Here's a can of worms ~ lens cleaning

[JBW]

Hi, up until now I have been using my trusted astronomy eyepiece cleaning fluid on my camera lenses. But it is running out and not easily replaceable.

The only commercial cleaning agent available is AO lens cleaner. Can this be used or is there a mix it myself something I can make up in the kitchen?
Brian

[tao2]

Brush blower, hot breath and a micro fibre cloth (only use the cloth for lenses). If it's a stubborn mark - a lens pen.

[JBW]

HELLO FRIENDS
Remove as much dust and dirt as possible from the lens with a blower or soft-bristled brush. Apply a few drops of lens cleaning solution to a lens tissue or cleaning cloth. Using a circular motion, gently remove oil, fingerprints, and grime from the lens surface, working from the center outward.

same technique as telescope eyepieces

[JBW]

Brush blower, hot breath and a micro fibre cloth (only use the cloth for lenses). If it's a stubborn mark - a lens pen.

that would be instead of an indelible pen?

[Greg Lehey]

The only commercial cleaning agent available is AO lens cleaner. Can this be used or is there a mix it myself something I can make up in the kitchen?

I don't know AO lens cleaner, but Google suggests that it's made for glasses (spectacles). If it's anything like the proprietary branded cleaners I get here, in similar packaging, I wouldn't have anything to do with it. I've tried it, both for glasses and for camera lenses, and it leaves lots of residues. I clean my glasses with washing-up liquid and wash it off with lots of water, but clearly that's not an option for camera lenses.

I wish I had a suggestion, but I'm looking myself. Somewhere I heard of using iso-propanol (iso-propyl alcohol), but without some confirmation, I'm reluctant to try it. Any thoughts?

Greg

[NorthernFocus]

I never use any cleaning fluid. Never have. Fog the glass by breathing on it and use lint free lens paper is all I've ever done. Of course in your climate, there's not much more humidity in one's breath than in the air so that may not work down there

[JBW]

I don't know AO lens cleaner, but Google suggests that it's made for glasses (spectacles). If it's anything like the proprietary branded cleaners I get here, in similar packaging, I wouldn't have anything to do with it. I've tried it, both for glasses and for camera lenses, and it leaves lots of residues. I clean my glasses with washing-up liquid and wash it off with lots of water, but clearly that's not an option for camera lenses.

I wish I had a suggestion, but I'm looking myself. Somewhere I heard of using iso-propanol (iso-propyl alcohol), but without some confirmation, I'm reluctant to try it. Any thoughts?

Greg

If and that is IF camera lens coatings are similar to astronomy mirror coatings and eye piece coatings than a very little as in 1 of dish soap in bottled water would work well.

[JBW]

I never use any cleaning fluid. Never have. Fog the glass by breathing on it and use lint free lens paper is all I've ever done. Of course in your climate, there's not much more humidity in one's breath than in the air so that may not work down there

It was actually cold enough here to see my breath this morning. Because of our humidity mold is a problem.

[Greg Lehey]

If and that is IF camera lens coatings are similar to astronomy mirror coatings and eye piece coatings than a very little as in 1 of dish soap in bottled water would work well.

I don't think that would harm the glass, but how do you go to the edge without getting water inside the lens?

Greg

[Manfred M]

I use the same approach as others have suggested. Loose dust is blown or brushed away and more persistent contaminants are removed with a micro-fibre cloth. I have used the cleaning pen in the past, but it's been years since I had to resort to using one.

In the past, I used a wet cleaner as well as lens cleaning paper (wet the paper, not the lens element), but frankly lens cleaning technology has moved ahead and I haven't used wet cleaning for a very long time. I would never use a cleaning liquid as it will leave a deposit on the lens. Frankly these chemicals (surfactants) are primarily used to bind to oils and would be very difficult to rinse off a lens without having a liquid get into the lens.

[Venser]

I normally use my t-shirt. If it's stubborn, I lick it first to dampen it a little.

[rpcrowe]

I ALWAYS shoot with a lens hood on - both indoors and out. The only exception to this practice is macro photography with my Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro lens which has a front element that is significantly recessed into the lens barrel.

Lens hoods do a lot more than simply preventing flare. They physically protect the lens from grime and fingerprints. I am sure that my need to clean my lenses very seldom can be attributed to the use of the lens hoods.

[inkista]

Rocketblower if it's with me. Mostly just a lenspen. Otherwise, if I have to, a Zeiss moist towelette, with maybe a microfiber cloth wipe afters.

But if you want an exhaustive list of cleaning stuff for lenses, look at this lensrental article. It's seriously awe-inspiring.

[JBW]

Rocketblower if it's with me. Mostly just a lenspen. Otherwise, if I have to, a Zeiss moist towelette, with maybe a microfiber cloth wipe afters.

But if you want an exhaustive list of cleaning stuff for lenses, look at this lensrental article. It's seriously awe-inspiring.

You're right that is an impressive article.

[Dave Humphries]

Use lens hood (as per Richard)
Dust/hair: Rocket blower
Odd spots; lens pen
Many spots; huff and micro-fibre cloth
I appreciate that 'huff' may not work in Brian's climate, so yes, then I'd look for some kind of liquid to use instead.
Not sure that what I might suggest would be shippable to Philippines though.

The main cause of 'many spots' is being too close to a steam locomotive and in the prevailing wind

[Tronhard]

I use a vacuum cleaner to remove most of the solid stuff from the lens - I find the power head is most useful as it really beats the stuff off the surface. If that does not do the trick, then a hammer and chisel used gently and with precision (that is critical!) is very effective for the most stubborn grime.

The lens rental article IS excellent!

[Donald]

Sandpaper for the really difficult bits.

[Dave Humphries]

Sandpaper for the really difficult bits.

Isn't that supposed to be to polish out any chisel marks?

[Tronhard]

Isn't that supposed to be to polish out any chisel marks?

I think the current wisdom is to use toothpaste on the sandpaper to give it that extra smooth finish... As you grind down the lens you can add (lots of) water to the process to make the grinding agent finer. Apparently there are issues with lenses that are not fully sealed.

Maybe putting it in the dishwasher...?

[Manfred M]

Of course, there is always the old fashioned way to clean using soap and water,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrdkFXsr5Us