A convenient and effective way to remove smudges and dirt.

By PopPhoto Commerce Team | Published Mar 1, 2021 9:32 PM

You’ve likely used the bottom of a shirt or edge of a sleeve to clean a camera lens, but over time, using cotton t-shirts or other pieces of clothing to clean your lens can end up scratching the glass. Lens cleaning cloths are specifically made with anti-static micro-fibers that won’t leave streaks or marks on your lens. They can also be used to spiffy smartphones, tablets, binoculars, telescopes, and all types of optical glass. Using pocketable, reusable, and affordable lens cleaning cloths is the perfect way to safely maintain the quality of your lens and ensure clarity with each photo. Here’s what else you need to know.

This ultra portable option comes with a container that easily attaches to a backpack or belt loop. Nikon

The best lens cleaning cloths are made of microfibers. Microfibers are made from synthetic materials, typically a polyester-nylon blend, are 200 times thinner than human hair. They expertly trap and clean oil, fingerprints, dirt, dust, and smudges without any damaging chemicals. This ultra soft cloth is so gentle you can even use it to clean negatives and transparencies.

Includes half a dozen items, but with the option to purchase as few as two or as many as 13. Works as well on TV and computer screens as it does on camera lenses. MagicFiber

In the best interest of your dear camera, we recommend investing in an anti-static lens cleaning cloth. Anti-static materials inhibit triboelectric charging—the buildup of an electric charge by rubbing or with another material—therefore eliminating potential damage caused by static electricity. Anti-static fabrics are also dirt-resistant and hard to stain.

Non-abrasive wet cloths safe for use on lenses with anti-reflective coating. Each one comes individually wrapped. Zeiss

After a while, microfiber lens cloths do get dirty. Luckily, you can wash microfiber fabrics by hand with cold water, which opens the gaps between fibers so it can catch dust and dirt from your lens again. Lens cleaning cloths made of microfiber can be washed and reused more than 500 times which makes them environmentally friendly. If you’re looking for an option that’s easier to share, individually packaged pre-moistened disposable wipes are a quick, easy, and safe way to clean your camera lens.

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