I recently had the great privilege to interview one of the world's leading wildlife cinematographers, Gavin Thurston. He had some fascinating stories about how to keep his gear operating in the harshest weather conditions. Thurston's camera has taken him to every continent, and his resume includes award-winning productions with DisneyNature, PBS's Nature and Nova, plus lots of work with the BBC.
When I asked him what he always carries in his bag, his quick response made me examine one key camera skill that I am often lacking. He didn't immediately tell me about some MacGyver-esq contraption that helped save his life, a rain jacket that he keeps handy or even a roll of gaffer tape that he stashes away. Thurston's first response was about the importance of lens cleaning. This mundane task is often overlooked by most of us, but to a pro, a clean lens is vital. Thurston insists that just about any camera can give you a professional quality image, but first the glass must be clean.
Confession Time
When was the last time you cleaned your camera's lens? How about the camera that the church uses very week? Honestly, I always thought that if the lens cap is on tight, it would stay clean. That's not the case. Believe it or not, as soon as you take the cap off, dust is settling on the lens. And do you store the cap face up or face down? Do you toss it on the floor? Regardless, your lens cap may actually be adding more dust every time you put it on. It's time to get cleaning, and thinking like a pro.
A Brush Up
Look carefully at your camera lens. Can you see any visible dust? Resist the temptation to blow it off with a puff from your mouth and never, ever touch the lens. Oils from your fingers will smudge and help dust stick. You need a tool to take the particles away. If you're dealing with a piece of sand or another hard material, wiping the lens can actually scratch it. Canned air is a good solution, but make sure that you keep the nozzle back a bit. If the lens fogs up for a moment, you're too close. Hit it with a few blasts, trying to push the debris away from the center. Unfortunately, you can't travel with compressed gas on an airplane, so Gavin doesn't pack this in his gear bag.
Another common solution is a blower brush. This is a gadget that you can find in any camera department. It looks like a big eye dropper with a furry end. The idea is that you squeeze the bulb as you wipe. It actually takes a little timing to get the technique down. It's squeeze while you wipe, not wipe then squeeze. The goal is the same, to knock the particles away from the center of the lens. Make sure to go around the edges as well.
Thurston uses a device called an Arctic Butterfly, No, it's not something he picked up on a trip to Alaska. It's a vibrating brush that often comes equipped with a strong LED light to help you see what you're brushing. The bristles are specifically designed to pick up dust and not scratch delicate surfaces. He says that the units can be a bit pricey, but it's worth the investment.
Hand Me a Tissue
After you've removed any visible debris, it's time to get out the lens cleaning solution. Never use commercial glass cleaners on delicate lenses. Video and photographic lenses are often covered with coatings and harsh chemicals can cause damage. You need to find a good quality cleaner like Zeiss or Purosol spray. Thurston is a fan of Pancro. He says that it is a bit more expensive but it lasts a long time. Those all-in-one wipes are good for a quick clean but are no substitute for a spray and a dry wipe.
Thurston does not recommend using microfiber cloths to wipe off the solution, either. He says that once you use the cloth, everything you just wiped off is now stuck to the cloth. The next wipe may put dust back on the lens. He suggests disposable lens tissues. Being from the UK, he uses tissues from a company called Whatman. The tiny papers may seem like a more expensive solution than a reusable cloth but, in the long run, they may save your lens.
Finally, remember that your lens has glass on both ends. Even though you may never change the lens, dust can be lurking inside. Make sure to regularly remove the lens and clean both sides. While you're there, brush off the sensor inside the camera as well, if you can easily get to it. Don't use any chemicals on the sensor, just simply give it a brush. (The Arctic Butterfly is actually designed for sensor cleaning.) If you have on any type of filter, like a UV filter, unscrew that and clean both sides as well.
There is a reason why cameras often come with a lens cleaning kit --- your camera is only as good as the glass. Take the advice of a professional like Gavin Thurston, clean your lens before every shoot and don't skimp on the cost. A clean lens on an inexpensive camera, can give you better quality images than a $40,000 camera with a dirty lens. Let's get cleaning!
