Cameras, like all modern devices, tend to attract dirt and dust. That’s especially true if you go on nature photography excursions because there’s plenty of dust in such environments. Most of the dirt and smudges tends to settle on the camera lens, which can have an impact on the picture quality. It’s important to learn how to clean and maintain camera lenses before you go on a photography excursion. Here are a few suggestions that can help you maintain the lens:

#1 You Don’t Need to Clean it Daily

It’s a common misconception that camera lenses should be cleaned daily with cleaning solutions, as this can cause more harm than good. You could eventually wear down and permanently damage the delicate lens surface. You should clean the lens when you see a layer of dust or smudges on it. I recommend that you install a UV filter on the lens, as this filter will protect the lens from dust, scratches, smudges, and possible breakage. It’s a great preventive measure that will help you preserve your lens for a longer period of time.

#2 Use Lens Cleaning Liquid

You’ll find this liquid in almost all professional camera stores. Alcohol-based cleaning solutions are the most effective cleaners available in the market because they don’t leave residue and cleaning streaks on the lens. The solution evaporates almost immediately after it cleans dust, grease, and fingerprints. Just be careful not to use too much because that can damage the lens surface permanently. You should use a drop or two of the solution, rub the lens gently to agitate the dirt, and wipe everything away.

You can also blow breath on the lens surface to moisten it and wipe away the dirt with a cloth. This is a good solution if you only have a fine layer of dust on the lens.

#3 Special Cleaning Tissues

You can find specialised cleaning tissues in a camera store. The’re made from a very fine material so they won’t scratch the lens surface during the cleaning process. Normal facial wipes or tissues aren’t a good substitute because they will cause damage to the lens. The camera lens cleaning tissues are softer and designed for single time use. They’re great for nature excursions because you can use and discard them immediately after you’re done.

#4 Cleaning Cloth

You can use a microfiber cloth to clean your camera lens as well. This material will wipe away all the dust, debris, grime, and finger prints on the lens. However, you need to keep the cloth clean and dust-free to ensure it doesn’t damage the lens. The dust and debris on the microfiber cloth can scratch your camera lens, especially if there are large particles of dust on it. Just blow on the lens to remove the large fragments and make sure your microfiber cloth is clean before you wipe the lens.

#5 Blowers

You can also use a blower, such as a ‘Giotto Rocket’, which I have used for years. It’s a small, handy device that will pump air on the surface to remove the dirt and debris. You can use this tool to clean your lenses and external parts of your camera.

If you have a passion for wildlife, nature or travel photography and would love to go on a small-number, professional photography adventure, please get in touch with Michael Snedic at WildNature Photo Expeditions. You can call him on 0408 941 965 or fill in this Contact Form and he will get back to you ASAP.

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