and would really love to learn how to properly develop film!
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