Gear Care & Maintenance Quiz

A rocket blower pushes clean, dry air without touching the sensor, so it removes loose dust with almost no risk. Canned air can spray liquid propellant onto the sensor, breath adds moisture, and a cotton swab sheds fibers and can scratch the sensor's filter.

Fungus spores are in the air everywhere and grow inside lenses kept in humid, dark, still places. Light, airflow, and low humidity discourage it, which is why lenses are stored with silica gel or in a dry cabinet and used regularly.

Pointing the camera's open mount downward while swapping lenses makes it harder for falling dust, pollen, or rain to land on the sensor. Turning the camera off and working quickly help too. Facing into the wind does the opposite.

A stored battery left in a camera can leak over time and corrode the battery compartment. Keeping the camera in a dry box with silica gel prevents condensation from building up on contacts and internal mechanisms during an extended storage period.

A shirt holds grit and is not made for optics, so wiping can drag hard particles across the glass and leave fine scratches in the coating. A blower followed by a microfiber cloth or lens tissue removes grit first, then cleans. The sensor sits behind the lens and is not affected.

Salt water left to dry on camera surfaces leaves behind crystallized salt that continues to corrode metal contacts and seals. Removing it immediately with a fresh-water-dampened cloth while it is still dissolved prevents that ongoing damage.

Many photographers keep a clear or UV filter on the front of a lens as a cheap, replaceable layer against scratches, dust, and spray. Digital sensors already block UV, so the filter does little for color. Like any extra glass, it can add a little flare.

Weather sealing uses gaskets and seals around buttons, doors, and the lens mount to resist dust ingress and light water splashing, such as rain or mist. It is not a waterproof rating and provides no protection during submersion.

Canned air can spit liquid propellant when tilted or shaken, leaving a residue on the sensor or mirror that is much harder to remove than dust. The blast can also push dust deeper into the camera. A hand blower avoids both problems.

Silica gel is a desiccant that chemically binds to water vapor in the surrounding air. Placing packets in a sealed camera bag or case keeps the humidity low around optics and electronics, reducing the risk of fungal growth on lenses and corrosion on contacts.