ust is everywhere,
so it’s inevitable that
after a while, your
once shiny and new
camera lenses will have gathered
dust, dirty marks and the odd
fingerprint here and there.
Lenses are prone to spots and
smears – and this can become
worse if you’ve been shooting
outdoors in harsh weather.
But while dust and dirt may
be a natural sign of use, it’s
important to show your lenses
some regular TLC by cleaning
them. This should improve
image quality – and avoid real
damage further down the line.
Fortunately, it’s easy and cheap
to keep your lenses in tip top
condition. Marks on the front of
your lens can be removed witha specialist cloth, and you can
keep the back (the part that
mounts onto the camera body)
clear with a dust blower or brush
for hands-free cleaning.
Manually blowing air is a
low-contact way to eliminate
dust from the front of your lens.
A blower can also be used to
clear the lens contacts (the gold
bits at the back of the lens). Keep
a blower in your camera bag
when you’re shooting outdoors,
and use it regularly to eliminate
environmental dust. You can also
use it to remove dust from your
image sensor, but use it with care
and apply very gentle puffs of air.
A dust blower is just the start,
though: there are plenty of other
low-tech ways to protect high-
tech photo goodies...D
Spring-clean your
camera kit
Eliminate dust, dirt, and blow out the
cobwebs from your lenses and sensorAlternative ways to keep your lenses clean
1
Use a soft-bristled brush to
get rid of unwanted debris
without having to touch the glass.
A pen-shaped design is easier to
store in your camera bag. Shake off
leftover dust from the brush, hold
the lens at a downwards angle, and
gently brush the front of the lens.2 Occasionally you might also want to clean the lens barrel.
A cloth or wipe can be used to get rid
of dirt build-up, but a toothbrush is
better for digging down between
grooves. Grab a clean, soft brush,
and rub it up and down the barrel
to dislodge grime.3 Use a cloth for cleaning only after you’ve tried a blower or
brush (so that you don’t risk moving
items around that might scratch the
lens’ elements). First, check for and
remove any large debris that could
scratch the lens. Next, wipe gently
around your lens from the inside out.4 If your lens still has stubborn dirty marks to remove, try
a specialist cleaning solution. Spray
the solution onto a lens tissue, not
directly onto the lens itself. Hold it
firmly in one hand, and work in gentle
circular motions to remove those
last remaining smudges.3 | MAINTENANCE22 DIGITAL CAMERA^ JUNE 2019 http://www.digitalcameraworld.com
YOUR LENS YOUR SENSOR