What is the best way to clean lenses
 

Hi,

What is the best thing to use to clean a smudge (like a finger print) off a
lens? I know to use a protector filter but I have lens to clean that didn't
have one. I heard that some liquid type cleaners are not good for lens
coating. Is there a popular cleaning kit or cloth to use?

Thanks!

..

What is the best way to clean lenses
 

I'm a great fan of simple methods, like a gentle couple of huffs (be
careful not to spit!) on the lens, followed by a gentle wipe with a
microfibre lens cloth. Supermarket-sold microfibre cloths designed for
glass cleaning are very good also, but ensure they have no built-in
cleaners or polishes, for obvious reasons.

Otherwise, most folk recommend the 'Lenspen', but for a big
fingerprint, I think the first method is the best.

What is the best way to clean lenses
 

"Dave" wrote:

Hi,

What is the best thing to use to clean a smudge (like a finger print) off a
lens? I know to use a protector filter but I have lens to clean that didn't
have one. I heard that some liquid type cleaners are not good for lens
coating. Is there a popular cleaning kit or cloth to use?

Thanks!


There is probably no more effective *and* gentle method than using
OptiClean, which is used in the most highly demanding applications
including cleaning front silvered mirrors used in astronomy. OptiClean
is a liquid that you spread over the front (or rear) element of the
lens, remembering to include one of the supplied tabs. You allow it to
set to a gel, then peel it off with the tab, bringing all the dirt and
grease with it. It cannot cause any damage because there is no
abrasion.

http://www.opticlean.com/

In the longer term, using a good quality multi-coated colourless UV
filter (not 'skylight', which has a colour cast) is the very best way
to protect your lens. There is a lot of nonsense talked about filters
degrading an image, but no-one can show you any reliable evidence that
they do, despite many people having tried to prove it - one way or the
other. The simple truth is, good filters don't degrade images.

Obviously it is best to avoid cheap filters, but any camera brand
filter, or anything from B+W, Heliopan, Sigma or Hoya's HMC range will
do the job very well. Personally, I find Hoya HMC filters difficult to
keep clean, as they smear easily, but I have had no such problems with
the B+W filters fitted to most of my lenses.

B+W filters are top quality German products that generally seem
expensive, however they are available at very reasonable prices from
several specialists selling on eBay.

Cleaning filters is very easy. Rinse the filter, then use warm water
and liquid detergent, rinse with deionised water, and dry with a soft
microfibre cloth. There's no need for specialised chemicals, but
OptiClean is always there to deal with any major dirt problem.

What is the best way to clean lenses
 

I just find breathing on it and using a lens cloth gently works fine for
things like fingerprints...


Dave wrote:
Hi,

What is the best thing to use to clean a smudge (like a finger print) off a
lens? I know to use a protector filter but I have lens to clean that didn't
have one. I heard that some liquid type cleaners are not good for lens
coating. Is there a popular cleaning kit or cloth to use?

Thanks!

.

What is the best way to clean lenses
 

"Chrlz" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm a great fan of simple methods, like a gentle couple of huffs (be
careful not to spit!) on the lens, followed by a gentle wipe with a
microfibre lens cloth. Supermarket-sold microfibre cloths designed for
glass cleaning are very good also, but ensure they have no built-in
cleaners or polishes, for obvious reasons.

Otherwise, most folk recommend the 'Lenspen', but for a big
fingerprint, I think the first method is the best.

This is far and away the best method. You want just enough moisture on the
glass to give the microfibers some purchase, but not enough to stay liquid
and allow the oils of a fingerprint to be spread around instead of being
picked up on the cloth. The condensation from a warm breath is almost pure
water, and thus doesn't add more gunge onto the glass like soap-based
liquids.

Toby

What is the best way to clean lenses
 

Dave wrote:

Hi,

What is the best thing to use to clean a smudge (like a finger print) off a
lens? I know to use a protector filter but I have lens to clean that didn't
have one. I heard that some liquid type cleaners are not good for lens
coating. Is there a popular cleaning kit or cloth to use?

There is a special lens cleaning fluid which I think is the same as
sensor cleaning fluid. My eclipse sensor fluid says it contains
methanol, a volatile solvent. I've used that with some lens cleaning
'papers' on a bad fingerprint once but I generally do the microfiber
kitchen cloth & a breath to fog. Don't use microfiber with solvents, it
might melt the synthetic fabric. If using a solvent, put a drop on the
lens paper or pad, don't dribble it on the lens.

What is the best way to clean lenses
 

Dave wrote:

Hi,

What is the best thing to use to clean a smudge (like a finger print) off a
lens? I know to use a protector filter but I have lens to clean that didn't
have one. I heard that some liquid type cleaners are not good for lens
coating. Is there a popular cleaning kit or cloth to use?

For easy things like smudges, Photo stores usually sell microfibre
cloths. Just gently blow away loose dust and then lightly fog the lens
with your breath and finally use the microfibe cloth to polish the lens.

I hear a lot of people like the lens pen, I've never tried it personally.

For toughter stuff, I use Kodak lens cleaner in minute amounts and Kodak
paper wadded up. Then a polishing with the microfibre cloth.

Cheers,
Alan

--
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-- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch.

What is the best way to clean lenses
 

On Sun, 01 Jan 2006 16:45:57 -0500, Alan Browne
wrote:


I hear a lot of people like the lens pen, I've never tried it personally.

For toughter stuff, I use Kodak lens cleaner in minute amounts and Kodak
paper wadded up. Then a polishing with the microfibre cloth.

I'm with you on the lens cleaner and paper, when the microfiber cloth
isn't enough. As for the lens pen, it's graphite--a very fine
abrasive. Not on _my_ lenses.

What is the best way to clean lenses
 

Alan Browne wrote:



For toughter stuff, I use Kodak lens cleaner in minute amounts and Kodak
paper wadded up. Then a polishing with the microfibre cloth.



I've found lens cleaning fluid with a soft 100% cotton cloth works great.
Old T-shirts are a good source, just make SURE they are 100% cotton.
Synthetic fibers can create "cleaning marks". This works much better than
those microfibre cloths and doesn't damage the lens coating like some of
those cloths can.

--

Stacey

What is the best way to clean lenses
 

In article , says...
Alan Browne wrote:



For toughter stuff, I use Kodak lens cleaner in minute amounts and Kodak
paper wadded up. Then a polishing with the microfibre cloth.



I've found lens cleaning fluid with a soft 100% cotton cloth works great.
Old T-shirts are a good source, just make SURE they are 100% cotton.
Synthetic fibers can create "cleaning marks". This works much better than
those microfibre cloths and doesn't damage the lens coating like some of
those cloths can.



Totally "worn out" denim can make a really good lens cleaner, but it you
need to know its CLEAN..

Almost NOTHING is softer than the inseam area of a pair of Wranglers or
Levis that have been used for several years of horseback riding. I dont
mean faded old "looking" jeans I mean truly OLD jeans.

Worn blue "Chambray" shirts (thin cotton denim) Like the US navy used to
issue as "work shirts" is also quite good.

Both of these fabrics have one advantage over the material from a cotton
Tee shirt... they dont hold dust and dirt well, the weave is not as open
in denim as it is in a Tee shirt so course dust and dirt will "shake
out"

Larry Lynch
Mystic, CT