by Linda
Recently I was editing a bunch of pictures that were taken outside and noticed there were a lot of birds in the pictures. That's funny, I thought, I didn't remember seeing any birds, maybe they are dragonflies. So I zoomed in on one of the spots. It was just a blob, if it was a bird it was moving too fast to look like one so I cloned it out.
It seemed like every picture in the filmstrip had these birds in them. I finally started to realize the "birds" were always in the same place, then the light bulb went on {finally!} and I looked at the lens on my camera. There were my birds! Spots on the lens!
My trusty camera sits out in the open most of the time where I can easily grab it for quick shots and even though it always has a lens cap on, it has accompanied me to the desert, the mountains and the beach this summer. Time for a little TLC!
Cleaning a lens is a simple thing and doesn't require much time or equipment. The glass on lenses has a special coating on it though so a little care should be taken. Use a soft microfiber cloth, a soft bristle brush and a small bulb air blower. Don't use canned air, and don't use a cleaner on it because that will damage the coating. Fingerprints should be wiped off because the oils in our hands can damage the coating too. If it is a removable lens, be sure to clean both sides.
If your mirror is dirty, you can clean it with the little bulb air blower and soft brush. The mirror also has a special coating on it so if that doesn't get it clean it is best to take it to the camera shop for a more thorough cleaning.
Don't forget about your eye piece!
I've started to carry a micro fiber cloth with me when I'm out with my camera, just in case.
Take a few minutes and give your gear some TLC! The holidays are right around the corner and you want to be ready!
{and avoid unnecessary birds in your pictures!}
10 comments:
Love your birds :) Mine usually turn out to be "grass", aka dog hair that seems to get inside when I change lenses. The challenges of having two golden retrievers.
Putting it on the to do list. Great reminder, Linda. I do tend to forget about it. I love that shot you took!
Excellent post Linda! Lens cleaning and care are so vital to a great final project. May I add one thing? When changing your lens(es), first get the lens that you are going to change to ready. Stand the lens on its lens cover and loosen the bottom cover of the lens. Don't take it off, but loosen it so it will come off easily. Then while holding your camera so the lens that is on it is facing down (facing the floor), carefully detach the lens. Keep your camera facing down since the opening for the lens is wide open now and a lot of dust can get inside your camera and on the camera's sensor. As carefully, but quickly, as possible set the lens you've taken off down, remove the loosened bottom cover of the lens that is waiting, put the loosened bottom cover on the lens you've removed. Then, while still holding your camera facing down, attach the new lens. PHew! That was a mouthful, but very important. I learned this the hard way a long time ago. Dirt and dust on the actual sensor inside the camera is not something we average camera peeps can do. And boy, do those spots ruin photos! Even though my camera cleans the sensor each time I shut it off, I still change lenses in this way. Like I said - I've learned the hard way. :(
good info linda. this has happened to me to, but i thought it was something only a professional could do. glad to know that it's DIY with a little extra care!
I'm OCD about lens care. I always follow the procedure that Judy outlined, changing as quickly as possible. At the beach, I use an old camera and lens and never, ever change the lens out there. It's all about the 'glass'. If we don't take care of it, it won't take care of us. This is a great tutorial and a great reminder, Linda!
I'm just like Judy and Dotti when changing lenses and I too have my camera set to clean the sensor at start up and shut down. However I'm pretty sure that I have a few spots on my sensor and need to have it cleaned. And, btw, those cloths are good for cleaning eye glasses too!
Such a great reminder, Linda! It's something that takes so little time and is so worth it. Like Dotti, I never change lenses in windy conditions or at the beach but I recently saw an idea where you change your lens inside a pillowcase. Of course, that could leave pillowcase lint inside your camera! I change my lenses the way Judy described and try to be as fast as possible but a good professional cleaning every year or so is also a good idea. Do I do that? No, but it's a good idea!
Such a great reminder, Linda! It's something that takes so little time and is so worth it. Like Dotti, I never change lenses in windy conditions or at the beach but I recently saw an idea where you change your lens inside a pillowcase. Of course, that could leave pillowcase lint inside your camera! I change my lenses the way Judy described and try to be as fast as possible but a good professional cleaning every year or so is also a good idea. Do I do that? No, but it's a good idea!
Yes a great reminder. It always makes me crazy to blow inside my camera! I took it into my camera guy once and asked him to show me how. He blew and blew, don't be afraid to do this he said, so I do, but it makes me crazy!
hmm, I am always afraid to blow inside my camera for fear of getting spit moisture inside...but I guess I don't have to worry anymore. Great post, Linda and a great reminder.
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