Cleaning your DSLR Camera

I got myself a Nikon 3200 DSLR camera back in November and it's safe to say that it is now my baby that goes everywhere with me!

Although it's not the most expensive DSLR it still cost a fair few bob so I like to make sure I take good care of it to keep it in top working order.

When it comes to keeping your DSLR clean it definitely pays to try and keep as much dust and dirt away from your camera as possible using these few simple tips:

• Keep your lens cap on when you're not using your camera to make sure the lens doesn't get scratched or dirty 

• Make sure your camera is well protected in your bag, not only to save it from getting knocked about but also to keep it away from anything dirty.  I keep my camera in a padded case.

• Take extra care with your camera when you're in a potentially messy environment.  It's not a good idea to go swinging your camera about on the beach and take extra care when your hands are sticky from ice-cream or cake (I speak from experience here!)

• When changing lens make sure you do it fast and efficiently to stop any dirt and fluff getting into your camera

It is, of course, impossible to stop your DSLR getting dirty so you will need to clean it from time to time.   Although it can be tempting to clean it with the sleeve of your jumper or a tissue from your pocket this definitely is not a good idea!  Make sure you always carry a lens cloth with you when you're out and about.  

If, like me, you're a child of the 80s you may be tempted to blow on your camera to get rid of any unwanted dirt (it always worked for VHS tapes!) - this is also not a good idea.  Always use a proper camera cleaning kit to clean your camera.

If you feel like your DSLR needs a proper clean take it to a camera shop.  It's not advisable to mess about with the inside of your camera if you don't know what you're doing!

Take a look at Curry's Guide to Keeping your DSLR clean for some more tips and if you have any extra tips to share I'd love to hear them.

This post was written in collaboration with Currys