How "clean" does that lens have to be?

Norm Sanders

Norm Sanders

Script Wrangler
I know, NEVER touch the lens. Well, I was using dust off to blow some dust off of the lens (even though the UV's always on, stuff still tends to collect a little), and when I moved the can from side to side, it shot some liquid/spray onto the lens ... which even minutes later still didn't evaporate.

So, I CAREFULLY wiped the lens with some lens cleaner & super soft cloth, but when I shine it at certain angles in the light, I can see SMALL amounts of dust/particles in the lens.

Will this show up? Am I trying to have it too perfect? I feel like I want to clean it in a sterile clean room environment to get it perfect. Got a shoot tomorrow morning, so just trying to be ready.
 
Just keep the lens cap and filter off to make sure it dries out.

And there's no such thing as a "perfectly" clean lens, do some shots, and look at the footage closely.
 
I'm guessing if it didn't completely dry out there would be condensation issues? I finally got it to where I was pretty satisfied with it, then gave it a couple of more good blows with the dust off to make sure it was clear ... then through the UV back on.

Hopefully I didn't need to leave the UV off for 5+ minutes afterwards ... it was just a couple.
 
I had a few water spots on mine for the longest time. At very extreme angles it was noticeable, but it never messed up the image, unless the light hit it at those extreme angles.

You can get lens clothes, made for lenses. They're basically just handi-wipes with rubbing alcohol and probably a cleaning agent in them, and you just rub in circles. I bought a box of those. They're definitely nice... especially for the stuff I've had fly at my camera the past few weeks from the contest. haha
 
Gotta be careful with those cans of air. You get stuff in the nozzle, and then blow it into/onto your lens at high pressure... Always do a "blow-out" first to clean up residual dust and crap in the nozzle before blowing your lens.
 
In addition due to the lokal overpressure dust can get behind the lens...unfortunately not all frontlenses are in hermetically sealed from the outside world. Use "Lens pen" instead. There will allways remain some dust particles. They only can potentially introduce some extra glare if there is a lot of (slant)light falling onto the lensfront. Use a lenshood...In some cases with wideangles and high f settings, dust particles can get imaged in the captured images
 
I avoid the cans of air totally, not only is it bad for the environment -- but like you experienced -- it can shoot out liquid ontu your lense if there's a great temp diff. between the air in the can and the air around your camera. ewww

rubber bulb dust blower and a sable hair brush works for me.
 
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