Caring for your Camera

The sheer quantity of electronics found in a digital camera in many ways renders them less robust than their conventional, film-based counterparts.

The convenience of not needing boxes of film on a shoot is offset by the extreme care that has to be taken of the sensor. There is only one sensor, and any significant damage to it will render the camera practically useless. Gone are the days when a set of jewelers’ screwdrivers and long-nosed pliers might get a faulty camera back on the road. When a digital camera goes wrong, you either have a spare body ready or you stop shooting. This places even more importance on basic camera care than in the days of film.

A largely unresolved issue is how to keep the sensor clean in a ...

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