Cleaning Tips for a Minolta Camera

Cleaning the glass on a camera lens is a delicate process.camera lens image by Zbigniew Nowak from Fotolia.com

Although Minolta stopped manufacturing cameras in 2006, many quality Minolta digital and film cameras remain in the hands of photographers everywhere. The Minolta camera gets dirty just like any other brand does, and it requires occasional cleaning identical to other models to keep it producing the image quality you desire. Follow some safe camera cleaning tips to get the most out of your Minolta camera.

Invest in Micro Fiber

Micro fiber is a type of cloth weaving that uses very fine fibers in a tight weave that allows for the cleaning of sensitive surfaces without using harsh chemical cleaners, according to the New York Institute of Photography. Since it is very important not to put liquids or other cleaners on the glass of your lens if possible, micro fiber is one of the best options for a simple wipe down to remove dust and fingerprints. Micro fiber cleaning cloths are inexpensive, can be used over and over and are washing machine and dryer safe.

Before you begin wiping your lenses or viewfinders with a cloth, you should remove as much existing dust as possible. The tiniest pieces of dirt, dust, sand or other debris can lead to scratches on the lens when the pressure of a cleaning cloth is applied on top of it. This can lead to image distortion in all photos taken with that lens.

Use a blower brush before you wipe the glass areas of the camera, according to the All Things Photography website. A blower brush is a common tool you can find in most stores that sell camera supplies. It has a soft bristle brush on one end and an air-filled bulb handle that you squeeze to express air from the brush. This blows the dust away gently and allows the brush to dust away the smallest particles.

If you have a stubborn fingerprint or other smudge on the lens of your camera, don't be tempted to apply a cleaner to remove it. Although some people use alcohol to remove smudges, that may not be necessary. Before applying any substance, open your mouth and breathe some warm moist air onto the glass to fog it up slightly. Then use your micro fiber cloth to wipe in a gentle circle to remove the smudge.

Digital cameras capture the image with a computerized component known as an image sensor. When changing lenses, dust can get on the sensor and result in imperfections on your prints. These blemishes will be highly visible in your digital photo editing software as well.

If you realize you have a dusty image sensor, don't try and fix it yourself. You'll want the manufacturer to deal with this problem unless you are very confident in your abilities to work with digital components. A blower brush may be effective, but you'll have to be very careful.

Compressed air is sold at every office supply store and it is effective for blowing the dust and debris out of a computer keyboard or to clean other hard to reach places. However, it is not a good idea to use it to clean off your camera. The propellant can damage the image sensor on digital cameras and the pressure of the air can be disastrous for the fragile shutter blades inside the back of a film camera.