Lense cleaning

[smazzucato]

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Maybe not the right forum, but since it related to lenses...

 

Any product recommendation for keeping my lenses clean ?  

 

 

Thanks 

Sandro

 

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[pico]

Modern lens coatings are quite durable. Older lenses are much more vulnerable to damage from cleaning.

 

That said, I use new, micro-fiber cloths to lightly dust off the surface, followed by Purosol Optical liquid applied lightly to the cloth. I have no idea what Purosol is made of, but it's expensive. Works well. Lasts forever.

.

[CheshireCat]

For dust, just use a blower. This is all that is needed 99% of the times.

 

Otherwise, like pico said, good optical liquid and micro-fiber.

I only use throw-away micro-fiber cloths, and never touch the cloth part that will be in contact with the lens.

Put a drop of liquid on the cloth (not the lens) and apply the minimum pressure needed to clean the lens.

If it does not work immediately, before applying more pressure, retry a few times to let the liquid do its job.

 

That said, if you need perfectly clean lenses... don't use them

[rafikiphoto]

A word of warning: look at the prices of Purosol on their own website then, just for a laugh, look at the prices of offerings on Amazon UK. 

[fotofool]

One other thought about this...  Don't obsess over keeping the front lens element perfectly clean.  The affect on image quality of even a significant amount of dust/dirt on the front element is surprisingly small.  There are probably more compromised images in the world that were affected by a damaged lens coating than by a dirty lens.

[earleygallery]

Maybe not the right forum, but since it related to lenses...

 

Any product recommendation for keeping my lenses clean ?  

 

 

Thanks 

Sandro

 

You could use a UV or clear protector filter (opinion on the merits of this are very divided).

 

Otherwise, resist the urge to clean your lenses unless you really have to. A blower brush should be all you need most of the time. If you somehow manage to stick your thumb on the lens or it gets splashed with something then use photographic lens specific cleaning fluid and micro fibre cloths or moistened lens tissues (beware, stuff for eye glasses can damage coatings on photo lenses). 

[jaapv]

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I find that a quick wipe the edge of a sweaty T-shirt is just fine.

[bocaburger]

I have only ever cleaned my lenses once (if needed), when I first got them, with a blower followed by ROR and a thick microfiber cloth, wiping in a circular manner from center to edge.  Then while using a blower to keep dust from settling, I attach a MRC UV filter.  Thereafter it's the filter that gets wiped. 

[Herr Barnack]

Usually a blower bulb gets the dust off the front element.  A soft horsehair brush ( http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=95375&gclid=CIXsy9CSxcUCFQiSaQod5S4AEw&Q=&is=REG&A=details ) will get stubborn particles that seem stuck.  If you have dried rain droplets or another dried liquid on the front element that is causing a spot, use a CLEAN microfiber cloth made for camera lenses and a lens cleaning fluid made specifically for camera lenses ( http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1100347-REG/zeiss_2127718_lens_care_kit_tube.html ).

 

The main thing is to not go crazy cleaning your lens front & rear elements.  Lens coatings are hard, but can be damaged or removed over time with obsessive or overzealous cleaning.  A few dust specks on a lens front or rear element will not degrade image quality to any observable degree; the element would have to be literally filthy for that to happen.  The real problem is small pieces of debris that will end up on your front element in a dry and windy environment.  Keep an eye out for these to avoid having "flying turds" in the skies in your images. 

 

A very high quality UV filter like a B+W nano UV filter ( http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/905879-REG/b_w_661073876_39mm_xs_pro_nano_mc_uva_010.html ) will protect the front element of your lens without causing any observable loss of image quality.  I used to be the guy who never used a UV filter, but now I keep a B+W nano UV filter on my 35 'cron which I use for street photography in case of a mishap when photographing subjects at arm's length or closer.

 

Lastly, use your microfiber cloth ONLY for cleaning your camera lenses (get a second lens cloth for your glasses if you wear them and keep it separate from your camera lens cleaning cloth).   Keep your camera lens cloth in a ziplock plastic bag - don't stick it in a coat, shirt or pants pocket where it can pick up dirt, grit and lint which will easily scratch your lens front element.

[IWC Doppel]

I use a lens cloth and brush blower when it needs a clean, as my camera is with me all the time it often picks dust up etc. Occasionally I give it a really good clean if it's looking really grimy with a pre soaked lens cloth as these can get right into the edges where some debris is pushed or brushed. I am careful but not religious and I have not marked any lens at all to date. I do have old and new glass. 

 

I would and have used my T-Shirt, I probably wouldn't use it today as I will be pointing an old wall and using sharp sand....

 

If you mark the lens it's either bad luck picking up some very hard grit or you are really unlucky

[Ellie]

I have access to this microscope, probably an overkill for inspecting lens elements   I found a tiny particle in the coating on my new Elmarit 28/2.8 ASPH.

 

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[MAX]

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[LocalHero1953]

I find that a quick wipe the edge of a sweaty T-shirt is just fine.

You need to hurr on the lens first to get some moisture. Then I'll use the end of a tie in a circular motion, pressing firmly. It must be a silk tie.

[pico]

I find that a quick wipe the edge of a sweaty T-shirt is just fine.

 

Well, I find that swirling a mouthful of vodka, swallowing it, then breathing (hushing) on the lens does wonders. For me.

.

[Mornnb]

You need to hurr on the lens first to get some moisture. Then I'll use the end of a tie in a circular motion, pressing firmly. It must be a silk tie.

This will leave a mush of oil on the surface. To truly get it spotless one needs a microfibre cloth or a lens pen.

[pop]

Don't use the same brush for the front and the rear lens. Chances are, you will pick up some grease from the mount and spread it on the front lens.

[LocalHero1953]

This will leave a mush of oil on the surface. To truly get it spotless one needs a microfibre cloth or a lens pen.

That's right - the aim is to build up a layer of oil and grease, reinforced with dust fibre, that protects the coating.

 

(But, for the avoidance of doubt, and litigation, I have been joking)

[jaapv]

This will leave a mush of oil on the surface. To truly get it spotless one needs a microfibre cloth or a lens pen.

Not if you use Pico's technique. The Wodka will disperse the grease perfectly. Although Tequila is better. The added Lemon will help remove squashed insects as well.

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[Herr Barnack]

Don't make jokes about lens cleaning - someone will actually try it. 

[CheshireCat]

Don't make jokes about lens cleaning - someone will actually try it. 

 

i tried it, and it worked perfectly. Although soaking the lens in sea water for 2 days may have contributed.

[still joking, of course  ]