How to Protect Your Camera Gear

If you take good care of your camera equipment, you can extend its lifespan and comfortably use it for years to come. There are a few things you should be aware of when cleaning, transporting, and storing your camera gear. In this article, I'll highlight some of the most important things you should keep in mind when doing all of this.

I want to note that everyone has their own way of cleaning and protecting their camera equipment, so if your method is slightly different, that's completely fine. You can use this post as a source of new ideas to help you take the best possible care of your precious gear.

But first, in this video I ask Photo Masters founder Ian Plant about some of the most common problems he encounters with his gear. To learn more about caring for your equipment, keep reading after you watch the video.

How to Clean Your Camera Equipment

It goes without saying that different kinds of camera gear require different kinds of cleaning techniques. The most common types of gear that you may need to clean are your camera body and lenses. Make sure to use special cleaning tools that will ensure your equipment remains safe during the cleaning process. 

Fortunately, you don't need fancy cleaning tools to keep your camera gear clean; a blower, brush, and microfibre cleaning cloth are more than enough.

Before you begin, make sure that you're in a dust-free location, ideally indoors. Make sure that you're not cleaning your equipment next to an open window on a windy day.

• Blower: Use this to blow away any dust or other particles that are difficult to remove with a cloth. You can even use a blower to blow dust off of your image sensor. 

• Brush: Before using a cleaning cloth, you can use special lens brushes to get rid of dust.

• Microfiber cloth: This can be used to get rid of smudges without leaving scratches on your equipment.

• Lens cleaning fluid: You can use this with a cleaning cloth to get rid of stubborn smudges. Make sure that the fluid is made specifically for lenses; any other kind of solution could damage your lens. (Important note: not every photographer feels comfortable using lens cleaning fluid. You can get lots of proper cleaning done with the help of a blower and a brush.)

• Lens cleaning wipes. You can use generic wipes made for cleaning glasses, which you can find in most grocery stores or pharmacies. Or, you can use wipes specifically made for camera lenses. The wipes come pre-soaked in a cleaning fluid and are designed to avoid scratching glass.

There are lots of great lens cleaning kits available at Hunt’s, such as the Zeiss Lens Cleaning Kit. If you need to clean camera accessories, like filters, you can purchase specialized cleaning tools such as the Nano Cleaning LensPen for Filters.

Cleaning Your Sensor

If you're seeing spots on your images, that means there is dust on your sensor, and it's time to clean. Many cameras offer a sensor-cleaning feature, so that's a good place to start (basically, the camera vibrates the sensor, helping to dislodge dust).

Another easy cleaning option is to remove the lens and use a blower to gently blow air on the sensor; this should dislodge most dust. If you still have some persistent dust spots, then you need to take more extreme measures to get your sensor clean. You can use a sensor cleaning kit, but be especially careful not to leave any fluid streaks on your sensor or to otherwise damage it. If you aren't comfortable cleaning your own sensor, you can typically take it to your local camera store for a professional cleaning.

How Often Should I Clean My Camera Equipment?

If you take photographs regularly and shoot in locations with lots of dust or sand, you might want to clean your camera equipment after every shoot. Keep in mind that the whole process doesn't need to be particularly tedious, especially if you regularly clean your camera equipment.

If you're a hobbyist who mainly shoots indoors, for example, you don't need to clean your camera equipment that often. To put it simply, it all depends on your location and how dirty your camera equipment looks!

How often you clean your camera equipment also depends on your subject. I often take photographs of pets, so I have to deal with quite a significant amount of fur! If I don't handle my gear correctly — for example, if I change lenses in a location with a lot of fur — I might end up with fur in my sensor. This brings me to my next point, which is the importance of changing lenses in the right places.

Changing Lenses in the Field 

If you're out in the field and you quickly need to switch out your lenses, make sure to stand with your back to the wind so that no unnecessary particles get into your camera body. Paying attention to dust particles, as well as the direction of the wind, can help you keep your camera safe anywhere.

Also, it's better not to change lenses when it's very windy outside. Some photographers have gotten into a lot of trouble while trying to switch their lenses in harsh weather conditions. At the very least, find a safe place without any wind or dust, where you can quickly change your lenses and continue taking amazing photographs. Changing your lens under your jacket can help prevent dust from getting into the camera. And, if it is windy and dusty, make sure not to leave your camera bag open!

Protecting Your Lenses

Many photographers use inexpensive UV filters on their lenses to protect the glass from spray or falls. Some pros claim that this isn't a smart idea, because the UV filter will reduce image quality. But this is a bit of a myth, and it is unlikely that you'll notice a significant degradation in image quality from using a UV filter. In any event, one easy way to avoid losing image quality is to simply invest in quality filters (Breakthough Photography makes excellent UV filters that won't diminish image quality). A lens hood can also provide protection for your lens.

