A dirty lens is a dirty photo. That is why careful cleaning of your lenses should be an essential part of your photography habits.
If you are worried about cleaning your lenses, in today’s article I am going to give you the keys to a proper and easy cleaning.
When should you clean an objective?
Don’t complicate your life. Do not clean a target unless you see that it needs it. It’s that easy. Repeatedly cleaning a target unnecessarily could damage it more than protect it. My recommendation is that you clean it as you see it necessary.
It’s better to prevent than to cure
There are UV filters on the market that you can use in order to protect the lens from dust and impurities. These filters come in different sizes, I recommend that you have one for each of your objectives.
The good thing about these filters is that whenever you have to clean you will do it with the filter on, thus guaranteeing that the lens glass remains intact. Sometimes we are afraid that the cloth or chamois itself will scratch the lens. Wearing a filter, the worst that can happen is that you scratch the filter, which you can always change for a much lower cost than the lens.
Lens Cleaning Solutions
Here I have seen and heard opinions for all tastes. There are liquids that you can buy and apply to the lens in small amounts using a soft cloth, and clean the entire glass with circular movements.
Many photographers and shop owners claim, however, that these liquid solutions can be corrosive and therefore spoil your lens in the long run.
There is also a less “aggressive” way to clean the lens and that is by blowing a little air through the mouth to the glass and gently cleaning it with a chamois. I personally always clean my lenses this way and never had any complaints 🙂
Cloths to clean lenses
There are endless cloths and fabrics of all types to clean objectives. The ones that give the best results are microfiber cloths, due to their incredible ease of absorbing dust and how easy it is to clean them.
Important: Before cleaning the objective with one of these cloths, make sure that it does not have any large specks or grit that could damage it when cleaning it. If you see any of this first remove it with a brush or air blower before going over the chamois.
Brushes and Blowers
Both accessories should be on hand. You will not always carry them with you, what you really need the most is the chamois, but as I mentioned in the previous paragraph, it is good to have a brush and a blower (sometimes included in the same element) in case some dust resists us.
Remember that a brush or blower is normally used BEFORE passing the chamois, and it is to guarantee that there are no large impurities on the surface of the lens glass, thus avoiding that we can scratch it while we pass the chamois.
beware of humidity
Lastly, remember that dust is not the only enemy that stalks targets. There is another, quieter and much more dangerous: humidity.
Have you ever seen a mushroom target? Here you have Some examples (Not suitable for sensitive people). This is due to humidity. To avoid this, I recommend collecting the anti-moisture bags that come out on clothes and in shoe boxes and put them in your backpack where you keep your photographic equipment. These little bags will absorb all the moisture around your gear leaving your targets very dry.
conclusion
Remember that cameras age, they become obsolete in a matter of a few years, but a good lens can last you a lifetime. The economic value of a lens is rarely underestimated. If you give him the necessary care and pampering, he will thank you.