Lens Pen

[wt67]

Just wanted to know if anyone uses a Lens Pen (or similar product) on their Leica lenses to clean them. Looks to be conveneint item to carry around but I don't want to take a chance with any of my Leica lenses if it might damage them. Any thoughts/experiences? Thanks. 🙄

 

[noah b]

I have a lens pen, I haven't used the spray but the duster is quite handy.

 

[Ken Ford]

The concept of rubbing a lens element scares the bejeezis out of me.

 

[bmattock]

The brush end is fine. The other end - the pad you're supposed to press down? NO way.

 

[crawdiddy]

The brush end is fine. The other end - the pad you're supposed to press down? NO way.

I feel the same way. I use the brush frequently-- it's the first thing I do to clean a lens, since it's more convenient than carrying around compressed air.

I've never actually used the other end. Chicken.

 

[capitalK]

I use the rubbing end on my filters without hesitation. The brush on either the lens or the filter.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Has anyone who's actually tried 'em had a problem? Because I haven't, and I've been using 'em since they came out.

Cheers,

R.

 

[JeffGreene]

I've been using them as well, even on my Leica lenses. I generally only use the brush end as well.

 

[Bruin]

It's not a lens cleaning panacea, but it's good at what it's good at 😉. Especially for travel, when you want something light and compact with you.

For dust, I use a blower. I tried brushes but found that they pick up oils from your skin if you ever touch the bristles, then transfer the oil to your lenses.

For water spots, I use ROR and lens tissue. Afterwards I fog the lens with my breath and wipe it again, to get rid of trace ROR residue. The Lens Pen has a hard time with water spots.

For fingerprints, the Lens Pen is superb and convenient. This is what I have to clean most often, so carrying a Lens Pen works well for me.

 

[letvet]

Lens pens are great for travel. I only use the pad on filters and the brush on both. I have never noticed any problems & I have been using them for years.

 

[marke]

The last time I was courageous enough to use the pad on a Lenspen was on my Oly E-20. I never had a problem, but then I just don't clean my lenses that often. I'd rather not use that method anymore, since I rarely even clean a lens these days. I will blow or brush a lens about every week or two. But when I actually use any kind of cloth, I only use my breath, and that might only happen 2 or 3 times a year.

 

[Nikon Bob]

I've used the lens pen for years with never a problem and I use both the brush and the pad.

Bob

 

[Al Kaplan]

I clean my lenses as seldom as possible. I have to get a greasy thumbprint on one to cause me to use the cleaning fluid and lens tissue. A bit of dust won't have any effect on your photographs.

 

[peterm1]

I mainly use the brush end of the lens pen to clean lens elements. But carefully and seldom. I also have a mini lens pen and use the flat "mushroom" head on that to clean my viewfinders on both my rangefinders and digital SLRs. They get grimy I find and are other wise hard to clean and make viewing difficult in adverse situations. I am pretty careful about using anything on a lens element and mainly keep a clear filter on the front of all my lenses. That way if the worst happens at least I have only buggered up a $50 filter not a $1000 lens.

 

[MCTuomey]

i use one to clean digi sensors. works beautifully.

 

[Frank Petronio]

I love them. Keep the pen clean.

 

[Shok]

I love them. Keep the pen clean.

What he said. I thoroughly inspect the charcoal tip and brush before it goes anywhere near my lens. All you'd need is a bit of sand and it's all over.

Otherwise, I find them a handy tool, along with a microfiber cloth.