How to Protect Camera Equipment in Different Weather Conditions

Changes in humidity and temperature might not seem much to us as humans, but they can have a very negative effect on camera equipment if it's not stored and protected properly. Let's take a look at some common weather conditions that might require you to pay extra attention to your gear.

Hot and Humid Locations

Every camera handles heat differently, so make sure to refer to your camera manual and check your camera's limits. Be aware that if it is very humid or hot (over 100°F, 38°C), your camera might experience problems. Higher end cameras and lenses with good weather sealing will handle challenging conditions better, but even the best gear can fail if conditions are too extreme.

If you leave your camera or lenses in the car on a hot summer day, you put your equipment at risk of being damaged by the heat. Make sure to store your equipment in a padded camera bag that can slow overheating, and find a relatively cool place in your vehicle to stash your gear (ideally, it will be a place out of the sun and away from prying eyes).

Sudden, dramatic changes in temperature can create problems. If you move from an air-conditioned room into humid heat, condensation will form on your equipment, which is especially problematic if your lenses fog up. The best way to ensure that your equipment changes temperatures gradually to avoid fogging is to keep it sealed in a camera bag while going from inside to outside, and waiting 20-30 minutes before taking any equipment out.  

Cold Weather Conditions

The challenges that come with cold weather conditions are similar to those above. The common denominator is condensation. This time, the issue occurs when you leave the cold and enter a warm room (or vice versa). If there's a sudden change in temperature, you might get lens fogging. Once again, allowing your gear to change temperature gradually sealed inside your camera bag is the best way to avoid fogging.

Especially when you return from a cold shoot, give your lenses at least 30-60 minutes to warm up inside your camera bag before opening it up. Some photographers even seal their lenses in plastic bags before heading back in from the cold to prevent any condensation from forming.

Batteries tend to lose power much more quickly in very low temperatures, so make sure to carry spare batteries with you. In my experience, modern lithium-ion batteries actually handle cold quite well, but extreme cold will drain your batteries more quickly than usual. It's best to carry some spare batteries with you just in case, even if it's not too cold outside. Just make sure to keep spare batteries in a warm pocket so they aren't also drained by the cold.

As for memory cards, it's important to choose a manufacturer that prioritizes the safety of its products in harsh weather conditions. If you're looking for a powerful and reliable memory card company, look no further than Delkin Devices. As an example, the Delkin Devices BLACK SD and microSD memory cards can handle temperatures ranging from -13°F to 185°F (-25°C to 85°C), so you can take photos safely without worrying about losing data.

Tips for Shooting in the Rain

Rain comes with a different set of challenges, but it can also make for some interesting images. If you often take photos in the rain, it's worth investing in a weather-sealed camera that can protect your gear from the elements. However, there are other, more budget-friendly options available too.

A rain sleeve for your camera can serve as a handy "raincoat" for your gear. A rain sleeve can allow you to shoot directly in the rain, but there's always the risk of water getting on your lens if it's raining intensely. A small umbrella can really come in handy when shooting in the rain, and you have more flexibility to angle it to keep raindrops off your lens.

The safest alternative, in my opinion, is shooting from a location that can keep your equipment safe, like under a roof. If you want to get closer to your subject without ending up in the rain, you can use a telephoto zoom lens. 

Safe Storage Conditions for Camera Equipment 

When you're not traveling, you still need to take care of your equipment by storing it in a safe environment. Even in a relatively neutral environment, your camera is still at risk of being damaged by the elements, particularly humidity. 

Humidity and fungus go hand in hand. If your camera is stored in a humid place, make sure to preserve it by storing it in a dry box or an airtight container. Even if you don't live in a place that's very humid, chances are there's still some humidity in your home. If you store your camera gear for weeks at a time without using it, fungus may develop on the lenses and ruin the quality of your images. 

If you find that there isn't too much moisture in the air, you can try using silica gel packets to absorb moisture instead. Of course, this isn't as effective as a dry box, but if you live in an area that has just a little humidity, this might be a better alternative for you.

Also, don’t forget to remove your batteries and store them separately to prevent leakage!

Conclusion

Keeping your camera equipment safe might seem challenging because there are so many things to consider, especially if you travel frequently. However, this can easily become a habit with a little practice. And, it's worth the effort, as even a little maintenance can protect your gear investment.

P.S. It is always a good idea to travel with a backup camera, just in case something happens. That way, you can keep on shooting even if your primary camera fails.

How do you keep your camera equipment safe? Let us know in the comments!