Photography is a passion that often requires a significant investment in equipment. As we progress in this art form we’re constantly drawn to higher-end cameras and gear that can help us produce stunning images. To protect these investments and ensure the longevity of our gear, it is crucial to incorporate regular cleaning, maintenance, and practices into our photography routines.

Today’s article aims to provide photographers of all levels with a comprehensive guide on essential camera maintenance, offering valuable tips and tricks to keep your digital cameras and photography equipment in pristine condition. If you’ve invested significant time, effort, research, and money into your gear you might as well follow some simple tips and tricks to make it last longer and work well.

Let’s get right into it and discuss several ways you can extend the life of your camera and accompanying equipment.

Professional Cleaning Services

To start out, I’d like to discuss one of the simplest, easiest, and most effective ways to keep your camera in great shape. I’m talking of course about bringing it to the professionals. Of course, I routinely clean my camera and gear but at least once I year I will bring my camera body and lenses to a reputable camera or photography store to have them cleaned.

This is a great way to make sure that every part of your gear gets thoroughly and professionally cleaned up and it takes away any stress of damaging fragile components such as a sensor. These services usually aren’t too expensive, and I recommend this for photographers of all backgrounds. Definitely do some research and find somewhere near you that can effectively clean up your gear. You can also potentially mail your equipment somewhere if you’re comfortable with this.

That being said, let’s now discuss things that you can do yourself. There are countless simple and user-friendly things you can do to keep your gear in good working order

Purchase a Quality Camera and Lens Cleaning Kit

First things first, you’re going to want to make sure that you have the tools for the job. In my opinion, every single photographer should have a quality camera and lens cleaning kit, consisting of a blower or air blaster, multiple brushes with dedicated purposes, multiple micro-fiber cloths, sprayable lens cleaning fluid, and pre-moistened sanitizing wipes. This simple and affordable kit will allow you to clean your gear in the field. Once you have the required cleaning supplies let’s get into some details on how to use them.

Cleaning the Exterior

Start with the basics by keeping the exterior of your camera clean. Dust, dirt, and moisture can accumulate on the body, lens, and buttons, potentially leading to malfunctions. Use a microfiber cloth or a soft brush to gently wipe away any surface dust and grime. For more stubborn spots, use a damp cloth with a mild cleaning solution (isopropyl alcohol works great), ensuring not to let any liquid seep into the camera's sensitive components. You can also use a blower to blow any dust particles off of the exterior.

Sensor Cleaning

One of the most critical aspects of camera maintenance is keeping the image sensor free from dust and debris. Dust on the sensor can result in visible spots on your images, affecting the overall quality. For this task, you’ll need to use a sensor cleaning kit specifically, which typically includes a blower, sensor swabs, and a cleaning solution. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines and exercise caution while cleaning to avoid damaging the sensor.

If you’re apprehensive about cleaning your camera’s sensor and don’t want to risk damaging this crucial element or scuffing it up then I would recommend bringing it to a professional. Additionally, almost all modern cameras have a built-in sensor cleaning function. My camera automatically cleans the sensor every time I turn it off and I can access this feature in the menu. This is a great feature, but it doesn’t work perfectly and over time you will likely need to manually clean the sensor.

And finally, one of the best things you can do is to protect your sensor while using your camera. If you prevent particles from getting to your sensor in the first place, cleaning will be a breeze and less of a necessity. Avoid changing your lenses in dusty, sandy, windy, or wet conditions if possible, and be sure that your sensor gate is activated any time you remove a lens.

Lens Maintenance

Proper lens care is essential for maintaining image quality. The principles here are similar to cleaning your camera. Start by using a blower to remove loose particles from the exterior lens surfaces. Next, use a lens brush, lens pen, or microfiber cloth to gently brush away any remaining debris. For smudges, fingerprints, or anything else on the glass elements of the lens use a sprayable lens cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth. I also like to use a blower on the rear element of my lens to remove any dust that may have drifted in.

Just like before the best way to keep your lenses clean is to prevent them from getting dirty. Always store your lenses in a protective case or padded camera bag to prevent scratches and other damage and be sure to keep lens caps on both sides of your lens when not being used.

Battery Care

Batteries are the lifeblood of your camera, and proper care is necessary to ensure optimal performance. This is especially true when it comes to modern mirrorless cameras which burn through batteries at a much faster rate than traditional DSLRs. Avoid overcharging by removing the battery from the charger once it's fully charged. It’s also a good idea to let your batteries completely or almost completely run out of power before fully recharging them. Additionally, store batteries in a room-temperature, dry place, and if you won't be using your camera for an extended period, partially discharge the battery before storage. This helps prevent capacity loss.

