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Lens cleaning

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Disclaimer!: When you clean your own lens you do so at your own risk, the information provided here, is how I clean my lenses, but I can not be held liable for what you do with the information supplied on this page. Use the information provided here at your own risk!


Before you start, find a clean place that is as dust free as possible. Preferably a place with good lighting and no draft.

Products I use for lens cleaning is as follows:


VisibleDust Lens Clean Solution
VisibleDust Magic Cleaner Micro-fibre cloth
Photographic Solution Brushoff
Giottos Rocket Air Blower - (Large) 7.5"
Compressed air canister

Click "here" for how to clean lenses using lens tissue.

Lens Cleaning using micro fibre cloth




Lens Cleaning Products

Step 1. Start with cleaning the front lens cap (I use a used micro-fibre cloth), then get the hand blower and hold your lens upside down, and blow air onto the lens to remove any dust or dirt on the lens surface. If there is dust that won`t come off with the hand blower, I use PS's Brushoff to remove any dust that won`t come off with the blower or the air canister(remember to hold the air canister level if you use this). Lens cleaning using Giottos Rocket Air BlowerLens cleaning using Photographic Solution Brushoff
Step 2. Prepare the micro fibre cloth and the VisibleDust Lens Clean Solution. The way you prepare the cloth is entirely up to you. The best results I've had is either to make a small ball out of the cloth(similar to how I wrap the lens tissue) or to wrap it like I've done on the pictures to the right. First fold the Magic Cleaner Micro-Fibre cloth in half, then place the cloth between the index finger and the middle finger, then wrap the cloth over and around the index finger. Wrap the top of the cloth behind the top of the index finger then wrap the rest into your hand like you would hold a gun. Make sure the tip of the cloth that's on the top of your index finder is smooth and not wrinkly. Spray on some Visible Dust Lens Clean solution to the cloth. How to use a micro fibre cloth
Step 4. Hold the wet micro fibre cloth like I described in step 2, and clean the lens in a circular motion, from the center to the edge. Do not apply too much pressure onto the lens surface. how to clean lenseshow to clean lenses
Step 5. Get a dry spot of the Micro fibre cloth and dry of the excess fluid using a circular motion starting at the center and ending on the edge. Do not apply too much pressure onto the lens surface. how to clean lenseshow to clean lenses
Step 6. When done with the cleaning, check the lens under a lamp. Check if it`s needed to repeat the process. If you are done with the front element, replace the clean lens cap, and turn the lens over. If all you see is some spots of dust, there is no need to repeat the wet process, just get your Brushoff out and brush the dust off. check

Step 7. Before you start with the rear element of the lens, clean the lens mount and the rear cap. I use a old used micro-fibre cloth to clean the lens mount, rear cap and the outside of the lens. When my micro-fibre cloths gets dirty I replace them with a new one, and use the dirty ones for cleaning; lens mounts, rear/front caps, outside of the lens, and for cleaning of my cameras.

Step 8. Use the same procedure as used on the front element) on the rear element of the lens.

cleaning lens mount

Lens Cleaning using lens tissues


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Step 1. Start with cleaning the front lens cap (I usually use a micro-fibre cloth), then get the hand blower and hold your lens upside down, and blow air onto the lens to remove any dust or dirt on the lens surface. If there is dust that won`t come off with the hand blower, I use a brush to remove any dust that won`t come off with the blower or the air canister(remember to hold the air canister level if you use this).
front capblower
Step 2. Prepare three pieces of lens tissue, one wet, two dry. shape all three lens tissues into balls. Make sure the cleaning surface of the lens tissue is kept clean and that you don't get any dirt on it. For the edges of the lens I use used sensor swabs ( if you don't have any used sensor swabs, you can fold one piece of lens tissue to clean the edges).

step 2 ballstep2 folded
Step 3. Drip one drop of lens cleaning fluid onto the first tissue(basically use as little liquid as possible, but use enough to make the whole lens surface wet). The two other lens tissues is for drying off the liquid so keep them dry.

I find that the VisibleDust VDust Plus is excellent with the PEC*PADS, if you start getting streaks do a final sweep with Eclipse.
step 3 liquid
Step 4. Hold the wet piece of lens tissue between the thumb and index finger, and clean the lens in a circular motion, from the center to the edge. Do not apply too much pressure onto the lens surface.
step 4 holdstep4 circualr motion
Step 5. Repeat the process with the dry lens tissue, starting at the center, and finishing at the edge of the lens. Do this as soon as possible after the wet tissue. Use the third lens tissue if the lens is still wet. Use a used sensor swab or a folded lens tissue to clean the edges of the lens.
step 4 holdstep4 circualr motion

Step 6. When done with the cleaning, check the lens under a lamp, to check if it`s needed to repeat the process. If you are done with the front element, replace the clean lens cap, and turn the lens over.

 

check

Step 7. Before you start with the rear element of the lens, clean the lens mount and the rear cap. Also throw out any used lens tissue, and prepare 3 new tissues. I usually use a micro-fibre cloth to clean the lens mount, cap and the outside of the lens.


Step 8. Use the same procedure as used on the front element, on the rear element of the lens.

Nikon Reviews

step 5 mount cleaning
© 2009 Fredrik A. Rasmussen. All rights reserved.