A dirty camera lens is the most common reason for poor quality of pictures taken with a mobile phone. And although some phones (more precisely, camera phones) even have a protective shutter, it does not save the lens when shooting, for example, near a dusty road, or in the rain. Thus, everyone who often uses a mobile phone as a camera sooner or later thinks about cleaning the lens of their camera.
Without special device There are two ways: the first is normal, the second is extreme. Let's look at each of them in more detail.

For the first, you will need regular medical alcohol (necessarily clean) and a bandage - it is better not to use cotton wool, as it leaves a lot of small fibers, and subsequently you will have to clean the lens of them, and this is not so easy to do in some mobile phones.
Cut two pieces of bandage 30-40 cm long and, folding them several times, soak one of them in alcohol. The bandage should be soaked, but, of course, not to such an extent that the alcohol drips onto the phone.
Immediately after wet cleaning, be sure to perform a dry cleaning, without allowing the remaining alcohol to dry out, otherwise multi-colored stains and stains may appear. At the same time, when wiping the lens glass, do not try to press harder, otherwise the phone will end up in service center with a camera that is no longer working!
Now look at the phone at an angle to bright light (sunlight or table lamp). If on the surface protective glass There are no stains, streaks or fluff left on the lens, you can consider that you have completed cleaning the camera.

Well, now about the extreme method of cleaning the camera - use only at your own peril and risk. It is, according to some amateur photographers, best suited for removing greasy stains such as fingerprints. Before you start cleaning the lens in this way, practice on some old lens, leaving fingerprints on it first.
First, dust and other particles must be removed from the glass with a special soft brush. And only then can you wipe the optics with soot from a regular paraffin candle. In order to assemble it, you can use the inside of a regular stainless steel spoon. Just don’t hold it too low above the candle, otherwise, in addition to soot, you will catch many other particles that will stain the glass even more. Remove the soot from the spoon using a piece of bandage or cotton wool wrapped around a match. Then, without pressing hard, wipe the glass using movements from the center to the edges! After wiping, the remaining soot is swept off the glass with a soft brush.
ATTENTION: I repeat once again, YOU USE THIS METHOD AT YOUR OWN RISK!

For those who want to clean the lens mobile phone/ cameras quickly and easily, it is worth paying attention to lens pen– a compact device for cleaning lenses in the form of a regular marker!

Cleaning your camera is a very important task. Dust, dirt and moisture can have a detrimental effect on your expensive equipment, so it pays to keep everything in good condition. Below is a 5-point camera cleaning checklist that every photographer should read...

Spending a little time cleaning your camera's sensor will save you a lot of time cloning the good parts of the photo for the dust marks. It's also worth checking your lenses and other pieces of equipment to ensure you keep everything in good working order.

It's also worth checking your camera's software. If it is up to date. Therefore, the final check item on this list would be to update the built-in software cameras.

How often you'll need to check each item will depend on how often you use the camera and the conditions in which you're shooting. If you take photographs regularly, then you should go through the main points of this list about once a month.

1. Camera body

Problem

Dirt and dust on the outside of the camera may not seem like a big deal, but it can get into the camera, either the sensor (see point 3) or numerous mechanical or electrical components that can cause more serious problems.

So it's worth cleaning your camera every few months - or more often if you're shooting in really bad conditions.

Solution

Start with the lens or body cap attached to the camera to prevent dust from getting inside the camera. Go over with a brush or blow off the worst areas of dirt and dust.

Pay special attention to the most uncomfortable areas. Areas around the lens mount, viewfinder, etc.

Once the dust has been removed, you can use a soft cloth to remove stubborn stains, either on the body of the unit or on your LCD.

You can also use Q-tips to get into any hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.

If the dirt is very stubborn, lightly dampen a cloth or cotton swab in distilled water before cleaning.

Finally, you can remove the lens and protective cap and carefully clean the inside of the camera. You must be careful to do this so as not to touch any of the mechanisms inside the camera.

Also, make sure you hold the camera with the lens opening facing down. This will minimize the risk of dust entering the camera again. You can use a blower to remove dust from the mirror section.

