Avery Website Photography Committee Photography Tip

[RyanBarthel]

Avery Website Photography Committee
Bi-Monthly Photography Tip Form

Name: Ryan Barthel

Date: 5/2/2007

Title: Caring for your Lens

Photography Tip: General Tips on Lens Care

Explanation of Using the Photography Tip:

In this months photography tip, I am going to outline some general care tips for your equipment. Doing this will keep your camera equipment in top condition, which results in better photos.

Element Caps – When not using a specific lens, it is very important to keep element caps on the lens. In some cases damaging the element on a lens makes it worthless. Keeping a simple plastic cap on your lens can save a lot of time and money.

Lens Caps – Lens Caps should always be on your lens when not in use. Like element caps, they protect from dirt, debris, and damage. It sounds simple, but it is something that people often over look.

Filters – In my opinion, lens filters have a dual purpose; to create a photograph effect and protect from lens scratching. Filters simply screw on to the end of a lens. Some filters are used to create different effects such as creating a soft image, or simply blocking out UV light. A filter is cheap insurance to protect your investment.

Lens Pen – Sometimes during normal use, a lens can gather dust and debris. A lens pen has 2 different tools on it. A soft brush and a small rubber “pad”. Periodically remove your lens filter, and use the soft brush to remove any dust or particles from the lens. Do the same for the filter. If you find any dirt that does not want to come off with the brush, use the rubber pad to lightly remove it. The last thing you want is dust or dirt ruining a great picture!

[SMIGRATOR]

Great stuff Ryan Thanks.

[Two23]

Avery Website Photography Committee
Bi-Monthly Photography Tip Form

Element Caps – When not using a specific lens, it is very important to keep element caps on the lens. In some cases damaging the element on a lens makes it worthless. Keeping a simple plastic cap on your lens can save a lot of time and money.


Filters – In my opinion, lens filters have a dual purpose; to create a photograph effect and protect from lens scratching. Filters simply screw on to the end of a lens. Some filters are used to create different effects such as creating a soft image, or simply blocking out UV light. A filter is cheap insurance to protect your investment.




The rear element of a lens is actually the most sensitive end to scratches. The light is being focussed down to a small point as it passes through it. On some lenses the rear element sort of sticks out and is exposed. This is mostly the longer lenses, I think. I make a point to ALWAYS have a rear lens cap on my lenses not only to protect the rear element, but also to protect the camera sensor. Dust can quickly collect on it if exposed and when you later stick the lens on your camera, the dust can flake off and head straight for your sensor.

I used to keep a filter on all my lenses, but don't any more. Despite nearly daily use outdoors, I've never had an instance where I felt a filter "saved" a lens. (With exceptions I'll get to.) What I've found is true protection is the lens cap. It is plastic and very tough. I have twice had a lens saved by a lens cap. The other thing that protects lenses is a lens hood. They not only keep "stuff" from hitting your lens by physically blocking it, they also provide some cushion if you drop it.

I don't think a UV filter really does anything for an image because the effect is so weak. They were originally designed for black & white film, which is UV sensitive. The few places you have UV strong enough to affect an image, such as the tropics or above 8,000 ft., I'd recommend an 81A filter instead as those are a much more powerful UV blocker. Too many people stick a cheap uncoated UV filter on their lens, and these can cause problems with flare if the sun shines directly on them. This is another reason to use the lens hood! Any more, I only buy the multicoated filters, but then my usual subjects (trains) have strong headlights that cause flare & ghosting with any uncoated filters. Multicoated filters, such as the Hoya SMC, B+W MRC, etc. run about $35. They do noticeably tame flare vs. uncoated filters.

The times I do use a filter to protect my lens is around waterfalls. The spray from them has lots of fine grit in it, and that can be a lens killer. (I learned that the hard way--grit ate up a $95 coated polarizer I had!) I also will use them in very dusty conditions such as photo'ing grain harvest scenes etc. In normal conditions though, I am simply very careful to use the lens cap. I'm not saying it's "wrong" to use a "protection" filter, I'm just saying that for me they don't seem to do much and might be a false sense of security (i.e. using one of them instead of the much better lens caps.) About the only filters I use now that I have a DSLR is a polarizer or a graduated neutral density filter (usually the 2-stop hard edged.)

The lenspens generally do a good job. Use the brush first to get rid of any grit that might scratch before rubbing the lens with the other end. To clean filters, I simply take them off and wash them in the sink. :D


Kent in SD

[Tyson Keller]

Thanks for the additional info, Kent. Sometimes photographers overlook the small things that make a difference with photography equipment investments. Good Tip!

[CurrituckBoy]

thats one of the most important tips

Michael

[Aaron Hitchins]

Thats a good tip Ryan, a lot of people make the investment but don't know how to care for it to ensure that it is properly maintained.

Aaron