Housekeeping!

MrsRobs

Senior Member
Hola amigos! Just came back and looked at my pics from today, they all had a glare on them.... checked the lens and there's a big juicy thumb print in the middle of it. Tried wiping it with my spectacles cleaner, and it was ok, but still a bit greasy. Do you clean your lenses often, and if in case like today, how do you clean your lens when you're on the go? Is there a recommended way to keep it clean, and any definite no-no's when it comes to cleaning the lens and camera?
Thanks!
 
Last edited:

TwistedThrottle

Senior Member
I would say total submersion is a definite no-no. If you use a slightly damp super clean microfiber, that should take the finger prints off. Just use very light pressure, start in the center and go in circles out to the perimeter. Follow up with a dry microfiber if needed to take care of any streaks. Light pressure and low moisture are key.
 

Needa

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Mostly use two things, a microfiber cloth and Lenspen kit. Clean the lens quite frequently, start by using the brush in the Lenspen while holding the lens facing the ground, then clean with a microfiber cloth. If there are smudges that do not come off, I then use the cleaning side of the Lenspen.
 

Peter7100

Senior Member
I would try first with a decent camera lens cloth and failing that I use Eclipse Lens Cleaning Fluid applied with pec-pad wipes.
The latter combination I have used for years and have always found them to be excellent.
 

MrsRobs

Senior Member
Thanks! Think it was more a technique issue, didnt dare use any moisture so ended up rubbing the stain further. Going from the inside to out, with a damp microfibre, that has removed it without smudges now.

I could watch youtube but what can I say, I enjoy interacting with you, you all know your stuff, and its impartial advice always :)
 

Peter7100

Senior Member
Thanks! Think it was more a technique issue, didnt dare use any moisture so ended up rubbing the stain further. Going from the inside to out, with a damp microfibre, that has removed it without smudges now.

I could watch youtube but what can I say, I enjoy interacting with you, you all know your stuff, and its impartial advice always :)

Totally agree with you as not all the people on youtube can be trusted with their so called 'expert advice'. Keeping asking on here ;)
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
For something like that, I use Pec-Pads along with eye glass cleaner. Usually I spray a little eye glass cleaner on the Pec-Pad to moisten it before starting at the center of the lens or filter and moving in a clockwise or counter wise direction until I reach the outside edge of the lens/filter. The eye glasses cleaner I get at the store where I get my eye glasses made. As Peter7100 suggested, you could try the sensor cleaning liquid made by Eclipse. I use Eclipse to clean my sensor but never used it to clean any lenses or filters.

The Ped-Pads are lint free and thicker than normal eye glass papers.

https://www.amazon.com/PEC-PAD-Lint...hild=1&keywords=pec+pad&qid=1613765561&sr=8-1

For microfiber cloths, I use these based on the high number of Amazon ratings. These have been excellent.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050R67U0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 

BF Hammer

Senior Member
I have a pair of LensPens, a pair of those microfiber cloths that stuff into a holder with a clip, and I also keep those 1-use pre-moistened lens wipes. The disposable wipes are mainly for cleaning my glasses, but I will go after a greasy lens or filter with them too. They all work as they should. The last batch of wipes I bought even are branded Nikon since they were cheaper than the Zeiss branded ones this time.
 

MrsRobs

Senior Member
For something like that, I use Pec-Pads along with eye glass cleaner. Usually I spray a little eye glass cleaner on the Pec-Pad to moisten it before starting at the center of the lens or filter and moving in a clockwise or counter wise direction until I reach the outside edge of the lens/filter. The eye glasses cleaner I get at the store where I get my eye glasses made. As Peter7100 suggested, you could try the sensor cleaning liquid made by Eclipse. I use Eclipse to clean my sensor but never used it to clean any lenses or filters.

The Ped-Pads are lint free and thicker than normal eye glass papers.

https://www.amazon.com/PEC-PAD-Lint...hild=1&keywords=pec+pad&qid=1613765561&sr=8-1

For microfiber cloths, I use these based on the high number of Amazon ratings. These have been excellent.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050R67U0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Thanks, got the whole kit ordered from Amazon and I will keep some in my bag for on the go. Another question, when you say you clean your sensor, what do you mean by that? I get its the inside of the camera, but what specifically are you cleaning? And when do you know it needs a clean?
 

Peter7100

Senior Member
Thanks, got the whole kit ordered from Amazon and I will keep some in my bag for on the go. Another question, when you say you clean your sensor, what do you mean by that? I get its the inside of the camera, but what specifically are you cleaning? And when do you know it needs a clean?

