Lens Cleaning

[Geoff]

I know this is quite a basic question, HOWEVER I was wondering if ppl out there had a preffered lens cleaning cloth etc? I have one but it seems to take a long time to get the lens pefectly clean. Anyone use/recommend a good lens cloth/brand? Thanks in advance.

[Finch]

Geoff,

I have found the Zeiss lens cleaning cloths invaluable. They don't scratch, work well to reduce marks (caerfully!) and are lint free. They cost around $7 - $10, depending on where you buy them.

Cheers

Michael

[gstark]

30 grit?

[losfp]

I've never bothered with lens cloths. I have some cleaning cloths that I got with glasses in the past - if they're good enough for the multi-coated glasses then IMO they are good enough for lenses.

Just a quick breath on the lens, and an equally quick wipe normally does the trick

[MattC]

Giotto for quick dust removal or a lens cloth from the local pharmacy, and when desperate pecpad and eclipse for greasy finger prints (yeah it does happen occasionally).

Cheers

[greencardigan]

I currently use a cloth thing that came with an ultra cheep lens cleaning kit. It leaves a fair bit of lint behind but can usually be blown off.

Sometimes i use a microfibre sunglasses bag.

[admajic]

Do u use a light spray of windex? Or will that hurt more than help?

[Finch]

Admajic,

NEVER use windex on lenses, PLEASE!!!!!

It has been known to obliterate the lens coating.

Cheers

Michael

[losfp]

Hell, it's even recommended that you don't use Windex et al on car window tinting as it can damage the tint!

I certainly wouldn't trust it on lenses.

[Geoff]

Windex? On lens glass? NO WAY!!!

[shutterbug]

I use kimwipes

[Geoff]

I use kimwipes

Kimwipes?
What about Kathwipes?

[birddog114]

Windex? On lens glass? NO WAY!!!

Don't you worry too much?
Just a light breath over the glass and with a soft cloth.

[shutterbug]

http://www.kcprofessional.com/au/content/view.asp?id=73

[stubbsy]

When my lenses were covered with salt spray last weekend I used a pec pad and some sensor cleaner which did the trick. I've also used Kimwipes.

[shutterbug]

When my lenses were covered with salt spray last weekend I used a pec pad and some sensor cleaner which did the trick. I've also used Kimwipes.

I do the same

[ABG]

When my lenses were covered with salt spray last weekend I used a pec pad and some sensor cleaner which did the trick. I've also used Kimwipes.

This has no ill effect on the lens coating?

[cyanide]

The pec pad + sensor cleaner advice is well timed... I was careless a week or two ago when handling my 10.5 and accidently touched the front glass....

Have held off doing anything till I worked out how best to clean it... will try this.

[shutterbug]

DON'T FLOOD THE LENS WITH IT, or it might go inside

[radar]

Got a good lens cleaning kit from Quality Camera a while back. It came with really good lens cloth, lint free tissue, à la pecpads, a small bottle of Formula MC and a little brush. All in an easy to carry container that I just keep in my mini-trekker. It was from copperhill, of sensor cleaning fame.

Info on the Formula MC can be found at http://www.pecaproducts.com/. From memory, it was around the $24 mark.

They also have the same cleaning kit:
http://www.pecaproducts.com/cleaning_kits.htm

HTH,

André

[cyanide]

Appreciate the reminder, shutterbug - I do recall reading someone's woes in that regard.... will be extra frugal with the solution.

Cheers

ETA: I have both sensor cleaning fluid (from Birdy ) and Formula MC - do people recommend one over the other?

[birddog114]

Appreciate the reminder, shutterbug - I do recall reading someone's woes in that regard.... will be extra frugal with the solution.

Cheers

ETA: I have both sensor cleaning fluid (from Birdy ) and Formula MC - do people recommend one over the other?

I don't use Formula MC, I have and gave it away.
I found Eclipse Fluid is more handy and easy cleaning.

[cyanide]

Thanks, Birdy

[stubbsy]

I put the fluid onto the pad so it's hard to get too much on the lens.

[sirhc55]

The purest form of cleaning water soluble contamination is to use distilled water. Where do you get distilled water? From you. When you breathe on a lens the misting that appears is pure distilled water - cheap and effective. If the contaminants are oil based then an alcohol based cleaner must be used.