The best way to prolong the life of your lens and get high-quality images is to keep it from getting dirty in the first place. 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. If you are careful and careful to use protective UV filters and lens hoods, you can minimize the likelihood of contamination and the need to clean the lenses. 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 optics, because such a lens sometimes has to be cleaned on both sides, to protect the camera shaft from possible dust, and at the same time to realize how expensive it is, which is why your hands are shaking :-).
So, what do you need first for quality cleaning:
- Patience and understanding that the lens cannot be cleaned with improvised means, but only with those specially designed for this purpose
- A clean workplace, preferably in a clean, dust-free room
- Quality cleaning products
How to clean the lens, cleaning products:
As already mentioned, you cannot clean the lens glass with all sorts of improvised means such as scraps of fabric, homemade brushes, and the like. It’s best to get one, especially since they are not expensive at all.
Lens cleaning sequence
The general cleaning sequence is as follows:
- Pear blowing.
First you need to blow off any large particles from the lens using. This is the so-called non-contact cleaning. Try to keep the nozzle of the bulb as close to the surface as possible, but do not touch the lens with it. It’s good if you finish cleaning the lens at this stage. Carefully inspect the surface of the lens, and if there is no more dirt on it, do not proceed to the next steps.
- Contact cleaning with a brush.
In principle, this procedure can even replace the first point if you do not have a blower bulb.
Cleaning with a brush is a simple procedure, but it should only be done with a specialized clean brush. The fact is that traces of oil from an animal brush will not make your lens much cleaner. If you are not using a 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 excessive pressure, remove dust and dirt from the lens. There is no need to be afraid here, because... It’s almost impossible to damage glass with a brush, but you shouldn’t press as hard as you can on the brush.
If after this stage there is still dirt on the glass, 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 grease or salt remaining on them. Grease almost always gets on the lenses from your fingers, and salt from water. Both of these contaminants are the most “harmful” and difficult to remove, especially grease. Home remedies, such as a simple rag, will only smear such dirt onto the lens. They need to be removed using special means.
Some obvious features of cleaning, or what not to do
- Grease stains and fingerprints are almost impossible to completely remove without using a cleaning liquid or a cleaning pencil.
- Do not clean the lens with a cloth moistened with water.
- Fungus on lenses cannot be removed with a pencil or napkin. To remove the fungus, you need to contact a 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 reassemble the lens yourself, the adjustment will almost certainly be disrupted, and the only thing left to do is throw the lens away.
And now you can reinforce what you’ve read by watching one of the best films about cleaning optics. It uses paper napkins instead of microfiber cloths.
Even the most “advanced” and “intelligent” camera will not allow you to get high-quality footage if its lens is dirty. I would venture to say that today the most common reason for the low quality of amateur photographs is 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 a car's glove compartment, in a teenager's backpack, on a beach towel - have deprived cameras of an aura of mystery. As a result, they are treated, both film and digital, very, very carelessly. Sometimes this leads to damage to the camera, but more often it leads to contamination of the lens and, as a result, to low-quality images.
Remove dirt?
Any lens cleaning must begin with removing dust. As mentioned above, dust does not cause significant deterioration in photographs, but its inept removal can irreversibly damage expensive optics. It is best to remove dust that has settled on the lens with a stream of air: this method is quite sufficient if the dust particles do not stick to the surface. But under no circumstances blow on the lens! With this “cleaning method”, instead of dust particles, you will apply tiny drops of your own saliva to the lens. It is better to use a special rubber bulb-syringe, which are now sold in photo stores (both separately and as part of optics cleaning kits). If you can’t buy a special bulb, buy a small pharmacy syringe, just squeeze it several times before use. to remove all the talc, which is sometimes sprinkled on syringes during transportation and storage. You can also use cans of compressed air, which are offered for cleaning hard-to-reach areas of system units.
To remove stuck dust particles that cannot be blown off, we can recommend a soft, grease-free brush. Many blowers sold in photo stores 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 the movement of dust across the glass creates scratches, which are more noticeable and numerous the more actively the dust particles scrub the lens. For the same reason, it is not recommended to use cleaning wipes to remove dust. Over time, they turn into fine-grained sandpaper, covering even a clean lens with a grid of fine scratches.
