EDIT: Thanks to Oleksandr for pointing out my error on this post. :) I love the photo community on the internet! :)
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We went ice skating recently and the rink has a rule about taking cameras out on the ice. Naturally, this is a rule I completely disregard. :) With that rule in mind I did use my 4th string DSLR...my trusty 4 year old Canon EOS 10D. I love shooting slow shutter of action shots (especially sports and children...bonus when I can combine the two). In order to get the slow shutter I need, I have to stop the aperature way down.

A small aperature can reveal nasty dirt specks on a DSLR sensor at a low / slow shutter speed that a normal or fast shutter speed would not reveal. See below for examples...

sensor specks barely noticeable... (1/45 second, f22, ISO 100)






...dust specks even more noticeable! (1/20 sec, f32, ISO 100)

And here's a fast shutter speed -- same camera and lens. The image below was shot at 1/500 second, f5.6. The sensor was not cleaned for this shot...but you can not see the dust specs.

Our friend Kevin Swan (awesome Indianapolis photographer) who runs the New School of Photography recently posted a short video demonstration of sensor-cleaning using pec-pads. Check out the video on the New School of Photography web-site.

On more than a few occasions I've found myself shooting pictures at a wedding reception or other event and I have become separated from my lens cleaning supplies. I found a handy tip recently for emergency lens cleaning.

Find the nearest bar (should be easy if you are at a wedding reception!) and have the bartender moisten a soft, clean napkin with vodka. Then clean your lens with the napkin just as you would with a lens cleaning tissue and cleaning fluid.

(Just try not to drink too much vodka!)