A client's sharp words about my lens cleaning method made me rethink everything

A pro photographer brought in a Leica M6 last month and watched me clean the lens with a microfiber cloth from the kit. He said, 'You're just pushing the grit around with that, you need a proper blower first, every time.' I felt dumb, but he was right. Now I always start with a rocket blower before any cloth touches the glass, even on quick clean jobs. Do you guys have a strict order for your cleaning steps, or is that overkill?

2 comments

2 Comments

butler.brian1mo ago

That blower tip is solid, but you still need to watch out. A rocket blower can blow dust into the camera body through the lens mount if the lens is off. For a lens still on the camera, the blower is perfect. If the lens is detached, point the blower downward so the dust falls away from the glass and the open mount. It's a small step that makes a big difference.

jade321mo ago

Actually, pointing the blower downward can force dust into the lens mount too. Gravity doesn't pull dust away fast enough against the air stream. The best move is to hold the camera body with the mount facing down, then use the blower sideways across it. That way any loosened dust just falls out.