Drops should be dealt with before they dry, otherwise, instead of liquid, either crystals of salts contained in the 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 too tightly wound around an ordinary match, or take cosmetic cotton swabs. Cotton wool absorbs liquid well and contains less dust than cloth napkins. But you shouldn’t press too hard - this will prevent the drops from being absorbed better, and dust particles that accidentally end up on the lens can begin to scratch the surface. And a match with a cotton swab wrapped around it can damage the lens. Movements should be smooth and directed along a radius - from the center of the lens to the lens frame.
If the drops have already dried, you can first try to blow on the lens so that it fogs up. And then, without waiting for the conrensat to evaporate. Using a dry cotton swab, wipe the glass with the movements you already know 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.
When starting “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: the cotton wool should be only slightly damp. Excess alcohol can flow into the junction of the lens and frame into the lens and dissolve the bonding of the optical components, which will lead to irreversible damage to the lens. The wet cotton wool should leave a light mark on the glass that evaporates within a few seconds. Then breathe on the lens again and wipe it with a dry swab. This way you will eliminate light residue that may remain from not too pure alcohol. Do not use alcohol-containing 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 evaporates, will remain on the surface of the lenses as an equally strong “pollutant”.
As an alternative to alcohol-based cotton wool, we can recommend cleaning wipes, which are offered by many companies (Olympus, Hama, Defender and others). Wipes come in wet and dry varieties. Moreover, Defender sells them in pairs - a package with a wet wipe is attached to 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. Consecutive wiping with dry and damp cloths made it possible to get rid of traces of drops not only on the optics, but also on the body of the device. I don’t think there’s any need to tell you how chemically aggressive sea salt is. The disadvantages of wipes include the difficulty of cleaning small lenses, deeply recessed into the frame, and areas near the frame. In fact, it’s difficult to get there with a finger and a napkin, but it’s easy to get there with a tampon on a match. But you can also wrap a napkin around a match...
To remove grease stains from glass, you cannot do without some kind of solvent. Using a dry cloth will only spread the grease over the entire surface of the lens. Traditionally, alcohol is used to wipe optics, but medical grade alcohol is required (96%). But the fat may not respond to it 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 condensation from your breath with a dry swab, which will eliminate all traces of “wet” cleaning.
Old reference books for photographers 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 risk recommending it for modern point-and-shoot cameras with plastic optics or a lens frame.
Important: you cannot use any solvents, including alcohol, to clean plastic lenses! This can cause some types of optical plastics to become dull. You should not use wet wipes, since it is not known what chemical components are included in their impregnation.
As you can see, cleaning the lens is quite a difficult task. Preventing this problem is easier than dealing with its consequences.
You should take very good care of your optics. 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, spending a minimum amount of effort. It is important to note that before you start cleaning your optics, you need to know a few basic rules, since micro-scratches may appear during the cleaning process due to negligence.
TOP 10 tips that will allow you to clean your optics quickly and with maximum efficiency
Tip 1. Please read the instructions for cleaning the equipment. The first thing you need to do is read the instructions, since 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 with, and only after that purchase 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 using special cleaning agents. If the lenses have already been prepared, you need to lay them out on a sterile, dust-free surface, take cleaning products and begin to bring the optics into perfect condition.
Tip 3. It is important to choose the best lens cleaner. Today, the following optical cleaning products 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 may have scratches, chips and cracks after such rough cleaning.
2) Purge bulbs. This is an inexpensive but universal cleaning method, since 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. An ideal device for removing all types of dirt. But before you buy such cleaning products, you need to make sure that they actually fit the equipment, since there are brushes and brushes of varying degrees of hardness.
4) Cleaning pencils. They are one of the most effective methods for cleaning. Such pencils do not take up much space, are equipped with a specially built-in brush and are very useful when used in unsightly cleaning conditions.
