Need Help...Sooner than later..THANKS!

[izzy35]

quick questions...I have an xti and today some sand got on the lens and a few wet dog noses..:mad::mad: I have the camera at home and obviously need to clean it but do not want to touch it until i know how, without scratching or ruining it....So,
1) how should i get the sand off??? blow it?? can i use a quick squirt of an air can??
2) how to clean the lens?? i have lens cleaner for my eyeglasses? and a screen cleaner for my laptop?? would those things be too harsh??

any input appreciated...

[gjl711]

Is it on the surface of the front element or inside the lens? I'm going to assume its the front element. I'd start with the blower after the sand dries and try to blow off as much as possible. If you have a brush, try to brush off the ones that are sticking and use the bulb again. When you got everything off that going to come off, then using a microfiber cloth dampened with lens fluid start working on the tougher specks.

[izzy35]

Is it on the surface of the front element or inside the lens? I'm going to assume its the front element. I'd start with the blower after the sand dries and try to blow off as much as possible. If you have a brush, try to brush off the ones that are sticking and use the bulb again. When you got everything off that going to come off, then using a microfiber cloth dampened with lens fluid start working on the tougher specks.b4 i get started let me clear something up...I don't have the a bulb/blower...i was referring to an air can...u know, the ones u clean keyboards, etc, with..and yes, it's only on the front element...NOTHING inside, THANK GOD:oops:!!

[izzy35]

hello? sorry for the bump but don't want to touch the camera until i know i won't ruin it, but am looking to use it today...Thanks all :-)

[John_B]

izzy35,
Using canned air isn't really recommended, as they can sometimes shoot a chemical out that doesn't do the lens surface too well. You can get a blower for a couple of $ or a good one like a rocket blower for $$ and it will be well worth it in the long run if you like your equipment.

[gjl711]

I guess the main point is that you want to do just about anything you can to not rub the sand into the lens. This will cause small scratches and though they will not affect your pictures sharpness or color they can have other negative results like lens flare and such.

Canned air probably will be fine but the higher pressure might actually drive a bit of sand inside the camera if the front element is not tightly sealed like the 17-55IS font element so a bulb with a lot lower pressure might work better. They are very cheap and you can pick one up at just about any drug store. They are sold as ear syringes and usually hang out by the baby stuff.

[queenbee288]

Go to the drugstore and get one of those bulb syringes that they sell for babies. The bigger the better. It will work almost as good as a rocket blower and a whole lot cheaper.

[izzy35]

ok so now i know about the bulb...But what about wiping off the serious smudges off the lens??? is eye glass cleaner or plasma screen/laptop screen cleaner, too harsh?? thx all..

[gjl711]

ok so now i know about the bulb...But what about wiping off the serious smudges off the lens??? is eye glass cleaner or plasma screen/laptop screen cleaner, too harsh?? thx all.. Na, the lens is pretty tough. Anything thats meant for glass if fine. Just don't scrub. You don't want to make sandpaper out of the cleaning cloth. :)