do we really need to clean camera lens?

Question

will it make any difference if you leave the camera with the fingermarks on the lens? does this mean your pictures cannot come out with great quality, as compared to when you clean it?

Answer 1

Not really, but after a while you may need to just wipe it. Kinda like glasses you know?

Answer 2

Yes, it can make a huge difference. At first you might not notice it, but over time the oils and such will attract more and more dirt and grime, which could ultimately scratch the lens when you try to remove it. So as soon as you notice it's dirty, clean it with a clean, lint-free cloth and a little bit of glass cleaner. The same stuff you'd use on eyeglasses is good. You might want to spray it on the cloth instead of the lens so you don't get any other parts wet.

Answer 3

Good grief! Fingerprints can erode the coating on your lens while it messes up your images before finally destroying your lens.

Visit a professional camera store and buy one of the lens cleaning cloths they sell. PhotoSilk has pretty ones with photos on them; Pentax offers a plain gray one. Both work extremely well.

One more reason why I suggest using a UV filter on the front of your lens to protect it.

You should also brush your teeth at least twice a day, bathe everyday, always wear clean underwear and change the oil and filter in your car every 3,000 miles.

EDIT!

I would be very leery of using Gilbert's method of sticking tape to the front of a lens. If the smudge is stubborn simply breath on the lens and the condensation from your breath should loosen it enough for your lens cloth to remove it.

Answer 4

Remove the dust with a blower bulb, any dust will act like sandpaperon the lens.
Next use a lens cloth, if the fingerprint remains use clear office tape not packing.
Fold end of tape to make a pull tab gently smooth tape over fingerprint the gently pull it off the fingerprint will vanish like magic. Repeat if needed till clean
Dont believe me try it on some fingerprinted glass in the house other than your camera lense.

Answer 5

Yes, like most things, camera lenses will be put to optimal use if they are well-maintained. The first thing for lenses will be its cleanliness. Smudges on the lens will affect the output of your camera. Images will come out blurred in some areas.

Cleaning and regularly maintaining your camera (includes making sure the other parts are also clean and in good working condition) ensures greater shots and longer life for your equipment. I think that advice should work for most equipment/machines.

Answer 6

Yes, you really do need to clean the camera lens. Any time you put debris in the path of the light, it will block light or cause light to bend and distort. Think of it this way: would you rather look at the world through a dirty window or a clean one?

Answer 7

yeah dirt distorts the image projected onto the film. you might not be able to see it now but as it builds up the quality of your pictures will get worse and worse. think of how wiping the inside of your windshield with you hand makes the fog temporarily go away, but th next day there is an ugly smudge on the inside of your windshield

Answer 8

Yes, if you have dust or marks on the lens you are more likely to get flare in your images, especially in bright light.

Clean it then fit a skylight or UV filter, if possible.

Answer 9

It will be more noticeable if you take extreme close ups - but even on long shots you could be aware of some distortion if you are using a high resolution setting.

Answer 10

Collection of dirt might stop the light completely.

Answer 11

i think that if the lens are very dirty, then yeah you should clean them for better quality pictures. if its not severly dirty then its no big deal