OBJECTIVE CLEANING: THE BASICS YOU NEED TO KNOW

A dirty lens is a dirty photo. That is why careful cleaning of your lenses should be an essential part of your photographic habits. If you are concerned about cleaning your goals, in today's article I will give you the keys to proper and easy cleaning.

WHEN SHOULD CLEAN A TARGET?

Do not complicate your life. Do not clean a target unless you see that it needs it. It’s that easy. Repeatedly cleaning a target unnecessarily could damage it rather than protect it. My recommendation is that you clean it as you see it necessary.

Clean Objectives: Soap Free

IT'S BETTER TO PREVENT THAN TO CURE

There are UV filters on the market that you can use in order to protect the target from dust and impurities. These filters come in different sizes, I recommend you have one for each of your goals. The good thing about these filters is that whenever you have to clean you will do so with the filter on, thus ensuring that the lens glass remains intact. Sometimes we are afraid that the cloth itself or suede scratches us the objective. Wearing a filter, the worst thing that can happen is that you scratch the filter, which you can always change for a much lower cost than the objective.

OBJECTIVE CLEANING SOLUTIONS

Here I have seen and heard opinions for all tastes. There are liquids that you can buy and apply to the lens in a few quantities by means of a soft suede, and with clean circular movements all the glass. Many photographers and store owners claim, however, that these liquid solutions can be corrosive and therefore spoil the long-term objective. There is also a less "aggressive" way to clean the lens and it is taking a little air through the mouth of the glass and gently cleaning it with a chamois. I personally always cleaned my goals this way and never had complaints

CHAMOIS TO CLEAN TARGETS

There are endless chamois and fabrics of all types to clean targets. The best results are microfiber suede, because of its incredible ease of absorbing dust and how easy it is to clean them. Important: Before cleaning the lens with a chamois, make sure it does not have any large speck or grit that can damage it when cleaning. If you observe any of this, first remove it with a brush or an air blower before passing the suede.

BRUSHES AND BLOWERS

Both accessories should be at hand. You will not always carry them on, what you really need most is suede, but as I said in the previous paragraph it is good to have a brush and a blower (sometimes included in the same element) in case we resist some dust. Remember that a brush or blower is usually used BEFORE passing the suede, and it is to ensure that there are no large impurities on the surface of the lens glass, thus avoiding that we can scratch it while we pass the suede.

Brush to clean targets

BEWARE OF MOISTURE

Finally, remember that dust is not the only enemy that stalks targets. There is another, quieter and much more dangerous: moisture. Have you ever seen a fungus target? Here you have some examples (not suitable for sensitive people). This is a product of moisture. To avoid this, I recommend collecting the anti-humidity sachets that come out in the clothes and in the shoe boxes and put them in your backpack where you store your photographic equipment. These sachets will absorb all the moisture around your equipment leaving your goals to be very dry.

CONCLUSION

Remember that cameras age, they become obsolete in a matter of a few years, but a good objective can last you a lifetime. The economic value of an objective is rarely neglected. If you give him the care and the necessary care he will thank you.