What to Do When Your Reolink Camera Lens is Scratched
A crystal-clear lens is crucial for your Reolink camera to do its job effectively. A scratch, even a small one, can cause blurry patches, light flares, and a general loss of image quality, compromising your security footage. Discovering a scratch on your camera's lens can be disheartening, but before you consider replacing the entire unit, there are a few things you should understand and try.
This guide will help you confirm the problem, attempt safe cleaning, understand the risks of repair, and know when to contact support.
How to Identify a Scratched Lens
First, it's important to differentiate a scratch from other common lens issues. What looks like a scratch could be something else.
- Permanent Blurry Spot: There is a soft or out-of-focus area in the video that never goes away, regardless of lighting conditions.
- Light Flaring: Bright lights (like streetlights or torches) create unusual streaks, halos, or starburst effects in the video.
- Visible Mark: You can see a physical mark, line, or scuff on the lens glass itself when inspecting it up close.
- Reduced Sharpness: The overall image just isn't as crisp as it used to be.
Important: Before proceeding, make sure the issue isn't simply a smudge, dirt, or a fine strand of a spider's web. A thorough, proper cleaning is your first diagnostic step.
Step 1: The Right Way to Clean Your Reolink Lens
An improper cleaning technique can cause the very scratches you're trying to fix. Always follow this safe procedure.
What You'll Need:
- A can of compressed air (optional, but recommended)
- A soft-bristled brush (like a camera lens brush)
- A clean, dry microfibre cloth (the kind used for spectacles)
The Cleaning Process:
- Remove Loose Debris: If the camera is outdoors, it may have dust or grit on it. Use the can of compressed air or the soft brush to gently remove any loose particles. Do not wipe a gritty lens with a cloth, as this will drag the particles across the surface and cause scratches.
- Gentle Wipe: Take your clean microfibre cloth and gently wipe the lens in a circular motion, starting from the centre and moving outwards. This will remove fingerprints, smudges, and water spots.
- Use Lens Cleaner (Only if Necessary): For stubborn grime, you can apply one or two drops of a dedicated camera lens cleaning solution to the cloth, never directly onto the lens. Then, repeat the gentle circular wipe.
- Inspect Again: Once clean and dry, carefully inspect the lens and the video feed again. If the blemish in the image is gone, it was just dirt. If it remains, you have confirmed a scratch.
Step 2: Understanding Repair Options (And Their Risks)
Once you've confirmed a scratch, what comes next? Can it be fixed?
The DIY Polishing Method - High Risk
You may find guides online suggesting the use of polishing compounds like cerium oxide or even toothpaste to buff out scratches. We strongly advise against this for several reasons:
- Lens Coatings: Modern camera lenses have special anti-reflective and protective coatings. Polishing will almost certainly remove these coatings, which can severely impact image quality, contrast, and colour.
- Distortion: It is nearly impossible to manually polish a lens with perfectly even pressure. You are very likely to create a 'low spot' in the lens, which will distort the video like a funhouse mirror.
- Making it Worse: An aggressive polish can turn a small, sharp scratch into a large, hazy, and much more noticeable blemish.
Attempting a DIY repair should be seen as a last-ditch effort on a camera that is already out of warranty and considered unusable. You are more likely to ruin the lens than to fix it.
Step 3: The Recommended Solution - Contact Reolink Support
The safest and most effective course of action is to contact the manufacturer.
- Check Your Warranty: If your camera is still under warranty, a significant lens defect might be covered.
- Contact Support: Go to the official Reolink support website. Open a ticket and clearly describe the problem.
- Provide Evidence: Take clear, well-lit photos of the scratch on the lens. Also, provide screenshots or short video clips that demonstrate how the scratch is affecting the image quality.
- Follow Their Guidance: The support team will be able to tell you about your options regarding a repair, replacement part, or a whole unit replacement, depending on your warranty status and the specific model. This is the best way to get a professional and lasting solution.