How to clean camera lenses?
In order to clean the optics of the camera without spending a penny on it it is quite enough what is in any kitchen and in any first-aid kit. I didn't come up with the method. I once read it on someone's blog. Unfortunately, I forgot the author, but the method itself was remembered when I saw smeared fingerprints on the surface of the lens of my wife's beloved Nikon.
First, a little explanation of how the method works. Our skin is always covered with sweat gland secretions. They contain fat. If you try to remove it with soapy water or alcohol, there is a high probability of damaging the camera mechanism or the anti-reflective coating on the lens surface. Therefore, the pros use ultrafine carbon. It binds fat molecules and removes them from the glass surface. Being very soft, it does not damage the glass. But where can an ordinary person get this superfine carbon?
The answer is as simple as a spoon - you need to hold a massive tablespoon over the candle flame. It quickly removes heat from the ionized cloud of candle flame above the candle wick and carbon atoms in the form of soot fall on the surface of the spoon.
Now let's collect the soot on a piece of clean cotton wool by running a spoon over the black surface:
After that, with gentle movements, wipe our lens with a cotton swab. In a few seconds it is clean!
Even the most "advanced" and "intelligent" camera will not allow you to get high-quality shots if its lens is dirty. I would venture to say that today the most common reason for the poor quality of amateur photographs is the banal contamination of the lens.
The popularization and simplification of cameras, which today can be found almost anywhere - in a jacket pocket, in a handbag, in the "glove box" of a car, in a teenager's backpack, on a beach towel - have deprived the camera of a halo of mystery. As a result, they are treated, both film and digital, very, very casually. Sometimes this leads to camera damage, but more often to lens contamination and, as a result, poor quality pictures.
Remove contaminants?
Any lens cleaning must begin with dust removal. As mentioned above, dust does not cause significant deterioration of photographs, but its inept removal can permanently ruin expensive optics. It is best to remove the dust that has settled on the lens with a jet of air: this method is quite enough if the dust particles do not stick to the surface. But in no case do not blow on the lens! With this "cleaning method", instead of dust particles, you will put tiny drops of your own saliva on the lens. It is better to use a special rubber pear-syringe, which are now sold in photo stores (both separately and as part of kits for cleaning optics). If you can’t buy a special pear, get a small pharmacy syringe, just squeeze it several times before use. to remove all the talc that is sometimes sprinkled on douches during transport and storage. You can also use compressed air cans, which are offered for cleaning hard-to-reach places in system units.
To remove adhering dust particles that cannot be blown off, a soft, fat-free brush can be recommended. Many pears sold in photo shops are equipped with such a brush through which air is blown.
Movements when cleaning lenses with a brush should be soft and short. The fact is that from the movement of dust on the glass, scratches are formed, the more noticeable and numerous, the more actively the dust particles scraped the lens. For the same reason, it is not recommended to use cleaning wipes to remove dust. Over time, they turn into micro-grained sandpaper, covering even a clean lens with a grid of small scratches.
Drops should be dealt with before they dry, otherwise, instead of liquid, either crystals of salts contained in water or a film of essential oils will have to be removed from the lens. To remove drops, it is best to use a sterile cotton swab (made of natural cotton), not wound too tightly around an ordinary match, or take cosmetic cotton swabs. Cotton wool absorbs liquid well and contains less dust than cloth wipes. But you should not press hard - this will not absorb drops better, and dust particles that accidentally appear on the lens can begin to scratch the surface. Yes, and a match, on which a cotton swab is wound, can damage the lens. Movement should be smooth and directed along the radius - from the center of the lens to the lens barrel.
If the drops have already dried, then you can first try to breathe on the lens so that it fogs up. And then, without waiting for the evaporation of the condensate. Wipe the glass with a dry cotton swab with movements already known to you from the center to the edge. In most cases, this should be enough. But, if the trace of the drop does not dissolve in water, you will have to use ethyl alcohol.
Starting the "alcohol" cleaning, you need to stock up on two cotton swabs. One of them is left dry, while the other is slightly moistened with alcohol. The main thing here is not to overdo it: cotton wool should be only slightly damp. Excess alcohol can seep into the lens at the junction of the lens and frame and dissolve the bond between the optical components, resulting in permanent damage to the lens. From a damp fleece on the glass, a light trace should remain, evaporating within a few seconds. Then breathe again on the lens and wipe it with a dry swab. So you will eliminate the slight coating that may remain from not too pure alcohol. Do not use alcohol or perfume to clean the optics. In addition to the alcohol itself, they contain too many aromatic additives and other impurities, which, after the alcohol has evaporated, will remain on the surface of the lenses as an equally strong “pollutant”.