Here are a few additional tips when it comes to batteries. If you’re in a cold environment it’s essential to keep your batteries warm. I like to store them close to my body in interior pockets beneath insulating layers. Also, most cameras have the ability to tell you the performance of your batteries. This is usually somewhere in the menu and is a great way to tell if you may need to replace older batteries that aren’t performing as well.

Firmware Updates

Manufacturers regularly release firmware updates to enhance camera performance and address any issues. Be sure to check your camera manufacturer's website for firmware updates and follow their instructions for installation. Keeping your camera's firmware up to date can improve functionality, fix bugs, and even add new features. This is an excellent way to prolong the life of your camera and even improve its functionality.

Storage and Environmental Considerations

Protecting your camera from extreme environmental conditions is crucial. Avoid exposing your gear to extreme temperatures, humidity, precipitation, or direct sunlight for extended periods. When not in use, store your camera in a quality camera bag with proper padding and weather-resistant material to safeguard it from impacts and shocks.

When you’re not in the field or actively using your gear be sure to store it in a dry, room-temperature location where it is safe. Additionally, if you’re camera gets wet or moist from rain, snow, or humidity be sure to thoroughly dry it out while storing it. If you have a lens that extends it’s a good idea to dry it fully extended to prevent moisture from developing inside the lens barrel.

Tripod Maintenance

If you frequently use a tripod, ensure it is in good working condition. Check for loose screws, lubricate moving parts, and clean the legs and joints. One of the worst things for telescoping gear such as tripods or zoom lenses is sand and dust particles. If you get sand on your tripod, be sure to rinse it away with water before collapsing the tripod legs. Properly maintained tripods provide stability, open up a world of creative possibilities, and can help ensure the safety of your camera.

Camera Bag Organization

One final tip that will save you countless time in the field, and that will help you protect your gear and keep it clean is to have a well-organized camera bag. A well-organized bag not only protects your gear but also makes it easier to locate items quickly. Purchase a bag with high-quality, padded dividers to separate and cushion your equipment. You want things to fit snugly into place and you don’t want cameras, lenses, or gear jostling around when transporting your bag. Regularly clean the bag to remove any accumulated dust or debris.

I can’t stress enough just how important a quality camera bag is. Be sure to properly protect your fancy camera gear by investing in the right bag for the job.

Conclusion

Investing time in regular cleaning and maintenance is a small effort that pays significant dividends in the longevity and performance of your photography gear. By following these essential tips, photographers of all levels can ensure that their cameras remain in optimal condition, producing high-quality images for years to come. Incorporate these practices into your routine, and you'll not only extend the life of your gear but also enhance your overall photography experience.

I hope this article has been helpful and informative and has inspired you to adopt some new cleaning and maintenance practices. Let’s keep our photography gear for as long as we can and keep it in great working order! Until next time...

Keenan Hursh is a Photographer, visual designer, and creative story teller based out of Bozeman, Montana. He draws inspiration from his frequent excursions into the natural world and always brings his camera along to capture whatever adventures he finds himself in. Keenan is passionate about documenting and sharing fleeting moments from the natural world and focuses primarily on wildlife, landscape, and adventure photography.

When it comes to gear, he primarily shoots digital with his Canon EOS R5 and EOS 6D mark ii but also has several 35mm film cameras that get out every now and then.

At a very young age, Keenan started bringing a camera along on his excursions and immediately fell in love with the art of photography. He started out with his parent’s cheap point and shoot and has continuously improved his craft and gear refining his shooting style and producing more compelling and intriguing images.

Growing up in the foothills of Boulder, Colorado, surrounded by mountains and wilderness, Keenan has developed a deep passion for many outdoor activities. When he’s not out on a shoot or using his camera, Keenan enjoys skiing, climbing, hiking, backpacking, cycling, whitewater rafting, and paragliding. If he’s outside, away from the distractions of society and civilization, he’s in his happy place.

Keenan studied Emergent Digital Practices at the University of Denver while minoring in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. Since earning his degree in 2019 he was worked with a wide range of clients, companies, and organizations throughout his career. Apart from photography he specializes in content creation, writing, brand development, and graphic design.

You can view Keenan’s portfolio on his website at www.keenanhurshphoto.com