Cleaning cameras

[lsquare]

I'm just wondering how many of you guys actually clean your cameras? I was thinking of occasionally using 70% isopropyl alcohol on a anti-dust cloth to wipe the camera. Is this safe to do? Is using a cloth a good idea? Or you guys have a better suggestion on what to apply the alcohol on?

[FlyingPhotog]

Dust Off Canned Air .. Exterior Only...

[elysium]

Outside, never thought about it.

Sensor every 6 months if needs be. Rarely change lenses and when I do, its pretty quick so never had any issues so far. Had my 5D since March and have cleaned it once due to boredom.

[tim]

Don't touch the electrical contacts with anything more than a rag, it can oxidise the metal and stop the camera working. Trust me, I found that one out the hard way.

I wouldn't put alcohol anywhere near it, except sensor cleaning fluid on the sensor, which is a form of alcohol. Ethanol I think, Eclipse is the brand name.

[lsquare]

I thought it was safe to clean electronics with rubbing alcohol? Is that not the case now?

I'm talking about cleaning the exterior of the camera and maybe the electrical contacts if that gets dirty.

[Ade H]

I tend to baby my gear so I like to clear off any fingerprints, grease marks, and mud from MX races :lol: from the outside with a lens wipe (the pre-moistened type in a sachet) or, failing that, a slightly damp cloth.

The sensor and mirror box will only get treated (just a dry clean) when needed and I have yet to need to wet clean the sensor, luckily.

[tim]

Alcohol can be harsh, you never know what'll do to plastics. Is it safe? No idea. Is it necessary? No. I have cameras that've been used for 50 weddings, in all kinds of conditions, they don't seem to need cleaning. What do you do with your cameras? Shoot mud wrestling from ground level? How would you get the contacts dirty?

[Ade H]

Alcohol can be harsh....

I sort of agree with you, but it's easy to avoid alcohol-based cleaners now with the solutions that are available. Most of them seem to be alcohol-free.

The only issue with contacts that I have ever seen was some sort of white-ish crust on the contacts of very old bodies, but camera shops always used to sell fibre pens to clean that off. I don't know if it's still ever an issue.

[I26]

I have some monster cable brand LCD cleaner for my laptop that works well. I spray it on a microfiber cloth and clean the housing with that. I also use the same setup, 2nd cloth to do clean my glass. Works fine since day one 2 years ago.

[lsquare]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but if rubbing alcohol is bad for electronics, then why do people often say use rubbing alcohol to clean electronics?

[tim]

Dunno, but common wisdom is often anything but. I know the alcohol caused problems with electrical contacts for me, so I strongly recommend against using them for on conductors.