As an alternative to alcoholized cotton wool, you can recommend cleaning wipes, which are offered by many companies (Olympus, Hama, Defender and others). Napkins are wet and dry. Moreover, Defender sells them in pairs - a package with a wet wipe is fastened with a dry one. I was convinced of the effectiveness of this approach from my own experience when my camera was doused with splashes of sea water. Successive wiping with dry and wet wipes made it possible to get rid of traces of drops not only on the optics, but also on the body of the device. And how chemically aggressive sea salt is, I think, there is no need to tell. The disadvantages of wipes include the difficulty of cleaning small lenses, deeply recessed into the frame, and areas near the frame. In fact, getting there with a finger with a napkin is difficult, but with a swab on a match - easily. But you can wind a napkin on a match ...
To remove grease stains from glasses, you cannot do without any solvent. With a dry cloth, you will only smear the grease over the entire surface of the lens. Traditionally, alcohol is used to clean optics, only medical alcohol is required here (96%). But the fat may not succumb to him right away: in this case, the cleaning will have to be repeated - but with a new tampon. To complete the procedure, as before, it is necessary to wipe off the condensate from your breath with a dry swab, which will eliminate all traces of "wet" cleaning.
Old photographic handbooks recommended using a mixture of equal parts ethyl alcohol, ether and carbon tetrachloride to clean lenses. I have no doubt that such a composition will dissolve any contamination. But due to the aggressiveness of this mixture, I would not dare to recommend it for modern "soap dishes" with plastic optics or a lens mount.
Important: Do not use any solvents, including alcohol, to clean plastic lenses! Some types of optical plastics can become dull from this. Do not use wet wipes, as it is not known what chemical components are included in their impregnation.
As you can see, cleaning the lens is a rather complicated task. Preventing this problem is easier than dealing with its consequences.
What determines a high-quality beautiful frame? Exposure, composition, lighting, skillful hands of the photographer, lens, camera and its parameters - all this together plays a decisive role. But do not forget about the cleanliness of the lenses. The slightest mote or a drop of water can distort the image, spoil the frame. In the article we will tell you how to avoid such situations, what means to use for cleaning photo optics and what is included in the list of prohibitions that pose a threat to lens lenses.
How pollution affects the image
The most dangerous types of pollution are solid grains of sand and dust particles. The risk is not only that there will be a foreign object in the frame. Everything is much more serious. Small, hard particles that get on the lens of the objective can scratch the protective layer, which is responsible for the uniform distribution of light. Such damage is not repairable, you will have to buy a new optic. Therefore, when cleaning the lens, you need to be as careful and accurate as possible.
Professional photographers approach the process in detail: before proceeding directly to cleaning, they carefully remove the lens from the camera and examine its outer and inner parts.
Drops and stains from water are no less harmful to lenses. They create various effects in the frame: a correctly set exposure turns out to be blurry, sharpness and contrast are lost, glare, colored veils appear, multilayer halos around light sources. Drops, which in essence perform the functions of lenses, greatly distort the image. Proper cleaning can help prevent this.
- Attention!
Mistakes are not allowed here. Inaccurate cleaning will lead to stains that occur after drying. Such pollution poses a serious threat to images: photographs are overexposed, dark and light circles form in places of spots, sharpness and contrast disappear. Therefore, it is important to use high-quality liquids, soft microfiber cloths and strictly follow professional recommendations for cleaning optics - we will talk about this a little later.
The rating of dangers is completed by the most difficult to eliminate - fat traces. A vivid example of such pollution, which every photographer tries to avoid, is fingerprints. Why are professionals so sensitive to tactile contact with objective lenses? Fat particles that get on the optics become serious enemies of the frame.
Fat changes the refractive index of light in lenses, distorts the silhouettes of objects, leads to image light, makes the picture foggy, out of focus. The lens optics loses its working balance, ceases to synchronize the signals specified by the camera parameters.
When choosing cleaning products, you must be extremely careful, because there is a danger of damaging the top anti-reflective coating.
How to keep your lens clean
The lens is one of the most important elements of a camera, its eyes. In order for the photos to be beautiful and of high quality, the lenses must be clean and transparent, free of smudges, streaks and dust. If the optics are not contaminated, you do not notice visible flaws on its surface, you should not carry out the procedure once again. Lenses should be cleaned as needed.
