how to keep m lenses clean

[stump4545]

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i know a lot of Leica shooters just use a brush occasionally to keep the front glass element clean but after i few weeks of shooting, my lens needs to be cleaned gently with a cloth and liquid solution.

 

is it that bad to clean these m lenses with liquid solution and if so, how does one keep there front glass so dam clean in the first place?

 

does anyone here clean their Leica glass with a microfiber cloth and a liquid lens cleaner also?

[jaapv]

I usually give them a wipe with the tail of my T-shirt

[bpalme]

I like lens cleaning tissues. I try to never let a part of the tissue that I touched touch the lens. Also newish lens pen is good for the corners. Unless it's finger grease I try not to clean lenses very often. Cleaning too much can rub the coating.

Use blower first then brush then tissue. I have microfiber cloth too but I figure over time stuff may be trapped in the cloth. You could say the same about a lens pen but they sure do clean nicely without residue. I mainly use the lenspen after I've clean it up well and use the lens pen to rid any residue.

[Rick]

I like lens cleaning tissues. I try to never let a part of the tissue that I touched touch the lens. Also newish lens pen is good for the corners. Unless it's finger grease I try not to clean lenses very often. Cleaning too much can rub the coating.

Use blower first then brush then tissue. I have microfiber cloth too but I figure over time stuff may be trapped in the cloth. You could say the same about a lens pen but they sure do clean nicely without residue. I mainly use the lenspen after I've clean it up well and use the lens pen to rid any residue.

 

Seriously? I use my shirt tail. Sometimes if the lens is really dirty I use my breath on the lens and then my shirt. These Leica coatings are tough. You could even use a s Scrotch Brite pad and not even scratch them. Use them, don't baby them in the glass cabinet.

[algrove]

I like lens cleaning tissues. I try to never let a part of the tissue that I touched touch the lens. Also newish lens pen is good for the corners. Unless it's finger grease I try not to clean lenses very often. Cleaning too much can rub the coating.

Use blower first then brush then tissue. I have microfiber cloth too but I figure over time stuff may be trapped in the cloth. You could say the same about a lens pen but they sure do clean nicely without residue. I mainly use the lenspen after I've clean it up well and use the lens pen to rid any residue.

 

Many microfiber cloths instructions mention washing them periodically, which I do in order to remove what might be trapped in the cloth.

[Rick]

Many microfiber cloths instructions mention washing them periodically, which I do in order to remove what might be trapped in the cloth.

 

Ok, this is humor, right? If not, I'm way off base here. Are you guys kidding or are you being serious about how you clean your lenses?

[lars_bergquist]

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Seriously, I have seen a lot of scratched Leica lenses. I have even seen one Summicron that had cleaning scratches inside.

 

My procedure is, first a whiff of Dust-Off. Then, if necessary, I breathe on the lens and wipe it gently with a microfiber cloth. I take care to keep my fiber cloths in closed containers or envelopes, and I do occasionally hand-wash them with liquid washing detergent, and air-dry. No ironing.

 

Lenses that have collapsible hoods, or hoods too shallow to give good mechanical protection, wear Leica or B+W UV or clear protection filters.

 

I have to clean the finder more often than the lenses.

 

The old man from the Age of Kodak Lens Tissue

[250swb]

I usually have a B&W MRC filter (with a lens grade coating) on the front of each lens, but that is more to do with not wanting rain to creep in around the edge of the lens than worrying about dust. In any case I would be happy enough to clean the newer lenses with my tee shirt, and have done many times. If I'm out in winter clothing I just rub the lens or filter against my fleece sweater or on the back of a fleece glove. I do have a lens cloth in each camera bag, but I tend to use them more often on my glasses.

 

It is always possible to scratch a lens by acting like a gorilla devoid of common sense, but it is possible to see when a detailed cleaning is needed rather than a quick wipe. And the really important thing to remember is that dust and finger prints will not show up in your photograph or cause problems anyway, so if in doubt leave it until you get home.

