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My Drone Camera Has Smudges on the Lens-How to get rid of them

My Drone Camera Has Smudges on the Lens-How to get rid of them

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My Drone Camera Has Smudges on the Lens-How to get rid of them

Smudges have appeared in the centre of all of my still photos  that I took from my drone as of late. . It looks like  there’s nothing on the lens that I can see, but I purchased a lens pen to attempt to get rid of whatever it is. 

Have you encountered this problem? If so I am here to help you. 

Many people who are into drone photography have encountered a problem with a bothersome smudge that shows on all of their pictures and video.

 Most of the time, this is because of a particle of dirt on the lens, a fingerprint, or a defect with the lens. And how can you get rid of a smear on your drone’s camera’s lens?

To start, use a microfiber cloth to carefully clean the lens of your drone camera to remove any smudges. Silica gel may be used to clean the lens of your drone camera if the smudge is caused by moisture. If the smudge turns out to be a dead pixel, you’ll have to buy a new camera.

Smudges on camera lenses of all sorts, including drone camera lenses, are quite frequent. There will be a few blemishes in your photos and movies when you look at the camera feed on your computer screen.

A wide range of factors may contribute to the appearance of obnoxious smudges. Now that we know what’s causing this problem, let’s speak about fixing it.

The best thing to do is to get one of those microfiber cloths and some 99% pure rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) and apply some of that to the lense and then wipe it with the coth. You will probably find that they are not scratches and just dirt. I found that to be the case with mine. if you find that they are scratches then the toothpaste method is not ideal as you could make it blurry.

How to get rid of Smufges on your Drone Camera lens

1.Reduce interior condensation by drying and removing any existing moisture.

Some drone camera lenses tend to become fogged up with condensation. This is a common problem for professional photographers when they go to colder climates with their cameras because condensation forms owing to the moisture that accumulates within the camera. 

To summarise, condensation is more likely to form within the camera lens than on the outside.

Consistency in the lens may lead to fingerprinting on your camera drone’s images if you use it in very cold temperatures. If this occurs, you won’t be able to solve the problem by wiping the surface since the condensation is both inside and outside.

Avoid moisture accumulation within the drone camera fittings by keeping your drone in a thermal bag that allows it to remain warm without being too hot.

It may be necessary to insulate your drone to let moisture that has built up inside to gently evaporate if condensation is the source of your problem or the smudge on your drone’s camera lens.

As an alternative, you may try packing your drone with silica gel packets to soak up any extra moisture. Drying up moisture and preventing it from accumulating within the camera lens may both be accomplished with this technique.

2. Take a fresh look at the camera (for any dead pixels)

If you’ve ever owned a computer display, you know that dead pixels may appear when one or more individual pixels cease functioning for various reasons. In the event of dead pixels on a display, a blank area will be left in the vicinity of the dead pixels.

When it comes to your drone camera sensor, dead pixels may develop for a variety of reasons. Internal camera difficulties and problems with the various electrical components are the most frequent causes. This isn’t a problem with the drone’s lens, but with the chip and other parts inside of it.

Only by replacing the drone’s camera can you fix the smudge on your images produced by a dead pixel in your drone’s camera. In certain cases, bringing your drone to a repair shop can solve the problem, such as when a simple remedy may eliminate the smear.

You may have to purchase a new camera attachment if the issue is with the chip in your drone’s camera or something similar.

If your drone is still covered by a warranty, you should be protected. Replace the camera if necessary, but only if doing so will be worth the money. If it turns out to be as expensive as purchasing a new drone altogether, you may as well go for the more expensive option.

Always land with the camera lens aimed straight out, ahead or even pointing slightly upwards. You might want to consider custom building or if you're not really the industrious type, buying your own landing pad. There are numerous ones available, some that even fold out, which take up very little space, when not in use.

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3.Wipe it Clean with Micro Fiber Cloth

Make a clean sweep of the surface and get rid of anything that is stuck to it.
Dirt, dust, debris, and water droplets on the lens’ outer surface are all possible causes of a smudge on your drone’s camera lens. 

This is to be expected because the lens of your drone’s camera is exposed to elements outside, which may cause residue to develop on its surface. Dirt, for example, may build up over time and result in more noticeable smudges. A lens may develop water droplets if the environment is wet or damp.

This is by far the most basic and straightforward issue. But this will only work if the smudge is caused by dirt or debris that has collected on the lens’s outer surface.

To accomplish this, wet a micro-fiber cloth lightly and gently clean the lens of the drone’s camera in a circular motion, beginning at the outside corners and moving towards the centre. Instead of dampening the micro-fiber cleaning cloth with water, use a few drops of lens cleaning solution.

To remove dirt, grit, and grime from the lens’ outer surface, you may use an air blower or a soft-bristled brush. A lens cleaning kit is a good idea to have on hand in case you need to clean your drone camera lens quickly and efficiently while without harming the lens.

