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Should You Blow On Your Lens To Clean It?

by 3 Comments

I think it is safe to say that for thousands of years photographers (me included) have been cleaning lenses by blowing on the lens and then wiping it with a piece of cloth.

Should You Blow On Your Lens To Clean It?

Nikon discourages that, saying that breath contains acidic elements that can damage your lens. In reply to a Nikonian who asks “How do I clean the camera lens?” Nikon support replies:

The best way to clean a lens is to use a piece of lint free lens cleaning tissue and a small amount of Lens Cleaning solution. Do not use anything containing abrasives or  solvents, only use Lens Cleaning Solution.

First we recommend taking a small blower brush to blow off or brush away loose dust or debris.

Next, place a drop or two of cleaner on the tissue (never directly onto the lens) and then wipe the lens in a circular motion, beginning in the center and working your way outward, removing any marks or smear.

If the above supplies are not available a clean, dry, soft, lint free cloth can be used to clean the lens. Do not breathe on the lens to fog it for cleaning. There are harmful acids in breath that can damage lens coatings. Just use the blower bulb, then brush, and wipe the lens in a circular spiral from the center outward.

The same method can be used to clean the viewfinder eyepiece of Nikon cameras.

Do you breath-clean your lens? Or do you take the 8 minutes process shown below to clean it?

UPDATE: is seems that breathing on the lens is safe again. The Nikon support page was updated and the breathing directive was removed.

[Via Nikon Rumors | PetaPixel], Dragon by Beverly & Pack

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About Udi Tirosh

Udi Tirosh is the Founder and Editor in Chief of DIYPhotography, he is also a photographer, a relentless entrepreneur, a prolific inventor and a dad, not necessarily in that order

  • Sepp

    I take a look in the original nikkor manual
    thers written!

    use a blower to remove dust and lint from the lens surfaces.
    to remove smudges and fingerprints, apply a small amount
    of ethanol or lens cleaner to a soft, clean cotton cloth or lenscleaning
    tissue and clean from the center outwards using a circular motion, taking care not to leave smears or touch the glass with your fingers

    (35mm f 1.4 nano crystal coat lens thats a fu**ing expensiv lens you know what i mean)

    • Sepp

      I thinkits better to use 100% isopropanol not that 70% mixture
      or ethanol.
      use a LED light, than you can see exactly were are all the smudges

  • moghbaba

    You need some clean breath + a good wife! Breath (directly) on the lens! (Never on the t-shirt) Your (good) wife has washed your T-shirt properly. So you can take inside of your T-shirt and gently clean the lens surface!

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