click Posted August 31, 2011 Share #1 Â Posted August 31, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi, Â One of my lenses I've had for fourteen years and I've never really cleaned it, even though I don't always use a filter and it has become dirty. I sent another lens off to be CLA'd and now I can really tell how dirty my other lenses are. Â I read around and am still wondering if I can use generic lens cleaning fluid to get it really clean? Â This is a modern asph lens with modern coatings. Â Thank you Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 31, 2011 Posted August 31, 2011 Hi click, Take a look here Generic cleaning fluid for my Leica lenses?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
marknorton Posted September 1, 2011 Share #2 Â Posted September 1, 2011 First, don't use the sort of fluid or cleaning cloths used for opthalmic lenses, they can leave a deposit. Others rave about Eclipse fluid but I don't much like it or those white squares of material (whose name escapes me) because they are not sufficiently absorbent. Â The best I know is the Zeiss lens cleaning kit which comes with an excellent alcohol-based lens cleaning fluid, microfibre cloths and some foil-wrapped wipes for dirty lenses, also a brush, all in a handy wallet. Goes everywhere with my cameras. Â Be sure to use a brush to remove as much dirt as possible. Â Speaking of brushes, look at some of the brushes you can buy in a women's make-up department (men's too, if you are that way inclined) - they are large and very soft, ideal for dusting off lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted September 1, 2011 Share #3 Â Posted September 1, 2011 I have a small bottle of a product known as Ror - Screen Cleaner | Lens Cleaner | LCD Screen Cleaner - I bought this about a decade ago and it's still almost full. Â If you use a fluid don't spray it onto the lens directly, spray it onto a micro-fibre cloth and then clean the lens with the moist cloth. Â As Mark says, make sure you've removed any dust before you wet clean. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricC Posted September 1, 2011 Share #4  Posted September 1, 2011 I use ClearSight  Lens Cleaners Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmradman Posted September 1, 2011 Share #5  Posted September 1, 2011 I have a small bottle of a product known as Ror - Screen Cleaner | Lens Cleaner | LCD Screen Cleaner - I bought this about a decade ago and it's still almost full. If you use a fluid don't spray it onto the lens directly, spray it onto a micro-fibre cloth and then clean the lens with the moist cloth.  As Mark says, make sure you've removed any dust before you wet clean.  Zeiss cleaner bottle looks identical to ROR's, so I am assuming same product only rebranded. I think I need some, sells on Amazon UK, much appreciated. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted September 1, 2011 Share #6 Â Posted September 1, 2011 Zeiss in a spray bottle and spray it on new lens tissue of clean mcrofiber cloth. Â Dust the lens first first first. Solid debris will be picked up by any cloth no matter how clean and can scratch. Â Leica recommends water and if you can get it clean with that, make it the second stop after dusting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted September 1, 2011 Share #7 Â Posted September 1, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've used Purosol for a long time. Excellent product. Â "Purosol Optical was originally developed for NASA and the US military for use on high-end multi-coated optics". Â It's about $10 per ounce but it lasts a long time. My lenses seem to stay more dust free using it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
click Posted September 1, 2011 Author Share #8 Â Posted September 1, 2011 Where does Leica recommend using water? I'm not doubting this information I'd just like to know where I can find it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Fluff Posted September 1, 2011 Share #9 Â Posted September 1, 2011 Unless you've coated it in jam then a rocket blower / lenspen combo is the safest and best way to approach lens cleaning. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 1, 2011 Share #10 Â Posted September 1, 2011 Breathe on it and the tail of my T-shirt:o Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted September 1, 2011 Share #11  Posted September 1, 2011 Breathe on it and the tail of my T-shirt:o  A mouth rinse and swallow of Beefeater first is helpful. Beefeater blow, hush, tail of T-shirt. Best at end of assignment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
prunelle Posted September 1, 2011 Share #12 Â Posted September 1, 2011 Breathe on it and the tail of my T-shirt:o Not tail of my t-shirt for me but a small towel specially dedicated to the cleaning of my lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gberger Posted September 1, 2011 Share #13 Â Posted September 1, 2011 Another vote for Purosol. They also sell larger microfibre cloths. I use it on both my M7 lenses and projector lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ggriswold Posted September 1, 2011 Share #14 Â Posted September 1, 2011 I like to use lens cleaning tissue, not micro fiber cloths. With micro fiber that you re-use there is a chance of having grit (only takes one grain to scratch a lens) from a previous cleaning. With lens tissue, you can do a circle and flip so minimize the chance of scratching and then discard. There is a whole debate about who makes the best lens tissue... I won't get into that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 2, 2011 Share #15 Â Posted September 2, 2011 Not tail of my t-shirt for me but a small towel specially dedicated to the cleaning of my lenses. Â I thought French Ladies used dainty lace handkerchiefs Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
budrichard Posted September 2, 2011 Share #16 Â Posted September 2, 2011 70% Isopropyl Alcohol.-Dick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
prunelle Posted September 2, 2011 Share #17 Â Posted September 2, 2011 I thought French Ladies used dainty lace handkerchiefs I would say British ladies instead. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted September 2, 2011 Share #18 Â Posted September 2, 2011 Breathe on it and the tail of my T-shirt:o +1:p Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted September 5, 2011 Share #19 Â Posted September 5, 2011 Zeiss liquid lens cleaner with 3M lens microfiber cleaning cloths. The cloths get washed in Smartwax #80401 clean microfiber. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted September 5, 2011 Share #20 Â Posted September 5, 2011 For appropriate micro-fiber for lenses, I look to 3M. Surf for "3M Microfiber Lens Cleaning Cloth" Big enough to scissor into a few per cloth, and inexpensive enough. Â -- Pico - from the home of 3M Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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