Lens & Filter Cleaning...

[BuS_RiDeR]

I've bee away from TPF for a while due to some health issues. And while I am still not fully recovered... I have continued to work on my photography when I can.

I have a question about lens and filter cleaning techniques and the "gear" used to accomplish it...

I have been using micro-fiber lense cleaning cloths and a lens pen that I bought at a local camera store. I've been hesitant to use anything stronger than water on my lenses... The chemicals have to be bad...

I'd be interested in hearing any other solutions or recommendations...

 

[480sparky40 39]

I use ROR (Residual Oil Remover).

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

I use ROR (Residual Oil Remover).

I've never heard of that. I'll look into it, thanks.

 

[tirediron]

99.9% of the time I use lens tissue/MF cloth and a "huff" of breath. If there's something especially nasty, I'll use a drop of isopropynol alcohol.

 

[Dave442]

Same as above, usually lens tissue at my desk and MF cloth while out shooting. Have a 2 oz bottle of Eclipse fluid that is still half full after four years, but it works when needed.

Have a couple lens pens that I use sometimes, I only use the brush part on non-optical areas as I was told many years ago that the brush can pick up and hold abrasive material.

 

[Designer]

I've bee away from TPF for a while due to some health issues. And while I am still not fully recovered... I have continued to work on my photography when I can.

I have a question about lens and filter cleaning techniques and the "gear" used to accomplish it...

I have been using micro-fiber lense cleaning cloths and a lens pen that I bought at a local camera store. I've been hesitant to use anything stronger than water on my lenses... The chemicals have to be bad...

I'd be interested in hearing any other solutions or recommendations...

IMO people tend to stress on this and "over clean" their lenses.

I don't change lenses very often which helps keep dust out of the insides of the body. When I do change lenses I always look at the rear elements and if necessary use a soft brush if I notice any dust on the rear element. I always glance at the inside of the rear cap, too, because if there's dust, it's going to be in the cap, probably more so than on the rear element.

The front element is glanced at occasionally (maybe every fifth time I take off the lens cap or so). I usually blow off the larger chunks with a mighty puff of my own hot breath. I try to not touch the front element, but if I notice fingerprints or smudges, I remove them using a drop of lens cleaning solution on a corner of a microfiber cloth. I use a dry corner to polish off any smears of liquid remaining.

When replacing my lens cap on the front, I always check for dust and blow it off, and there usually is dust or pocket lint in the cap.

Remember; anything that is on the front element will not be in focus, therefore will not show up as specks of dust in your photographs. Dust and smears can affect the contrast of your photographs, as well as the possibility of showing up as flare when shooting toward a light source.

In short; I don't stress about it.

 

[480sparky40 39]

........When replacing my lens cap on the front, I always check for dust and blow it off, and there usually is dust or pocket lint in the cap..........

Ay-Yeppers! This is where I'd say most of the dust on a lens comes from for most people..... the lens cap. They take the cap off and stuff it in their dirty pocket. Then back on it goes, with it's attendent dust and lint it picked up while riding around in there.

Yes, folks.... take a look at the inside of your lens cap. Go ahead, it won't bite? Pretty dirty, isn't it? And for good reason... there's lots of nooks and crannies inside lens caps these days. Way back when, caps were simple flat affairs, using friction between it and the barrel to hold them on. Nowadays, they're complex, pressure-loaded devices with sliding plates designed to grip into the filter threads of the lens. Plenty of real estate for dust and dirt to take up residency. I've seen some caps so dirty one could start farming on it.

I clean mine in the kitchen sink with warm water and an old toothbrush. Lay them out to air dry overnight.

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

Thanks for sharing folks.