Cleaning and caring for your camera on the road

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Cleaning your camera on the road can mark the difference between getting the photos you want and, well, not. Yet it's shocking how many photographers do not address this correctly. I thought I'd put together a simple list of the things which come with me on every single trip, not as a "must" list, but more as an ideas list. However, keep in mind - these have saved my bacon more than once!

During my travels I have very frequently come across many photographers, amateurs as well as professionals, who travel without adequate means of cleaning and maintaining their cameras while on the road. Sure, some of them have a cloth for their lenses and may - but not always - a blower, but usually that’s it. They are shocked when they find out I carry a comprehensive cleaning and care kit with me but it’s not at all surprising to me how frequently I end up cleaning their cameras on the road and addressing issues while on the road.To someone - and I am talking about me - who was forced to buy medical alcohol from an all night pharmacy in Jordan to clean the sensor of his D80 and used a toothpick to get the dust off the corners, the absence of a really good kit shows not only a lack of preparedness but also lack of consideration for the very expensive cameras we carry and, ultimately, for the images we take - after all, it’s always better to spend 10’ cleaning your sensor than 3hrs removing dust spots, no?So, when during my two recent trips I came across “professional” photographers who had suffered quite serious equipment issues and had literally no way to address them, the thought came to me: why don’t I put together a very simple guide to my cleaning kit so others can take inspiration from it? After all, this kit is the result of literally dozens of trials and errors, of hundreds of dollars of wasted money in ineffective or otherwise failed purchases and the culmination of over 30 trips in the last 5 years where this kit has proven absolutely invaluable and, on 4 occasions, quite a life saver.Before I start listing what’s in the bag, let me explain the concept behind this: the kit below is designed to be light and compact, power independent and able to address both external as well as internal dust and grime - after all, it’s usually what’s outside that tends to migrate inside. The kit comprises of a couple of slightly more expensive pieces of equipment but is mostly made up of relatively inexpensive items as, when you travel and expose your equipment to loads of dirt, there is a certain degree of attrition in your supplies - so keeping the cost low is actually quite important. So, without further ado, here’s what’s in the bag:

• a thick, soft paintbrush head. I use this one and have removed the handle for easier handling and packing. The brush is used to remove all general external dust and grime from every nook and cranny before I even think of taking the camera apart and remove the lens. The long but stiff bristles make short work out of almost everything which may easily migrate inside - saves a ton of work down the line, trust me.• small can of WD40. Awesome, versatile, practical and has a billion uses. I use it to thoroughly clean every external rubber and plastic surface, remote sweat and dirt from even the hardest to reach elements. Believe it or not, it has even served in removing dust which snuck inbetween my lens barrels and was stopping the lens from zooming and focusing. Lifesaver!• microfibre cloths of different sizes. Choose whichever suit you best, but I would advise at least get some big ones. I am not afraid in using them WITH the WD40 as I find the combination produces the best results. Sure, there’s some turnover there, but hey, 6 of them cost less than £6, so… As a word of advice, avoid using paper or non-lint-free cloth with the WD40 (hence my use of microfibre cloths) as the first simply slaps the oil around in a bad way and causes more of a mess, while the second will end up deposing lint onto your equipment.

• a good rocket blower. Low tech, but make sure you get a silicone as opposed to a rubber one! Why? Rubber polymerises and falls apart from the inside relatively quickly and eventually, when you least expect it, it will result with particles being blown on your sensor! Try and get one with a filter on the air intake. I could not find the one I bought on Amazon, but I’m sure you can track one down. There are dozens out there.• Micnova Sensor Loupe. Absolutely invaluable to allow you to quickly and effectively gauge the status of your sensor. With this you can decide whether your sensor needs cleaning or not in less than 5’’, potentially saving you a LOT of time and potential risk. Get the right one for your camera(s) and you’re good to go.• Eyelead Sensor Cleaning Kit. I have to say, I’m surprised at how expensive this appears to be on Amazon as I certainly did not pay that much for it a couple of years ago, BUT having tried pretty many alternatives, I find this the most effective and, above all safe! I’ve used 5 or 6 different brands of swab solutions and while they do the job, they have also resulted in a scratched sensor (at enormous replacement cost) and in having to repeat the process 4-5 times, while all this time, the sensor is open to the elements. When you travel, especially to places which necessitate sensor cleaning, this is a potential risk. Remember, this is a travel cleaning kit, not your definitive cleaning kit!

On top of these basic items, I also have a number of smaller bits and pieces I never leave home without:• cotton buds (usually I pack 20, but depending on anticipated conditions, I may pack more)• super glue• toothbrush (actually I carry two - a soft and a hard one). I use them to get dust and grime away from every corner of my cameras after every day’s shooting. I cannot overstate the importance of this - the environment hates your very expensive camera - it will throw dust, mud, moisture, dirt and every combination on them and they will get everywhere: under the dials, around the buttons, around the eye-piece, in the memory card slots etc etc. Using the two toothbrushes you can easily and safely remove everything and keep your camera in a really good condition.I also use something else to protect my cameras from one of the worst contaminants around: human sweat! I use fingerless sailing or fishing gloves, the thin ones, whenever I’m in either very warm or very cold environments. Yeah, they can look sort of ridiculous (and I have attracted the odd look here and there), BUT let me tell you, they work! Actually, they work extremely well and I would recommended them anyway.A couple of final notes before signing off:• Please make sure you clean your cameras and lenses before you leave for any trip. Camera accumulate dust and particles even when stored inside a camera bag, so give them a once over before the final packing and preparation.• Take all the usual precautions when changing lenses - this is by far the single largest contributing factor of sensor dust

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