The safest way to remove black spots from your camera lens is to take it to a professional repair shop and let someone more experienced handle it. However, if you want to save money, a variety of methods, like using a blower or brush, can work.
I’m Caleb, and I have five years of photography experience. My specialty is sports photography, and I’ve shot many different leagues and sports over the years at various levels.
In this article, I’ll review what can cause black spots on your camera lens and your options for removing them.
If a black spot on your camera has been giving you problems, and you’re unsure about how to solve the problem at home, keep reading for a simple explanation.
Contents
Causes of Black Spots on Camera Lens
There are several possible reasons for black spots on your lens. One of the most obvious ones is dust or dirt getting inside the lens, which can happen more easily if your lens isn’t weather-sealed.
Sometimes, the dirt or dust is actually on the camera sensor, not the lens. It can be hard to tell if this is true since both problems can cause similar-looking black spots.
A more concerning reason for black spots is fungus. This can show up inside your lenses if you leave them in humid areas where moisture can develop, and it can permanently damage the components inside the lens if not dealt with.
Also, if there are black spots in your photos but no visible dirt or fungus inside the camera lens or on the sensor, they might result from some damage to the glass. This kind of damage can have an impact on optical performance and might show up as black spots.
How to Get Rid of a Black Spot on Camera Lens
If you’ve encountered this problem, these are the main ways to eliminate it.
For the home repair options, you’ll need the tools and knowledge to open up your lens and access the glass from the inside. The easiest way to get these tools is through a kit that comes with everything.
Professional Repairs
Taking your lens to a professional, or sending it to the manufacturer if a warranty covers it, is the safest option.
While it is possible to handle lens cleaning and similar tasks at home, it’s not a project for a beginner or someone who isn’t that familiar with the camera hardware. The parts inside a lens are fragile; if you do something wrong, you can worsen the problem.
This also applies if you need to clean your camera’s sensor. The sensor is another fragile part that’s key to your camera working, and if you damage it while cleaning, you’ll have a much bigger problem on your hands than dust and dirt.
Lens Blowers
If you decide to clean yourself, a lens blower is a safe way to handle it. Blowers are cheap devices that let you clear away dirt with a puff of air, helping you avoid the problems that might come from touching the lens parts or sensor directly.
Using a blower is very straightforward. Simply point it at the spot where you see dirt or other particles, and use it to blow air until the dirt is gone.
Because this is a pretty lightweight option, however, it might not work in every case.
Lens Brushes
Lens-cleaning brushes are a step up from blowers. If air doesn’t work, you can use the brush to physically clear any particles on your lens or sensor.
It’s important to get the right kind of brush. Ordinary brushes won’t do the trick; using one will just make scratches on the lens surface. You’ll need a brush specifically designed for lens cleaning since these have softer bristles.
Obviously, you should still use gentle motions, even when using one of these softer brushes, to avoid creating scratches.
Cleaning Solution
If there are still black spots to get rid of, a lens cleaning solution is your next best bet. The solution is designed for use with a microfiber cloth. Regular cloth won’t do. Just as with a regular brush, it will only risk scratching your lens surface.
You should dampen your cloth with the solution but avoid getting it overly wet. Then, make gentle circular motions over the surface of the lens, working from the middle to the edges. Like with everything else so far, this requires finesse.
If this works, you should notice the spots on your lens disappear as you rub your cloth over them.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about black spots on camera lenses.
How Do I Get Rid of Black Spots on a Phone Camera Lens?
Check if the black spots are caused by dirt on the lens’s exterior. If not, you’ll probably have to take your phone in for repairs, as cleaning or repairing a phone camera is much harder than cleaning a full-sized one.
Why Is There a Black Spot on My Camera Screen?
If there’s a black spot on your camera screen, it’s most likely because of dirt or dust inside the lens or the camera sensor rather than a problem with the screen itself.
What Does Lens Mold Look Like?
Lens mold can vary in appearance, but it usually appears as dots, often white-colored. It might look fuzzy or like tiny hair.
Conclusion
Black spots can show up inside your lens or on your camera sensor for multiple reasons, but you can remove them at home with tools like blowers, brushes, or cleaning solutions.
Is dirt or mold in your lens a problem that you’ve ever dealt with? Let us know in the comments!
