I have water spots on my digital camera lens. how do i get them off?

Question

I have water spots on my digital camera lens. how do i get them off?

Answer 1

Water spots are caused when water gets on the lens and then evaporates leaving a mineral residue behind.

There are many solvents that will absorb the minerals including vinegar or even water. Other solvents may damage the lens. Even glass lenses often have a plastic coating.

The trick is, whatever solvent you use should be quickly dried off using a soft, lint free fabric. Micro fiber cloth is a good choice.

Answer 2

Get a soft clothe made for lens cleaning and some lens cleaner spreay. There is also something called a lens pen, they cost about 4 bucks and they work great. Keep that in your camera bag. Any camera store has them. But whatever you do, do NOT just huff and wipe with your shirt like you wouold a pair of glasses. A lens cleaner kit is really cheap.

Answer 3

If the water spots is on the outer layer  of the lens, it is easy enough to use lens tissue to wipe it off.  However, if it remains inside the lens, my suggestion is using a small amount of  dried SILICA GEL (best to wrap in a pack) and put together with the affected camera in a desiccator ( or a good air tied container) for a few hours, the water spots would be disappeared. The Silica Gel can easily be obtained from Camera Shop or Chemist Store and it can be dry out for re-use by putting it into cooking pan and fry it.

Answer 4

In 37 years I have never used a liquid lens cleaner. I've depended on a lens cloth and if needed breathing on the lens.

Once your lens is clean, invest in a UV/Haze or Skylight filter to protect it.

If you're really hesitant about cleaning your lens, visit a real camera store and ask for their help. You can buy your protective filter while you're there.

Answer 5

Camera lenses, traditionally, have a coating and using any liquids could ruin the lens and coating, (it may not be the case with digital cameras, but I wouldn't run the risk) and/or get into the camera body and ruin the camera.  There are lens cleaning cloths made specifically for camera lenses that you can get at a ("professional") camera store.  I would check there first before doing anything.  Good luck!