Maintaining your Canon kit

Now is the perfect time to carry out some maintenance on your DSLR and lenses

Your camera might be packed with sensitive electronics, but it’s built to withstand the rigours of use in a wide range of conditions, from freezing temperatures to tropical heat. However, it’s wise to take precautions for less than perfect shooting conditions and to be prepared to carry out a little DIY maintenance to keep your camera and lenses firing on all cylinders.

The main camera enemies are water and dust. No Canon EOS DSLR is technically waterproof, but higher-end EOS DSLRS have a greater abundance of seals that are designed to prevent the ingress of moisture and dust as you operate the buttons, dials and doors. Of course, all EOS cameras have a whacking great hole at the front, but many Canon L-series lenses have rubber rings around their rear mounts to provide a seal against the elements between the lens and the camera.

Avoid changing lenses in breezy conditions, particularly when you’re shooting on a sandy beach or in a dusty environment, as there’s a greater risk of particles entering the camera. Whenever you change lenses, I’d recommend switching off the camera first (so there’s no electrical charge to attract dust) and pointing the camera lens mount towards the ground so that particles can’t fall into the camera body when the lens is removed.