Always use a dry microfiber cloth when cleaning camera lenses or glass surfaces. Other materials can damage the coatings or leave marks. (BestReviews)
Once you’ve invested in a digital camera or bought new lenses, keeping all the components safe and clean is a high priority. Simply storing everything in a cupboard or the original box just won’t do.
Ideally, you should clean your digital camera after every use. You should give it a thorough deep-clean every other month. That naturally depends on how often the camera is being used, but it can gather tiny particles of dust even when stored.
To keep your camera equipment and lenses in the best condition possible, you will need a camera lens cleaning kit, like our top choice, the Mouriv Deluxe Essentials, which comes with all the accessories you need to keep your lenses crystal clear.
It might seem like a simple task to find a camera lens cleaning kit, but there are some considerations that you need to keep in mind: Not all cleaning kits are made from the same materials, some have additional parts and others might not be suited for your lens at all.
There are several kits available for different kinds of lenses. These have additional equipment and parts. They might not be necessary or compatible with your lens. Make sure that you get the right kit for the lenses that you have.
Cash-strapped photographers might decide to go for a more affordable camera lens cleaning kit, but there are some risks involved. While there are good quality kits available at affordable prices, be aware of cheap imitations or imports. If the cloth is too rough, it will scratch the lens.
Before you buy a camera lens cleaning kit, be aware that cleaning your camera is not a quick task to complete. You will need a steady hand to get into all the nooks and crannies, but if you want to do it correctly, you will also need patience.
Kits consist of a huge variety of tools and devices to clean camera lenses properly. Not all camera lens cleaning kits have the same tools, but generally, several of the same pieces will almost always be included.
A cleaning cloth is a staple tool for any photographer. It is a quick way to remove dust from the lens, viewfinder or touch screen.
Along with a cleaning cloth, a simple cleaning solution will take care of any fingerprints on the glass of a lens. You can also use it on other camera parts so long as it is alcohol-free.
Something that photographers don’t often think about, but that’s just as important as keeping your camera clean, is keeping your cleaning kit dust-free. If you do a lot of outdoor shoots, it’s best to keep the camera lens cleaning tools in a protective case.
Depending on the brand name or what the kit consists of, most camera lens cleaning kits retail at $9 for entry-level kits and up to $140 for more professional kits.
A. No, you wouldn't need to use a camera lens cleaning kit that is the same brand as your lenses. Manufacturers could have recommended products, but all camera lens cleaning kits are compatible with all lenses.
A. When you squeeze and let go of an air blower, it sucks in the surrounding air. If the air is contaminated with dust particles, it will blow them onto your lens. A filtered intake prevents the particles from escaping the blower when operated.
Mouriv Deluxe Essentials: available at Amazon
Our take: This camera cleaning kit is like taking your lenses to the spa.
What we like: To give your camera lenses the best possible treatment, the Mouriv Deluxe Essentials has all the tools. The kit comes with a rocket air blower, tin-oxide camera sensor cleaner solution, ten APS-C cleaning swabs, a lens cleaning pen, a cleaning brush, four microfiber cloths and a motorized static-charged sensor cleaning brush. A six-LED camera sensor loupe is also included so that you can spot microscopic particles.
What we dislike: The lens cleaning solution has no details or branding, so there is no way of telling the solution's composition.
CamKix Professional Camera Cleaning Kit: available at Amazon
Our take: Affordable and practical, it has everything you need.
What we like: The camera lens cleaning kit includes all the essentials that a photographer will need. It comes with five microfiber lens cleaning cloths and a cleaning solution, an air blower, a double-sided cleaning pen and a soft brush.
What we dislike: The kit ships in a resealable plastic pouch.
Zeiss Lens Cleaning Kit: available at Amazon
Our take: A solid product from a trusted brand in the camera and eyeglass industry.
What we like: Zeiss is a leading manufacturer of optical lenses, and this camera lens cleaning kit includes all the basics. It comes with a Zeiss-branded protective case, air blower, cleaning brush, cleaning solution and soft microfiber cloth.
What we dislike: The cleaning brush is not as sophisticated as it could be, and the top cap is prone to coming off.
Altura Photo Professional Camera Cleaning Kit: available at Amazon
Our take: A comprehensive lens cleaning kit for all types of photography.
What we like: The kit comes packed with all the tools you'll need, and even some that you didn't know you needed. Together with the hard carry case, the kit comprises a 16mm dry sensor swab, an all-natural cleaning solution, a lens cleaning pen, a lens brush, an air blower, 50 sheets of lens tissue paper, and a large microfiber cleaning cloth from MagicFiber. The sensor swab is compatible with APS-C sensors.
What we dislike: The air blower doesn't have a filtered intake, which would prevent particles from being sucked in and blown on components.
Charlie Fripp is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.