Tips on How to Avoid Camera Sensor Dust

The sensor of a DSLR camera can quickly become dirty if untended since the lens is removable. This provides a lot of instances when dust can get in. Although you can easily remove specks of dirt and dust from your image in post processing, it’s just as easy and actually better for the camera to prevent these particles from landing on the sensor in the first place. I’ve gathered quite a few simple yet effective tips which professional photographers use to avoid sensor dust:

• Keep your camera bag very clean, all the time. Regularly vacuum the interior if you can.

• Make sure your lenses are always squeaky clean. A lot of sensor dust comes from dirty lenses, especially when they’re being used to focus or to zoom.

• Be very careful when changing lenses of a DSLR. It is during this time that the chances of dust entering the camera are at its highest. The trick is to do the lens change as quickly as possible (but be careful you don’t drop the lens!)

• Stay away from your pets while you’re changing the lens. One tiny strand of dog fur can be very harmful to the sensor.

• Do the lens change in a place that’s not windy or drafty, preferably indoors. If you’re at the beach or on a windy parking lot, go in a building or a car to swap lenses.

• Turn off your camera and point it straight down as you change the lens.

• Use a big blower bulb to blow off dust found on the camera mirror or shutter area.

• If you have no choice but to change lenses outdoors and there’s a breeze, you can try turning your back to the wind so your body is blocking it and shielding the lens mount.

• If you can, stick to using just one lens during the shoot. A zoom lens can take good pictures of both near and far off subjects and you could be satisfied with this compromise since the possibility of acquiring sensor dust is minimal.

• Turn off your camera as you change your lens.

• If your surroundings are really dusty, store your camera body inside a sealable plastic bag before placing it in your camera bag. This will provide extra protection and in this scenario, you can’t be too careful.

• While your camera is resting, leave it upright and not on its back so there’s less chance dust could fall in to the sensor.