How do I clean my SLR lens without leaving streaks?

After doing some research on how to clean an SLR lens, I found that the most common suggestion is to use hot breath and a microfiber cloth to clean the lens in a circular motion. This appeared to work at first. However, after careful inspection, very slight streaks were visible when the lens was viewed underneath sunlight or a bright halogen lamp. In other conditions, these streaks are not visible. The picture quality does not seem to be affected, but I can't help thinking that there has to be at least some picture degradation due to these streaks. Am I being a obsessive? Is there any way to remove these streaks? I just purchased this camera a week ago (a Nikon D40 with lens) and I want to keep it in pristine condition for as long as possible.

I am thinking that the streaks are due to a dirty microfiber cloth. Would washing the cloth be a good idea? If so, what should I clean it with? What should I avoid cleaning it with?

Clean with the micro fiber cloth. Or get one from an optometrist. Never ever clean your lenses with any kind of liquid or hot breath. Unless there is a streak of some kind and the cloth isn't good enough. Then and only then you would use lens cleaner. You pour it on the cloth and wipe, never on the lens.
Otherwise, liquid can seep into the lens under the glass and settle there. It can allow for bacteria and algae to grow and ruin your lens.

So who told you to use your breathe??

Do you understand the amount of garbage that comes out of someones mouth when they breathe?? Moisture, bodily fluids, oils, saliva... A quick breathe might work once n a while as a field expedient clean, but using too often will cause buildup of just plain crap, and act with any dust to scratch your lens.

Lens cleaners, and lens cloth/paper. Lens cleaners will breakup, loosen, and help to wash away dust, and other junk on your lens.

Wash your cloth. With your t-shirts, etc...

I'm not quite as against a very soft breathe on a lens as Ryan is. I must have very clean breathe.

Just wash your micofibre cloth as you would wash anything else.

The most likely cause of the streaks is oil from the skin.

You can also use lens tissues and lens cleaner made specifically for camera lenses if you feel the need. DON'T use windex and don't use the cleaner for eye glasses. The eye glass cleaner leaves a residue.

Vance

Actually, eyeglass cleaner is the best choice, and it does not leave a residue [wearer of eyeglasses]. They make disposable towelettes that you can buy at any drug store that are kind of like the wet naps you get when you eat ribs at chili's, only they are for cleaning eye glasses. They are sealed in individually wrapped packages, just keep a package of them in your camera bag, I have found [through experience] that they are the best choice for streak free lens cleaning with no detriment to the lens as they are specifically designed for the cleaning of optical lenses, I also use them for cleaning my glossy laptop screen. No streaks! And I have found that when out in the field, it is much easier to find a walgreens than it is to find a camera store to find a lens cleaning kit. Always keep a clean microfiber cloth and keep it handy for wiping away any stray dust as well.

wash or replace the micro fibre cloth


a little distilled water (breath) is ok but sounds like you are saturating your cloth. if you look after them just a flick over the dust with the cloth should be enough, dont go polishing groves in the front element or the filter you use

avoid fluids like "lens cleaning fluid", eye glasses dont have seals and dont grow molds internally from moistures and leaks from toxic fluids.

bottom line keep them immaculate, just before exposure a gentle wipe is good, compressed air gets rid of most dust, buy a can of it


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Its likely that the "streaks" you see are old cleaning marks. If you know someone with the same lens you can take photos of the same scene with both and compare them to see if the streaks are causing any image degradation.

Get your lens as clean as possible. Then go to your camera store and buy it a new HAZE/UV* or Skylight* 1A (uncoated) or 1B (coated) or just buy both. Attach the filter and leave it there! The only time you'll take it off is when you want to use your polarizer. No lens should ever face the dirty old world naked - it should always have a protective filter in place.

Next, visit cameraarmor.com and bonicadive.com and check out the protective covers they have for your camera. Buy the one you think will do the best job of protecting your investment. After all the horror stories in here - "I got my camera wet" or "I got dirt/sand/salt in my camera" - a few $$$ spent on a cover is worth it.

Keep your camera safe with a good neck strap. You can buy one with NIKON printed on it. In 36 yrs. I've yet to drop a camera. My camera is either in my camera bag or hanging around my neck. I shudder when I see people carrying their camera like a loaf of bread.

* The HAZE/UV filter is used to remove the haze seen in landscapes. The Skylight filter removes the bluish tint seen in distant shaded mountains and snow and in photos taken in open shade.

You're being obsessive. But to answer your question, forget about all the fancy procedures for cleaning lenses. Using a piece of dry newsprint (yes, plain old newspaper) that hasn't been printed on, give the lens a good rubbing. It wont scratch the lens so dont worry about that. If there is any dust that wont move, then breathe on the lens and try again. In the end, there will be no streaks and the glass will be crystal clear... er clean.

I agree with the person who said to buy the UV filter. I have one on each of my lenses and it is the best money I have ever spent.

If you ever scratch your lens or have problems getting it clean, it is much much cheaper to replace the filter than it is to replace the lens.

I have tried all sorts of cleaners and now use the soft cloth as a temporary measure. I have all my equipment cleaned at least once every six months by a professional lab. They get into everything and it comes back spotless.

May I be the third person to say: use the skylight filter. I,m a retired pro photog- every camera, every lens had these filters on them. They only cost a few bucks. I even dropped cameras in the sand and was able to clean up and carry on with an assignment, sometimes with nothing more than a kleenex and my hot little breath. Happy Shooting !

Always use Clean micro cloth. But before that, get a lens brush with air bulb to blow particals off first and use the brush to dust. Then clean using the micro cloth. Once in awhile, you would use lens cleaner to cut the smog and grease in the air.

i used windex before, and aslong as you use a very very small amount, it wont fog up the inside of the lens. If you do use windex, spray it on the cloth you use and not the lens. use as little as possible. If it does fog up, just let it sit overnight without a lens cap and hopfully it will go away. It happened to me before, but i would still becarefull with an expencive lens.