2. Lenses and filters

Problem

Dust, dirt or water stains on the lens or filter can cause blur to your photos, so you'll need to clean them regularly, especially if you're shooting in bad weather or dirty locations.

Solution

Cleaning the lens is similar to cleaning the camera body, but in this case you must be especially careful not to scratch the front and rear optics.

Again, brush or blow away any dirt, dust or sand so that it doesn't scratch the lens when cleaning the glass itself.

Once you are satisfied that any dirt or sand has been completely removed, you can use wipes or a suitable cloth to wipe down the lens glass.

You may need to resort to more specialized lens cleaning methods to clear stubborn dirt. If so, place a few drops of detergent on a cloth (never on the lens itself!), then wipe the glass surfaces thoroughly.
Finally, use a clean cloth to wipe away any residue.

To check the surface of the lens, position the lens so that you can see the reflection of light from a window (or similar light source) on its surface.

This will help show you any residue or marks that may be causing blur. You can also clean any filters using the same methods, but you must be especially careful if you have resins on the surface of the filter, as these filters are often more prone to scratches than glass filters.

3. Matrix

Problem

Dust and dirt can easily get into the camera and cause blemishes on your images. This is especially noticeable if you shoot at small apertures and with wide-angle lenses.

Solution

Cleaning the inside of your camera must be done with great care and the right tools, otherwise you may end up doing more harm than good. The cleaning itself is quite simple.

First of all, you need to lock the mirror in your camera's cleaning mode, which is usually found in the setup menu of most cameras, and then follow the instructions for your camera to activate this feature.

Then you need to remove the lens and hold the camera so that the lens opening points slightly downward.

For basic cleaning, use the same blower to remove dust and dirt.

Don't be tempted to use an aerosol can, as they contain flammable ingredients that can get into the camera - plus they're also very strong and can damage the delicate mechanisms inside the camera.

For more stubborn dirt, you can use a brush like the Arctic Butterfly.

If there is water splashing or condensation, you need to:

1. Use a damp swab.
2. The tampon must be the correct size for your matrix and you must follow the instructions carefully.
3. Pour one or two drops of a special cleaning solution onto the swab.
4. Gently rub it over the sensor in one direction and then back in the other direction.

Resist the temptation to wipe the sensor again, as dust or dirt collected during the first pass will fall back onto the sensor.

After each cleaning, you can check whether dirt has been removed by photographing a blank sheet of white paper at a small aperture, such as f/22. Then carefully check the image on your camera's back screen for dust spots (or on your computer monitor, that would be even better).

If there are still spaces, repeat the procedure using a new tampon - do not reuse them for the reasons stated above.

You already know how to care for your camera. Now we invite you to read the article in which you will learn what mistakes advanced and novice photographers make while on vacation.

4. Accessories

Problem

Even if you keep your camera and lens clean, it's all too easy to forget about the more mundane things. Dirt and dust in your camera bag can find its way into your camera. Tripod locks and adjusters can become locked if they are always left wet or dirty.

Solution

Although accessories aren't as thin or fragile as a camera or lenses, almost every piece of photography kit can benefit you if you keep it clean.

For most items, an occasional brushing or just making sure they are clean will be enough. But there are a few accessories that often go unnoticed.

The first is your tripod. This is a piece of kit that very often spends its time in mud, water or sand, especially if you're shooting on the coast or other harsh conditions.

If this is the case for you, then you may:

1. you will need to wash the entire tripod in clean water;
2. then, to reduce the risk of corrosion, use a small amount of water-repellent lubricant;
3. do not overdo it with lubrication, as this may cause more problems than it solves;

Finally, it's worth taking a look at your bag, as even though a dirty or dusty bag may not have a direct impact on the quality of your photos, dust can get onto (or even into) the camera.

5. Software

Problem

Like many others computer programs, operating system Cameras (known as "firmware") can be updated to install new features and even solutions to operational problems, so it's worth making sure the camera's OS is up to date.

Solution

First of all, you need to check the firmware version that is installed in the camera. This can usually be found by going to settings and scrolling to the firmware menu.

It could be one number, such as 1.00 or 1.02, or there could be two or three number/letter combinations.