 

Steve

[luigi bertolotti]

Besides T-shirts for quick wipe, personally I like to use soft paper : and I confess to have entered, sometimes, in toilets just to take a cut of... imho IT is of the right kind...

[Rick]

I take care to keep my fiber cloths in closed containers or envelopes, and I do occasionally hand-wash them with liquid washing detergent, and air-dry. No ironing.

 

LOL, thanks for that. Lars, I agree, you don't have to keep your special cloth in a special container. Really, you don't have to baby these things(newer Leica lenses). You don't have to keep your "micro-fiber" cleaning cloths in special containers. Use them (lenses) guys, don't baby them.

 

I remember going to the Leica seminar 2 years ago and the Leica rep. used a green Scotch Brite pad on a new 21 Summilux lens and then passed it around. No scratches, of course. He stated that you don't have to use special "micro-fiber" cloths on the lenses. He said Leica uses hardened coatings on the new lenses and they are tough.

 

I don't use abrasive cloths on my lenses, but I don't have special ritualistic cleaning procedures either. I don't rattle my lenses either.

[La Morte]

I don't think it is to "baby the lens" if you use microfiber cloth on it.

I just do cause I know how expensive the darn thing is and it has to last at least two lifetimes,- mine and my son's to whom I will be passing it onto one day.

But thats just me.

http://streamlightphotography.blogspot.com

[thighslapper]

Dust is an abrasive.

 

A percentage of even household dust is derived from material with similar hardness to glass.

 

Always remove any visible particulate matter with a brush, then use a clean soft cloth kept specifically for the purpose.

 

Dust WILL cause scratches in time, although the majority will not be visible to the naked eye. If you intend to keep a lens for many years it will eventually become noticeable and potentially degrade image quality.

 

I cant see the point of spending $ 000's on a lens where Leica have spent days polishing the optics to perfection and then scouring it repeatedly with a grubby rag

 

Of course, those of you who wear silk shirts and cashmere T shirts that you change twice a day can use your clothing instead

[Ellie]

I might be overdoing it but I use what we have at work, precision wipes and checking with stereo microscope

[gyoung]

UVa filters, then you never have to do more than blow a bit of dust off when you change filters, which in my case is about when a blue moon appears

 

Gerry

[bill]

Turnbull & Asser and J Cloths.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[Studio58]

I rarely clean them. in nearly 30 years that has been my practice. I usually breathe on them and use my tee shirt...but essentially rarely. Never seemed to cause any issues.

[jrh68uk]

Rocket blower mostly. If I've accidentally shoved my finger or thumb onto the surface, a mocrofibre cloth (maybe with a light breath) will get rid of it totally. I don't like using liquids because, no matter how "smear-free" they are supposed to be, they always leave smears and marks.

[algrove]

UVa filters, then you never have to do more than blow a bit of dust off when you change filters, which in my case is about when a blue moon appears

 

Gerry

 

This approach has come in handy for me while shooting in a sand storm. I try to use a Rocket Blower to get the loose stuff off, inspect and if I see nothing I do nothing.

 

If I do see something requiring more cleaning, I take a small box of Zeiss cleaner wipes along that I might use in the above situation after coming inside if something looks extreme. But normally I would not use these wipes until I am away from the sandy location for an extended period of time.

[earleygallery]

I suspect many people 'over clean' their lenses. A few specks of dust isn't going to matter. You should only ever need to use a blower brush unless there is other matter on your lens, in which case a light application of fluid or my preference, the moistened lens tissues.

 

I generally use filters to protect my lenses, so in a hurry yes any old cloth/t shirt will do. I'd never use that on an actual lens though, it will cause scratches however minor they may be.

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[jaapv]

Turnbull & Asser and J Cloths.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

Aren't those too expensive for Lupin to handle? A well-trained Man should be able to remove dust and stains from lenses by simpler means - like I have seen them do on a polished table - cigar ash and spittle...