The most important rule is to clean the external and internal surfaces quickly and accurately.
- Turn off the camera and point it down.
- Disconnect the lens and remove dirt using special tools (the next section of the article will be devoted to them).
- Do not leave the lens in an open area for a long time - this way it will accumulate new layers of dust. Contaminants are removed - dock the camera with lenses and close with a protective cap (hood).
Professionals who care about their photographic equipment buy protective filters that are put on the outer ring of the lens and reliably protect against all types of contaminants: water, sand grains, grease stains, etc. It is especially important for reportage shooting, photo shoots in nature, when the risk of damage to the optics is especially high.
Lens cleaners
A professional photographer's arsenal must have special cleaning solutions and tools. Complete the kit with products for various situations and degrees of pollution. You will need:
- Soft brush that brushes fine dust particles from lenses and lens barrel without damaging the surface of the optics.
- Several dry soft microfiber cloths. Avoid exposure to the lenses with paper and cotton napkins - they can scratch the brightening layer.
- A miniature air bulb that will remove a layer of accumulated dust without contact with the lenses. A great option is a children's medical enema or douche.
- Liquid for cleaning optics. The tool can be bought at any specialized store. Some photographers use regular ethyl alcohol. Under a strict ban - vodka containing glycerin and other additives that can harm the anti-reflective layer of the lens.
- Lenspen pencil. They can replace the use of an alcohol-containing solution and a microfiber cloth. On the one hand, the tool is equipped with a brush with soft bristles, on the other hand, with a sponge impregnated with a cleaning agent.
How to clean a camera lens
Now we will tell you in detail about how to clean various contaminants from objective lenses and what to use. Let's break down the recommendations into categories:
Dust
At first glance, it may seem like the most minor flaw that can be easily dealt with. But therein lies its wickedness. The army of microparticles can contain small glass fragments and other hard elements that are a potential threat to the surface of the lenses.
- Improper removal of dust often leads to mechanical damage, scratches. Therefore, it is better to try to avoid direct contact with the optics and use an air blower, which will brush off the layer of dust with a directed air jet.
Residues accumulated around the edges can be carefully removed with a soft brush. In no case do not blow on the lens - drops of saliva can get on the lenses, which are much more difficult to remove than dry dust.
water spray
An outdoor photo shoot implies the mandatory use of protective ultraviolet filters. Splashes from fountains, raindrops and other possible dangers to your lens will not be terrible. It is much easier to clean the nozzle than the photo optics. If water gets on the lens, you must act very delicately.
Take a microfiber cloth and gently wipe the surface in a circular motion, allowing the liquid to be completely absorbed. To avoid streaks, repeat the procedure using the dry side of the napkin.
There is condensation - do not rush to wipe. If time permits, wait for it to disappear on its own. If the situation does not tolerate delay, wipe the optics with a dry microfiber cloth as described above.
Fingerprints and grease marks
These pollutions are of the most complex type, requiring a thorough approach.
- Advice.
Before proceeding with the removal of stains, it is necessary to prepare the surface and remove dust particles from it. That is, the first thing we do is blow off the microparticles with the help of an air pear. Then we apply an alcohol-containing agent and wipe it with a soft cloth in a circular motion (from the center to the outer edges). The finishing touches are to wipe the surface of the lens with a dry microfiber cloth.
Cleaning the lens elements
Not only lenses should be in order. The lens consists of other parts that also require care.
rear lens
This part of the lens is much more difficult to get dirty than the outer lens. Often, photographers inadvertently leave fingerprints on its surface. Such contamination must be removed immediately. If a soiled external lens distorts the image slightly, then spots on the rear optical glass can significantly deform the image and lead to defocus.
The cleaning procedure is no different from cleaning the outside: blow off the dust particles with a rubber bulb, brush off the residue with a brush, apply the product and wipe it with a soft cloth, then dry it with microfiber.
Shank
Bayonet or shank - an element that connects the lens to the camera. As a preventive measure, experts recommend periodically wiping it with a damp cloth.
- Advice.
This must be done both from the outside and from the inside. Dust accumulated over time can get on the camera's matrix and become a real threat to accelerate the wear of the part and lens.
Inner space
Without good reason, you should not disassemble the lens piece by piece and try to clean each of the parts. This is only possible for professionals. The natural accumulation of dust inside the case is natural and does not harm the operation of the device at all.
