| The camera lens is your hand held eye on the | | | | at your local grocers. The second type is with |
| world. If you look at the world through dirty | | | | you as you read this. It's your breath. Using your |
| glasses, or fog, your image is unclear. The same | | | | warm breath on the lens creates a type of |
| is true of a camera lens. If it's dirty the image | | | | distilled moisture. The point is that the liquid must |
| you obtain will be unclear. You'll have to clean it | | | | be clean and free of harmful minerals. If you use |
| and do so carefully so that you don't leave it | | | | distilled water, pour a very small amount onto |
| dirty. If you have a delicate lens on your camera, | | | | your cleaning cloth. Never, ever pour it directly |
| you only want to clean it when it is very dirty. | | | | onto the camera or lens. The water could easily |
| There are ways to clean the lens without | | | | seep inside the camera and permanently damage |
| damaging it or your camera. | | | | it. Always err on the side of caution. It's better to |
| The first thing to do is remove the dust and dirt | | | | repeat the cleaning process with too little |
| that has adhered itself to the lens. Use a brushing | | | | moisture, than to have too much water on the |
| tool for this. It is a special brush, much like a thick | | | | lens. |
| artists brush, often with a rubber air blower on | | | | There may be oils present that require more |
| the end. Gently brush the lens while squeezing the | | | | aggressive cleaning. For this type of grime you'll |
| rubber end. This will dislodge the tiny dust particles | | | | need regular alcohol. Be sure that it is 100% pure |
| that have collected there. Do not use too much | | | | alcohol. Anything with additives could damage the |
| pressure as there may be harder particles | | | | lens. Don't use things such as paint thinner or toxic |
| present that can scratch the lens. That would be | | | | liquids. The reason for this is that the camera is |
| much worse than the dirt itself. The bottom line is | | | | close to your face. Camera retailers also sell |
| to be careful. | | | | special camera lens cleaners. These are good for |
| In most cases this will be all you have to do. | | | | lenses that are saturated with oil based film. |
| Stopping the cleaning process right then and there | | | | Follow the same procedures as with the other |
| won't expose your camera in further danger. You | | | | liquids. |
| never want to put your camera in further danger | | | | All cameras, from that old Browning film camera |
| of damage. However, there are also oils that will | | | | you got as a kid, to large Single Lens Reflexes |
| build up on the camera lens that require more | | | | and today's Digital SLR Cameras have lenses. |
| than brushing to remove. For this use a clean, | | | | They all require cleaning at some point in time. I |
| soft, high quality cloth. There are also special | | | | cannot over-emphasize the importance of using |
| cleaning tissues available from camera retailers. | | | | due care when it comes to cleaning your camera. |
| They come in different quantities. If you use real | | | | That sophisticated piece of equipment was an |
| cloth, make sure you wash it between uses. It | | | | expensive investment. Permanent damage would |
| only takes on tiny left over dirt particle to | | | | be far worse than a small amount of dirt on your |
| permanently scratch the lens. | | | | lens. With proper care and due caution your |
| There are two types of liquid cleaners for cleaning | | | | camera will last, and will always be ready for that |
| camera lenses. If the film on your camera lens is | | | | special moment. |
| water soluble, you can use distilled water available | | | | |