Lens Cleaning Technique?

[Pfreddee]

Every now and again I like to review some basics of caring for my cameras and lenses. I would like to now how some of the members clean their lenses when the get smeared, smudged, or downright grimy.

Suggestions, please!

With best regards,

Pfreddee(Stephen)

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Stephen,

1 Brush it off with a soft brush

2 Clean it with some form of wipe or chamois leather or a LensPen. I use mostly LensPens, sometimes chamois.

Cheers,

R.

 

[icebear]

Blow off dust or any loose particles with canned air or e.g. a rocket blower.
Breathe on the lens and carefully wipe off any remaining smudge with a microfiber lens cloth. Use a clean spot of the cloth for every wipe.
I have never had a grimy lens though, in that case maybe soak overnight in Windex😉.

 

[EdwardKaraa]

I used to use a microfiber cloth, but recently went back to the good old lens cleaning tissue. Both clean equally well but the microfiber cloth can get dirty and a hard dust particle can scratch the lens. Paper tissue is disposable so you always clean with a new one.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

1. Blow the dust with rocket blower always before wet clean.
2. Use special brush to wipe out particles if blower doesn't help.
4. Wet clean (lens cleaning liquid and special paper or tissue, which leaves nothing on the glass).
3. Blow it again with rocket blower.

 

[Robert Lai]

Canned air and a UV filter usually prevent the need for any lens cleaning at all.
However, for a new to me lens, after the air I use lens cleaning fluid on a Q-tip or lens cleaning tissue. I spot clean instead of wiping the entire surface if there is only one spot of blemish. If necessary, I'll use a lenspen. Then a final blast of air before putting on a UV filter.

I'm wary of microfiber cloths, though I have less reservation about using them to clean the filter surface.

 

[tunalegs]

I use a soft brush. This is usually all that ever needs to be done.

If that doesn't work then a microfiber cloth with a dab of ronsonol.

If that won't work then I take the element out and clean if with windex. That will get the worst gunk off no matter how long it's been stuck on the lens. It will also take off gunk that rubbing alcohol won't, in my experience.

 

[John Hermanson]

Moisten lens tissue with denatured alcohol, breathe on lens, starting in center wipe gently in circular motion and work toward the outer edge. John

 

[Frontman]

Brush and blow off the dust, use a wet 100% cotton swab with cleaning fluid to wet the lens. The fluid will lift off the residual dirt without rubbing it into the glass. If the lens is very dirty, I will use a second and/or third cotton swab. Then I will dry the lens with a microfiber cloth.

The most serious way to clean the lens is to use liquid ether with a lens tissue folded into a triangle. The ether dries with no residue.

 

[alfredian]

Brush, lens tissue, gently

Brush, lens tissue, gently

Blow ACROSS the lens only - the Venturi effect will lift any loose particles. If there is a filter, lift it a few millimeters up, and blow across the gap. No filter, put a card or something parallel to the lens and blow. Never blow directly ON the lens (lunch, coffee, beer, etc end up on glass).

Breathe on lens = "fog", then wipe w/lens tissue in circular motions center-to-edge to remove microdust & schmeers. AT THE EDGE: hold tissue steady and ROTATE the lens - this keeps the "dirty" edge of the paper against the outer edge of the glass, otherwise you risk bringing lube oils ONTO the glass.

Assess the coating - swirls & streaks can be eliminated by repeating step 2, above. IF the glass surface is hazy, it may be, yes, stuff from previous applications of Lens-cleaning Fluid, some of which contain detergents ("SDS" = sodium dodecyl sulfate, known and beloved by lab folk everywhere). This "soap scum" is easily removed w/ a lens tissue moistened w/distilled H2O.

Always used a "lifting flick" with the camel-hair brushes, & a similar "lift" when de-soaping. "Cotton swabs" are typically (modern ones) made with a synthetic polymer, not cotton which, unlike cotton, can/will dissolve in solvent/soaps. I wrap (genuine) cotton swabs with (genuine) lens-tissue and use that for smaller-than-pinkie spaces.

The thing that took me longest to learn was the rotate-the-lens, not the lens tissue thing. Simple geometry - watch closely & if you wipe the circumference of a lens-glass, you'll see that what starts as the "outer" edge of the wiper transitions to being the "inner" edge, then back again. How many times I moved edge-located junk (lubes or sealants) ONTO the lens? I shudder to think, but first I put the lens down so I won't drop it.

Anymore, I ask sellers to PLEASE not clean the lens. As Red Skelton used to say, "please Mother, I'd rather do it myself." Hope this helps.-alfredian

 

[rbsinto]

When I was young and foolish I used to remove any dust from the lens elements with a brush made from the softest pubic hairs of Elvish maidens, then applying a few drops of Phoenix tears, and using a cloth cut from the gown of an Fairy Princess carefully wiped the glass in a circular motion (clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counter-clockwise south of the Equator) until it sparkled.
Thirty five years later I know better, and after applying some warm breath to the dirty element, just wipe it clean with my tee-shirt or cotton shirt wrapped around my index finger.
Works like a champ.

 

[Stdon]

Spit and a t-shirt.

 

[Chris101]

When I was young and foolish I used to remove any dust from the lens elements with a brush made from the softest pubic hairs of Elvish maidens, then applying a few drops of Phoenix tears, and using a cloth cut from the gown of an Fairy Princess carefully wiped the glass in a circular motion (clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counter-clockwise south of the Equator) until it sparkled.
Thirty five years later I know better, and after applying some warm breath to the dirty element, just wipe it clean with my tee-shirt or cotton shirt wrapped around my index finger.
Works like a champ.

Spit and a t-shirt.

Yep. Sometimes, if I can see grit I blow on it.

I still go for the elvish pubes though.

 

[Rangefinderfreak]

Spit and a t-shirt.

yes, spit and tie...

 

[rbsinto]

Yep. Sometimes, if I can see grit I blow on it.

I still go for the elvish pubes though.

Another reason I stopped all that foolishness was because it is almost impossible now to find Elvish maidens, let alone any that still have pubic hair.

 

[Sparrow]

... every christmas whether they need it or not

 

[John Hermanson]

Ether is a good cleaner but it is explosively flammable. Fumes can be ignited with a as little as a hot soldering iron. John

 

[Roger Hicks]

Another reason I stopped all that foolishness was because it is almost impossible now to find Elvish maidens, let alone any that still have pubic hair.

What a sheltered life you lead.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Pfreddee]

How about Gnomes? Some of them are kinda cute, and very cooperative.

With best regards.

Pfreddee(Stephen)

 

[oftheherd]

I used to use a microfiber cloth, but recently went back to the good old lens cleaning tissue. Both clean equally well but the microfiber cloth can get dirty and a hard dust particle can scratch the lens. Paper tissue is disposable so you always clean with a new one.

That is what I always worried about in using microfiber. I still use lens tissue. Normally I fold or roll it to a thin strip, pull that in half, and with the frayed edges, I have a brush. For spots, stains, streaks, etc, I wet a cleaning tissue and rub from the center to the edges. Repeat as necessary. Then a tissue to wipe any remaining liquid or dry residue off. Has worked well for many years.

But my overall preference is to use a UV filter to reduce the need to clean the lens. Then I only have to clean the filter.