The only reason that requires disassembly and cleaning is the formation of mold, which can occur under improper storage conditions, in poorly ventilated rooms with high humidity.
But even in this case, one should not independently intervene in the internal structure of the case. Trust the professionals, take the lens to a service center.
Frame
A soft microfiber cloth is enough to clean the case. Cosmetic wiping will give the camera a neat, well-groomed appearance. The only serious threat is grains of sand that can get into the moving elements of the lens. In this case, professionals use a brush.
At the end of the article, we will summarize and give 5 professional tips to help keep your lens clean and safe:
- Be careful when removing dust. Before taking a napkin, brush off the microparticles with a special brush or use a non-contact method - an air jet from a rubber mini-pear.
- Remove stubborn dirt with a soft, oil-free brush. A rough paper towel will cause scratches on the brightening layer.
- When cleaning dust with a brush, the movements should be quick and short, without pressure.
- Drops should be removed from the surface of the optics as soon as possible, until they are completely dry.
- When working with alcohol-containing solutions, make sure that the agent does not flow into the places where optical components are glued together. Doing so may damage the lens.
The lens is the eyes of the camera, a key element responsible for the quality and semantic expressiveness of images. Keep the lenses clean and be careful - the optics will serve you for a long time and will allow you to realize the most complex photo ideas.
Optics should be taken care of very carefully. This is necessary not only to extend the life of the equipment, but also to ensure that it works many times better and produces the most accurate results. Today, there are many different devices with which you can clean optics anywhere with a minimum amount of effort. It is important to note that before you start cleaning the optics, you need to know a few basic rules, since micro-scratches may appear during the cleaning process by negligence.
TOP 10 tips to clean optics quickly and with maximum efficiency
Tip 1. Read the instructions for cleaning the equipment. The first thing to do is to read the instructions, as some cleaning products may be suitable, while others are absolutely not. Therefore, in order not to spoil the equipment, you must first find out what means to clean it, and only after that acquire them and start cleaning.
Tip 2. It is necessary to prepare the optics for the cleaning process. Regardless of whether the cleaning process is manual or mechanical, the optical instrument must be carefully prepared. Often you need to disassemble the device, after which you can put it in order with the help of special cleaning agents. In the event that the lenses are already prepared, you need to lay them out on a sterile surface without dust, take cleaning products and start bringing the optics into perfect condition.
Tip 3. It is important to choose the best lens cleaner. To date, such means for cleaning optics are popular:
1) Pieces of fabric. They are among the homemade cleaning products. Therefore, you need to choose the fabric very carefully so that it does not damage the optics, since the lenses can have scratches, chips and cracks after such a rough cleaning.
2) Purge pears. This is an inexpensive but versatile cleaning method, as it is used not only to remove dust and dirt from the lens, but also in the process of blowing out the camera shaft.
3) Brushes and brushes. Ideal tool for removing all types of dirt. But before buying such cleaners, you need to make sure that they really fit the equipment, since there are brushes and brushes of varying degrees of hardness.
4) Cleaning pencils. They are one of the most effective cleaning methods. Such pencils do not take up much space, are equipped with a specially built-in brush and are very relevant at the time of use in unsightly conditions for cleaning.
5) Napkins made of microfiber and holofiber. These napkins are low cost and long service life. They remove contaminants without leaving a trace, without damaging the optics. There are also reusable and disposable wipes.
6) Cleaning fluid. It is important to remember that in no case should you use alcohol or cologne to clean the optics, as you can ruin it completely and irrevocably. Therefore, you need to buy and use only specialized liquid.
Tip 4. It is important to follow the sequence in the cleaning process. When planning to clean the optics, it is necessary to prepare: disassemble the equipment, lay out the lenses on a safe surface, prepare tools for cleaning, and only then begin the process.
Tip 5 A careful and systematic approach will save the life of optics for many years. In no case should you rush when caring for optics. It is best to use complex cleaning products, which is the most effective and practical solution. It is best to start cleaning with blowing a pear. This will get rid of the dust as quickly as possible. But you should not stop only at this stage of cleaning. After blowing, you need to take a brush and gently brush off the dust, cleaning all corners and removing grease and prints. Do not rub the lens too hard, as you can get rid of the remaining dirt with a pencil or tissue. To maximize the effect, you can use liquid and then the optics will sparkle.
