Camera & Lens Care.

The Olympus lens cloth is a micro-fibre cleaning cloth that can be used to clean smudges and dirt from filters and lenses. It can be used in conjunction with other cleaning fluids but I tend to keep it for use as a dry wipe. It is best to remove loose particles of dust and grit with a blower brush before using the lens cloth as the cloth could pick up abrasive dust or grit and scratch the lens or filter. When the cloth gets excessively dirty it can be washed in as a normal fabric but for the price of a couple of pounds it might be better just to replace it save damaging your lenses or filters due to harmful detergents that may soak into the cloth when it is washed.

These Opticlear lens wipes are a paper based wipe that is impregnated with lens cleaning fluid that is used to remove more aggressive lens or filter smudges. This is sealed in a sachet to keep the paper moist. To use the wipe just tear the sachet open and remove it and clean the lens or filter. This is a single use wipe and will dry out if the sachet seal is broken. It is best to remove loose particles of dust and grit with a blower brush before using the Opticlear lens wipes as the wipe could pick up abrasive dust or grit and scratch the lens or filter.

Pretty obvious statement this! The Olympus lens cap usually comes with the purchased lens as the size of the lens dictates the size of the lens cap. Used to protect the lens from dust and scratches it performs a pretty important part with regards to len scare.
The Olympus lens cap grips the threaded portion of the lens, (or filter if fitted) by two sprung loaded claws. The mechanism is operated by opening and closing the claws using the two finger slots on the front of the lens cap.
Should you have the misfortune to loose your Olympus lens cap for whatever reason, replacements are available but they are not cheap for what they are, (around ten pounds for a bit of plastic with a couple of springs)!

A blower brush is probably the first stage of any other cleaning operation with regards to lenses or filters. Designed to pump a jet of air by using the bellows bulb it will safely dislodge harmful grit and dust that could potentially scratch the surface of the lens or filter. The brush part is used in conjunction with the air jet to gently brush away more stubborn grit or dust particles. The blower brush does not however remove grease smudges so other cleaning devices such as lens wipes or cloths should be used. The slider and cap can be used to create a more powerful air jet, the cap also protects the brush bristles when the blower brush is not being used.

This example shows how the end of the Blower Brush can be capped off to produce a more powerful airjet through the smaller hole whilst also protecting the bristles of the brush when it is not in use.

Visible Dust Lens Clean is a lens cleaning solution that has been specially formulated to clean optical surfaces. It does not contain alcohol like most lens cleaning fluids, (which can evaporate quickly and leave objects on the lens). It does however have components that help to protect your lenses or filters being scratched by microscopic objects.
The Visible Dust Lens Clean fluid is designed to be used in conjunction with a lint free cloth in the following manner.

1. Spray onto a lint free cloth.
2. Gently wipe the lens or surface to be cleaned.
3. Polish until dry.

Warning: Avoid contact with eyes. This fluid is not designed to be used on contact lenses.

The Lenspen is used to clean lenses and filters the idea being that you can keep it in your jacket pocket in the same manner as a pen. It has a retractable brush which is used to brush away dust and dirt particles and a felt looking cicular pad for cleaning away fingerprints and greasy smudges.

To clean lenses or filters the following is recommended:
1. Remove any particles on the lens surface with the retractable brush.
2. Remove cap and wipe the lens in a smooth cicular motion, breath gently on the surface ta assist removal of pesistent smudges.
3. Replace cap and give it a half twist, this replenishes the cleaning tip.

Important: Do not use the Lenspen on wet surfaces.

This example shows the different stages of the lenspen from capped to uncapped to brush reveal.

These lens cleaning tissues are part of a Jessops lens care cleaning kit and is in a packet containing 50 dry paper tissues. I use these as a last resort if there is no alternative as I feel they are rather abrasive and could be putting microscopic scratches on to the lens or filter.
They can be used with lens cleaning solution to remove stubborn grease marks. As with most lens or filter cleaning operations it is best to start off with a blower brush.

The Jessops Lens Cleaning Kit contains:
Lens Cleaning Tissues, (Pack of 50).
Lens Cleaning Fluid, (40 ml).
A Blower Brush.
Cotton Buds, (Pack of 10).
Cleaning Cloth, (Lint free).

This lens cleaning fluid is part of a Jessops lens care cleaning kit and is in a plastic bottle containing 40 milliliters of fluid. I use this mainly for cleaning the cheaper filters rather than the expensive lenses as I prefer the non alcoholic Visible Dust cleaning fluid for the lenses, however this stuff is OK if you have nothing else to hand.
Used in conjunction with lens cleaning cloths or tissues the lens cleaning solution is better at removing stubborn grease marks than a cloth or tissue on it's own. As with most lens or filter cleaning operations it is best to start off with a blower brush.

The Jessops Lens Cleaning Kit contains:
Lens Cleaning Tissues, (Pack of 50).
Lens Cleaning Fluid, (40 ml).
A Blower Brush.
Cotton Buds, (Pack of 10).
Cleaning Cloth, (Lint free).

These lens cleaning cotton buds are part of a Jessops lens care cleaning kit and come in a pack containing 10 cotton buds. I use these cotton buds for cleaning round the rim of lenses and filters as they tend to get in the threaded parts better than the lens cleaning cloths or tissues. They are also handy for cleaning the nooks and crannies found on the camera body and pop up flash area.
Once again a little drop of the lens cleaning solution helps to remove the more stubborn grease marks and bits of grit or dust. As with most lens or filter cleaning operations it is best to start off with a blower brush.

The Jessops Lens Cleaning Kit contains:
Lens Cleaning Tissues, (Pack of 50).
Lens Cleaning Fluid, (40 ml).
A Blower Brush.
Cotton Buds, (Pack of 10).
Cleaning Cloth, (Lint free).

Despite it's name Silica Gel is a granular and solid made synthetically from sodium silicate. Most commonly found as beads packed in a semi-permeable plastic sachet, Silica Gel sachets are designed to control humidity especially in electrical items that are vulnerable to moisture.
Over the years I have collected numerous packets of Silica gel from different packages and rather than throw them away I have scattered them in the various pockets of my camera bag to help cut down any dampness that may occur.
I am not 100% sure that it has done anything to reduce dampness but I thought it could not do any harm as some of them were packed with the new lens that I bought some time ago.