I used to clean every lens with just a microfiber cloth. Now I use a proper air blower first.

For years I would just grab a microfiber and wipe down whatever grime was on the front element. Last summer I had a repair on a Canon 24-70 where the coating had these tiny scratch marks that looked like dust. Turns out I was basically grinding grit into the glass every time I cleaned it. A buddy in the shop showed me how much crap a basic Giottos rocket blower can dislodge before you ever touch the glass. Now I blow out every lens three times before wiping, and I swear the scratch complaints dropped by half. Anyone else made this switch later than they want to admit?

2 comments

2 Comments

jenniferb531mo ago

Oh man, I'll raise my hand on this one! I was the same way for way too long, just huffing on a lens and wiping with a shirt corner. But one thing I gotta mention - you're not supposed to blow it out three times and then wipe. Actually you should blow, then blow again, then check if you really need to wipe at all. A lot of times that rocket blower gets off everything except maybe some stubborn oils, and for those you need a proper wet clean with solution, not just dry microfiber. Dry wiping even after blowing still risks dragging stuff if there's any leftover grit stuck on there.

diana_black221mo ago

Three times with a rocket blower? That's risky too since every puff can kick up dust from inside the lens barrel and deposit it right back on the glass. Honestly I've been fine with a quick breath and a shirt wipe for years and never scratched anything, maybe people are overthinking this whole process.