Good items to get to clean lenses.

[Michael Markowski]

Hello,

As I am eagerly awaiting the epic s, I am having fun with my Canon 60d. I recently got a little rain on my lens and was wondering what the best products to get for cleaning lenses are?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Steve Sherrick]

Hello,

As I am eagerly awaiting the epic s, I am having fun with my Canon 60d. I recently got a little rain on my lens and was wondering what the best products to get for cleaning lenses are.

Thanks,
Mike

Experience cleaning lenses is the first thing. I don't mean that sarcastically either. I've been shooting for a long time and I am still never happy with my technique when it comes to cleaning glass. I need to stop by Duclos some day and get a real hands-on lesson.

But in terms of the gear. A good lens fluid, like Pancro. Good lens cloth (many prefer microfiber) some dust off or an air blower like the Rocket. Perhaps a soft lens brush for certain particles.

Maybe Matt Duclos will jump in about technique, but it all begins with that. I wish I was better at it. Mostly my trouble is with multicoated filters. Never seem to get those perfect.

http://www.filmtools.com/panlencleanf.html
http://www.filmtools.com/filmikclot.html
http://www.filmtools.com/duju17caairw.html

Here is a brief tutorial from Matt.

Glass and coatings are a lot more resilient than they used to be.
Any major manufacturers glass will be able to stand up to a good wiping with or without a liquid solution. Acetone works fine but will not cut the grease from finger prints.
A few tips:
Always start by blowing off dust and debris with compressed air.
Never spray liquid onto the lens itself.. Spray onto a tissue or lens cloth.
Clean the glass in a circular spiral pattern, starting in the center and working your way out to the edge.
Remember that a simple breath of warm air onto the lens (depending on temperature outside) will provide enough moisture on the lens to give it a decent cleaning.
I can go on and on about the best way to clean glass.
It sounds silly, but it took me a long time to get the hang of it.
~Matthew Duclos
connoisseur du glass
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[Danno Anderson]

Zeiss on cleaning and much more.

http://www.zeiss.com/C1256F8500454979/0/F9B766E00E70F4C4C1256F8D0054FFF8/$file/thecleanmicroscope.pdf

http://zeiss-campus.magnet.fsu.edu/search/index.asp

http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/methods.html

 

[Michael Markowski]

Thanks Steve and Danno for the information. I really appreciate it.

-mike

 

[Kip Kubin]

Rocket blower first

Kim Wipes and breath second.

 

[nigelsmith]

I use a very soft brush [designed for putting on blusher I think!] or a blower brush, then Rosco lens cleaner on Rosco lens tissues.
The trouble with canned air is that if the can's not held exactly vertical, some of the accelerant can come out with the air and create a smear.

BTW I don't understand this thing with Kimwipes?
"They are sometimes used to clean lenses as well, but use on optical lenses with special water and solvent based coatings may cause light blemishes, and the manufacturer recommends using a wipe specifically designed for use with coated lenses."
so says wikipedia

The trouble with breathing on a lens to clean it is avoiding acid breath and mucus!

 

[Kip Kubin]

Kimwipes

I've tried other lens cloths/tissues but haven't liked them as much.

I've only had issues with other brands of lens tissue on my vintage Nikkor lenses....small scratches, cleaning marks etc as well as lint that would not go away without blowing the lens off again.

Thats why I use Kimwipes


I never use any lens solutions ever...I've never had to as well....most of my lenses are 40+ years old and were selected with the coatings from specific years in mind... if you're in doubt of getting anything on the lens use a clear filter...fake blood, water, drinks sweat etc.

The main thing is to "clean" as little as possible.

 

[Jacek Zakowicz]

Hi Kip
ALWAYS use solution- you are destroying the coating if you don't. Especially on older lenses since the coatings used to be much softer.
Unbelievable......