Lens clean methods

[acmineiro]

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Dear colleagues,

 

What are your methods of cleaning your lenses? I have been using a lens pen and Leica cleaning cloth. i have been trying to stay away from liquid cleaning methods, If there are benefits to liquid cleaning methods i will definitely try it. Please let me know what works best for you.

 

Respectfully,

 

Armando

[earleygallery]

Firstly, I'm one of those who generally use a UV filter for protection.

 

If I have to clean a lens (or filter) with more than just a blower brush, I tend to use the purpose made 'wet' lens tissues. I think Zeiss make them as well as other brands (I had a few boxes of 'profilter' tissues).

 

If it's a dirty filter I will in emergency use breath and any piece of cloth to hand. If I damage a filter it's easily and relatively cheaply replaced.

[Peter H]

I hardly ever use anything other than a blower brush.

 

Like many here, I use my camera daily, frequently for hours at a time, inside and out, and carry it virtually everywhere. I think only once in the last four or five years have I had to take a Zeiss cloth to a lens for a gentle wipe. Perhaps my eyesight is poor, but they all look clean and happy to me.

[Ecar]

Depending on the nature of the dirt: microfiber cloth, optical paper, blower, soft brush, shirt,.. as long as it's clean.

The coatings applied to modern lenses are much more resistant than we think.

I just avoid liquids, as you never really know what the effect of the chemicals might be.

Older lenses, with either soft coatings or no coating at all, require extra care.

Also, while some dirt on the front element can be unsightly, it does not affect pictures as much as it seems - so better clean that ugly fingerprint when you are back home than do it in haste between two shots.

[tobey bilek]

First use a blower

 

Then use a brush

 

Then use lens tissue or CLEAN microfiber with a little Zeiss cleaning solution on it. Do not put liquid directly on the lens.

 

STOP after any step if the lens is clean.

 

Protect with lens cap between uses or photos so you do not have to clean. Remove greasy finger prints ASAP if you just can`t keep fingers off.

 

At the beach, in the snow/rain or bad environments a UV is what I use.

[acmineiro]

Thank you all for your replies you have been very helpful.

 

Armando

[Paul J]

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corner of my shirt.

[algrove]

corner of my shirt.

 

My shirt corners are all used up so I use the lower chest area now or the sleeve.

[Arka]

You guys apply the same approach to the VF and RF windows? Those collect fingerprints constantly on my M240.

 

Arka C.

[Ecar]

You guys apply the same approach to the VF and RF windows? Those collect fingerprints constantly on my M240.

 

Arka C.

 

Yes.

[acmineiro]

Thanks guys. I'm a bit of a clean freak when it comes to cameras and lenses. I can't stand to see a dirty lens or camera. I appreciate all the comments.

 

Armando

[jankap]

Please don`t be fanatic with cleaning.

Dust particles on the front end of your lens you can forget.

With Photoshop you can eliminate dust prints coming from the sensor easily.

 

In Ebay you often find remarks about cleaning damage degrading the value of a lens.

Jan

[Stein K S]

Use filters & sleeve as well... the only feasable "daily" way to go about this issue in my opinion. However, I do keep solvent and wipes from Photographic Solutions Inc... and when needed, these products works just swell in my opinion.

 

Products are the Eclipse solvent (the worlds most expensive "cognac" and the Pec Pad wipes)... Anyone with comment on these products?

 

Stein

[Einst_Stein]

According to Zeiss, ZM lens doesn't like thick filter on digital camera. I forgot where I saw it, but it shows a significant performance degradation of ZM 21mm between a thin filter and a thick filter.

 

So, in general, while keeping a filter on Leica lens constantly does protect the lens, it's likely to perform bad like a dirty lens.

 

Just make it a habit never touch the glass, and keep the cap on it whenever possible. I bought the little string that helps me keep my lens cap around. ... after I'd lost so many lens caps and they are expensive.

 

I do use lens cleaning liquid. I'm not sure that's absolutely safe, but so far so good. I haven't noticed any degradation on my lenses yet. Some of them are over 20 years old.

 

This is my practice, not meant to be an advice, just a reference, and I'm inviting critics.

1. Use blower first, blow away any visible dust on lens and anywhere, including any gaps on rings etc.

2. Using a q-tip to apply and spread the cleaning liquid, lightly to the surface of the glass, but keep it away from the edge of the glass. Do not let the liquid get into the lens body.

3. Quickly use a tissue to "suck" away the cleaning liquid. NOT to rub it, just to suck out both the oil and the cleanser.

4. do 2~3 several times.

5. At this point you want to dry out the cleanser. I use a dry q-tip to spread the left over cleanser evenly, to help it evaporate. Again, not to rub the glass. You'll see the cleanser changing from a liquid look to something looks very sticky, then disappears and leave a clean glass surface. This happens in just a few (2~5)second.

 

 

Again, above is just my practice. It seems work fine with me, but I'm partly sharing, partly inviting critic.

[250swb]

Please let me know what works best for you.

 

 

Armando, don't get caught up in myths and legend.

 

You are either the sort of person who just wants to use the equipment within its limits and just get on with your photography, so a good quality UV or protection filter means you can use a shirt cuff to clean the odd bit of dust or fingerprint.

 

Or your character is a person who prefers to be ultra careful and take the extra time to do this simple but essential job, so you may enjoy cleaning fluids and special cloths.

 

As each leads to the same result it is purely personal preference.

 

Steve

[mirekti]

What about the rear element, can I use zeiss wipes there too? I found my 75 cron's rear element full of spots as if somebody sneezed on it. No idea where this came from.

Could it be my shutter caught a cold?

[IWC Doppel]

The non glass is an old lens cloth and lens cleaning fluid, care around the knurling will bring it up like new, often dirt gets ingrained into this part of the lens,also cotton buds with lens fluid for the lettering and numbers, Casey Aluminium black can recolour small dings on the black and scratches.

The glass, blow off, careful fine brush to dust and remove any grit, then use pre soaked lens tissue or lens cloth.

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[acmineiro]

I think you should blow any lens with a rocket blower thoroughly , then I use a Nikon Lens pen to clean the lens. Using the Lens Pen start at the center of the lens and work your way to to edge in a circular methodical motion . It works great! Just make sure there is no debris on the lens prior to using the Lens Pen.

 

 

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[mirekti]

Thanks for the answers. I'm pretty much confident what to do with the lens' front element. My question was actually related to the rear element. I'd like to clean it with zeiss wipes which contain isopropyl alcohol and wondered whether this was safe.

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[IWC Doppel]

Thanks for the answers. I'm pretty much confident what to do with the lens' front element. My question was actually related to the rear element. I'd like to clean it with zeiss wipes which contain isopropyl alcohol and wondered whether this was safe.

 

No problem at all the rear is no different to the front in terms of cleaning. Some glass front or rear have different harnesses, alcohol won't remove a coating.