Lens Care, Cleaning Cloth, What do you use?

[Sublime1304]

I have a UV filter for both of my lenses just so I know my lens is safer if somehow I drop it or hit it on something. But I also use a lens hood for both too. Rather be safe than sorry

 

[wgp1987]

No comment on lens cleaning? lol I should have never brought up UV filters haha

 

[Netskimmer]

I usually use Giotto blower & brush. When I have to go beyond that I use lens cleaning solution and disposable micro fiber wipes, though I'm thinking of just using pre-moistened tissues meant for cleaning eye glasses. They would be more convenient for field use if nothing else.
I have been told that using a reusable cleaning cloth can be bad because they can accumulate grit over time and potentially damage your lens but I don’t know how likely it is to actually happen.

 

[PatrickJamesYu]

through miscellaneous things I've gotten at work for free
I have a full line up of cleaning products for lenses.
I have Hoya or B+W filters on all my lenses.
For some shoots I remove them.

I usually try to use just the blower.
Than a brush, and cleaning pen.
If there is 'gunk', I use a anti-fog camera lens solution by Canon, and tissue.

Works for me

 

[wgp1987]

I figured the cloth would be the last line of cleaning but wouldn't hurt to have it. Thanks guys

 

[enzodm]

By the way, if you need to clean a lens, you need to clean filters too . UV yes/no is one of the classical debates, however if you want samples of quality problems: Kamera Kevin's Blog: Filters and flare
I have a lens cloth but when needed, I'm with Big Mike: breath and shirt. However, I do not clean often, because some dust in the front lens does not ruin images very much. Back lens can be more critical but is also protected.

 

[PatrickJamesYu]

I figured the cloth would be the last line of cleaning but wouldn't hurt to have it. Thanks guys

To throw it out there, I don't really know if the cloth should be last, it just seemed more logical
But I only use it for gunk build up, when coming home from humid area's, even though it's humid enough where i am
But they work really well, especially with the lens solution, also like ezodm said, I use these same things for my filters.
I clean my filters often

 

[Forkie]

For greasy marks, I find a finger in the sleeve works just fine.

 

[KmH]

I have a UV filter for both of my lenses just so I know my lens is safer if somehow I drop it or hit it on something. But I also use a lens hood for both too. Rather be safe than sorry

Your logic is flawed. The UV filter has the potential to damage what you intend it to protect.

The glass in the filter is a lot thinner than the front lens element, making the filter a lot easier to break than the front lens element. Often the sharp shards of filter glass get pushed back into the front lens element, damaging it. More damage is caused when the broken filter is unscrewed from the front of the lens and those sharp shards of broken filter glass scrape along the front lens element as the broken filter is turned.

The argument its often foisted that when someone dropped a lens the UV filter broke saving the flront lens element, but all that is known for sure is that the filter broke. Since the glass in the filter is so much thinner than the front lens element, it's likely it takes a much larger impact to break the front lens element. http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2008/10/front-element-scratches Scratches boil down to the same issue.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

SO you put a cheap piece of glass in front of your expensive lens?

yup most uv filters i use are around 15 bucks and dont effect quality one bit. if i scratch it then i chuck it

Says the guy with the rebel and low priced glass. (that is a bit of a joke though, even cheaper glass is effected by cheap UV filters. I had a $150 Tamron lose contrast and sharpness from a filter.

I don't use filters, unless there is a very high chance of adhesive type residue ( spray paint, Mud, chemicals/salt water spray etc ) They are useless otherwise. A Lens Pen is the best tool I could advise other than your basic Blower. The lens pen has a very fine brush to gently remove lose dirt and has a felt buffer tip at the other end.

EDIT: and also, a lens pen is probably like $7 compared to over $100 for a great quality UV filter.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

it's likely it takes a much larger impact to break the front lens element.

to add to this......when you have a significant impact, I would be more worried about the lens being toast from the shock than I would be worried about the front element. Floating lens elements that move inside of the lens for focus or zooming can easily be knocked out of whack by a significant shock.

 

[ghache]

no filter for protection and to clean my lens i use the bottom of my tshirt or any dry part of it. the only filter i use is ND filters and this is because they have a purpose. I dont want anything in front in my glass. All my glass is scatch free and in imaculate condition.

 

[analog.universe]

I use a brush most of the time, because mostly I just end up with little particles hanging out. If I get some splatter or smudge or something then I use a microfiber cloth with spray solution. If you go the cloth method, just make sure any dust is off the lens first. Tiny particles grinding against the surface will over time create haze and reduce contrast.

 

[matthewo]

i know accedents happen, but its not that hard to take care of your stuff, put the lens cap on and leave the hood on. i got a 24-70 thats a rather expensive lens and im not using a uv filter on it. if you did after a few year or so happen to get a scratch on it, and your lens was expensive enough to matter im sure nikon could polish it out or even replace just the front glass for a low price.

i have a tiffen uv filter, which isnt a cheap filter, and if you look in under the rim you can see the edge of the glass is jagged and not bevelled or polished or anything. it has sharp areas at the edge that will reflect light. i have taken picture with the uv filter on towards a light that had a ton of flare, then without the filter none.

 

[thereyougo!2]

I use microfiber cloths that you can get from hard ware stores. They are very good at cleaning the glass without leaving any residue.