Last Updated on February 28, 2022 by azamnie
The nightmare of any photographer is later or earlier, having to clean the camera lens. If you use filters, the problem is also transferred to these accessories. Surely you have a question like “do I need to clean my objective? Serves me anything? What is the best way to do this? How sensitive are the objectives? What risks I take when cleaning?
If ever you’ve encountered this concern, you know what I mean. And if you’ve not encountered yet, you’ll need sooner or later. So, do not miss what you need to clean your filters and your goals and how.
Table of Contents
The working environment
Photography To Remember says there are two basic elements to consider when choosing the best environment for our cleansing. We must work in a clean, dust free, so that the cleaning job we are doing not by dirt clouding the environment itself.
It is also important that the environment count in good light, so that we can see clearly if we are doing a good job of cleaning or, on the contrary, we are leaving the job half done.
The cleaning crews
1. Isopropyl Alcohol
There are several products you can use to clean the filters as both objectives, and although opinions for everyone, it seems to make it an ideal product is isopropyl alcohol.
Can be found in specialized stores such as pharmacies or cleaning products, but often can be somewhat difficult to attain.
If you are having trouble finding him can find some other alternative.
2. Blower
Although there are solutions to professional photography manufacturing partners, there are also classical solutions and cheaper than you can find also in pharmacies.
So, depending on what you spend cleaning your computer, you have specific options such as air blower Giotto’s Rocket Air, probably the most used, or a generic air blower which are for sale at any pharmacy and of which we will talk in the article published at the time to help clean your DSLR sensor.
3. Microfiber chamois
Such cloths are cleaned with the glasses. We can find in any optical and probably also can be found at specialty photography stores.
It is advisable to have a pair of chamois, and we use one to apply the isopropyl alcohol and the other to dry afterwards.
4. Brush
Use a synthetic bristle brush, soft, and a width between 1 and 2 centimetres.
It can be found in DIY stores or craft stores.
5. Gloves
You can use latex gloves, also sold in pharmacies.
The purpose of using gloves is twofold. On the one hand, they allow you to not leave fingerprints if you accidentally hit the filter or the lens glass accidentally. On the other, and most importantly, you keep your hands safe from the end use product for cleaning.
Some latex gloves pharmacies come with talcum powder. Make sure that you buy without talc to avoid staining the filter or lens.
The process
Step 1. Blowing the air blower
First thing we do is to remove particles that may be deposited on the filter or on the target and to avoid scratching any of the items if you rub on them.
To remove these particles from the filter, the filter will hold it with one hand and the blower with the other, with the bulb blowing tilted 45 degrees from side to side, from the centre to the sides.
We will go around the filter to clean the other side and repeats the same operation and, if not satisfied with the result, we can repeat the process again on both sides.
For the purpose the process is the same, and is also important to clean the lens cap to contain any particles not deposited on the lens back to the cover.
You must be careful when air comes near the bulb and keep far enough away not to touch the tip to the lens or filter.
Step 2. Cleaning with the brush
Once you’ve blown it off with the air blower, it’s time to clean with the brush. In past soft, without pressure, is reviewing the surface in a circular motion from the centre to the ends. Then go to the edges wiping out, to shake the particles that might have remained on the edge.
Repeat the process on both sides of the filter and the lens, also reviewing the lid.
Step 3. Cleaning liquid
Once you have made a clear eye and found that there are no visible particles that can scratch the filter or lens, it’s time to clean with liquid.
To do this we will dip a bit of chamois with isopropyl. In this way will control the amount of liquid used.
With the wet cloth, is wiping the surface with circular motions, from the inside out. Go over the edges well, where usually accumulates dust, and made many runs as you need until you see both the filter and lens are clean.
Once you’ve reviewed it, take the second cloth and dry the filter thoroughly on both sides, when cleaning the lens of your camera.
You just need to look at the filter and the target for sure that it is perfectly clean.
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