A Clean Camera is a Happy Camera

by | May 12, 2024

Today’s Post by Joe Farace

“Neatness and cleanliness is not a function of how rich or poor you are but that of mentality and principle.” ― Ikechukwu Izuakor, Great Reflections on Success

As some readers may know, I’m an automobile enthusiast. and if you also like cars please visit my car photography website/blog. Once upon a time, one of my car enthusiast friends, Bob, said that he believed that a clean car—he was specifically talking about Porsche automobiles—ran better and faster than a dirty one. While on the face of it that doesn’t seem likely, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.

Keeping it Clean

I feel the same way that Bob did about clean cameras, which is why I use LensPen products on my camera lenses, LCD screens and viewfinders (including EVF’s) to clean dust and smudges that seemingly appear out of nowhere. I am aware that Lenspen is an advertiser on this and my car photography website but your should know I’ve been using their products for more than twenty-five years, long before I had even my first blog. In fact, Mary bought my first LensPen for me as a gift immediately after I purchased a Nikon N90s back in the film days.

These days, I like to keep a LensPen in each of my camera bags. A few years ago when attending a photo walk at California’s Mission San Antonio de Padua (above photo) when one of the attendees saw me using a LensPen to clean my lens and asked to borrow it. Before long almost everyone in attendance borrowed it to clean their lenses. Good thing a LensPen can be used for more than 500 cleanings.

LensPen offers a number of kits that include different cleaning tools including their OutdoorPro Kit.  This affordable package includes two optical cleaners: an Original LensPen for camera lenses, binoculars and scopes,and the MiniPro for smaller lenses and eyepieces.

Both of these LensPens are safe, easy to use and clean with the same simple two-step process: First, slide out the natural-brush end and sweep away any loose dust. If fingerprints or grease remain, twist the cap off on the other end and use the cleaning tip that’s infused with LensPen’s carbon cleaning technology to gently finish cleaning your optics. Every time you twist the cap back onto the LensPen, the carbon in the cleaning tip is recharged so it’s ready for next time. Both of these useful tools can be safely used in hot or cold environments.

Also included in the OutdoorPro Kit is a FogKlear anti-fog cloth, MicroKlear microfiber cloth and a compact nylon carrying case. FogKlear is a safe pre-treatment that can prevent fogging on lenses, goggles, face shields and other protective equipment and will provide more than 200 anti-fog applications. MicroKlear is a soft microfiber cloth for cleaning any non-lens surface. Everything in the OutdoorPro Kit fits in a zippered nylon carrying case.

Knockoff alert: LensPen provides safe, environmentally friendly glass and optical cleaning products.The cleaning tip that’s used on LensPen products has a unique carbon compound that’s designed to remove fingerprints and assorted schmootz from your cameras and lenses. Beware of imitations and fake copies of LensPen products that sometimes have nothing on the cleaning tip and can damage the lens and LCD surfaces they are meant to clean.

 

Barry Staver along with myself are co-authors of Better Available Light Digital Photography with new copies available from Amazon for $21.88 or used copies for giveaway prices, starting at $4.00, as I write this.  The Kindle version is really expensive for some reason. And while the book is more than a few years old it still has plenty of real-world tips that you should find useful.