Lens cleaning

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CarbonGoodies

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Rick
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Hi guys, what does everybody recommend for lens cleaning? What products in particular do you recommend?

Thanks in advance guys.

Rick
 
Boots spectacle cleaning fluid about £2.50 a bottle.

2 x spectacle microfibre cloths, one for wet cleaning the glass, one for drying off.

Worked a treat for years on my lenses.
 
ChrisH said:
Boots spectacle cleaning fluid about £2.50 a bottle.

2 x spectacle microfibre cloths, one for wet cleaning the glass, one for drying off.

Worked a treat for years on my lenses.
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Thanks for that.

What do people think about lens pens and the bellows as well?

Sorry I'm really new to this.
 
I'd say to make really sure that your cloths are clean too - any muck or grit could damage the lens. I keep my cloths in plastic self-seal bags to ensure they don't get contaminated. Personally, other than using a blower, I hardly ever clean my lenses and I don't think that they need a lot of cleaning unless there is something obvious stuck on them (like soup :lol:) - they don't seem to get dirty. I've seen some people who seem to wipe their lenses more often than a snooker player chalks their cue. I've never used a lens pen.
 
weybourne said:
I'd say to make really sure that your cloths are clean too - any muck or grit could damage the lens. I keep my cloths in plastic self-seal bags to ensure they don't get contaminated. Personally, other than using a blower, I hardly ever clean my lenses and I don't think that they need a lot of cleaning unless there is something obvious stuck on them (like soup :lol:) - they don't seem to get dirty. I've seen some people who seem to wipe their lenses more often than a snooker player chalks their cue. I've never used a lens pen.
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I have a 2 year old that loves to touch the lens while taking photos of him. You have to be very quick if you are close lol!!!!
 
ChrisH said:
Boots spectacle cleaning fluid about £2.50 a bottle.

2 x spectacle microfibre cloths, one for wet cleaning the glass, one for drying off.

Worked a treat for years on my lenses.
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It has to be Sainsbury's for the best job - I insist!;)
Seriously, this seems to be all you need to keep the lenses clean.
 
I use a Hama Lenspen and a clean microfibre cloth (stored in a sealable plastic bag). That combination will shift fingerprints without the risk of spraying fluids about. If something is really stubborn then I use Boots spectacle cleaner sprayed on a microfibre cloth not straight on the lens!
 
I don't clean lenses unless it's necessary, and normally use a lens pen, and/or an optical glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth for anything stubborn. There's no need to get carried away with this. Just be careful, and make sure there's no grit or anything else on the surface of the glass before you clean them.
 
I normally use my t shirt.
 
With tender and love i breath life into the lens and delicately wipe it off with my cotton t-shirt. Been doing that for years. Different t-shirt each time of course.
 
i use a lint free glasses cloth & gently dust the lens. At least thats the way i've been told by my old man.
 
Microfibre glass cloth for me, been using them for years on glasses, tv's etc. and they have never scratched ... just make sure there kept clean. If you do wash them in the machine then use a liquid cleaner like liquitabs as sometimes the powders do not dissolve properly and leave grit on your cloths, which could in turn scratch your lens.

Saying that; I am off to order a Lenspen from eBay right now!! :)
 
CarbonGoodies said:
I have a 2 year old that loves to touch the lens while taking photos of him. You have to be very quick if you are close lol!!!!
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Even the "purists" may agree that a UV filter could be appropriate in this case :D
 
Suvv said:
Even the "purists" may agree that a UV filter could be appropriate in this case :D
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I was recommended by my sister that a UV filter is a must have, not just for stopping finger prints & other rubbish getting onto the lens but also if you drop the camera & it lands on the lens its cheaper to replace the UV filter then the lens.
 
There is some fantastic advice there guys. Where is the best place to get things like uv filters from?

I'm using the standard Canon 18-55 and the nifty fifty.

Thanks again guys.
 
Suvv said:
Even the "purists" may agree that a UV filter could be appropriate in this case :D
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The "purists" (as you put it) would always maintain that it's a matter of the right tool for the job. If there is a reasonable risk of dirt or damage to the front element that a filter could reasonably protect the element from.. then it's time to use a filter. Seaspray in high winds, flying grit/gravel from motorsports and sticky children fall into that category for me. I wouldn't use one as a matter of routine.

Personally, I try and keep sticky children away from the front element.. if you're within finger-reach perhaps you could consider a longer lens.. .. :thumbs:


For general cleaning, I have a couple of lenspens which do the trick. Very handy with the brush on one end and the pad on the other. Although the look on some people's faces when they see my cleaning the front element can be an absolute picture. A lovely old boy from the always-keep-a-UV-on school of thought looked terrified, and it was my lens I was cleaning. He maintained that he daren't even clean the UV filter on his in case it was damaged. Ho hum, each to their own.
 
Sounds a little odd, but the fabric that comes with {decent} glasses can be useful? If not, Lenspens as aforementioned. Best wishes.
 
CarbonGoodies said:
There is some fantastic advice there guys. Where is the best place to get things like uv filters from?

I'm using the standard Canon 18-55 and the nifty fifty.

Thanks again guys.
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Those lenses are worth less than a decent filter - I wouldn't bother. :p

I use a lens pen to clean, brush away any obvious dust, grit etc, then a quick once over with the 'pad' end. As mentioned, not something to get hung up about, unless it's filthy, you aren't going to notice any difference.
 
Out and about I use a lens pen, when cleaning them at home (usually after a shoot) use some cloth glasses cleaner.
 
Craikeybaby said:
I normally use my t shirt.
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This.

I assist for a guy that'll happily leave his camera body sitting with no lens or body cap on while he spends 10-15 minutes painstakingly cleaning the front of his lens with a blower and lens pen. I try not too laugh too much. :lol::lol::lol:
 
Phew! Interesting article - must try to be a bit less anal about lens cleanliness in future.

Its cheap spectacle fluid (the sort that isn't designed to leave a residue) and a microfibre cloth for me.
 
Just make sure there is no grit on the lens element and then I use the optical glasses cleaning cloth that came with my wife's glasses, which I "borrowed".

I was advised a long while ago, if you are going to use a cleaning fluid, you must make sure it is designed for optics with a coatingon, otherwise they can start to degrade the coating on the front element
 
Simon photo said:
A fantastic article that may change your mind about constantly cleaning your front elephant
http://kurtmunger.com/dirty_lens_articleid35.html
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That was a really interesting read. I had no idea the front element was so important. I'm relieved to realise that my rather dusty SLR lenses can still be put to good use! hahaha thanks for posting :}
 
Lens pen and blower if I've got it handy, or failing that a microfibre cloth which I take in a sealed bag whenever I go out shooting. But it's hardly ever needed if you keep the hood on all the time.
 
I have a Spudz micofibre cloth that I carry in my camera bag. A quick breath on the lens and it works a treat.
 
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