Can touching the rear lens element damage my lens?
Asked 10/3/2016
3 views
2 answers
0
Someone touched the rear glass element of my DSLR lens and left a fingerprint. I cleaned it off right away, but I’m worried this could have damaged the lens or affect image quality. Is a fingerprint on the rear element harmful, and is there anything I should watch out for when cleaning it?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
15
Don't worry about it. No, really, don't worry about it, and certainly don't panic. All that's going to happen if somebody touches a lens's glass is that it will get a bit of oil and muck on it, and that can trivially be cleaned off as you've already done.
Originally by user11371. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11371
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A fingerprint on the rear element usually does not cause permanent damage by itself. The main effect is temporary: oils or smudges can reduce image quality slightly until they’re cleaned off.
The bigger risks are:
- grit on a finger scratching the glass or coatings
- scratching the lens during cleaning
- excessive cleaning gradually wearing coatings over time
If you don’t see any scratches now, there’s probably nothing to worry about. Just avoid touching the front or rear elements when possible, and clean only when needed. Use proper lens-cleaning materials, such as a clean microfiber lens cloth, and avoid paper towels or other rough materials that can cause fine scratches.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI9y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Can fingerprint oil damage lens coatings if left on for months?
Spot on the rear lens element of a used 35mm camera lens — fungus or coating damage?
Can repeated cleaning wear down a lens’s front-element coating?
Can marks on the rear lens element be cleaned, or should I return the lens?
How should you safely clean the rear element of a camera lens?