subject: Learning Photography Basics: Clean That Camera [print this page] Those who have digital cameras generally forget that their cameras need some maintenance. Simple because it is a point and shoot type does not make it infallible to dust and oils from accumulating. Therefore, the best way to keep even the most ordinary cameras have a long functioning life is to keep it clean at all times.The maintenance includes taking out the batteries when not in use. More cameras get damaged when the disposable batteries are left inside it instead of out, or if the batteries are rechargeable, they are still left in without benefit of its own cleaning.
Open the back of the camera and the blow out the dust. Do not blow on it with your breath; use a can of compressed air or a bulb that would not make any sprays of saliva onto the sensitive mechanisms inside. Use a special lens cleaner cloth to thoroughly clean the surface. Do not use the paper type as this could leave tiny scratches on the surface, even if your eyes could not see them; know that they will be there.Wet a cloth and wring it out of water as much as you can and use this to clean the dirt off of the casing, make sure that there is no water residue left on the casing by wiping it down thorough with a dry cloth. One good material to use would be a chamois as this could suck up all the moisture without harming the casing material.
For crevices, use a soft bristle toothbrush. The best would be those which are used for babies, they are very gentle and leave no scratches behind while cleaning the camera.The battery slot should also be thoroughly cleaned. Rub the battery contacts with a pencil eraser, not with a small knife that could damage it. This is a very common and lazy mistake which has made a lot of good cameras lose contact with their batteries and have to be thrown away.
A good and clean camera will make pictures look beautiful and clear. Clean lenses free of dust and oil will make the pictures stand out on their own. Many a time when people complain of lousy cameras only to find out that their cameras picked up on the oils and dust of the lens and transferred them together with their photograph. So clean that camera and make it live longer.
