Lens cleaning kits for cameras and binoculars

Making sure your optical equipment is well-maintained can be the difference between the perfect shot and a perfectly framed shot that looks like it was taken with a much cheaper device. You’ve probably invested a lot of money to get the right camera, binoculars, or spotting scope—and you definitely don’t want to damage them with harsh cleaners or by wiping them with the edge of your shirt. Here are some smart choices that ensure you get years of use out of your purchases.

Everything you need: Gobe Glass Cleaning Kit

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This comprehensive kit is a photographer’s best friend and works with all optics. When you’re out on a shoot and your camera gets a little dirty, choose from the microfiber cloth, moistened lens wipes, or optical cleaning fluid to quickly clear your lens. Do finer detailing with the air blower and retractable brush, and always be ready for that once-in-a-lifetime photo op. A durable fabric pouch makes it simple to keep everything you need close at hand.

Remove dust: Nikon Lens Pen Cleaning System

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You don’t need a Nikon camera to take advantage of the brand’s efficient lens cleaning tool, which keeps optics ranging from cameras to small aperture telescopes looking sharp. Whisk away dust with the brush end of the pen, which retracts to take up less space, and then use the padded side (that looks a little like a tiny suction cup) to take off spots and smudges with the long-lasting carbon-based cleaning formula. Pop this into your camera’s carrying case instead of packing cloths and disposable tissues. You can even use it on your specs.

Safe to use anywhere: MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

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These cleaning cloths come in packs as small as two and as large as 30. Each individual cloth comes in its own bag, so as to not come into contact with anything until use. The cloths effectively remove dust, dirt, and oils from camera lenses, eyeglass lenses, and most sensitive surfaces.

For your binoculars: Celestron LensPen

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If you’re in the woods somewhere trying to identify a warbler hopping about a leafy tree, you definitely don’t want cloudy and streaky binocular lenses to cause you to miss the markings that distinguish a rare species. Celestron’s speciality is binoculars and telescopes, which makes this dual pen especially appealing to outdoor observers of nature, though it can be used with all-optical equipment. Just like Nikon’s cleaning pen, you’ll want to brush away dust and dirt with one end first, and gently remove fingerprints with the other.