Then go to the camera manufacturer's website and try to find latest version firmware available for your camera.

If a later version is available than the one installed on your camera, you need to:

1. download this firmware to your Mac or PC;
2. copy it to a formatted memory card that will match your camera;
3. insert the card into the camera;
4. go to the firmware menu and follow the instructions to update it.

Once you're done, you need:

• turn off the camera;
• remove the card;
• then turn on the camera again and make sure that installed version firmware is the same as the version downloaded from the website;

We hope now your equipment will always be clean!

How to clean a video camera lens

Even the most “advanced” and “intelligent” camera will not allow you to get high-quality video footage if its lens is dirty. I will assume that today the most common reason for poor picture quality in video surveillance systems is simple contamination of the video camera lens.

The popularization and simplification of video surveillance systems, which today can be found almost anywhere - from banks and train stations to pavilions and country houses - have deprived video cameras of a certain aura of mystery. As a result, they are treated, both by end users and installers, very, very carelessly. Sometimes this leads to camera failure, but more often it leads to lens contamination and, as a result, to a picture of lower quality than it could be.

Three dangers for the lens

The first type of dirt that every video camera lens encounters is dust on the outer lens of the lens. Dust is everywhere, so it always settles on the lens: not only during filming in the desert or at a construction site, but also during video surveillance on a quiet street, in a park, and even in residential premises. It is worth noting that this this type pollution is the most harmless from the point of view of deteriorating picture quality. Dust particles are opaque: thus, all that dust can do is to slightly reduce the amount of light that the lens will let through. Of course, we are talking about a small amount of dust particles, and not about the case when you and your CCTV camera got into a dusty storm. However, dust is the most dangerous contaminant, especially if you are rough and/or inept in cleaning your optics (we'll talk about this later).

The second common type of dirt on the lens is various liquids, from the drops of which no lens is immune. These could be drops of rain on the street, drops of technical fluids in workshops, splashes of non-alcoholic or alcohol-containing liquids that accidentally or deliberately flew towards the lens at a family feast or social event... Finally, these could be the smallest drops from the jets of a fountain or sea surf that the wind carried to the lens. This also includes dew-condensation, which forms on equipment brought from a cold room into a warm room. In terms of the degree of impact (read: image deterioration), liquids are much more dangerous than dust, as they can provoke the most unpredictable effects. The drops themselves are like lenses. When they hit the lens, it seems to receive a kind of set of “attachments” that will cause the appearance of individual out-of-focus areas across the image field, a general veil (possibly colored) and numerous halos around light sources. After the lens dries, the picture will improve, but only slightly - large stains remain in place of the drops, which are quite difficult to remove. This will, at a minimum, lead to uneven illumination. different parts frame, that is, the images will alternate between dark and light spots. The only exception to this sad rule is, perhaps, condensation, which after some time evaporates from the lenses itself, leaving no traces. And some liquids can damage or destroy anti-reflective film, a thin coating on lenses that improves lens performance.

To complete the list of dangers that await fans of video surveillance systems and their camera lenses, let’s also say that the types of contamination considered are almost never found alone.

How to remove lens dirt?

Any lens cleaning must begin with removing dust. As mentioned above, dust does not cause a significant deterioration in image quality, but its inept removal can irreversibly damage the lens. It is best to remove dust that has settled on the lens with a stream of air: this method is quite sufficient if the dust particles do not stick to the surface. But under no circumstances blow on the lens! With this “cleaning method”, instead of dust particles, you will apply tiny drops of your own saliva to the lens. It is better to use a special rubber bulb-syringe, which are now sold in photo and video stores (both separately and as part of optics cleaning kits). If you can’t buy a special bulb, buy a small pharmacy syringe, just squeeze it several times before use to remove all the talc, which is sometimes sprinkled on syringes during transportation and storage. You can also use cans of compressed air, which are offered for cleaning hard-to-reach areas of PC system units.

To remove stuck dust particles that cannot be blown off, we can recommend a soft, grease-free brush. Many blowers sold in photo and video stores are equipped with such a brush through which air is blown.

