SectionHiker.com Backpacking Gear Reviews and FAQs 
My photography got a lot better this year, in part because I got a better camera, a Panasonic Lumix with a Leica Lens and because I really started to pay more attention to composition. But with more sophisticated equipment, I paid a lot more attention to keeping my lens and filter attachments spotless. It made a big difference, especially at the higher resolution I get with a better digital camera.
But keeping your camera lenses clean in the backcountry is not without challenges. That’s why I want to tell you about the Lens Pen from Nikon, a great lens cleaner that I’ve been using for the past year and that I bring on all of my hiking and backpacking trips.
The size of a thick pen, the Lens Pen has two cleaning attachments: a soft brush to flick dust off your lenses that retracts into the pen body when not in use and a unique cleaning tip that removes fingerprints, smudges, and grease marks from the lenses. To use the cleaning tip, you remove its protective cap and wipe the lens with smooth circular motions. I use it on my camera, but it should also work with binoculars, scopes, and video cameras.
I can’t find any documentation about the cleaning agent used on the cleaning tip—sorry—but I haven’t noticed any impact on my filter coatings, so I figure it’s pretty benign. The cleaning agent self-replenishes when you put the cap back over the tip and give it a half turn.
In my experience, this is a great product for under $10. The weight on the section hiker digital scale is 16 grams. The impact on photo quality is priceless.
SectionHiker is reader-supported. We only make money if you purchase a product through our affiliate links. Help us continue to test and write unsponsored and independent gear reviews, beginner FAQs, and free hiking guides.
I highly recommend. Recently bought one (not Nikon branded though) for field cleaning my DSLR and lenses. Works like a charm.
Perfect timing!! Was just researching that … Thanks for the recommendation!
I need one of those. Good recommendation.
Do you really see a differenz? Can you provide photos to compare a dirty lense with a clean lense?
I definitely see a difference, but I'm not going to put a thumbprint on my lens to prove it to you, in before and after photos. The main difference is that I don't have to digital photo retouching anymore to remove black shadows on my photos where there was a grease mark on the lens. That grease mark ruined many fantastic photos I took and I couldn't get it off any other way.