how do you clean your lenses?

[ZivcoPhoto]

...very,very carefully

 

[semilog]

Brillo pad.

 

[PMCC]

Brillo pad.

Preferably dry.

 

[Matus]

To remove doest the little Hama "lipstick" brush is very good. An accidental fingerprint will be taken away with one breath and wipe with dedicated lens cloth. If the above does not remove the dirt I use the Zeiss lens cleaner fluid together with the lens cloth or special lens cleaning paper (looks like thin tissue). My wife works in laser physics and optics - so I let her to advice me how to clean optical elements

 

[John Robertson]

I use a very good kit from Zeiss, only when really needed, mostly just a powerful blower, also I dont let anyone but myself handle my lenses, nor do I ever lend them to anyone!! I have learned that the hard way over the last 50 years.
I worked and saved damned hard to get them, if someone else wants a lens I have they can do the same or do without.
I know it doesn't sound very friendly, but this policy has worked for years and kept me friends. For if there is a problem then I have only myself to blame. For the same reasons I do not borrow lenses or cameras.
There is an old Scottish saying about "ner a borrower or a lender be ( might one of Burns one liners!!) "

 

[wgerrard]

Filters go on my lenses as soon as they're unpacked. I clean the filters by using a blower to get rid of the dust, then a microfiber cloth. I may switch to lens tissue and alcohol after reading this thread.

Probably best to avoid fabric softener when washing that microfiber cloth, or tee shirt, or whatever, because it leaves a bit of residue behind.

 

[Matus]

I do use filters on my Mamiya 6 lenses too.

 

[roboflick]

Uv filter
Never clean my lenses. The old clean lenses I have, a collapsible summicron with pristine coatings always had a filter. The dirty scratched one never had one. I want to make sure my grandchildren have clean lenses

Nik

 

[Snacks]

I usually grab a box of Kimwipes from the school science labs and a bottle of their microscope lens cleaning solution. I dont really like reusable cloths because after a while they accumulate all the dust, dirt, and oil that you wipe off your lenses and soon you're smearing oil all over your lenses instead of cleaning them!

+1 for Kimwipes. Personally, though, I just got a lens pen because I was sick of getting smear marks on my lens from breathing on them and it's great.

 

[JayM]

Don't use filters and don't find they really need cleaning. On the odd occasion that someone spits on the glass or something some alcohol and microfiber/cotton swab/t-shirt work just fine.

 

[cosmonaut]

Micro fiber cloth for all of my DSLR and Voigtlander glass, lightly with tissue for the Summicron which I try not to clean. Alcohol don't work for a recovering alcoholic.

 

[raid]

When at home, i use a cleaner for optical glasses by Zeiss, and when on the go, i use a microfiber cloth.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I clean with extremely fine sand.

Phil Forrest

 

[f16sunshine]

When at home, i use a cleaner for optical glasses by Zeiss, and when on the go, i use a microfiber cloth.

Hello Raid

Do you mean like the small disposable Pre-Moistened "cloths" used for eye glasses? I have used those in the past and they worked very well.
It seems like Zeiss changed something when I bought the last box of them.
They were quite dry and ineffective compared to before.

 

[burancap]

Any of the first 4 responses works for me, depending on what is being cleaned off.

 

[Cyriljay]

Only in the top rack.

Do you add extra anti-limescale tablets as well?

 

[Cyriljay]

I have Loreal Make up brush and Chamois skin for optic cleaning which I can reuse after washing. Very safe soft cleaning for lenses.

 

[filmfan]

Tee-shirt if any cleaning at all

 

[Tessar.]

I always use a blower first, then a q-tip wetted with a little Eclipse cleaning fluid (which evaporates very quickly), then a dry q tip to make sure the surface is dry and free of residue.

 

[agour]

rub it on my t shirt.

Im too lazy to carry around additional cleaning equipment