It’s a very well known fact that lenses are more important than your camera. So ensuring that they’re always in tip top shape is essential, though many people don’t know the very basics of lens maintenance. Depending on how often you use your camera and the types of situations that you shoot in, you should do some basic lens cleaning once a week to once a month. We’ll let you decide, but keep in mind that if you’re using your camera and lenses to bring in all your income, maintenance should be done often.
Here are tips for basic lens maintenance.
Always Use Lens Caps, Lens Hoods, Filters and Butt Caps
If your lens and camera aren’t in use, it only makes sense to keep it protected. When putting the lens or camera back in your bag, use the lens caps, goods, filters, and butt caps.
NEVER, EVER put a lens in your pocket without any sort of protection on either end. EVER!
Use a Microfiber Cloth to Clean the Front Optics from Smears
Microfiber clothes are soft and non-abrasive. They’re designed to clean glass surfaces with a gentle touch. All of the pressure comes from your fingers–this is the safest way to clean the lens.
Using a Q-Tip, Apply Isopropyl Alcohol to the Electronic Contacts. Gently Rub
Isopropyl alcohol is used to clean electronics. Applying a small amount to the contact of the lens ensures a smooth flow of communication between the lens and the camera. It cleans dust and grime out of there that otherwise hamper the autofocus and metering information.
Also Use Isopropyl Alcohol on the Front Element (Not Needed Often)
You really don’t need to do this that often or unless you got a major smear on your lens.
Wipe it Off With a Microfiber Cloth
Ensure that you wipe the alcohol off with a microfiber cloth for an effective but gentle touch.
BONUS: A Rocket Blower Can Really Get Dust Out of a Lens
Use these little air pumps to blow dust out of the lens’s interior and in hard to reach spots.