• Careful cleaning can help a lens produce crisp images.Digital camera lens detail closeup, front view image by JoLin from Fotolia.com
  
  A clean camera lens is one of many factors that helps produce sharp photographs. Dust on the lens can cause flare spots, while fingerprints, smudges and airborne particles can limit image sharpness. A cleaning routine that includes a small blower bulb, lens cleaner and microfiber cloth can help remove unwanted particles from the lens surface. For single lens reflex cameras (SLR) that allow a through-the-lens view, focusing is more precise. A clean lens can produce crisp, clean images.
  
  

Removing Dust

• A blower brush expels a small blast of air to remove particles.blower brush image by Brett Mulcahy from Fotolia.com
  
  A lens blower or a blower brush directs a small blast of air to lift dust and grit particles off the lens or filter surface. A blower brush comes with camel hair or synthetic material extending from the flexible bulb's shaft. The blower should be held at an angle so the blown air skims across the glass surface. A blower aimed directly at the lens surface could pressure particles and impact the surface or lens coating. Cans of compressed air give too strong a blast that may cause particles to scratch the surface.
  
  

Removing Smudges

• The rear lens surface needs occasional cleaning, especially if lenses are frequently changed.camera lens image by Zbigniew Nowak from Fotolia.com
  
  Lens cleaning fluid can help dissolve oils from fingerprints and remove smudges. This fluid differs from anti-fog fluids that leave a residue on glasses. Adding a few drops of fluid on a clean, microfiber cloth, then carefully wiping the lens with a circular motion from the center outward will improve clarity. The cloth fibers should absorb oil and lift and hold dust.
  
  Interchangeable lenses require extra care because the back of the lens also requires occasional cleaning. The lens barrel should also be wiped with a cloth to remove dirt from handling.
  
  

Cleaning Problems

• Careless cleaning can produce more problems, including permanent damage to a lens. Cleaning mistakes include dripping the fluid directly on the surface and rubbing any grit into the optical glass. Light finger pressure on the slightly moist cloth should wipe, not rub, the delicate lens or filter surface.
  
  A dry cloth should never touch the lens surface because dry rubbing can scratch or abrade the lens coating. Microfiber cloths should not have a chemical treatment that could interfere with lens-cleaning fluid and leave a residue. Clean microfiber cloths stored in a clean pouch can prevent transferring accumulated dirt to a lens. Cheap paper tissues made from wood fibers can scratch.
  
  

HIdden Dirt

• Hidden dirt can also impact the lens barrel. Some older lenses that extend and contract have a slight gap between the telescoping sections of the extended lens barrel. This gap can hide dirt that should be removed. A corner of a paper business card can be inserted in the gap. Guiding the card around the barrel's circumference will flush out any lodged grit particles.
  
  

Prevention

• A lens hood can act as a barrier to keep fingers and particles off the lens surface.camera lens image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
  
  Especially for more advanced cameras, every lens should have a filter such as a clear ultraviolet filter (UV) or a polarizer. This filter provides protection and takes the damage that would otherwise impact the delicate lens. Attaching a long lens hood not only reduces glare and flare, but it also prevents fingertips and even dog nose prints from forming on the lens. When the camera is not in use, a lens cap or cover should fit snugly. Storing lenses in a clean, sturdy case is a good practice.