How Do You Care For Your Gear?

I'm one of those people who consider a SLR camera a fine instrument. I get enjoyment from taking care of it, getting it out and looking it over, blowing off dust, you know, just saying hi.

About 20 years ago, I bought this cloth for cleaning a new Pentax ME and lenses I owned. It was cheap, a couple bucks and it had silicone in it. It was a microfibre cloth that felt like heavy silk.

About once a week, usually on rainy days, I would get the bag out, blow off dust then get that cloth out and wipe down the camera body and my lenses. The silicone lubricated the moving parts but it also cleaned right down to the paint and took the static out. Left a nice dry sheen to everything, especially that gray rubber they cover camera bodies with and used for focus rings. Made it like new.

I lost that cloth, They are hard to find now. I found another one just like it about 8 years ago. I still have that one and use it all the time. I keep it in a ziplock between uses. But it's getting old now, and lost it's silicone. But it is such a fine cloth, I use it to clean lenses with. Does an excellent job too.

But, I bought two new ones, not as good, made of microfiber flannel and has silicone. It's made for guns and reels, but I just used it on my camera and 100-400L and all my other lenses. The silicone grabs off the dust, lubricates the barrel and just cleans the plastic or paint or metal to like brand new. Cost: $2.99 at Walmart.

So what do you all do to maintain your gear? Anyone use silicone cloths?

I'm pretty rough on gear and don't really baby it. I look at cameras and lenses more as tools than fine instruments and use them daily for sports, events, and portraits. You'd probably be horrified to hear that I think there's still a bit of mud on my 70-200 from a game a few weeks ago.

micro fiber cloth, ammonia free windex, breath and canned air.

microfiber cloths, disposable cloths and rocket blowers..

Microfiber cloth, lens cleaner, rocket blower. Recently, I was bored and cleaned the body itself for the first time in a long time-- it was kinda gross -- the viewfinder was covered in dirt and presumably sluffed off skin and whatnot from my lovely face.

I treat my stuff well but I don't baby it-- there's no point in shelling out for metal body lenses etc etc if you treat it like it's fragile.

liza wrote in post #2117861
I'm pretty rough on gear and don't really baby it. I look at cameras and lenses more as tools than fine instruments and use them daily for sports, events, and portraits. You'd probably be horrified to hear that I think there's still a bit of mud on my 70-200 from a game a few weeks ago.

That's how I feel too. Although, I'm not in muddy conditions with my gear Philosophy is the same though.

I often shoot by the ocean, so a lot sea spray gets carried by the wind and onto the camera. It's been little over a year now, and the only things it's ever needed is a wipe-down on the lens barrel and body with my clean t-shirt, and filter with a microfiber after each shooting... and some occasional rocket air power. Complete process: 60 seconds. Everything still looks immaculate.

It's not like I baby the stuff, but old military habits die hard. You shoot a gun, you never ever put it away uncleaned. Same with my camera. I use it, then I clean it after every use. Just feels right.

Of course, I do the same with my fishing reels, guns, jeeps and horses. Just not right to ride them hard and put them up wet.

canonloader wrote in post #2118032
It's not like I baby the stuff, but old military habits die hard. You shoot a gun, you never ever put it away uncleaned. Same with my camera. I use it, then I clean it after every use. Just feels right.

Of course, I do the same with my fishing reels, guns, jeeps and horses. Just not right to ride them hard and put them up wet.

I can understand that.

Until you posted this I could just imagine the silk pouches you put your gear into before you placed it on the featherbed located in the dust free bubble room you have in the basement

canonloader wrote in post #2118032
Of course, I do the same with my fishing reels, guns, jeeps and horses. Just not right to ride them hard and put them up wet.

Wow you clean your jeep every after every time you drive it? Now that's some dedication! Of course, fishing gear will rust if you don't, guns might jam if you don't, and horses won't let you on again if you don't. It's always good to keep things pristine.

mxwphoto wrote in post #2118043
Wow you clean your jeep every after every time you drive it? Now that's some dedication!

Hey now, nothing wrong with a clean car. Mine get's a detail spray and wipedown every night unless it rains, then it gets washed in the morning.

I am very careful with my gear and clean my lenses and blow out my sensor at least once a week Not because it needs it, but I just like to polish my babies!

solinger wrote in post #2118050
Hey now, nothing wrong with a clean car. Mine get's a detail spray and wipedown every night unless it rains, then it gets washed in the morning.

I'm just saying that to do so every time is very dedicated and I'm impressed because washing a car is not something that you can do within a min or two.

mxwphoto wrote in post #2118062
I'm just saying that to do so every time is very dedicated and I'm impressed because washing a car is not something that you can do within a min or two.

Seven to wash and a few more to dry depending on how cold it is. If you wipe it down daily it doesn't have to be washed that often.

The glass gets regular cleaning, whether blowing or wipes. The sensor gets blown regularly and cleaned when required. The rest I don't worry over much at all, in fact my 20D body just got a complete wipe down a week ago, the first time in 1 1/2 years. I too look at my gear like tools and do not baby it, just make sure the operation is working.

My truck is the same, it is a tool and gets cleaned good once or twice a year, they rest of the time I do keep it clear of larger debris.