Pentex Camera Cleaning Pen

 

 

camera maintenance, camera cldeaning tips

 

I was given the opportunity to review the Pentex Camera Cleaning Pen and I accepted. I’m an amateur photographer who has a lot to learn about taking pictures and maintaining my equipment, so I thought the pen would be a great place to start in learning how to clean my camera.

The pen arrived in a blue velvet pouch, which is perfect for keeping track of the pen. It’s the perfect size for carrying in your purse or camera bag.  I removed the pen from the pouch and put it to use. It has a retractable brush, which is so soft. Have no fear of scratching your camera or lens. It does a great job in removing the dust from the lens and camera. I decided to use on my binoculars and phone as well. 

 

camera maintenance, camera cleaning

 

You can see the pen in the picture, it has tools on both ends.  The brush on one end and a carbon cleaning pad on the other.  I keep my camera lens covered with a cap when not in use to minimize scratches and dust.  I started with the brush. I dusted the camera all over and removed the cap to clean the lens.  I was amazed at how dirty it was. I followed the lens brush cleaning with the carbon cleaning pad.  My mouth fell open, the lens was glowing. It was smudge and dust free.  I grabbed all of the lens for my camera and went to work.   I cleaned the view finder and every nook and cranny on the camera.

 

 

camera maintenance, camera cleaning tips

 

Another thing that I like about the cleaning pen is that it does not require additional cleaning fluids.  The carbon cleaning pad is patented, environment friendly, non-toxic,  and alcohol and ammonia free!

I highly recommend this cleaning pen for both professional and amateurs photographers.  This pen would make a great gift for photographers, Christmas, birthday or any time.

Note: I received the Pentex Camera Cleaning Pen in exchange for the review; however, all opinions are my own. 

Professional Photography Tips – Buy a Wrist Strap and How to Use SD Cards

photography tips, how to secure your camera, Best SD Cards

 

Secure Your Camera  – Get a Wrist Strap

As we’re out taking photographs we tend to forget about our surroundings. We either have our camera hanging around our neck or constantly looking in a bag, purse, etc. for it. This is the time of the year when people are out to ruin your good day by taking and/or stealing your belongings. Another way to try to prevent this is by using a camera wrist strap. You constantly have a grip on your camera and I feel it will be a little more difficult to take from you. I just purchased this wrist strap a few months ago. My camera  – a mirrorless DSLR – is light enough for the strap whereas it’s not pulling on my wrist or adding more strain to it. It can be adjusted to your liking. There are several different styles of wrist straps available which includes sturdier wrist straps for the bigger DSLR’s. I’m getting comfortable with this one but if you’re like me and enjoy camera gadgets you will try out a few more.

SD Cards Cases – Getting the Most Use Out of Them

We all know when you go out to enjoy photography we take more than one SD card. Just like anything else, a SD card, whether it’s old or new, can have a hiccup and will not perform for you. (NOTE: If I’m local I take  at least two cards because I know I’m close enough to go back home for more. Not local I take at least four. I format each card every time I use them. I number my cards so I don’t use the same one each time.) Each time they build a new card they’re getting thinner and lighter. One of the cases I like is the hard carrying case. They’re versatile for either SD or Compact Flash. The case is solid and does a pretty good job preventing liquids from getting inside (not 100% but they help). The case also keeps pressure from other accessories you have with you.

So what do you do when you’re taking tons of photographs and you want to figure out which cards you have used without taking each card and putting them back in your camera? Here’s my routine: I have all my unused SD cards “face up”. Once I have filled the card up, I put it back in the case “face down”. This way when I’m ready to go for another card, I know which ones are empty and which ones are full.

Side Tip: Have more than one camera battery. Number your batteries just like your SD cards.

Happy Shooting!!

Guest Blogger: Dawn D. Hester is the owner of Demeatria Photography. Dawn has been involved with many aspects of photography for over 35 years. She is a retired photographer for the Air National Guard and currently a photographer for the Department of Justice. Check out her gallery of Food, Black & Whites, and Landscape photos. Be sure to follow her blog for Photography Tips and Tricks.