If you own a digital SLR and notice what looks like dust specks on your images, you may need to clean your camera's CMOS or CCD. You clean the camera image sensor by removing the lens and then using a menu command to flip up the mirror. While the mirror is locked in the upward position, use a gentle burst of air from a blower brush to dislodge any dust that may have accumulated on the image sensor when you changed lenses. Do not touch the image sensor with the blower brush. Never use a compressed air canister to clean the image sensor because compressed air canisters contain liquid propellants that will be blown onto the image sensor. If you foul the image sensor with a liquid, you'll have to take your camera to a camera store to professionally clean the image sensor. Refer to your camera manual for detailed instructions on cleaning your camera image sensor.
If you own a digital SLR, consider purchasing a skylight filter for each lens you own. The filters are relatively inexpensive and will protect the front lens element from damage. The skylight filter screws into the front of the lens as shown in this illustration:
When traveling in a car, always secure your camera. If you have to brake suddenly, and the camera is not secure, it will continue moving at the speed of the car until it strikes something solid like the dashboard, which can severely damage the sensitive circuitry in your camera. If you're traveling alone, place your camera bag in the passenger's seat and secure it with the seatbelt. If you own a point-and-shoot camera that you house in a small case, keep the camera in your glove box, or some other location in the car where it won't become airborne if you have to suddenly brake.
