Clean 'em? Well, I do take my bodies after a dusty environment (think race track past four weeks) and brush them off with a very expensive soft bristle paint brush. Then with body cap removed, holding the opening down, I very gently blow air from one of those special cans with "clean air" so as to get the dust out. I was getting dust on my finder screen in spite of changing lenses only in the car. Lots of wind and dirt...can't keep it out.

Older camera bodies and lenses....I use Windex on a cotton swab. Very gently, minimal moisture, lots of scrubbing to get the built up oily dirt off. I have never gone into the interior of a camera to clean except with air.

spraynpray said:
Try a simple soapy water on a damped lint-free swab for the oil & smell.

earthsea said:
Most of you will not agree with my method of cleaning camera's but it works for me, besides — tough Nikon, right?
I fill a basin up with hot water and add a few drops of dish washing detergent just to the point of creating suds, this is more to soften the water than anything and helps to degrease any oils on the camera deposited from handling. With a soft cloth rinsed in the water and squeezed out to the point that the cloth is just hot/damp I wipe the camera over with the lens cap on, wiping mostly the rubber parts of the camera.

Well it seems to me that we agree.

Most of you will not agree with my method of cleaning camera's but it works for me, besides — tough Nikon, right?
I fill a basin up with hot water and add a few drops of dish washing detergent just to the point of creating suds, this is more to soften the water than anything and helps to degrease any oils on the camera deposited from handling. With a soft cloth rinsed in the water and squeezed out to the point that the cloth is just hot/damp I wipe the camera over with the lens cap on, wiping mostly the rubber parts of the camera.
I make my camera's work for me and don't hesitate to take them into tough environments like the beach where the salt filled spray can build up over the camera requiring cleaning on returning home.

NSXType-R said:
Just curious, is rubbing alcohol bad for the plastics on the exterior of a camera?

I brought it to a restaurant and we were having crab so my hands were slightly oil, so it smells slightly of stir fried crabs!

YES! DON'T USE THAT!

Try a simple soapy water on a damped lint-free swab for the oil & smell. BTW: Tao gives good advice on silicon: I used it on the interior of a car just once and accidently got some on the steering wheel - for ten years that wheel was slipping through my hands.

Haha NSX, are you claiming to have the worlds first 'scratch & sniff' camera? LOL, sounds a bit fishy to me.

Just curious, is rubbing alcohol bad for the plastics on the exterior of a camera?

I brought it to a restaurant and we were having crab so my hands were slightly oil, so it smells slightly of stir fried crabs!

I have used some Automotive dashboard cleaning stuff to bring the black back. Just make sure it doesn't contain silicone - sounds odd, but many do and that is what makes it oily. There are some good plastic rejuvenation products out there. Look for the more expensive ones, like I said if you get anything with silicone, it will just turn it into a slippery fish.

What does anyone use to clean Nylon camera bags with? I just use dish soap but this got me thinking if someone found something better.

And what the hell - how about water treatment as well for bags?

Excellent, thanks.

spraynpray said:
Thanks Seven - where do you get that stuff?

Staples office supplies.
It is mostly used for cleaning keyboards and Phones

NSX keeping the mirror box clean, will help prevent dust getting the sensor

Thanks Seven - where do you get that stuff?

NSX - I'm only cleaning the outside, if the new owner wants the inside cleaner, they can do it themself!

Wait, what do you wipe down inside the mirror box? I touch nothing inside the box.

Outside body, I use foamclene or superclean Foam
Inside body, I use eclipse and cotton buds
for the sensor, I use Sensor Swap and eclipse
for filters, I use Pro Phot Tissues

I am just wondering if any of you guys have a 'secret product' for returning your cameras to that fresh out of the box look? My trusty D90 is up for sale when its replacement arrives so it neds to look pretty for the photos.

TIA.