Over a long enough time period, cameras and lenses can take a beating, and the best way to keep them functioning and minimize issues like dust is to clean them on a frequent basis. What's the best way to do that? While you will likely get different answers from different people, Canon has released a video that aims to provide some basic information on maintaining lenses and cameras. This might be a Canon-focused video, but the tips are certainly applicable to any brand out there.

One of the best ways to avoid getting dust on the sensor is to make sure there isn't any dust on the back of your lenses and lens caps. The bulb air blowers are great, especially for non-DSLR cameras that have exposed sensors when you remove the lens. As they show in the above picture, turning the camera or lens upside down is helpful for making sure the particles you're blowing off actually come off, and don't just blow around.

While you should never use canned air on the sensor itself as mentioned in the video above, it will usually be fine for non-sensitive parts of the camera and lens as long as it is used properly. This means keeping the can upright, never shaking it, keeping it more than a few inches away when spraying, and always giving it a few test sprays into the air to ensure that there is no liquid coming out.

I'm a huge fan of using lens pens like these once I've removed any particles on a lens, and if you've got fingerprints or any other marks that are being stubborn, a few drops of Pancro on a Kimtech wipe should do the trick.

Everyone has their own specific ways of cleaning gear, so feel free to share what you use and how you use it in the comments below.

[via Canon Watch]

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