Cleaning camera and lens contact area with tape: Here's just one more way to keep dust off your sensor. A tip from the top: Precision Camera in Austin hosted a gathering of Nikon...

Mormorazzi Loc: Temple, Texas

Here's just one more way to keep dust off your sensor. A tip from the top:

Precision Camera in Austin hosted a gathering of Nikon owners and brought in two Nikon techs, flown in from Japan, to clean our DSLR cameras and lenses for no charge.

I watched as they rolled up Scotch tape, attached it to a pencil-shaped tool, and cleaned the camera -- specifically, the metal ring (lens mount) around the contact points around both the lens and the camera. He showed me how much dust and dirt was attached to the tape after cleaning a D800. WOW!

I wasn't able to leave my camera to be cleaned, so I thought I'd try this technique at home. I took the fuzz off the end of a Q-tip, rolled Scotch tape onto the end, sticky side out, and carefully dabbed to pick up any dust and residue. I cleaned my camera plus two lenses and had to change out the tape seven times. I then cleaned all surfaces carefully with a few drops liquid sensor/lens cleaning liquid on a lens-cleaning cloth.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Mormorazzi wrote:

Here's just one more way to keep dust off your sen... (show quote)

Thank you, Deborah. I'll have to try that, but very judiciously.
--Bob

Mormorazzi Loc: Temple, Texas

Speaking of judiciously, I asked him why he didn't hold the camera upside down so the dust wouldn't accidentally fall into the camera. He said it wasn't necessary. I did so anyway.

rmalarz wrote:

Thank you, Deborah. I'll have to try that, but very judiciously.
--Bob

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Mormorazzi wrote:

Here's just one more way to keep dust off your sen... (show quote)

Nice trick to know. Your last sentence is important though. Just about any adhesive will leave residue on the surfaces it comes in contact with so it is important to use the proper cleaner to get it off or that area just becomes a dust magnet.
Anyway, thanks for the tip!

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Mormorazzi wrote:

Here's just one more way to keep dust off your sen... (show quote)

Interesting. I clean mine with sticky notes - no residue.

Mormorazzi Loc: Temple, Texas

You're welcome. I didn't stick around to watch the tech clean the entire camera, but I'm guessing he followed up with a cloth-n-cleaner swipe, too.

LFingar wrote:

Nice trick to know. Your last sentence is important though. Just about any adhesive will leave residue on the surfaces it comes in contact with so it is important to use the proper cleaner to get it off or that area just becomes a dust magnet.
Anyway, thanks for the tip!

Mormorazzi Loc: Temple, Texas

Using the end of the Q-tip allowed me to work easily in the tight spots. Give it a try. (I just tossed a sticky-note pad in my camera bag for emergencies!)

RWR wrote:

Interesting. I clean mine with sticky notes - no residue.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Mormorazzi wrote:

Using the end of the Q-tip allowed me to work easily in the tight spots. Give it a try. (I just tossed a sticky-note pad in my camera bag for emergencies!)

I use a toothpick for the tight spots, but can see where a Q-tip would be fine. (Probably better, if you carry them in your hip pocket! :lol: )

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Mormorazzi wrote:

Here's just one more way to keep dust off your sen... (show quote)

That's a clever idea. Thanks! I bet it would be easier with double-sided tape.

Jim Bob

LFingar wrote:

Nice trick to know. Your last sentence is important though. Just about any adhesive will leave residue on the surfaces it comes in contact with so it is important to use the proper cleaner to get it off or that area just becomes a dust magnet.
Anyway, thanks for the tip!

Exactemundo! Thanks for that very important addendum that the "experts" at Precision Camera apparently neglected to mention. Otherwise, your camera will be attracting and holding on to additional dust and debris.

Mormorazzi Loc: Temple, Texas

Hmmm. Double-sided tape? Not for me. I would have had to drive to the store to get some!! :)

jerryc41 wrote:

That's a clever idea. Thanks! I bet it would be easier with double-sided tape.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Mormorazzi wrote:

Here's just one more way to keep dust off your sen... (show quote)

Are you sure those techs weren't really from Canon? :lol:

Nikon_DonB Loc: Chicago

Great tip. Thanks Deb.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

this may be an issue for digital image making instruments, but film camera mounts and lens mounts should never, ever get that dirty.
if that is happening with your lenses and body mounts, then there is something fundamentaly wrong with how you are treating your equipment!

Mormorazzi Loc: Temple, Texas

Cody, the techs were cleaning all the cameras (about 50) with a pre-determined sequence; I'm sure they wouldn't have cleaned each one with tape if most didn't need it. Also, don't you think we photographers who spend a bundle on our gear think we're taking exceptional care to keep all parts clean? You may be particularly fastidious. Maybe not. Try it. You may be surprised.

wj cody wrote:

this may be an issue for digital image making instruments, but film camera mounts and lens mounts should never, ever get that dirty.
if that is happening with your lenses and body mounts, then there is something fundamentaly wrong with how you are treating your equipment!