Caring for your lenses

A lens does not need to be spotless every minute, but sensible handling prevents avoidable damage and keeps fingerprints, dust and moisture from becoming a nuisance.

Start with prevention

Use front and rear caps when a lens is stored. Avoid touching the glass. Keep lenses in a reasonably dry, clean place.

Remove loose grit before wiping

If there is sand or grit on the glass, rubbing it around is a bad idea. Use a clean blower first. A soft lens brush can help with loose dust.

Clean only when needed

For marks that matter, use a clean lens cloth and a suitable lens-cleaning method. Do not spray liquid directly into the lens.

Changing lenses

Turn the camera off, have the replacement lens ready and keep the open camera body facing away from blowing dust or rain. Make the change without rushing.

Condensation

Moving a very cold camera into warm humid air can cause condensation. Let equipment warm gradually, ideally in its bag, rather than immediately exposing cold glass to warm moist air.

Common mistakes

• Using clothing or a dirty tissue to scrub a lens.
• Blowing with your mouth and leaving droplets on the glass.
• Obsessing over a tiny speck that has no visible effect on photographs.
• Leaving equipment damp in a closed bag for long periods.

What you should be able to do before moving on

You should be able to clean and change a lens without turning routine maintenance into a risky operation.