taking care of lenses

[wendellt]

hi everyone

I am in a bit of a pickle

i got several expensive lenses

50mm f1.4
70-200vr
and 12-24dx

when i first purchased them they were clean in the inside, now after my last rip they are full of dust particles

the 50mm i can see how dust gets into it quite easily because it's not internal focussing and has many gaps and holes in the construction

the 12-24dx and the 70-200vr are constructed better and are internal focussing with less gaps and holes in the construction

Now i used to clean the 50mm by blowing with the gioto air rocket directly on the inside element(mount side of lens)
that cleared off some dust but i later found out doing so also blows the dust inside the lens, so i stopped doing this

the 12-24dx and the 70-200vr has dus on the inside element should i risk blowing with the gioto air rocket on the inside lens element to remove the dust, will this just cause more dust to creep inside the lens?

how are you menat to clean this things, help please.

[stubbsy]

Wendell

is the dust affecting your shot? If not why worry about it?

[wendellt]

Wendell

is the dust affecting your shot? If not why worry about it?

i think it is, images look more difussed, lighter contrast falloff, dust on the inside element causes more pronounced effects rather if it were on the front element

[moggy]

Wendell, I only use the blower if it's the odd speck of dust in the middle of the lens. If there's a lot of dust I use a very fine micro-fibre cloth to GENTLY wipe it away. The other alternative is to us the Copper Hill lens cleaning gear.

Bob.

.

[wendellt]

Wendell, I only use the blower if it's the odd speck of dust in the middle of the lens. If there's a lot of dust I use a very fine micro-fibre cloth to GENTLY wipe it away. The other alternative is to us the Copper Hill lens cleaning gear.

Bob.

.

thanks bob, i will research the copperhill lens cleaning gear.

[birddog114]

Wendell, I only use the blower if it's the odd speck of dust in the middle of the lens. If there's a lot of dust I use a very fine micro-fibre cloth to GENTLY wipe it away. The other alternative is to us the Copper Hill lens cleaning gear.

Bob.

.

Bob,
Are you sure Copperhill cleaning gear, will clean the dust inside (internal glass elements) the lens?

[moggy]

Wendell, you can get a kit from http://www.qualitycamerasales.com.au

They're about $30 from memory.

Bob.

.

[moggy]

Bob,
Are you sure Copperhill cleaning gear, will clean the dust inside (internal glass elements) the lens?

No, it wont clean inside the lens, I'm trying to get Wendell to clean the dust off before he uses the blower.

Bob.

.

[birddog114]

Bob,
As said, Copperhill gear is only use for external cleaning as finger prints or some residues left on the front glass element of the lens.
You don't have to get it if you have Pec*Pad and Eclipse fluid.

And you have to use the blower first before you use any kind of cloth and liquid on the glass, dust particles can scratch the glass by using any methode of cleaning with cloth + liquid.

[wendellt]

Bob,
As said, Copperhill gear is only use for external cleaning as finger prints or some residues left on the front glass element of the lens.
You don't have to get it if you have Pec*Pad and Eclipse fluid.

birdy eclipse fluid the same as the methanol your giving away at the meets
discussed this with mattk i asked him if i could use the methanol as cleaning agent for the lenses, he said that was a good question

moggy not interested in getting nside the lens i meant there is dust on the mount side lens element(outside the lens) the question was should i use the blower to blow it off or will the blower just blow the dust on the surface of the lens inside the lens as there is not an air tight seal on that side of the 70-200 vr

[birddog114]

birdy eclipse fluid the same as the methanol your giving away at the meets
discussed this with mattk i asked him if i could use the methanol as cleaning agent for the lenses, he said that was a good question

Used Pec* Pad and Eclipse fluid will do the job 1000 times better than Copperhill gear.

moggy not interested in getting nside the lens i meant there is dust on the mount side lens element(outside the lens) the question was should i use the blower to blow it off or will the blower just blow the dust on the surface of the lens inside the lens as there is not an air tight seal on that side of the 70-200 vr

Regardless of external or internal, you all have to use the blower first before using any type of cloth to wipe over it.

[shutterbug]

After every event, I just gi veall my lens a quick blow job and wipe if require Usually I just wipe the body not the glass.

Dust is unavoidable, the more you use your gear the more it will be exposed to the elements. Just capture great images, make more $$ and upgrade if need too

[birddog114]

...... gi veall....

