How Do I Clean the Glass on a Nikon Lens?
Cleaning the lens of a pricey Nikon Nikkor camera lens can be nerve wracking as any stray coarse fiber can cause an unexpected and deadly scratch. The best way to clean a Nikkor lens is to prevent dirt as best as possible by investing in UV clear lens filters, keeping the lens cap on at all times when the camera is not in use and keeping your equipment in bags or containers away from falling dust. Specs and smudges, however, are inevitable, especially for those who photograph outdoors or change lenses frequently. To clean a lens, a special cloth is needed and sometimes chemical aids. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Rub the front and back of the lens (small and large glass plate) with a clean, microfiber cloth. Microfiber clothes are extremely soft without any abrasive threads. It is the same cloth that is usually used to clean a laptop or other LCD screen. You can find the cloth at any computer or camera store or even at general superstores. Rub the glass in a soft circle with the microfber cloth, adding additional pressure if needed. If you cannot find a microfiber cloth, use a clean T-shirt.
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Dab a clean cloth in pure 100 percent methyl alcohol and gently rub the spotted area on the lens in a slow circular motion. Only use methyl alcohol (also referred to as methanol and wood alcohol) if there is a deep smudge or fingerprint that does not come off with dry microfiber. Do not use rubbing alcohol (the type to clean wounds), as it contains a lubricating substance that will cling to your lens.
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Allow the lens to dry once you have rubbed away the smudges before attaching a lens filter or before attaching it to your camera body.
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Clean the camera body. If the spec or smudge is still visible after cleaning your lenses thoroughly, then the problem is in the camera body itself and not in the lens. Begin by using the microfiber cloth to clean the viewfinder followed by gently cleaning the inside of the body where the sensors are. This requires extreme caution, as sensors are by definition, sensitive. Attempt air-blowing before actual cleaning to try and dislodge any floating debris. Do not use your breath as it contains a high water percentage; use a small syringe or baster to blast air in. If that fails, carefully fold the microfiber cloth and gently rub the mirror inside and then set your camera to "clean" mode (also known as shutter lockup) to access the sensor for gentle cleaning. The way to do this varies on all camera bodies, so refer to your user's manual.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are in doubt about cleaning your equipment, having it professionally cleaned is always an option. Most camera store and photography repair shops offer cleaning services for both the lenses and body of your camera.
References
- Photo Credit camera lens image by Zbigniew Nowak from Fotolia.com
