Ruined ND Filter??

[Deeger]

I was shooting a waterfall, then it got windy and the mist from the falls was all over my Hoya ND Filter. Can this be cleaned off? what do you clean a coated ND filter with? Or is it ruined?

Thanks

 

[KmH]

Gently use a brush to remove any dust/debris off first that could scratch any filter coatings.

A huff of breath and lightly cleaning with a clean lint free cloth, or better yet a lens tissue should remove the dried mist.

Key words - gently and light.

 

[MK3Brent]

I just rub them on my t-shirt. Have never seen dirt, scratches, or anything in my photos and I print BIG.

 

[snowbear119 50]

Wet 440-grit sandpaper.

I'll second the lint-free cloth. A clean microfiber cloth (intended for eyeglasses) should also be fine.

 

[Derrel]

I used nothing but Kodak Lens Cleaning Paper (aka lens tissue) for the first 15 years; then, I switched to Hanes 100% cotton T-shirts for about 15 years; the last eight or nine years I have started using microfiber cloths. And ya' know what??? ALL THREE seem to clean simple water and simple fingerprints pretty well. I don't think the water will have ruined the ND filter.

At times, it's necessary to use some kind of a CAMERA lens cleaning fluid, which is always applied to the cleaning tissue, and not just sprayed or dropped onto the filter or lens...you do NOT want lens cleaning fluid running down into the mount, or into the lens. Heavy emphasis on CAMERA lens cleaning fluid and NOT "eyeglass" cleaning fluid.

 

[Deeger]

^hahha thanks for the replies everyone, I was quite nervous that I had ruined the filter.

I just wiped gently and lightly (and constantly) This has removed most of the splash spots.