5) Microfiber and holofiber napkins. Such napkins are low cost and have a long service life. They remove dirt without leaving a trace without damaging the optics. There are also reusable and disposable wipes.
6) Cleaning liquid. It is important to remember that under no circumstances should you use alcohol or cologne to clean your optics, as this can damage them completely and irrevocably. Therefore, you need to buy and use only specialized liquid.
Tip 4. It is important to maintain consistency in the cleaning process. When planning to clean your optics, you need to prepare: disassemble the equipment, lay the lenses on a safe surface, prepare tools for cleaning, and only then begin the process.
Tip 5. A careful and systematic approach will preserve the life of optics for many years. Under no circumstances should you rush when caring for your optics. It is best to use comprehensive cleaning products, which is the most effective and practical solution. It is best to start cleaning by blowing with a blower. This will allow you to get rid of 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 carefully brush off the dust, cleaning all the corners and removing grease and fingerprints. Do not rub the lens too vigorously, as you can get rid of any remaining dirt with a pencil or napkin. To maximize the effect, you can use liquid and then the optics will sparkle.
Tip 6. It is recommended to clean 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. If there is no such room, you can do a wet cleaning, wipe the work area with alcohol, and only then begin cleaning.
Tip 7. You should choose only high-quality cleaning products. Today, many different products are sold that have different purposes and costs. Considering that all funds have a slight difference in price, there is no need to save. By purchasing high-quality certified products, you can be sure that thanks to them 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 can clean equipment of any level of complexity, and, if necessary, get rid of scratches, abrasions and chips.
Tip 9. It is necessary to clean the optics regularly. You need to take good care of your equipment, as lenses are very sensitive to damage. Therefore, you should make it a rule to clean your optics regularly. Then it will always look well-groomed and last a long time.
Tip 10. It is necessary to change cleaning products every few months. There is no need to wait until the cleaning product expires or is completely used up. It is highly undesirable and even dangerous to use such cleaning products, as they can damage the optics. Therefore, you need to update your optics care products every few months, carefully monitor their quality and use them strictly for their intended purpose.
It is necessary to take care of the optics, since dirty glass directly affects the photograph. There are special devices for cleaning optics and it is best to use them when cleaning. Improvised means will not work here. To make it easier for you to figure out what you should and shouldn’t do, we have collected everything you need to know about this difficult process. So, let's begin.
The first rule of optical care is to not clean the glass too often.
Lens glass, of course, is a very durable material; it can withstand a lot, since it is created taking into account weather conditions, the need for constant transportation, and so on. However, the top glass of the lens or filter is covered with special coatings, depending on the characteristics. And it is the coating that is most at risk when cleaning. It can easily be scratched or damaged with chemicals. Therefore, the safest method is preventive: try to avoid getting dust, dirt and fingerprints on the coating. Cleaning is also stressful for the coating, but it is necessary. While the lens is on the shelf, it is reliably protected by the front and rear caps. Once you open it and start removing it, sooner or later it will be time to clean it. This cannot be avoided.
By the way, don’t forget to clean your camera bag from time to time - after all, dust can also accumulate there.
Remember that dust is everywhere. There is nowhere to hide from it, so somehow it will still make its way onto the lens and inside it. Of course, lenses are produced in rooms where they are as clean as possible. You (and we) cannot imagine the lengths to which manufacturers go to reduce the amount of dust and, therefore, the likelihood of it getting on the glass. But this does not at all guarantee success. And at home, it’s unlikely that anyone will be able to provide a completely sterile space.
It should be noted that it is not dust that is the most terrible enemy of optics. A few specks of dust inside the lens will not affect the image quality in any way, so you can and should clean the lens, but without much obsessive excitement.
What can really interfere with filming are smudges and fingerprints. Especially if they end up on the back side of the lens (due to the specifics of light transmission, this is what most affects the quality). So you need to put on the lens and carry out any manipulations with it extremely carefully.
Cleaning your optics is not that difficult, even if you are not at home or in a studio. Cleaning takes place in three simple steps:
- Remove as much dust and dirt from the glass as possible using a blower or soft bristle brush.
