| It has long been an unfortunate myth in photography | | | | inside the camera body and you can get at it with |
| that getting rid of dirt on camera image sensors is a | | | | the blower. This mode will reset to normal when the |
| job for professionals only. So, many an amateur has | | | | camera is turned off. |
| forked out $50 time and again, simply to have a few | | | | 2. Simply take off the lens on your camera and tip |
| dust particles removed. It is not necessary. There is | | | | the camera body downwards. It's important to keep |
| a host of fantastic equipment available to help you | | | | the camera pointing down to stop dust from falling |
| deal with this maddeningly frustrating part of digital | | | | into it, you want it to fall out. |
| photography. I want to let you know about the one, | | | | 3. Get your squeeze bulb blower and position the tip |
| simple device that can quickly and easily deal with | | | | within range of the camera sensor. Blast away! |
| most cases of dirt on the sensor: squeeze-bulb | | | | Repeatedly squeeze the pocket of air for, say half a |
| blowers. | | | | minute, until the sensor has been given a good clean. |
| If you are on a mission to be rid of some horribly | | | | You will find this eliminates just about all loose |
| stubborn and sticky bit of dust that refuses to go | | | | particles of dust. |
| away, then sensor brushes and cleaning swabs with | | | | 4. Before reattaching your lens to the camera body, |
| the accompanying fluid will be needed. But I have | | | | give it a blast at both ends with the bulb blower to |
| found that simple squeeze bulb blowers eliminate dust | | | | see off any stray specks of dirt on the glass. |
| most of the time, without any painstaking effort, | | | | 5. Return the blower to its case. |
| without any expense, and often even during a shoot. | | | | This is a quick and easy routine that most |
| What is a squeeze-bulb blower? | | | | photographers do on a weekly basis. It is crucial to |
| It is a tool with a soft plastic, elliptical pocket of air | | | | take care when holding the blower not to knock it |
| that, when squeezed, draws in air through a filter at | | | | into any parts inside the camera body. It is the first |
| the top and pushes it out through a thin funnel at the | | | | step to take when dealing with a dirty sensor. |
| bottom. | | | | Brushes and swabs can follow if it is not successful. |
| They are available from any camera store and fit | | | | Only pay for a professional job if each of these |
| easily into your camera bag. | | | | measures does not deal with the problem. In any |
| All squeeze-bulb blowers come with a protective case | | | | case, Photoshop can always be used to delete |
| of some kind, which is important for keeping them | | | | specks of dirt after the shot has been taken. |
| clean and dust-free. | | | | Investing in a squeeze bulb blower is a good first |
| How are they used? | | | | move in at last saying goodbye to the plague of dirty |
| 1. Select 'camera sensor cleaning' mode in your | | | | camera sensors. Good luck! |
| camera's menus so that the image sensor is revealed | | | | |