If you're like me, the idea of cleaning a camera sensor induces the nervous cold sweats. It's not because cleaning one is particularly difficult, but handling such a precious part of a camera can be intimidating, as well as disastrous if done improperly. However, in this step-by-step tutorial, Tony Northrup shows you how to clean your DSLR's sensor correctly using swabs and a specialized cleaning solution.

See? It's really not that tricky. Just grab a clean swab (don't fuggin' touch the swabby part), add a couple of drops of the cleaning solution, and then give your sensor a nice, careful swipe. One tip, make sure your camera has enough battery life before sticking a swab in there. If by some tragic malfeasance of fate your camera shuts off while you're cleaning the sensor, the mirror will come down on the swab, potentially causing some damage. (This obviously isn't a problem with mirrorless cameras.)

If you want to be super thorough and have an extra $50 lying around, a camera sensor loupe will help you locate any contaminants. What the hell is a camera sensor loupe? Well, it's basically a magnifying glass that you throw over your sensor that has little red and white LED lights that make spotting dust and dirt a lot easier. 

Or, if you don't trust your clumsy mitts to clean your sensor properly (I don't blame you), you can always shell out $50 or $100 to have your camera manufacturer clean it professionally. Of course, this option won't help you much if you're out in the field.

Source: Tony and Chelsea Northrup

sensor cleaning
Cinematography & Cameras