- Apply a few drops of a special cleaning agent to a special cloth.
- Using circular movements, without pressing, remove stains, grease and dirt from the surface of the glass. Starting from the center of the glass - to the edges.
These simple actions can be performed anywhere, but we repeat, unless absolutely necessary, there is no need to do this again.
If you are particularly concerned about the safety of the glass, you can always use a protective filter. You can easily find an inexpensive and high-quality filter that will take the brunt of both natural pollution and accidental touches. You can clean the filter in exactly the same way as the lens itself. And now - in more detail about why it is best to clean optics this way.
Tassels and pears
If we talk about airborne dust removal, that is, without physical contact with the surface of the glass, then the best way is an ordinary blower. Of course, it can be replaced with air from your own lungs, but in this case there is a risk of accidentally causing the glass to fog up or getting saliva on it. A blower is a necessary item in a photographic bag for both cleaning optics and the matrix.
If you prefer a brush, then the higher quality it is, the better, of course. It is preferable to use a brush made of camel or goat hair. Don’t forget that you cannot touch the bristles of the brush with your own hands, so that natural fats do not get on the bristles and, as a result, on the glass. Also remember that a poor quality brush can leave lint on the optics.
Wipes for cleaning optics
Neither the napkins we use to wipe the kitchen table, nor those that were once grandma’s shirt are completely suitable for cleaning optics. Special, very inexpensive lint-free wipes are designed for cleaning optics. They are sold in packs, but each can only be used once.
Microfiber wipes are also gaining popularity, but they also require their own care. They are used several times, so it is necessary to maintain their cleanliness. They can be washed, but you should not use softeners when washing, as they can leave a chemical residue, which can then leave streaks or stains on the glass.
Try not to use your shirt as an emergency lens wipe; if there are no other options, then carefully weigh the situation. If cleaning is not urgently needed, it is better to wait. And we remind you again - avoid fabric softeners.
Glass cleaning pencils
Relatively recently, convenient and compact pencils for cleaning optics have appeared - they are convenient and quickly absorb oils, thereby easily removing fingerprints and dirt. The Lenspen Original LP-1 pencil is designed for 500 uses and contains a brush and the pencil itself. This pencil costs 1250 rubles. LensPen PhotoKit contains a bulb and 2 pencils. This set costs 2200, but will last a very long time.
Cotton swabs can also be used for cleaning, but they work best around the edges of the lens. What you should not use are wet wipes for the skin. They typically contain moisturizers and oils.
Glass cleaning products
What is good about special liquids for cleaning optics is that they are created specifically so as not to damage the coatings of lenses and filters. They are very inexpensive and last a long time, especially if you remember the first rule of cleaning.
Do not attempt to use: acetone, glass cleaners, dry cleaners or pure alcohol. As we have already said, it is better to trust special liquids.
Zeiss cleaning spray for optics is an excellent solution. This liquid does not harm glass or coating and is suitable for both optics and technology. The kit includes 2 bottles of product and a microfiber cloth. The set costs only 800 rubles.
It is preferable to apply the product on a napkin rather than on glass. There are a number of reasons for this. For starters, liquid from the glass can get inside the lens. Even well-protected lenses cannot be 100% protected from this when liquid is on the glass. If you clean the lens on a sunny day, the droplet on the glass functions as a lens; if light hits it, the glass may become hot and the coating may be damaged.
Rubbing the glass in a circular motion from the center to the edges is also necessary for a reason. Movement reduces the likelihood of divorce. Dirt, if not erased, will not remain in the center of the glass, due to uniform movement towards the edges. We remind you once again that you must not forget about the pressure: try to press so as to remove dirt, but not damage anything.
Some useful facts
When you look through the viewfinder of a DSLR camera, you always see a certain amount of dust. This is inevitable and quite natural. This is dust on the mirror and it will not affect the photograph in any way. The mirror, of course, can be cleaned, but the silver coating on it is quite sensitive, so if you are going to tackle this, then only if you have a good understanding of the technique. But what you shouldn’t do is try to clean the mirror with a blower - this way you can drive dust from the mirror onto the matrix, but in this case the photograph will be at risk.