What does this mean?

[shutterbug]

give all

[birddog114]

give all

[wendellt]

After every event, I just gi veall my lens a quick blow job and wipe if require Usually I just wipe the body not the glass.

Dust is unavoidable, the more you use your gear the more it will be exposed to the elements. Just capture great images, make more $$ and upgrade if need too

makes sense, lenses are disposable items but not a 70-200VR they are so rare, I had to do unimaginable things to obtain one and I am sure birdy did so to, in order to get one for me

[birddog114]

After every event, I just gi veall my lens a quick blow job and wipe if require Usually I just wipe the body not the glass.

Dust is unavoidable, the more you use your gear the more it will be exposed to the elements. Just capture great images, make more $$ and upgrade if need too

makes sense, lenses are disposable items but not a 70-200VR they are so rare, I had to do unimaginable things to obtain one and I am sure birdy did so to, in order to get one for me

Wendell,
Forget about the 70-200VR, The 70-300 AF-S VR II is on the horizon

[shutterbug]

The 70-300 AF-S VR II is on the horizon

Can I preorder one

[birddog114]

The 70-300 AF-S VR II is on the horizon

Can I preorder one

shutterbug,

Don't surprise!!!!!

[wendellt]

After every event, I just gi veall my lens a quick blow job and wipe if require Usually I just wipe the body not the glass.

Dust is unavoidable, the more you use your gear the more it will be exposed to the elements. Just capture great images, make more $$ and upgrade if need too

makes sense, lenses are disposable items but not a 70-200VR they are so rare, I had to do unimaginable things to obtain one and I am sure birdy did so to, in order to get one for me

Wendell,
Forget about the 70-200VR, The 70-300 AF-S VR II is on the horizon

I inspected your huge 200-400VR it is very dirty inside the lens, how do you clean that expensive lens

there's a 70-300 VR II, that would be amazing for the runway, man i really need to keep updated with events, seriously can you put me down on the purchase list, wait is it f2.8?

[birddog114]

I inspected your huge 200-400VR it is very dirty inside the lens, how do you clean that expensive lens

I didn't see any dust inside my 200-400VR at all, if it's, then I skin dip it in the bath tub with bubble soap and warm water 1 hours, then drag it out, put it in the cloth dryer 1 hour, that's!!!!!!

[gstark]

Wendell,

Use the Copperhill method on your eyes. That will cure the problem.

Permanently, probably.

[wendellt]

Wendell,

Use the Copperhill method on your eyes. That will cure the problem.

Permanently, probably.

ha ha ha, it's good to be back

[moggy]

Wendell, the 18-200 vr is not f2.8 . If you use a Nikon NC filter on the lens you wont get any crap on the front element.

Bob.

.

[johndec]

The 70-300 AF-S VR II is on the horizon

Birdy, how far away is this horizon? February or November announcement? Any hints on specs? If it is f4-f5.6 like the existing 70-300, it's just a tarted up version of a giveaway lens However, if it is f4 constant and a new ED design, then it sounds very tasty!! It couldn't be f2.8 as the front element would be huge and it would cost a truckload of cash..

[birddog114]

The 70-300 AF-S VR II is on the horizon

Birdy, how far away is this horizon? February or November announcement? Any hints on specs? If it is f4-f5.6 like the existing 70-300, it's just a tarted up version of a giveaway lens However, if it is f4 constant and a new ED design, then it sounds very tasty!! It couldn't be f2.8 as the front element would be huge and it would cost a truckload of cash..

f.2.8 and my wish is it's coming soon!

[MCWB]

Any hints on specs?

f.2.8 and my wish is it's coming soon!

Ahh Birdy, you crack me up!

[birddog114]

Any hints on specs?

f.2.8 and my wish is it's coming soon!

Ahh Birdy, you crack me up!

No, you're alright! sleep with the 70-200VR few years and wait for the baby bonus then talk about it!!!!!!

[johndec]

f.2.8 and my wish is it's coming soon!

300mm @ f2.8 = 107mm front element
400mm @ f4 = 100mm (as in 200-400VR)

A 70-300 @ F2.8 would cost at least as much as a 200-400 IMO... Big glass aint cheap

And how soon is soon

[birddog114]

f.2.8 and my wish is it's coming soon!

