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Right, so now you have a great camera and clean lenses. But you may still notice strange dark blobs on your pictures. It’s likely that this is the result of muck on the camera’s sensor. No matter how careful you are when removing the lens, dust, hairs and even moisture can fall on the sensor, creating these rogue elements. It can take hours of Photoshop work to clean your pictures if the sensor has been affected by lots of grime, so it’s well worth cleaning your sensor first. To prevent sensor dirt, take great care when changing lenses, especially in dusty environments.

What does sensor dirt look like?

The most common form of sensor grime is specks of dust. You can easily get rid of these with the Spot Healing tool in Photoshop but this can be extremely time-consuming. It’s best to tackle the problem at the root cause instead.

How to clean the sensor

The sensor is the most important part of your digital SLR and is very delicate, so only clean it if absolutely necessary. If you can get away without cleaning your sensor then don’t even attempt it – it’s a high-risk operation at the best of times. If you’re at all unsure then look into sending the camera back to the manufacturer to get it cleaned professionally. Every care should be taken when attempting this yourself, and Practical Photography can accept no responsibility for any damage caused during the process.

• Carefully read the instructions for both your camera and the cleaning kit you’ve bought.
• Make sure everything is ready for you to use, then take the lens off the camera. You’ll find the mirror between you and the sensor. It needs to be raised, so check your instruction manual for details on how to do this on your digital SLR.
• Hold the camera so the sensor is facing the floor and then use a blower to dislodge any loose dust. Don’t use compressed air, as it is too harsh. A blower like this Giottos Rocket is perfect.
• Place the tip of your cleaning stick onto the upper right-hand corner of the sensor. Apply pressure until the tip bends at a right angle, then move the stick around the edges, ensuring the whole sensor has been covered.
• Close the mirror. Replace the lens or attach a body cap over the front of the camera. Also try Photographic Solutions sensor swabs and cleaning fluid (see www.photosol.com).

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