As for night photography enthusiasts, telescope users, etc. - try not to examine lenses and optics for contamination using colored flashlights, since not everything will be displayed.
One last thing to note is that you can clean both the lens and the camera using a cloth and a special cleaner. The digital contacts that connect the lens and camera should also be cleaned occasionally. Do not forget that you should not use the same cloth that is used for working with glass, since very small metal particles can also get on the cloth and subsequently scratch the coating.
The main thing is to remember our three simple steps that will help you clean your optics safely and correctly, always and everywhere.
Over time, the lens of a digital SLR camera inevitably becomes covered with dust, various grease stains or fingerprints. You can’t really take photographs with such contaminated optics, since various contaminants can affect the quality of photographs. However, this should not scare a real photographer, because cleaning the lens is a common thing, it is accessible to everyone and does not require special skills.
The need to clean the optics also often arises when purchasing a used lens, because most sellers, as a rule, do not bother to perform this procedure. The main thing when cleaning the lens is to be extremely careful and use only appropriate cleaning products, and not whatever comes to hand. Otherwise, there is a high chance of damaging or scratching your expensive lens. We will tell you how to properly clean a SLR camera lens in this article.
Photo: Chuck Swinden
Lens protection
Cleaning the lens from dirt and dust is a procedure that should not be carried out constantly, but rather regularly. That is, it is recommended to clean the optics only when they become dirty, so that unnecessary intrusion does not lead to any negative consequences. You cannot clean the lens too often, since there is a high probability of damaging the special protective layer that is applied to the glass by the manufacturer. When dirt on the lens becomes noticeable, it’s time to clean it. The process of cleaning optics itself should be approached as carefully and carefully as possible, at the same time, you should not be overly afraid of touching the glass of an expensive lens.
Before we talk about how to properly clean a digital camera lens, it is necessary to give several recommendations that should guide every owner of a SLR camera. First, care must be taken when changing lenses to reduce the likelihood of contamination of the optics. When changing lenses, you need to turn off the camera, point both the camera and the lens down, and then quickly change the optics. Try to do this as quickly as possible, and then you will have much less problems with dust on the lens. Secondly, there is a way to protect expensive optics from unwanted external influences, including dust, grease and dirt. The method is to use an ultraviolet or colorless transparent lens filter (UV or skylight filter).
By attaching such a filter to the lens, you will protect the lens from scratches, water splashes and grease marks. In this case, when cleaning the lens, you only need to clean the protective filter itself, and not the lens (until dust gets inside). Therefore, you should not skimp on buying a decent protective filter for a high-quality lens. If you are going on a shoot where there is a real danger of dust or water splashes getting on the lens, then it is better to immediately screw on a protective filter. As a way to protect against dirt, you can use a lens hood, which, in addition to its direct functional purpose, can also protect the lens from dust and dirt.
Lens cleaning products
Now let's move on directly to the cleaning procedure. Cleaning the lens of a digital SLR camera requires the use of special cleaning products. They are usually sold in sets, and the contents of each set may be different. There are a great variety of professional cleaning products on the market today; they are represented by companies such as Hama, LensPen, PhotoSol, Marumi and many others. We list the most popular means for cleaning optics:
— Lens cleaning liquid
Alcohol-based cleaning fluid is widely used when cleaning lenses. It copes well with fingerprints or grease stains on the lens without leaving streaks or marks. At the same time, a couple of drops of this product are enough to completely clean the lens or protective filter. The liquid is not poured directly onto the lens, but is squeezed onto a special cloth or napkin. Then, using careful circular movements, quickly clean the surface of the objective lens from various contaminants. As a simple alternative, many amateur photographers prefer to breathe on the lens and then wipe it off with a tissue. However, this cleaning method is less effective.
- Napkins
Together with the cleaning liquid, wipes made of thin paper are used. These disposable wipes, slightly moistened with liquid, allow you to clean the surface of the lens without leaving scratches. When cleaning your optics, you should not use regular facial tissues as they are made from coarser fibers and can therefore easily scratch your DSLR lens.