300mm @ f2.8 = 107mm front element
400mm @ f4 = 100mm (as in 200-400VR)

A 70-300 @ F2.8 would cost at least as much as a 200-400 IMO... Big glass aint cheap

And how soon is soon

Yes, it'll be big but not more lot bigger than the current 70-200VR, I guess! Have you seen the 200/ f.2 and 300/ 2.8 VR? They're big but shorter.

Price? who knows? but won't be same as the 200-400VR, that's my expectation.

[MCWB]

sleep with the 70-200VR few years and wait for the baby bonus then talk about it!!!!!!

Hello dear, have you met our new accountant, Thanh?

[johndec]

Yes, it'll be big but not more lot bigger than the current 70-200VR, I guess! Have you seen the 200/ f.2 and 300/ 2.8 VR? They're big but shorter.

Price? who knows? but won't be same as the 200-400VR, that's my expectation.

When I feel like a laugh, I go to the Vanbar web site and look at their prices. They have the 200-400 at nearly $10K and the 300/2.8 at nearly $8K. I cant see a 70-300/2.8 going for less than 8000 Vanbar Dollars

Now a 70-300/f4 at around the price of a 70-200/2.8 would sell by the truckload.. PS: Sorry to hijack the thread Wendell

[birddog114]

Now a 70-300/f4 at around the price of a 70-200/2.8 would sell by the truckload.. PS: Sorry to hijack the thread Wendell

Wendell is happy to hear the outcome while he's giving the lust.

No, 70-300/ f4 shouldn't be a nice toy, coz ther's a 80-400 VR

But 70-300 AF-S VRII is selling like hot cake, coz that the long waited lens which all Nikonians wish.

[ipv6ready]

Hi, I am not show if this constittute hijacking of the thread. But I think its related.

In regards to lenses.

For long term storage what do you use? I ask as I am running out of room in my Pelican Case. Already ripped out the foam to stack more lenses in soft cases.

Do people have special storage case for lenses? or am I being anal! PS: I do live with a smoker. No I cannot ask her to stop.

[birddog114]

It has been discussed before.
I only use the minitrekker AW and the Stealth Reporter 650.
I use my gear everyweek and didn't see any problems in the last 20 years.

[ipv6ready]

It has been discussed before.
I only use the minitrekker AW and the Stealth Reporter 650.
I use my gear everyweek and didn't see any problems in the last 20 years.

The thing is only my Kit and 20mm gets used regularly.
Some once or twice month.

A lot almost never! ie 105mm last time i used it was about a year a go

[johndec]

Birdy, let's agree to disagree on this As you know my main interest is sports photography and that is why I want a D200 (for 5fps). To me a screwdriver 80-400 is too slow focusing, a 200-400AFS VR is too bloody expensive (it's not like I get paid much to do this, although I'm hoping to make a few bucks this year).

A 70-300 VRII f4 would be a perfect fit. The 70-200 is too short and if you add a TC you are up to at least f4 anyway. I'll wait and see what Nikon announces over the next few months and if I don't like what I see I'll have to look at options like a 70-200 +TC or a second hand 300 or 400mm prime. Primes are a pain though as they restrict your "attack" angle. You have to be pretty much side on to frame correctly. Head on shots really need zoom lenses IMHO.

[kipper]

I tend to think they'll be releasing a 70-300VRII F2.8 and a 300-600VRII F4
Well the latter is rumoured, and if it comes true I'll have something to sell if anybody is interested

[Nnnnsic]

Rightio gentleman.

We're keeping this on topic.

This thread is for discussing resolutions on how to get dust out of lenses, away from lenses, etc, and how to avoid dust with the sort of storage you can use (I'll allow it, ipv6, it's definetly related).

[robboh]

*drools at thought of 70-300 AFS VRII f2.8*
THAT would be almost exactly what Im looking for in a lens. With 1.4, 1.7 (and 2x at a pinch) TC's, it'd be a VERY versatile weapon on a dSLR.
Pity it'll probably be $5-6k or more.

On to the main topic.

I just keep my gear in a camera bag longterm, my film camera and the lenses (eg consumer 35-70) I dont use just sit in their bag in a closet. I change the dessicant packet once in a while and chose the coolest, dryest cupboard we have in the house.

As for dust, I just tip the lens up so the element I am cleaning is facing down and beat up on it with a lowpower blower brush.