subject: Camera Lenses: Cleaning Tips [print this page] Camera lenses always need to be cleaned just like other parts of the camera. Most people dont have the right knowledge on how to keep the lenses clean let alone how to clean them. Lenses which are kept clean dont have to get cleaned very often. As a matter of fact, a camera lens should always be kept clean at all times because the need to take a photo can arise at any time. As a photographer you should always be ready to capture precious moments and not let anything hold you back.
Cleaning camera lenses is not something that can be done by any Tom, Dick and Harry. It needs an expert thus if you are not trained to handle the cleaning dont attempt doing it or letting someone who is untrained to do it for you. The biggest mistake that most people do is letting unprofessional people clean their camera lenses or end up trying to do the cleaning by themselves. That is not recommended as one can end up scratching the lenses and damaging the mirrors. The best advice therefore regarding lens cleaning is to take it to an expert who is well trained to have it cleaned. Here are some pieces of advice that is useful as far as camera lenses cleaning is concerned.
Before cleaning with alcohol look at the type of coating of the lens and get to know if it reacts with alcohol or not. Some coatings are known to have serious reactions when touched with alcohol. Also remember not to put the alcohol directly on the lens. This precaution also applies to any lens cleaning fluid that one intends to use.
Most people become so obsessive with small amounts of dirt or dust that appears on their camera lenses. Such people will always end up wiping the mirrors and the lenses all the time. If you never knew, it is not recommended that you wipe your mirrors and lenses all the time because it can lead to serious damage. As a matter of fact, little amount of dust or dirt can not affect image quality and therefore you need to stop being worried. Cleaning your lenses too often means your fingers get in touch with the lenses all the time. Lens coatings can be easily damaged by fingerprints and therefore it is not advisable that you clean your lenses too often.
Some people are known to use canned air in cleaning their cameras shutter. That is not recommended as canned air gets released with a lot of pressure which can easily damage the shutter. Cameras like the SLRs have extremely delicate mirrors and using pressurized canned air on them can lead to serious permanent damage.
It is not advisable to place your fingers on the lens when taking a photo. That will save you from cleaning your lenses all the time which as we have learned is not a recommended practice. Always remember to use a lens cover to cover your lens from dirt and dust. Protecting your camera lens increases the life of your camera. Your camera must always be in a protective case while not in use.
