In the old days when test reports of new cameras were released by the independent testers, they were always full of interesting things. Build quality, ergonomics, viewing screens, accessories and all sorts of other stuff. But right there at the top of the list, and the bit that invariably everyone wanted to read about first, was all the stuff about the lens. How many line pairs per millimetre would it resolve? What about its rectilinearity? Contrast? How does it cope with flare? Edge definition? Coverage? Performance at full aperture? Chromatic aberration?
Now all we hear about is the number of pixels (marketing – don’t get me started!).
But that isn’t what this piece is about. I only mention all that to make a point. Most pictures on the planet are now taken with smartphone cameras. Clearly they don’t get anywhere near to the quality of a purpose built camera but within limited parameters (the important bit!) they can produce remarkable results. Everything is tiny. The sensors. The photo sites. The spaces between the photo sites. And, of course, the lenses. It is all remarkable. But here’s the thing …
The lenses are always dirty. The millions of pictures taken every day with astonishingly clever equipment are taken through lenses with either finger prints on them or general atmospheric grime (which you can hardly see). Every image I am ever sent, taken with a phone camera, is compromised by not cleaning the lens first. Imagine how big a finger print is compared to the size of that tiny lens. We used to use Vaseline on studio lenses to produce similar effects. Soft focus. Here’s an idea. Give your lens a wipe with your handkerchief before taking a picture. It’ll be like getting a free upgrade.