Lens Cleaning at DVinfo.net

David Calvin · July 6th, 2006, 02:41 PM

Typically when I get a new camera, or lens I immediately thrust a UV filter on it so I can avoid cleaning the lens directly. I am paranoid and afraid I am going to thrash the lens (the actual lens) in cleaning. I need to get past this fear because, somehow, trash does get behind the filter.

Are there any real issues I should fear when cleaning the lens? I usually just use glasses lens cleaner sprays and cloths. Anything I should be aware of? Is it possible or even (gasp) common to screw up a lens during cleaning or is my paranoia just.. irrational?

thanks

Greg Boston · July 6th, 2006, 03:29 PM

There is a right way and a wrong way. If possible, use a small can of air sold in photo shops for just this purpose. Using the air, you can remove any solid items that might scratch the lens if you applied a cloth for cleaning.

There are lens cleaning pens that have a brush on one side, and a smudge remover on the other side. I have had good luck with those.

I also use a microfiber cleaning cloth that came with a nice pair of sunglasses I own.

You might do a Google search on 'camera lens cleaning' and see what that gets you.

-gb-

Craig Chartier · July 6th, 2006, 10:17 PM

fluid should be a last resort on any coated lens. and then only spray it on a clean cotton diaper and rub softly. fluids are best for cleaning glass filters which have any type of correction or effect applied to the inside of the glass. compressed air can actually drive dirt into the lens body be careful with pressure. Soft brush is best tool.

Tony Davies-Patrick · July 7th, 2006, 02:21 AM

I've been using soft natural chamois leather to clean marks on lenses for the past 30-years without problems. For removal of dust on the lens, I simply use a soft make-up brush.

David Calvin · July 7th, 2006, 09:59 AM

Thanks for the tips. I'll grab some make-up brushes.

What do you think of this?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...cessory_detail

Its a lens pen. Has a brush on one end and a pad on the other with a builtin cleaning solution (they claim is safe for multiple layered treated lenses) for cleaning smudges.

Thanks,

David

Tony Davies-Patrick · July 8th, 2006, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Calvin

... I'll grab some make-up brushes.
...Thanks,

David

Make sure that it is a good quality brush, and more importantly that the brush fibres/hairs do not have any coating or fine make-up powder on them. It is better to buy one with a sealed cover rather than the ones left on open display stands.

Joseph Andolina · July 8th, 2006, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Calvin

Thanks for the tips. I'll grab some make-up brushes.

What do you think of this?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...cessory_detail

Its a lens pen. Has a brush on one end and a pad on the other with a builtin cleaning solution (they claim is safe for multiple layered treated lenses) for cleaning smudges.

Thanks,

David

Would also like to know if the one David pointed out from B&H would be recommended?

Joe

Robert Aldrich · July 9th, 2006, 01:04 AM

Some years back I bought my first DV camera and didn't buy a uv filter for the lens. Before long, there was a lot of junk and dust on the lens. In my know-it-all attitude, I thought I knew how to handle this...I took a q-tip and distilled water, and cleaned the lens. Lo and behold, I ended up with a very foggy and scratched lens!

I was devasted! Now I had to send it in for repair.

But as a last resort, I bought some actual Kodak lens cleaner and a microfiber cloth, and tried again. To my surprise, the lens then appeared to be perfectly clean!

Go figure! They must have worked this out long ago (how to handle newbie mistakes such as I made) and formulated their lens cleaner to correct the mistakes I made by using what I thought was a perfectly clean solution to clean the lens...

I am guessing here, that the solution they sell must somehow interact with the common lense coatings and smooth over scratches made by slightly abrasive materials such as a q-tip and therfore make an optically clean surface.

Jack Barker · July 12th, 2006, 11:35 AM

distilled water is VERY aggressive. That's why it's the so-called, "universal solvent". This would apply to any de-ionized water. It can turn stainless steel black.

As a side note, those of you with DI or R/O (reverse osmosis) units attached to your drinking water systems at home, might want to rethink this strategy, as it can take the minerals out of the food you cook and affect your body similarly.

July 6th, 2006, 02:41 PM	#1
David Calvin Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cupertino, Ca Posts: 63	Lens Cleaning Typically when I get a new camera, or lens I immediately thrust a UV filter on it so I can avoid cleaning the lens directly. I am paranoid and afraid I am going to thrash the lens (the actual lens) in cleaning. I need to get past this fear because, somehow, trash does get behind the filter. Are there any real issues I should fear when cleaning the lens? I usually just use glasses lens cleaner sprays and cloths. Anything I should be aware of? Is it possible or even (gasp) common to screw up a lens during cleaning or is my paranoia just.. irrational? thanks

July 7th, 2006, 02:21 AM	#4
Tony Davies-Patrick Trustee Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worldwide Posts: 1,589	I've been using soft natural chamois leather to clean marks on lenses for the past 30-years without problems. For removal of dust on the lens, I simply use a soft make-up brush. __________________ www.WILDCARP.com www.NIKON.me.uk

July 9th, 2006, 01:04 AM	#8
Robert Aldrich Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 39	Some years back I bought my first DV camera and didn't buy a uv filter for the lens. Before long, there was a lot of junk and dust on the lens. In my know-it-all attitude, I thought I knew how to handle this...I took a q-tip and distilled water, and cleaned the lens. Lo and behold, I ended up with a very foggy and scratched lens! I was devasted! Now I had to send it in for repair. But as a last resort, I bought some actual Kodak lens cleaner and a microfiber cloth, and tried again. To my surprise, the lens then appeared to be perfectly clean! Go figure! They must have worked this out long ago (how to handle newbie mistakes such as I made) and formulated their lens cleaner to correct the mistakes I made by using what I thought was a perfectly clean solution to clean the lens... I am guessing here, that the solution they sell must somehow interact with the common lense coatings and smooth over scratches made by slightly abrasive materials such as a q-tip and therfore make an optically clean surface. __________________ "Keep doing projects"

July 12th, 2006, 11:35 AM	#9
Jack Barker Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 342	Yeah... distilled water is VERY aggressive. That's why it's the so-called, "universal solvent". This would apply to any de-ionized water. It can turn stainless steel black. As a side note, those of you with DI or R/O (reverse osmosis) units attached to your drinking water systems at home, might want to rethink this strategy, as it can take the minerals out of the food you cook and affect your body similarly.

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July 6th, 2006, 03:29 PM	#2
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	There is a right way and a wrong way. If possible, use a small can of air sold in photo shops for just this purpose. Using the air, you can remove any solid items that might scratch the lens if you applied a cloth for cleaning. There are lens cleaning pens that have a brush on one side, and a smudge remover on the other side. I have had good luck with those. I also use a microfiber cleaning cloth that came with a nice pair of sunglasses I own. You might do a Google search on 'camera lens cleaning' and see what that gets you. -gb-

July 6th, 2006, 10:17 PM	#3
Craig Chartier DVi Contributor Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 374	fluid should be a last resort on any coated lens. and then only spray it on a clean cotton diaper and rub softly. fluids are best for cleaning glass filters which have any type of correction or effect applied to the inside of the glass. compressed air can actually drive dirt into the lens body be careful with pressure. Soft brush is best tool.

July 7th, 2006, 09:59 AM	#5
David Calvin Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cupertino, Ca Posts: 63	Thanks for the tips. I'll grab some make-up brushes. What do you think of this? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...cessory_detail Its a lens pen. Has a brush on one end and a pad on the other with a builtin cleaning solution (they claim is safe for multiple layered treated lenses) for cleaning smudges. Thanks, David