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Lens greasy cleaning tips


leica1215

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I like using Pancro cleaning fluid and either Kimwipes or Rosco lens tissue. Proper procedure is after blowing off the dust with air, lightly moisten the tissue with the cleaning fluid and wipe in a circular motion from the center to the edge. Don't apply the cleaner directly to the lens surface, it can cause damage in rare cases.

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Lensrentals uses ROR for grease removal on lens element and I have been using the same thing for about 3 years now. Kimwipes is also better than the regular microfiber since they're always fresh. Then you can do another wipe with Purosol, another miracle solution for optics. I have tried a bunch, but these two are the best.

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what about lenspen? I found when use it on other less costly less it cleans very well, I just have not yet try on this one yet. 

I wonder if lens coating is more fragile than eye glasses coating? I often just use tissue to wipe it, barely have scratches

 

thanks in advance

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what about lenspen? I found when use it on other less costly less it cleans very well, I just have not yet try on this one yet. 

I wonder if lens coating is more fragile than eye glasses coating? I often just use tissue to wipe it, barely have scratches

 

thanks in advance

 

I admit I have about 20 lenspens that I bought in bulk on eBay :D. For grease, it doesn't work as well as ROR. I use it to touch up the rim area of the front element. If your front element is dry, don't use lenspen on it cause there will be too much friction. Only use it after ROR/Purosol has been applied.

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  • 1 year later...

If you're interested in what appears to be THE best lens cleaning technique, have a look at Astronomy Now magazine's January 2017 edition  (published this week in the UK)  and the 3 page article documenting 'First Contact' polymer cleaning. The principle is similar to the OptiClean polymer lens cleaning method, but the various 'First Contact' kits provide additional options for 'stubborn' soiling including a liquid pre-treatment, special applicators. 'O' rings and lifting tools - latter to remove the polymer after it has 'set'. Astronomy Now magazine's Steve Ringwood cleaned several different optics including an ancient 1970s 5.25" refractor, a 50mm Lanthanum eyepiece, and a 10" diameter primary mirror which had been stored in a damp garden shed with resultant debris soiling. The soiled mirror lens cleaned up beautifully. First Contact, manufactured by Photonic Cleaning Technologies, is used to clean the LIGO gravity wave detector. The kits are expensive i.e. over £100 but enable cleaning standards far in excess of that possible with regular liquid cleaners and micro fibre cloths. 

 

dunk 

Edited by dkCambridgeshire
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The principle is similar to the OptiClean polymer lens cleaning method,

 

Which I have used and I still have some bottles left. I think that it was Hasselbald who recommended it in the past but my memory may be wrong. Anyway it appears to be still available and is cheaper than a kit should anyone want some. I found this source easily enough on the web but don't know them: http://shop.stanwaxlaser.co.uk/first-contact-polymer-optics-cleaner---opticlean-1-p.asp

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Which I have used and I still have some bottles left. I think that it was Hasselbald who recommended it in the past but my memory may be wrong. Anyway it appears to be still available and is cheaper than a kit should anyone want some. I found this source easily enough on the web but don't know them: http://shop.stanwaxlaser.co.uk/first-contact-polymer-optics-cleaner---opticlean-1-p.asp

 

 

Stanwax is one of the suppliers mentioned in the article - as is 365Astronomy. The kits available from £93 upwards include more than one bottle of polymer (4 bottles are illustrated in the kit article) plus applicator and lifting tools but single bottles can also be purchased.

 

There is also a starter / sample kit priced £4.80 "1 small bottle of about 3-5ml with applicator and dental floss to remove the dried polymer" which would be sufficient for at least one small /  medium sized camera lens http://www.365astronomy.com/Photonic-Cleaning-Technologies/

 

The lenses cleaned in the article were in a very soiled state; one required an additional  application of the 'WSP1 'stain remover' plus another application of the polymer to remove all the accumulated soiling. The kits are not everyday lens cleaning tools but anyone who has used the similar OptiClean in the past will likely vouch for the polymer's thoroughness. Care is required to prevent the polymer spreading into the lens perimeter - but the kit includes a mesh lifting tool to deal with this contingency.  

 

dunk

Edited by dkCambridgeshire
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I use a lenspen on my lenses.

 

brush loose dust/grit off with the brush end.

Fog lens with breath.

wipe with wipe end of lenspen

brand new lens pens will need another wipe with the brush, to get rid of the excess graphite dust.

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what about lenspen? I found when use it on other less costly less it cleans very well, I just have not yet try on this one yet. 

I wonder if lens coating is more fragile than eye glasses coating? I often just use tissue to wipe it, barely have scratches [...]

 

I use lenspen on lenses and sensors but not for greasy traces. I much prefer Eclipse for that.

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"Kodak" lens tissue and lens cleaning fluid - now sold by Tiffen, who used to make them for Kodak.

 

Zeiss cleaning wipes. Available at Walmart

 

Anything which 'wipes' the lens risks scratching it if there is any 'hrad' dust on the lens as this can be dragged across the surface and cause damage - especially on older lenses with softer coatings. I would suggest a very soft sable brush if there is dust which needs removing and soft air pressure (blowing) won't clear it. Softly pushing the brush hair under the dust will allow it to be removed with far less risk.

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If you're interested in what appears to be THE best lens cleaning technique, have a look at Astronomy Now magazine's January 2017 edition  (published this week in the UK)  and the 3 page article documenting 'First Contact' polymer cleaning. The principle is similar to the OptiClean polymer lens cleaning method, but the various 'First Contact' kits provide additional options for 'stubborn' soiling including a liquid pre-treatment, special applicators. 'O' rings and lifting tools - latter to remove the polymer after it has 'set'. Astronomy Now magazine's Steve Ringwood cleaned several different optics including an ancient 1970s 5.25" refractor, a 50mm Lanthanum eyepiece, and a 10" diameter primary mirror which had been stored in a damp garden shed with resultant debris soiling. The soiled mirror lens cleaned up beautifully. First Contact, manufactured by Photonic Cleaning Technologies, is used to clean the LIGO gravity wave detector. The kits are expensive i.e. over £100 but enable cleaning standards far in excess of that possible with regular liquid cleaners and micro fibre cloths. 

 

dunk 

 

 

I would bet this is the same product repair people use to clean SLR mirrors.  

 

Zeiss works well on grease as it is made for eyeglasses which can get greasy.   Liquid in spray bottles at Sam`s Club.   Premoistened  wipes in foil packs at Walmart.   Go to optics section in either.

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