When it comes to camera gear cleanliness and hygiene, we mostly think about cleaning the lens. That is of course important and should be done regularly and with great care. Another item that needs at least occasional cleaning has emerged after the advent of digital SLRs: the sensor. Sensor dust bothers most, if not all digital photographers. As concerned and sometimes consumed as we are about clean lenses and sensors, the exterior of the camera and lens gear may not get the necessary attention they deserve. These surfaces are not as sensitive to scratching, practically any soft cloth can be used to dust them.

I have found inexpensive cosmetic brushes sold at drugstores very convenient to dust off the exterior surfaces of my cameras and lenses. These brushes come in different fullness and size depending on the purpose. I carry a couple of them in my camera bag to dust off the gear. DO NOT USE THESE BRUSHES ON YOUR LENS GLASS OR FILTERS. They may possibly do damage to the coating.

A tripod is one the important accessories of a photographer. A good tripod is a must for many types of photography. In fact, conditions permitting, any photographic situation will benefit from using a tripod. It will minmize or even eliminate the camera shake, allow for a more deliberate composition, control depth of field better, and so on. Of course, there are circumstances when using a tripod is out of the question. Well then, how does one choose a tripod? [Read more...]