If you start to see spots in your pictures then it probably means there is dust or something on the sensor. One way to check is to take a photo of a white wall.
Some people choose to have their sensors professionally cleaned as they fear doing any damage. However it can be done without any experience but you must follow the instructions very carefully. There are a few different methods and the safest is probably with a blower brush although this can just move the dirt/dust to another location on or near the sensor.
After that you are looking at using swabs over the actual sensor itself.
All sensor cleaning involves locking the mirror up and your battery must have a good charge when doing so.
I rarely do it, maybe once ever couple of years but dirt on the sensors can vary depending on what environment you are in, particularly when changing lenses.
 

MrsRobs

Senior Member
Ive not noticed any spots, so think for now Im ok. I dont think the lens has ever come off this camera so dont think there's been an opportunity for any dust to sneak in.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Thanks, got the whole kit ordered from Amazon and I will keep some in my bag for on the go. Another question, when you say you clean your sensor, what do you mean by that? I get its the inside of the camera, but what specifically are you cleaning? And when do you know it needs a clean?

When you check or clean the sensor, your camera battery will need to be at 50% or more - otherwise, the mirror won't move up out of the way. So be sure you have enough battery power before starting.

Sometimes the spots are from dry dust. Other times spots might be stuck onto the sensor kind of like a slightly oily substance. I've had both types. When I test for it, I tape a blank sheet of letter sized paper to the wall. My aperture is stopped down usually at f/16 or f/22 (no need to go beyond f/22 because spots will definitely show up at those apertures, and most people don't shoot completely stopped down very often). I take a photo then open it in either Lightroom or Photoshop (or some type of image editing software). If you don't see anything, you can adjust the contrast to make any possible spots stand out. But if you don't see anything initially before adjusting the contrast, you wouldn't need to do a wet cleaning. If I didn't see anything, I'd use a rocketblower anyway to blow off any possible dry dust particles.

Here is an article showing examples of sensor spots. The only thing that might be confusing is #6 under How to See Sensor Dust. He says, 'Set your aperture to the largest number available for your lens by rotating the camera dial. For example, the minimum aperture on the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G is f/16, so if I were shooting with this lens, I would set my aperture to f/16.' The largest number means a higher aperture number to stop down the lens for better depth of field. Just don't confuse it with a larger aperture (which would be shooting wide open).

Article showing sensor spot examples: https://photographylife.com/how-to-spot-dust-on-your-dslr-sensor

Below is a very detailed video that @BackdoorArts initially shared with me back when my D600 kept having oil spots (the oil spot shutter issue that eventually required a recall). It goes through the process from start to finish. ALWAYS be sure to use a blower FIRST before a wet cleaning. If you don't, most likely you will scratch your sensor if there is any dry dust on it.

There will be two things you need in addition to the cleaning solution and the sensor swabs. One is a rocket blower. The rocket blower I use is by Giottos. Amazon also sells these. It has a filter on the back end so it doesn't suck dust into the blower and out into your camera. It used to come in 3 sizes: small (don't waste your money as this size barely gives off a poof), medium - which is okay, and large - which in my opinion is the best for cleaning the sensor.

Another item that is extremely helpful is a loupe. I use this sensor loupe by Carson although there are others that are equally as good. The first time I cleaned my D600 sensor, I didn't have a loupe. :eyetwitch: I didn't realize until I got started that a small flashlight wasn't going to work. It was very difficult to see what I was doing. A camera sensor loupe allows you to insert a cleaning swab down into the camera body while you look through the loupe to wet clean. The loupe has lights which is immensely helpful.

I use the Sensor Swabs like he uses in the video. They come in different sizes depending upon your sensor size so if you get any type of swabs, be sure to choose the correct size. And I use the Eclipse Optic Cleaning Solution for the wet cleaning.

There are other types of wet cleaning products out there. Choose whatever feels best for you. But this video is very helpful to see the entire process. After watching it a couple of times, the fear I initially felt faded away. Sometimes all you might need is just to blow dust off the sensor. A wet cleaning isn't always required.

 
Last edited:

Zev

Senior Member
Whenever I get a new lens, the very first thing I do is attach a UV filter, which is never removed. Would never use a lens without one. Extremely easy to clean, and much cheaper to replace.
 

STM

Senior Member
Whenever I get a new lens, the very first thing I do is attach a UV filter, which is never removed. Would never use a lens without one. Extremely easy to clean, and much cheaper to replace.

I am right there with you. The only exceptions are my "Beasts", 200mm f/2, 300mm f/2.8, 400mm f/2.8 and 600mm f/4 ED IF AIS Nikkors which already have a piece of multicoated flat glass in front of the first element (which is almost always soft ED glass). The front elements of the 600mm f/4 and 400mm f/2.8 are so huge there is not even filter thread.
 
Top