cleaning lenses

happygolucky

happygolucky

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Andrew
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Hi all
I'm very new to having a DSLR (2 weeks), i'v used it a few times and now i think it's time i cleaned the lens and sensor. I bought a cleaning kit off ebay which consists of some cotton wool buds, some cleaning fluid, some what feel like paper wipes, a smooth cloth and a blower brush. Can someone tell me whats supposed to do what please, as i don't want to scratch it. Btw i have used the blower brush on the front of the lens, is this ok? Thanks.
 
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The lens shouldn't really need any more than the blower brush, unless it has finger prints all over it. If it does, the tissues and fluid should be used. The soft cloth if its really really dirty but often cloths make the lens dirtier unless they are special microfibre ones. Always use the blower first to get rid of any loose dust.

The sensor doesn't need doing unless you can see spots on the images.
If it does, I personally wouldnt use cotton buds, but Im sure people do.
 
Thanks for the replys. I can't see any marks on the sensor so i'll leave that for now.
Very helpful.
 
My sensors get a clean maybe once or twice a year at most. It shouldn't need cleaned after a couple of weeks! Why do you think it needs cleaning?
 
Mt D300 is over 3 years old and I have never wet cleaned the sensor, I doubt yours needs doing after 2 weeks.

Lenses will be fine for a while, only time I would be concerned would be if shooting by the sea, the salt in the air and spray could cause a few marks on the front element.
 
awp said:
My sensors get a clean maybe once or twice a year at most. It shouldn't need cleaned after a couple of weeks! Why do you think it needs cleaning?
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Gotchya.
I don't know why, i just thought it could maybe do with one, but after the advice given i shall only clean it if and when necessary, thank you.
And for the first time i shall ask the shop to maybe clean it and show me their method?
 
Pointblank said:
Gotchya.
I don't know why, i just thought it could maybe do with one, but after the advice given i shall only clean it if and when necessary, thank you.
And for the first time i shall ask the shop to maybe clean it and show me their method?
Click to expand...

Here is a good online article and how-to on the matter LINK I cleaned the sensor on my D80 a couple of times, no real problem.
 
Honestly for the cost, I'd buy proper sensor swabs when you need to clean it - I've done it once with cotton buds in an emergency and it takes a lot more work to not get cotton wool sticking!

For the lens I use a lens pen and a cotton cloth (though will be buying a microfibre one soon) as needed, on average I'd say maybe once a week run the lens pen brush over, the cloth I've used maybe half a dozen times in 8 months.
 
Lenses: Blower, soft brush and Lenspen 99% of the time. Lens cleaning fluid and lens tissue (if you can still find it) or microfibre cloth if absolutely necessary. Lenses don't normally need much cleaning.

Sensor: You don't actually clean the sensor of a digital camera, it's the filter over it, but we all talk about the "sensor" so this doesn't really matter. A good blower brush - not compressed air - will often remove dust from the sensor, and Lenspen make a "pen" for this too. It's quite good. Stubborn dust may need a wet clean, and I'd suggest buying proper fluid and swabs for this. It's not difficult, but be careful, and ask someone to show you how to do it the first time if you aren't sure.
 
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