Clean a Camera Lens

It’s easy for camera lenses to get dirty, from fingerprints, dust, and other particles, but cleaning your lens is important for clear pictures. Your main cleaning tools are a lens blower, a camel hair brush for lenses, pre-moistened lens wipes, and lens spray used with a microfiber cloth. Blowing and brushing should always be your first choice, as it’s better to keep any contact with the lens to a minimum.

Steps

Using a Lens Blower

1. Buy a camera lens blower. Go to a camera or electronics store or order the blower online. Lens blowers are small, rubber squeeze blowers, which shoot a puff of air on the lens. Giottos is a commonly bought brand, but other brands also manufacture lens blowers.
   • This may seem like a waste of money when you could blow on the lens with your mouth. Experts specifically recommend against blowing on the lens as you’ll often blow saliva onto the lens making it dirtier than before.
   • Do not use compressed air, which can harm your camera lens. Manual blowers are the safest cleaning option for your camera lens.
2. Squeeze the blower away from the lens a few times. Each time you use your lens blower, squeeze out a few puffs of air before you use it on the lens. This will clear any dust that may be inside the blower. If you don’t do this, you could blow more dust onto the lens.
3. Use the blower to puff air across the surface of the lens. Position the blower as close to the lens as possible so you don’t blow contaminants from the air onto the lens. Hold the tip at a slight angle to the lens. Squeeze a few puffs onto the lens, aiming each puff toward a different part of the lens.
   • Hold the point of the blower in the center of the lens and angle it slightly toward the outside of the lens.
4. Store the blower in a sealed bag. When you are done using the blower, put it into a plastic baggie for storage. This helps keep the blower clean and free of outside contaminants. Seal the plastic bag and store it with the rest of your camera cleaning supplies in your camera bag.
   • It’s important to store it in a sealed plastic bag, because any type of cloth bag will allow dust to sift through the fabric and get into the blower.

Using a Lens Brush

1. Buy a brush specifically for camera lenses. LensPen is one of the most recommended brands, but many others are available. A camera lens brush uses soft camel hair bristles which are gentle on your lens. Never use a brush that is not designed for lenses, because the bristles can scratch the glass.
   • Most brushes have a cap to keep them clean, and other are retractable.
   • Never touch the bristles of your brush because you’ll leave finger oils and the brush won’t do its job.
2. Swirl the brush around the lens gently. After you’ve blown the dust away, press the bristles of the brush gently onto the lens. Twist the brush back and forth in circles to remove particles from the lens. Some brushes also have a soft felt pad on the other end which helps remove oils from the surface of the lens.
   • Make sure that you don’t jam the bristles against the lens. You’ll damage the brush and it won’t clean the lens effectively.
3. Store the brush with a cap or in a sealed plastic bag. It’s important to keep the brush clean, or it won’t be useful. Always put the cap back on when you’re finished with the brush. If the brush doesn’t have a cap, store it in a sealed plastic bag to keep it away from dust.

Using Lens Wipes

1. Buy single-use camera lens wipes. Pre-moistened lens wipes are the best option for cleaning stubborn smudges or dirty spots on your lens. Zeiss and PEC-PAD are trusted brands for non-abrasive, lint-free wipes. Do not use cleaning wipes that are not specifically labelled for use on camera lenses.
2. Wipe from the center of the lens in an outward spiral. Take a wipe from the pack and press it against the center of the lens. Move the wipe in a circular motion, slowly spiraling toward the outside. Try not to wipe the lens multiple times in the same spot or you’ll simply move the dirt particles around.
   • If a second pass on the lens is necessary, use a clean portion of the wipe or use a new one.
3. Dispose of the used wipe. These lens wipes are not meant to be reused, so throw them away after you use them. Using old wipes will transfer grime back onto your lens, and this may end up scratching the glass.
   • If the wipe is still damp and a section of it is clean, use it to wipe down another less-fragile piece of your camera equipment before you throw it away.

Using Lens Spray With a Microfiber Cloth

1. Choose a cleaning spray for camera lenses. Visit a photography store, an electronics store, or order lens cleaning spray online. Zeiss, ROR, and Nikon make lens cleaning solutions that are highly effective. Never use your breath, glass cleaner, or any type of chemical cleaner on your camera lens.
2. Spray a microfiber cloth with the cleaning solution. Find a microfiber cloth and use it only for your camera. Never use your t-shirt or any cloth that isn’t a microfiber cloth, as other fabrics are too abrasive and can scratch the lens. Spray the solution on the cloth and never directly onto the the lens.
   • You may find microfiber cloths that are also specifically designed to be used on lenses.
3. Wipe the lens from the center outward. Gently press the damp cloth to the middle of the lens and begin to wipe it in circular motions. Wipe the lens in a spiral, moving toward the outside of the lens. Be sure not to press too hard. Wipe the lens only once if possible. It’s best to minimize contact with the lens.
4. Store the cloth in a bag. When you are done using the cloth, store it in a bag so it stays clean. Rinse the rag out with clean, cold water after every three uses. Do not use commercial detergents to wash the cloth, as these could end up getting on your lens.

Tips

• Keep your fingers off the of the lens, as finger oils can damage the lens. Fingerprints also require the most work to clean, so it is best to not touch your lenses.
• Put lens caps on every time you finish using the lens.
• Clean your camera bag on occasion. Your bag will get dusty, which will transfer onto your lens. Use a vacuum to suck out contaminants in the bag.

Sources and Citations

See also

• Make the Most of Your Digital Camera
• Buy a Digital Camera
• Charge a Battery Without a Charger
• Apply a Screen Protector
• Avoid Noise in Your Digital Photography
• Buy Lenses for Your Digital SLR
• Calculate a Digital Camera's Resolution from its Pixel Count
• Stream Your GoPro to Your PC Using VLC Media Player
• Repair Lens Problems on Your Digital Camera
• Select the Right Digital Camera

Read more ...