How do I remove frost or condensation spots from the front of a lens?
Asked 3/28/2014
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After several nights shooting in falling temperatures (about 50°F down to 18°F), small bits of frost formed on the front element of my 14mm lens despite using a lens hood. When the frost melted or dried, it left hundreds of small circular spots on the glass. A dry microfiber cloth does not remove them. What is the safest way to clean these frost/condensation marks from the front element?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
5
It sounds like you need to do wet cleaning. Use some lens cleaner fluid and either a lens tissue or a fine microfiber cloth to clean the surface of the lens' front element. Be sure to follow instructions provided with your lens cleaning fluid and apply a few drops of cleaner to the tissue/cloth before wiping the lens rather than applying the cleaner directly to the glass. Doing the latter will likely cause streaking and also may increase the risk of wet cleaner getting inside the lens, where it can leave deposits!
Wet cleaning will remove the deposits of dust that were present and were more or less glued to the surface of the lens by the moisture from the frost. Trying to remove such dried on deposits using dry cleaning methods such a dry microfiber cloth can damage the coatings on the lens.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—these are most likely dried deposits left behind by condensation or frost. A dry microfiber cloth may not remove them, and rubbing dry debris can risk scratching or wearing lens coatings.
The usual fix is wet cleaning:
- Use a proper lens-cleaning fluid.
- Put a few drops on a lens tissue or clean microfiber cloth, not directly on the lens.
- Gently wipe the front element, following the cleaner’s instructions.
- Repeat if needed until the spots are gone.
A simple breathe-and-wipe pass may also help with light residue, using gentle to reasonably firm pressure, but if the spots are stubborn, lens fluid is the better option.
The cold itself is unlikely to have damaged modern lens coatings; the marks are more likely residue that was left on the glass when the frost evaporated or melted.
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AI12y ago
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