How do you clean your lens?

[Brendan McGeown]

Hello everyone,

The other day I headed down to the beach to get some pictures. I took my Canon P with the 35 f.2 attached. Well, it was a quite windy day with a lot of moisture in the air. After I was done for the day, I noticed that I got a fair amount of salt on the front element.

Now, most of my shooting is done at the beach but until recently, I used mostly digital with fairly cheap lenses. I often get back with salt on the glass, which I clean with some zeiss lens cleaning fluid and a microfiber lens cloth. The only thing is this often results in some streaks. Being that my Canon 35 f.2 is much older and i assume more delicate, how do you go about cleaning your old glass? Should I continue to do what i've been doing, or just use a dry cloth? I also don't want the salt to scratch the lens.

 

[giganova]

Next time put a UV filter in front on your lens! 😉

 

[oftheherd]

I have used blower brushes and still do sometimes. But I really prefer using lens cleaning paper to get foreign objects like dust off my lenses. You roll it up somewhat loosely and tear it in half. It gives to lots of little "bristles" to use. But that really isn't going to work in your case. You need your lens tissue fairly wet with lens cleaning fluid. Swab and dry until you don't have any more streaks. Use a dry tissue to get the lens cleaning fluid off. Put on a UV filter as mentioned giganova. I usually keep one on all my lenses. As used to be said, "Keep your lens clean, don't keep cleaning your lens."

 

[Ronald M]

I have used blower brushes and still do sometimes. But I really prefer using lens cleaning paper to get foreign objects like dust off my lenses. You roll it up somewhat loosely and tear it in half. It gives to lots of little "bristles" to use. But that really isn't going to work in your case. You need your lens tissue fairly wet with lens cleaning fluid. Swab and dry until you don't have any more streaks. Use a dry tissue to get the lens cleaning fluid off. Put on a UV filter as mentioned giganova. I usually keep one on all my lenses. As used to be said, "Keep your lens clean, don't keep cleaning your lens."[/QUOTE

This is correct and I stress use tissue fairly wet so as to dissolve salt.
Rubbing it too dry will cause salt to abrade lens. Too wet and you risk moisture going inside. I would say wet as you can get it, then squeeze out moisture. Lay it on the glass and allow the moisture to soak up salt.
Do not rub. Repeat process as required. Then clean as normal.

Filter is prevention or lens cap used when not actually taking a pic or put camera in bag when not actually using.

 

[Brendan McGeown]

Next time put a UV filter in front on your lens! 😉

If I had a 40mm filter I would have. Anyone know where I can find an og Canon 40mm? Also, I had the lens hood on which is why I couldn't put the cap on. Ive got a set of filters for my 50 1.4 (actually have 2 sets).

Thanks for the tips. Never thought of just laying the cloth on to soak the salt. Ill give it a go.

 

[rbsinto]

If I had a 40mm filter I would have. Anyone know where I can find an og Canon 40mm? Also, I had the lens hood on which is why I couldn't put the cap on. Ive got a set of filters for my 50 1.4 (actually have 2 sets).

Thanks for the tips. Never thought of just laying the cloth on to soak the salt. Ill give it a go.

40mm UV filter?
Check out ebay. There are tons of them to be had quite inexpensively.

With respect to caps for hooded lenses, do what I do.
Take the hood to a pharmacy or supermarket and check out the snap caps and lids on various products such as coffee cans, and various jars until you find something that fits.
I always keep the hoods on my lenses so the front end lens caps usually don't fit, or are difficult to put on and remove, so by being a bit clever and industrious, I've solved the problem with makeshift caps from other sources.
These include snap caps from a can of tennis balls, and snack dip, snap cap for resealing opened soda pop cans, the lid from a can of Penaten baby cream, the plastic lid from a jar of coffee (with the threads dremmelled out), a tuna fish can shimmed inside with tape, the cap of a plastic muffin holder, the plastic cap for a glass cylinder for holding dried spaghetti, and so on.
If you really care, get a can of black spray paint and shoot them black. Me? I don't bother.
They may offend the purists, but I'm a function over form person, and as long as it works, it is good enough.
Robert