Dear Lifehacker, My 15 year old son has really started getting into photography - it has quickly become one of his favourite subjects at school. I'd love to get him a decent camera (under $1000) that can grow with him and his skills, for a few years at least. What's the best direction to go in?

If you own a DSLR, periodically cleaning your sensor isn't just good hygiene, it makes for cleaner, better photographs. Of course, getting the sensor properly cleaned can cost a pretty penny, but Blake Rudis of f64 Academy has this guide that will show you how to do it yourself -- the right way, of course.

As any person with a bit of DSLR experience knows, the lens you use is as important as the camera, if not more so. But just how much does the average shutterfly have to spend to get "good enough" results? Can a $150 Canon EF Primes compete with a $15,000 top-shelf Zeiss? Compare the photos in this video and judge for yourself.

If you're shooting with all of your camera's settings on automatic, you're missing out. Your ISO setting -- among others -- can drastically improve your shots when used properly. This video guide from TechQuickie explains what you need to know.