Comments on: How to Clean Camera Gear: My Step-By-Step Approach

By: Michael Clark

Michael Clark — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 02:10:31 +0000

In reply to Srormin' Norman. UV filters prevent very little to none of the damage cause by bumps and drops. Sometimes they make it worse by shattering and scratching the front lens element or by distorting their shape and getting stuck on the lens. If a filter ring gets bent, the lens took enough shock force that you better have a look at the internal alignment of the lens' elements. The only time filters provide any protection at all is from blowing sand, salt water spray, or industrial environments that have welding, grinding, chipping, etc. going on that create a lot of hot metal particles flying around in the air. I've got lenses I've been using for 15+ years and well over half a million frames, often in "high risk" environments like field sports in all kinds of weather and in rowdy crowds at music festivals and concerts in bars. I never use "protective" filters unless there's blowing sand, salt water, or industrial particles flying around. The front of my lenses are still immaculate. I always use hoods. My hoods have scratches, rub marks, paint spots, etc. all over them. I've broken one hood that had to be replaced. It cracked when the camera and lens were dropped on concrete from about 3.5 feet/ 1 meter. But the glass the hoods actually protect looks as good as the day they came from the factory.

By: Michael Clark

Michael Clark — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 01:59:45 +0000

In reply to CrustyOF. Yes, because the lens would have spontaneously exploded and instantly turned to dust without the filter there... UV filters break because they are much thinner and made of more brittle materials than the front elements of most lenses. It takes real effort to even scratch a front element.

By: Michael Clark

Michael Clark — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:53:16 +0000

Step 1: Put on a pair of non-powdered latex or nitrile gloves so you don't contaminate your micro-fiber cloths and Tek towels with skin oil. They'll absorb it and then spread a uniform thin sheen of it over your front and rear lens elements.

Also, regarding #6 (the first #6, not the other step 6 that follows it): With recessed rear lens elements do the same thing as the camera body when blowing dust out of the light box – hold the lens above the blower with the hole in the rear of the lens facing down. Also, with some lenses manipulating the zoom and focus rings will bring the rear element closer or further to the mount ring.

By: Michael Clark

Michael Clark — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 15:15:03 +0000

In reply to Richard. I clean my own sensors so I have plenty of swabs around. I've never thought about using them on recessed rear elements of lenses. Thanks for the tip! I'll use that the next time dust gets stuck on the rear of one of my lenses.

By: Srormin' Norman

Srormin' Norman — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 09:34:00 +0000

I’d like to comment regarding not using a UV filter. I always use one and always encourage others to do so. Your point about dropping it is of course perfectly valid but my argument has been that dropping the lens and smashing it isn’t the only way to ruin it. A scratch caused by sand, dust, a branch or even a small tumble by the photographer would do so as well yet this damage to the lens could be prevented by a UV filter. .

By: Kim T.

Kim T. — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 01:45:00 +0000

I never use filters. Once my camera was accidentally knocked out of my hands and fell about 3 feet onto a concrete porch and bounced down two brick steps. I was horrified, but the lens was not broken (I did have the lens cap on). The camera has a small dent on the back corner of the right side and a little bit of damage around the battery door on the bottom, but other than that, both work fine. I still don’t use a filter, but I ALWAYS wear my wrist strap. As for tools, I have what is technically a cloth diaper, that I use as a towel to wipe down the outside of the camera and lens; it’s very soft and thin and doesn’t take up much room in the camera bag. That, the rocket blower and a microfiber cloth are my go to for cleaning.

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 04:49:00 +0000

Hi
All those tips I use but one important difference is cleaning the camera. I won’t clean the sensor either but I try to us a vacuum cleaner when cleaning inside my camera as I brush and blow because it will drag out the dust and not spread in further into the camer

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 23:59:00 +0000

Recently I discovered sensor cleaning swabs for cleaning my lenses and filters. After using a blower and brush/lens pen to remove dust I use a sensor cleaning swab to clean the front lens or filter. I use them in a circular motion from the centre outwards to the edges. They are great for getting right into the edges of the lens or filter. They work in much the same way as microfiber cloth but you can be with much more careful and precise with the amount of pressure you need to apply to get the job done. You can also be more frugal with the amount of lens cleaning fluid used which you apply just to the swab tip, just enough to get the job done. They are cheap to buy on Ebay and easy to carry and store and keep clean in their little individual packets.
When out in the field and you need to remove a few rain drops from the front of your lens or filter they are so easy to use compared to a cloth. You just keep one in its packet in your top pocket.
They are also good for cleaning the rear lens, which I avoid doing as much as possible, but if I need to clean the rear lens I only use a brand new swab in a clean environment. Once again they are great for getting into the corners of the rear lens and the little stick gives you good reach into the rear of a telephoto. But avoid cleaning the rear lens if you possibly can. Best to avoid dirt here by putting rear caps on immediately.
You can get APSC and full frame size swabs as well as little touch up ones. Throw them away if you have used them a bit as they can become contaminated. Same goes for your microfiber cloths.

By: Rebecca Davies

Rebecca Davies — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 12:18:00 +0000

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By: Gordon Lamb

Gordon Lamb — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 07:13:00 +0000

In reply to Daniel Smith. I have filters on when the lenses are packed in bags - they are screwed in and don't fall off like lens caps sometimes do. Often take them off to use the lens,