— Microfiber
An alternative to lens cleaning cloths is modern microfiber cloth. This is a washable fabric that is excellent at collecting dust and grease stains from the lens. Microfiber cloth, unlike napkins, can be used for cleaning several times; you just need to keep the cloth clean by washing it regularly. Before using a microfiber cloth, you should carefully inspect the lens for large particles of dirt and abrasive materials. They must first be removed using a blower or brush, otherwise you risk scratching the lens when processing with a cloth.
— Blower for cleaning the lens
A special lens blower is used to blow through the surface of the lens and clean the lens from dust. To use the blower, you only need to press it a few times to effectively remove dust particles. Extreme caution is required, since using such a blower can create a real dust storm, as a result of which dust particles can get into the inside of the optics or camera. In photo stores you can currently find a fairly wide range of bulbs, including bulbs equipped with a brush through which you blow.
— Brush/brush
To remove dust, use a brush made of soft and natural bristles so as not to scratch the surface of the lens. You can also find special pencils on sale, which have a retractable brush at one end and a cleaning pad at the other.
— Pencil Lenspen (Lanspen)
Lenspen cleaning pencils are currently very popular among professionals and amateur photographers. This pencil does a good job of removing greasy fingerprints and dried stains from the surface of the lens lens. At one end of the pencil there is a soft brush, at the other there is a special coating for removing greasy fingerprints. Lenspen pencils are compact and lightweight, easy to use, gentle on the lens surface, and more effective than a cloth soaked in cleaning fluid. To clean, you need to remove the cap from the pencil and clean the lens in a circular motion from the center to the edges without pressing. If necessary, you can repeat this procedure several times.
Cleaning
All of the above tools are affordable and work quite effectively. However, even with such tools, care and attention must be exercised, since cleaning the lens is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. It is recommended to start the cleaning process by cleaning the lens body and mount using wipes moistened with a special alcohol liquid. In hard-to-reach places, you can use cotton swabs. Next, we proceed to a more delicate procedure - cleaning the lens from dust.
It is important to get rid of dust first. After all, the antireflective coating applied to the front and rear lenses of the lens is not so easily damaged by liquid or abrasive substances. But the dust itself may contain solid microparticles, which naturally increase the risk of damage to the lens during cleaning. You can remove large microparticles of dust using a blower - they are simply blown off the surface of the lens with a stream of air. After this, you can use a special soft brush or Lenspen pencil, through which you need to sweep away the remaining dust particles with light, circular movements.
The next step is wet cleaning to remove grease marks or dried stains. Grease stains are the most unpleasant, since they significantly affect image quality and, moreover, are quite difficult to remove from the surface of the lens. For wet cleaning, you need to moisten a lint-free cloth or microfiber cloth with a special alcohol-based liquid and clean the surface of the lens using smooth circular movements, without pressing, from the center to the edges. If necessary, you can turn the napkin over and go over the lens one more time.
After wet cleaning, it is recommended to treat the surface of the lens with a dry cloth to remove excess liquid. You can also use the Lenspen Cleaning Pen to remove grease stains, drip marks, or fingerprints. Finally, the final stage of cleaning the lens is to remove the remaining particles of the cleaning composition using a blower or soft brush.
Cleaning the lens at home
In addition, it is worth talking about the old, “old-fashioned” method of cleaning a lens at home, which many photographers have been successfully using for decades. And this method, it must be said, is no less effective than the use of many modern cleaning products. Take an ordinary paraffin candle, a tablespoon and a soft cloth (preferably microfiber). The candle is lit, and the spoon is turned upside down and the flame of the candle is covered with it so that after some time soot (soot) begins to appear on the spoon from the side of the flame. A small part of this soot needs to be collected with a microfiber cloth, napkin or cotton swab, after which you can wipe the lens lenses with it. If there is heavy dirt and grease stains, the treatment of the lens surface with soot can be repeated again. When using this method, the coating on the lens does not deteriorate. By the way, the same popular Lenspen pencils use a cleaning agent similar to soot from a candle.