Movements when cleaning lenses with a brush should be soft and short. The fact is that the movement of dust across the glass creates scratches, which are more noticeable and numerous the more actively the dust particles scrub the lens. For the same reason, it is not recommended to use cleaning wipes to remove dust. Over time they turn into micrograined sandpaper, covering even a clean lens with a network of small scratches.

Drops should be dealt with before they dry, otherwise, instead of liquid, either crystals of salts contained in the liquid or a film of essential oils will have to be removed from the lens. To remove drops, it is best to use a sterile cotton swab (made of natural cotton), not too tightly wound around an ordinary match, or take cosmetic cotton swabs. Cotton wool absorbs liquid well and contains less dust than cloth napkins. But you shouldn’t press too hard - this will prevent the drops from being absorbed better, and dust particles that accidentally end up on the lens can begin to scratch the surface. And a match with a cotton swab wrapped around it can damage the lens. Movements should be smooth and directed along a radius - from the center of the lens to the lens frame.

If the drops have already dried, you can first try to breathe lightly on the lens so that it fogs up. And then, without waiting for the condensate to evaporate, use a dry cotton swab to wipe the glass with the movements you already know from the center to the edge. In most cases this should be enough. But, if the trace of the drop does not dissolve in water, you will have to use ethyl alcohol.

When starting “alcohol” cleaning, you need to stock up on two cotton swabs. One of them is left dry, while the other is slightly moistened with alcohol. The main thing here is not to overdo it: the cotton wool should be only slightly damp. Excess alcohol can flow into the junction of the lens and frame into the lens and dissolve the bonding of the optical components, which will lead to irreversible damage to the lens. The wet cotton wool should leave a light mark on the glass that evaporates within a few seconds. Then breathe on the lens again and wipe it with a dry swab. This way you will eliminate light residue that may remain from not too pure alcohol. Never use alcohol-containing alcohol or perfume to clean your optics! In addition to the alcohol itself, they contain too many aromatic additives and other impurities, which, after the alcohol evaporates, will remain on the surface of the lenses as an equally strong “pollutant”.

As an alternative to alcohol-based cotton wool, we can recommend cleaning wipes, which are offered by many companies (Olympus, Hama, Defender and others). Wipes come in wet and dry varieties. Moreover, Defender sells them in pairs - a package with a wet wipe is attached to a dry one. Consecutive wiping with dry and damp cloths allows you to get rid of drop marks not only on the optics, but also on the lens and camera body. The disadvantages of wipes include the difficulty of cleaning small lenses, deeply recessed into the frame, and areas near the frame. In fact, it’s difficult to get there with a finger and a napkin, but it’s easy to get there with a tampon on a match. But you can also wrap a napkin around a match...

To remove grease stains from glass, you cannot do without some kind of solvent. Using a dry cloth will only spread the grease over the entire surface of the lens. Traditionally, alcohol is used to wipe optics, but medical grade alcohol is required (96%). But the fat may not respond to it right away: in this case, the cleaning will have to be repeated - but with a new tampon. To complete the procedure, as before, it is necessary to wipe off the condensation from your breath with a dry swab, which will eliminate all traces of “wet” cleaning.

Old photography guides recommended using a mixture of: equal parts ethyl alcohol, ether and carbon tetrachloride. I have no doubt that such a composition will dissolve any contamination. But due to the aggressiveness of this mixture, I would not risk recommending it for cleaning modern lenses with plastic optics or lens frames.

Important: you cannot use any solvents, including alcohol, to clean plastic lenses! This can cause some types of optical plastics to become dull. You should not use wet wipes, since it is not known what chemical components are included in their impregnation.

It is very useful to purchase and always have with you a special pencil for cleaning optics. One of the most commonly used is the LensPen. On one side, it has a soft brush for removing large particles, dust and sand from the lens and other parts of the video camera, and on the other, a felt circle for cleaning the glass from stains. The LensPen cleaning pad is made from specially designed soft materials. It is safe for all types of lenses and lens coatings.

As you can see, cleaning the lens is quite a difficult task. Preventing this problem is easier than dealing with its consequences.

Many of us are the proud owners of cutting-edge smartphones with touch screens. However, not all owners of these gadgets know how to handle their property with care. Therefore, over time, small scratches begin to appear on the screen. In this article you will learn how to polish the glass on your phone.

