How to Clean Dirt From a Digital SLR Camera Lens

Many owners of new digital SLR cameras don't know how to properly clean the lens without damaging it. Today's lenses have optical coatings that are easy to damage so you must be careful.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lens cleaning air blower (available at most camera shores and discount retailers).
• Microfiber cloth
• Lens cleaning solution

1. Use the air blower, (never canned air), to gently blow the fine particles form the lens and around the edges of the lens. (Make sure you keep the air blower stored in a clean, dry area, so you aren't blowing dust on the lens.)

2. Put a couple of drops of lens cleaning solution on the microfiber cloth to gently wipe the lens using very little pressure. (Keep your microfiber cloths stored in a dry location and use only clean cloths so as not to scratch you lens.) Perform lens cleaning indoors, in a clean dry area.

3. Remove excess fluid from the lens and make sure there is no dirt remaining around the edges. After all the fluid has dried and the lens appears totally clear, then replace your protective skylight filter or lens cap.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your lens clean by using a 1A skylight filter, warming filter, etc available at your camera shop. If it never gets dirty, you'll never need to clean it.
• Be gentle and use only photographers microfiber cloths. Some "microfiber cloths" sold at auto parts stores are too rough and will cause damage to the coating on the lens.