The World's Best Lens Cleaners
                               by Joe Gambaretto

     Cleaning a video camera lens is  a painstaking operation, because while you want to remove any dust, spray or other unwanted, view obscuring substance from your lens front element, you don't want to make the problem worse by moving dust around on the lens. If you rub it too firmly, you'll have a nice little scratch to degrade your image quality further.
     The best way to avoid having to clean your lens often is to keep it protected with a clear or UV type glass "filter". If fingers, dust, spray or whatever can't get on the lens, then you won't have to clean it! Problem solved, right? 
     Well, not quite. Some lenses won't accept a screw on lens protector type of filter, which is the best protection possible. Or you just got a new lens/camera, didn't read this article first and forgot to buy a lens protection filter, went out and tried out your new rig, and got some dust on the lens. Or you were shooting ocean scenes and have a fine coating of salt spray. Or even worse, your kid/nephew/random passing brat stuck their fingertip right in the middle of it.
     If it's a little non-sticky dust, then the best "cleaner" is canned air, which every cameraman should have on hand. Just blow it off, put the camera away, and get a clear filter if applicable to your lens before the next shoot. Sometimes the old camel hair brush squeeze blower can do the job, but canned air has the power to knock off even slightly sticky dust. And a camel hair brush can hold dust in it's bristles, which kind of defeats the effort.
     But if the problem has some adhesion, and can't be blown off, what do you do? Use lens cleaning solution like they sell at camera shops and some lens cleaning tissue? Hold that thought, because first you can try the world's best lens cleaner (yes, I am finally getting to it). What is this miracle substance? Well, it's... water! But not just any old water from the tap. You want distilled water. Distilled water doesn't carry chemicals and minerals. They have been filtered or "distilled" out. It is about as pure as water can get! And, since it has no minerals or chemicals, it is the perfect "solution" to clear away salt spray, rain drops, and maybe even some light oily or greasy spots.
     Now you can use the lens tissue, or a microfiber cloth designed for lens cleaning. If using a cloth, it should be clean and finger grease free. In the case of sticky dust, I prefer the lens tissue. Since it is absorbent and loosely-woven, it can pick up small chunks of dust without rubbing, once loosened up by distilled water. Try not to move the tissue around - just let it blot up the water (and dust). Use a couple of them. When you are sure you have gotten the dust or grit off the lens, you can give it a final pass with more water and clean tissues, using a very light circular pattern to gently wipe the glass.
     Another great thing about distilled water is that you actually have some with you already at all times! If the conditions are right, and you can breathe on the lens and cause a light fog, you have just applied "distilled water"! The moisture from your lungs is, in essence, distilled water. But, taking a small spray bottle of distilled water would make sure you can get some moisture on the lens in all conditions.
     So, that takes care of dust and salt or water spots from rain, sprinklers, whatever. But what about oily substances, or fingerprints? First, you should get started cleaning such stains off the glass as soon as possible! Don't let the skin oils sit there and become a part of the glass! This is when you have to go to the last resort... lens cleaning solution. Be sure you don't buy the cheapest solution you can find. Go for a name brand product! And get plenty of quality lens tissues, too.
     For the first pass, get a lens tissue fairly damp, and get the lens glass damp with a light touch. Let is sit for a few seconds, then with a dry lens tissue, blot up the fluid. If you are lucky, this first pass is enough to lift the oily stain off the glass and into the absorbing tissue. But, such good luck is rare with these kinds of problems, especially fingerprints. It will take repeated passes and patience to remove the spot(s). Don't get frustrated and rub things around too much... it will just spread the oil. 
     Hopefully you are successful in removing the sticky spot. But you are almost sure to have some residual spotting from the lens cleaning solution itself. Once again, distilled water or breath fog is the best way to get rid of the last traces of solution and oils. This may take several passes, too.
     So there you have it. The two best and gentlest lens cleaning substances are actually all around us - (distilled) water and air! Now, before you even need to test these lens cleaning techniques, figure out how to protect your lens from the elements in the first place! You'll be glad you did.

Joe Gambaretto © 2009

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