What will be required to perform the manipulations?

You can try removing scratches from your smartphone display using regular toothpaste. It is prohibited to use abrasive powder for these purposes, since the microparticles it contains can damage the screen.

Before polishing the glass on your phone, you need to stock up on soft wipes and a special liquid designed to clean touch screens from microdust and plaque. It is sold in many stores. If this liquid is not available, you can do without it.

Procedure

Before polishing the glass on your phone from scratches, you need to carefully wipe the display. This can be done in a circular motion using a soft rag or a special napkin.

After this, you need to take a clean cloth and, after applying a little toothpaste to it, put it on. After a couple of minutes, you should wipe the entire surface of the screen and polish it with a clean cloth. After completing the procedure, you can wipe the display with cleaning liquid. As a rule, after this all microscopic scratches disappear, and deeper ones become less noticeable.

Professional products

Those who want to figure out how to polish the glass on their phone will be interested in another method. It allows you to remove scratches without leaving a trace without visiting a specialized workshop. To do this you will need GOI or Displex paste. These professional formulations are sold in many communication stores.

Apply a small amount of one of the above products to the display and rub gently in a circular motion using a soft cloth. After the defects have been completely eliminated, the remaining composition must be removed.

Car polishes

There is another, no less effective way to polish scratches on your phone glass. To do this, you will need a special composition designed for car care. Such products can effectively remove defects without damaging the surface itself.

For processing you will need a soft rag and the polish itself. First, you need to apply a small amount of product to the screen. After this, the display is wiped with careful circular movements.

Removing shallow scratches with baby powder

This technique allows you to effectively eliminate small abrasions and minor defects. How to polish phone glass at home? First you need to prepare a polishing paste based on a product that is intended for caring for children's skin. The talc present in the powder will act as a gentle abrasive.

A small amount of dry powder must be diluted with a few drops of water and mixed until a homogeneous mass is obtained. This composition is applied to the screen and rubbed with a soft cloth. At the end of the procedure, remove excess product with a damp cloth.

Baking soda

Almost every housewife has this multifunctional product in stock. It can not only be added to baked goods, but also used for other purposes. The abrasive particles contained in soda perfectly smooth out unevenness on the surfaces being treated.

How to polish the glass on your phone using this ingredient? You need to prepare a special composition. To do this, mix one part baking soda with two parts water. As a result, you should get a homogeneous paste. Apply this mixture to a piece of soft cloth and wipe the touch screen with it. You can use a damp cloth to remove any remaining product.

During the process, it is important to ensure that the rag used to remove excess soda is only slightly moistened with water. Excess fluid can cause other, more serious problems.

Nowadays there is a photo and video camera on almost every modern phone. On some there are even two of them: back and front. On more expensive models, such as the iPhone 6, the camera allows you to take very decent pictures excellent quality. But after a while, you may realize that the photographs taken have become unclear. The most common culprit for this is dust and dirt on the lens. Why be surprised? Where do you usually carry your smartphone? In a jacket or jeans pocket, in a bag, backpack or briefcase. Therefore, the time comes when you need to clean your phone camera from dirt.
The best tool for this is a regular microfiber cloth. But, unfortunately, it is not always at hand. You can replace it with a clean and slightly damp cloth or soft cloth. The main requirement is that it is not wet and does not leave lint on the lens.

Another convenient tool that allows you to clean the camera of an iPhone or any other phone is a simple cotton swab, which is always in the “arsenal” of almost any modern representative of the fair sex. Just use a dry stick glass is better don't rub. Moisten it a little with glass cleaner and squeeze thoroughly. It should be just a little damp. The main thing is that you don’t even think about spraying glass cleaner on your phone, tablet or smartphone.

Do not clean the lens with dry, hard rags, paper handkerchiefs or toilet paper. Hard surfaces and various particles can easily scratch the glass of the rear or front camera.

P.S. If dirt and dust get inside, under the glass, then in this case you will have to completely disassemble the device. This is a more complex and time-consuming process. Therefore, I would not recommend cleaning the lens and glass from the inside on your own - it is better to seek the help of specialists.