A short tutorial on how to clean your camera lens from dust inside. Before disassembling the lens for cleaning, maybe there is another, easier way to remove dust partickles.
Hi everyone, it’s Charlie. Today I’d like to show you how to clean your camera lens outside and also inside.
With this method, maybe you can avoid taking your lens into pieces. Of course, that would be the most effective way to get rid of any kind of dirt inside, BUT (and this is a big but) also would be the most dangerous method, too.

YES, you CAN disassemble the lens. What could go wrong, right?
Also, I’d rather not recommend this process, doing it on expensive lenses. The thing is, they are perhaps more dust and moisture resistant than the cheap ones, anyway.

Now, let’s see how it’s done!
First we clean from the outside, it could already solve our problem.
Step one is to determine if we are dealing with dust at all. It’s easy… if you find stains on your photos (or videos) like in these images, you have a problem. Something is blocking the light from the sensor. It usually is dust, but could be worse, like moisture, fungus or even a scratch.

Against moisture, I always keep a bag of silica gel beside my camera and lenses. So far this has proved its worth. Also, as you will see, dry dust is easier to remove.
As for step two, make sure that light blocking thing is not on your camera’s sensor. Take off the lens, and take a look inside the camera. Even if you see nothing, you can use a blower, just to make sure.

Step three. Examine the lens itself. First with the aperture set to the widest position.
Look through the lens, maybe you can see some dust. Repeat it with the smallest aperture as well. You can even use another lens, or smartphone to take a picture of the glass. Zooming in into the photo can help a lot.

The next step is to clean the lens from the outside. Use a blower or some other clean pressurised air.

This cleaning pack that I am using can be ordered on Amazon for €8. You can find a non affiliate link below.
After blowing, take a little brush and gently use it, then blow again. Now you can use the lenspen without making scratches if some stain is still stuck to the glass.
The next step for me is usually to check if the lens is cleaned. Take one or two photos from a well lit white wall, with the aperture set to the biggest f number.
Here you can see, some of the dirt was removed, but multiple stains are still visible.
NOW, time to use a secret weapon!
To clean camera lens dust inside… Guess what… yeeeah, the vacuum cleaner.
Yes, I’m serious.

If dust can go inside through the lens joints, it can go the opposite way, too. But only if it’s not mixed with moisture yet.
Use your fingers to increase the vacuum while covering the gaps between the cleaner’s head and the lens.
AGAIN, if you haven’t got steady hands, or you aren’t a diy person, maybe this method is not for you, leave the job to some professional.
In my case, to get help from a pro, could cost as much as a new copy of this cheap lens. Your case might be different.
I won’t do it on a €2000 lens, neither.
After you finish vacuuming, give the clean lens a try. Better to find out now, if it was a success, or you have to go another round with it.
I hope this information was helpful for you. Thanks for reading, and see you in the next one! Bye!
Camera lens cleaning kit (NOT affiliate)
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Amazon-Basics-Cleaning-sensitive-electronic/dp/B01J8VOG0Q/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_i=B01J8VOG0Q&psc=1