This Amazon sold  the complete cleaning kit is one that I really Like

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4.Make use of clean lenspen

Drone Lens Pen for DSLR Cameras and Phones. 

All LensPen products are designed to remove fingerprints, dust, and grease as an excellent new optical lens cleaning tool. Ideal for optical goods such as lenses, filters, sensors, and other components of drone cameras. 

Features an easy-to-retract dust brush and an unique cleaning element that isn’t liquid and won’t dry out. For more than two decades, LensPen products have been used to clean camera lenses and other optics. It’s safe to use on any drone and is very simple to set up.

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5. Rocket Blower

Rocket Blower and Self-Cleaning Modes

It’s likely that if you’re going on a photographic trip, you won’t have any sensor cleaning fluid or swabs with you. Even if you have the necessary equipment, you may be hesitant to use it for fear of harming the sensor or shutter. 

Waiting to submit your camera to the manufacturer for a professional sensor cleaning while travelling is acceptable in this situation. While you wait, you may use the rocket blower or the camera’s self-cleaning mode.

If cleaning the front element on my Phantom 3 Pro’ I will only ever use what I utilize on my precious Nikon lenses.Depending what the issue is, I have my Rocket air Blower, a clean lens pen, disposable lens “cloth”, liquid lens cleaner if necessary.
Only appropriate tools for the particular job. Never use fingers or your tee shirt either.

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Your Drone Camera Lens, Clean It The Smart Way

How to Minimise and Clean Camera Sensor Dust

Even while it’s difficult to completely prevent dust from getting on your camera’s sensor, there are a few easy measures you can do to minimise the chances.

Keep the Drone Bag Organized.

Additionally, keep your Drone  case clean to help keep dust and debris out of your Drone camera. Any time your backpack is left open, dust and grime may get inside, especially if it’s unzipped and out in the weather while you’re shooting in the field. If you’re not cautious, this dust may end up inside your camera. Keep your Drone  bag’s inside dust and dirt-free by wiping it down with a wet cloth on a regular basis.

Bag your Drone with a Zipper

For the following stage, you’ll need to use plastic or ziplock bags. If you’ve ever glanced in a professional photographer’s bag, you’ll see many of these bags. Having them in your camera bag will come in useful if your camera becomes filthy while you’re out and about.

When you’re not using your camera or lenses, seal them in ziplock bags. You may also use ziplock bags to clean other equipment like a rocket blower or lens brush. You’ll minimise the danger of dust transmission and, as a result, the likelihood of dust getting onto the sensor of your camera when you take them out to use them.

Keep an eye out for dust on the Drone camera sensor

It doesn’t matter what you do while photographing landscapes; at some time, dust will find its way into your camera and onto the sensor. After each day of shooting, you should inspect your sensor for dust. You’ll have plenty of time to tidy everything up before your next shot.

Drone Camera Sensor Cleaning: A Step-by-Step Guide

Make sure your Drone’s camera sensor is completely charged before cleaning it.

Now wipe the outside of your camera so that dust doesn’t get tracked inside when you’re cleaning it.

Set up shop in a spot that’s free of dust, like the restroom.

Before you begin, make sure your camera cleaning kit has all of the equipment you’ll need to do the job quickly and effectively.

Rocket Blower and Self-Cleaning Modes

It’s likely that if you’re going on a photographic trip, you won’t have any sensor cleaning fluid or swabs with you. Even if you have the necessary equipment, you may be hesitant to use it for fear of harming the sensor or shutter. 

Waiting to submit your camera to the manufacturer for a professional sensor cleaning while travelling is acceptable in this situation. While you wait, you may use the rocket blower or the camera’s self-cleaning mode.

If cleaning the front element on my Phantom 3 Pro’ I will only ever use what I utilize on my precious Nikon lenses.Depending what the issue is, I have my Rocket air Blower, a clean lens pen, disposable lens “cloth”, liquid lens cleaner if necessary.
Only appropriate tools for the particular job. Never use fingers or your tee shirt either.

Cleaning the Sensors on Your Own

Cleaning the camera sensor by yourself may be risky, but there are a few measures you should take to keep yourself safe and your camera from being damaged.

What You’ll Need for Equipment

    • Use lint-free cleaning wipes designed specifically for the size of the sensor on your camera.
    • Cleaning solution for camera sensors.
    • Blower powered by a rocket.
    • There’s a light there.

Final Thoughts

Methods of Cleaning
Streaks are less likely to appear if you wipe in concentric rings rather than across the lens.

If the debris isn’t eliminated, moving it from the centre to the edge of the lens will shift it away from the centre of the picture circle.

When wiping, use light pressure to just remove the smudge that caused the problem in the first place.

The cleaning element of the LensPen was, apparently, just tacky enough to remove the spots and the filter was saved from the trash can. I recommend adding the LensPen to your cleaning tool kit for situations like this.

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