Coming out of the field I always take the time to clean my equipment. Remember, its always best and highly suggested to keep your optics (no matter what they are) as clean and in good shape as you possible can. They will last & hold up a lot longer. Plus for me, there is nothing worse than dirty optics to look through and or take pictures. What you see is what you get!
First, I look over my equipment entirely. Then use my trusty LensPen cleaning tool. Many manufactures have there logo on them but they are from the LensPen company. I carry one with me, have one in the car and at home. This small, convenient-to-carry LensPen has a retractable soft brush to whisk away dust particles on one end, a cleaning tip on the other end that can remove smudges from optical lenses. The cleaning tip replenishes by twisting it into the cap. Together these tools are effective and easy to use for cleaning camera lenses, binoculars, scopes and other optical equipment, even getting into hard to reach edges with the cleaning tip. LensPen is approximately five inches long.
Do not use the LensPen on wet surfaces. I would use this type of pen instead of Q-tips as they leave other particles on the lens.
Giottos Rocket Blaster:
Measuring 7.5″ in height, this bulb blower is ideal for providing powerful bursts of air to clean camera equipment: from lens front elements to digital camera sensors in accordance with the camera manufacturer’s recommendations. It can even remove dust particles due to static electricity. Made of natural and environmentally friendly rubber, the Giottos Rocket Blaster has an air inlet valve that prevents air back-flow from tube. The super stream air tube is detachable and the rocket base design allows the blower to be propped up standing. Store your Giottos bulb blower in a sealed plastic bag to keep dust and dirt out of the bulb. Before each use blow air out of the bulb a few times away from your gear to clear out anything that may have found its way inside. When cleaning dust off of surfaces, it helps to have the surface pointed downward so the blast of air moves the dust and gravity helps it move away from the surface.
Other additional kits for cleaning sensors and details clean purposes for cameras. ProKits $29.95-$34.94., SensorKlear Loupe Kit $99.95 USD.
Always have at least 2 clean Microfiber Cloths with me in the field, including for cleaning at home. I think there are the best type of cloth to use for optics. Other materials just won’t be as effective and again they will leave particles on your lens Comes in many sizes. Many manufacturer’s make these cloths and many times you get one that is included with the purchase of optics. You can also buy them separately. It is very important to regularly clean the cloth otherwise you’ll just be smudging the lens big time. Thats a no no!
I clean mine with liquid dishwashing soap and then rinse it many times to make sure there is no soap residue left. Then I fold it in half, then quarters, then I squeeze it tightly with a dry towel to absorb as much water as I can. That way there shouldn’t be too much minerals from the tap water in the cloth. If I were really paranoid I would also rinse it with distilled water before the final squeezing to remove even more minerals.
ROR Lens Cleaner (Residual Oil Remover) is by far the best to use. http://www.ror.net/
All these items can be bought in CT and many other US locations. Here are a few suggestions below.
- Allen’s Camera: Levittown, PA 888-547-2841
KymryGroup 
Nice blog- really informative-and awesome photos of rare birds in CT! I never heard of that pen cleaner device but I get really annoyed when I can’t clean the corner of a lens so that’s on my list of things to get.
Thanks Larry. I am really glad that my tips on cleaning tools was helpful. It really pays to have several of these pens and microfiber cloths stashed in a few places. With so many things we carry around, binos, scopes and cameras., I have to have a few around where I can get my hands on them easily.