Tip 6 It is recommended to clean the optics under sterile conditions. If possible, it is best to clean the optics in a special sterile room. This allows you to achieve maximum effect. In the event that there is no such room, you can do a wet cleaning, wipe the workplace with alcohol, and only then start cleaning.
Tip 7. It is worth choosing only high-quality cleaning products. Today, there are many different products for sale that have different purposes and costs. Given that all funds have a slight difference in price, there is no need to save. Buying high-quality certified products, you can be sure that thanks to it, the optics will not only sparkle, but will also last a long time.
Tip 8 It is necessary to regularly seek help from specialists. Sometimes it is not possible to clean the optics yourself. There is nothing reprehensible in using the services of a specialist who will be able to clean equipment of any level of complexity, and, if necessary, get rid of scratches, scuffs and chips.
Tip 9. It is necessary to clean the optics at regular intervals. Take care of your equipment carefully, as lenses are very sensitive to damage. Therefore, you should make it a rule to clean the optics regularly. Then it will always look well-groomed and will last a long time.
Tip 10. Cleaning agents need to be changed every few months. There is no need to wait until the cleaning agent expires or is completely used up. Such cleaning products are highly undesirable and even dangerous, as they can damage the optics. Therefore, it is necessary to update optics care products every few months, carefully monitor their quality and use them strictly for their intended purpose.
The best way to prolong the life of your lens and get good quality shots is to keep it clean at all. After all, any cleaning, even the most delicate, one way or another gradually “takes away” the thinnest anti-reflective coating from the lenses and leaves micro-scratches on the glass. Care and attention to the use of protective UV filters and lens hoods can minimize the chance of contamination and the need for lens cleaning. But sooner or later, even with the most careful handling, you will have to clean the camera lens. This procedure is especially complicated on large lenses of cameras with interchangeable lenses, because such a lens sometimes has to be cleaned from both sides, to protect the camera shaft from possible dust ingress, and at the same time realize how expensive it is, which makes your hands shake :-).
So, what is the first thing you need for high-quality cleaning:
- Patience and understanding that the lens cannot be cleaned with improvised means, but only with specially designed for this
- Clean workplace, preferably in a clean, dust-free room
- Quality cleaning products
How to clean the lens, cleaning products:
As already mentioned, you can not clean the lens glass with all sorts of improvised means, like fabric scraps, homemade brushes, and the like. It is best to acquire, especially since they are not at all expensive.
Lens cleaning sequence
The cleaning sequence in general is as follows:
- Pear purge.
First you need to blow off any large particles from the lens with . This is the so-called contactless cleaning. Try to keep the pear nozzle as close to the surface as possible, but do not touch the lens with it either. Well, if at this stage the cleaning of the lens is over for you. Carefully inspect the lens surface, and if there is no more contamination on it, do not proceed to the subsequent steps.
- Contact cleaning with a brush.
In principle, this procedure can even replace the first paragraph if you do not have a blowing pear.
Brush cleaning is a simple procedure, but it should only be done with a specialized clean brush. The fact is that traces of grease from an animal brush will not make your lens much cleaner. If you already use a non-specialized brush, then prepare it before cleaning: rinse it several times in water with dishwashing detergent, then in running water, and then dry it.
When the brush is ready, carefully and calmly, without undue pressure, remove dust and dirt from the lens. There is no need to be afraid here, because. it is almost impossible to spoil the glass with a brush, but you should not press hard on the brush.
If after this stage there is still dirt on the glasses, then you will have to move on to the next one.
- Contact cleaning with a pencil or wipes with liquid
If the previous two steps did not completely clean your lenses, then most likely there is oil or salt on them. Fat on the lenses almost always gets from the fingers, and salt from the water. Both of these contaminants are the most "harmful" and difficult to remove, especially fat. With home remedies, such as a simple rag, you will only smear such dirt on the lens. You need to remove them with special tools.
Some obvious features of cleaning, or what not to do
- Grease stains, fingerprints are almost impossible to completely remove without the use of a cleaning fluid or a cleaning stick.
- Do not clean the lens with a cloth dampened with water.
- The fungus on the lenses cannot be removed with a pencil or a tissue. To remove the fungus, you need to contact the service center, if it is not too late.
- It is better not to clean the inside of the lenses yourself. Even if you disassemble and assemble the lens yourself, the adjustment will almost certainly be broken, and the lens can only be thrown away.
And now you can consolidate what you read by watching one of the best films about cleaning optics. It uses paper towels instead of microfiber cloths.
