Best camera sensor cleaners

Camera sensor cleaners: which sensor cleaning kit is best?
(Image credit: Future)

Why do you need a camera sensor cleaner? You’d be forgiven for thinking that modern interchangeable lens cameras can keep dust at bay using their integrated sensor cleaning systems. However, shoot in dusty environments or change lenses frequently, and it’s only a matter of time before your sensor will need to be cleaned manually.

You’ll know when to break out a camera sensor cleaner, as images of clear blue skies or plain backdrops will begin to feature unwelcome dark spots (which are especially obvious at narrow apertures). Don’t despair, though; with a steady hand and the right kit you can restore your sensor to its former glory.

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Ben Andrews

Ben is the Imaging Labs manager, responsible for all the testing on Digital Camera World and across the entire photography portfolio at Future. Whether he's in the lab testing the sharpness of new lenses, the resolution of the latest image sensors, the zoom range of monster bridge cameras or even the latest camera phones, Ben is our go-to guy for technical insight. He's also the team's man-at-arms when it comes to camera bags, filters, memory cards, and all manner of camera accessories – his lab is a bit like the Batcave of photography! With years of experience trialling and testing kit, he's a human encyclopedia of benchmarks when it comes to recommending the best buys.