CLEANING YOUR LENSES - TIPS/TRICKS?

[Nick Morrison]

So having now invested in lots of exotic and wonderful pieces of glass...I need to ask...HOW DO YOU CLEAN IT?

I know about using a cloth, and blowing off lenses with a pump, and using a light brush....but to all you former/current AC's....and everyday lens lovers out there....any other tricks?

Specifically....

What's your favorite cloth?

Favorite tool for cleaning lenses?

Do you use solution (I hate the idea, but maybe I'm wrong).

Love to get into the nitty gritty of....how do you clean your expensive lenses so they last another couple of decades?

Love to hear some amazing tips of the trade...from the soldiers on set everyday...who know what they are talking about...cuz they actually find themselves cleaning off 20k Master Primes.

thanks!!

 

[Brandon J.F.]

Great idea for a thread.

Subscribed.

 

[Shervin Mandgaryan]

Kimwipes and Pancro. Blower to blow off the fine bits.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Cool. Who else has wonderful tips? Lets keep this going. The nitty gritty.

 

[Evin Grant]

Panchro is just 99.9% isopropyl alcohol, do use it but don't pay $15 a bottle.

Kim wipes are absolutely the way, (no cloth!) to go but only use one per swipe, reusing them can re-deposit oil or worse create micro scratches.

1st: Use a blower or compressed air to get off any debris but make sure you blow it out first to dislodge any pieces of silica or other particle that might fly into your optic.

2nd: Saturate a kim wipe with alcohol and make one pass on the lens surface. Repeat if you cannot completely cover the entire element.

3rd: Before the alcohol evaporates take a dry kim and gently absorb it and any oils in a single swipe, do not re-use the wipe!.

4th: Repeat step three till the lens looks clean or repeat from step 2 if it's really dirty.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Panchro is just 99.9% isopropyl alcohol, do use it but don't pay $15 a bottle.

Kim wipes are absolutely the way, (no cloth!) to go but only use one per swipe, reusing them can re-deposit oil or worse create micro scratches.

1st: Use a blower or compressed air to get off any debris but make sure you blow it out first to dislodge any pieces of silica or other particle that might fly into your optic.

2nd: Saturate a kim wipe with alcohol and make one pass on the lens surface. Repeat if you cannot completely cover the entire element.

3rd: Before the alcohol evaporates take a dry kim and gently absorb it and any oils in a single swipe, do not re-use the wipe!.

4th: Repeat step three till the lens looks clean or repeat from step 2 if it's really dirty.

This is exactly what I was looking for. The nitty gritty. Thanks Evin!!!

 

[Shapour Daneshmand]

Good stuff.
thanks to the knowledgable contributors.