Lens cleaning fluid & cloths recommendation?

Sort by date Sort by votes
Mitch.Conner

Mitch.Conner

It was all a lie.
Nov 7, 2013
535
0
8,161
#1
I was trying to clean a lens today, and while it superficially looks clean, shining a light on the surface reveals what looks like smudges. It was getting very annoying.

I think my cloth has absorbed my skin oil and is depositing it on the surface of the lens now, defeating my efforts.

I was reading the B&H catalog cleaning section and it really opened my eyes to how much stuff is out there.

I'm looking for a good quality fluid (what I use now doesn't seem to be 100% alcohol) and good soft lint-free optical quality cloths (I'm going to try to buy a bunch this time, should keep me going for a few years). Maybe tissues too (Rosco or Kimwipes maybe?). I sometimes use tissues, sometimes when I'm just removing a fingerprint or something I skip this step.

Last, a better brush would be nice. The one I use is sort of crummy. I hear camel hair is the standard.

If there's something else I should also use, feel free to recommend it. Like fluid saturated wipes, I know nothing about these.


You guys have recommendations for good stuff? Is wood grain alcohol based fluid preferable to isopropyl alcohol based fluid?

Basically recommendations from each category (fluid, cloth, tissues, brush) would be useful. I know some of you use eye glass fluid and wipes. I'm looking more for products intended for camera lenses. It's a peace of mind thing.

Thanks. :)
 
#2
Hi Mitch.

Rule # 1. Always wet cleaning.
Rule # 2. See Rule 1.

Personally I prefer water-based with some surfactant. But as mild as possible.
Brush, Ermine / Stoat. Longest bristles preferred, 1" or more. Local art supply store.
Tissue, Lens Tissue. I prefer "made in china".

Oil will show rainbow~ish colours at certain angles to the light. To deal with Oil you need something that will soak-up the oil, rather than just move it around.
I dont have much faith in those 'micro-fibre' cloths, but I always keep one around. You can wash them, just make sure to really rinse and rinse and rinse til it becomes an OCD. :)

I have tried those Lens Cleaning Pens. They certainly work well, but I dont have any Long Term experience with them.

Get a UV / Protector filtre for all of your lens'. Then does not matter if you get it wrong.
 
Upvote 0
#3
While I can't suggest good cleaning material, I would steer you away from certain chemicals.

Wood alcohol, methanol, is definitely not recommended. It is toxic.
Alcohols, ethanol or isopropyl alcohol you get from beauty supply places often contain oils or glycerol that gives you an oily film, so stay away from those.
I'm not sure if pure ethanol is a good choice, not because it is not a bad cleaner or solvent, but because it may swell or dissolve the bonding agent used in gluing lenses together in the manufacturing process.
Water-based cleaner with a slight amount of surfactant ( detergents ) may be all you need. I am thinking of "fotoflow" of the film days. It is quite free of residues and a couple of drops in a cup of distilled water should give you a good cleaning solution.

As to micro-fiber cloths, I don't know what they are; I have some from photo houses to kitchen stores, and I don't see a difference of the cleaning results of any micro-fiber cloths or regular lint-free cloths. Though it is suggested that a new area of the cloth be used each time.
I use lens paper now, heavily moisturized with lens cleaning solution to gently move around the lenses / filters and then follow up with dry lens paper in blotting / dapping ( very gentle wiping ) motion to remove excess liquid film.

Hope someone can come up with some great, definitive suggestions for cleaning expensive optics.
-r



Mitch.Conner said:
I was trying to clean a lens today, and while it superficially looks clean, shining a light on the surface reveals what looks like smudges. It was getting very annoying.

--- snipped ---

I'm looking for a good quality fluid (what I use now doesn't seem to be 100% alcohol) and good soft lint-free optical quality cloths (I'm going to try to buy a bunch this time, should keep me going for a few years). Maybe tissues too (Rosco or Kimwipes maybe?). I sometimes use tissues, sometimes when I'm just removing a fingerprint or something I skip this step.
--- snipped ---

You guys have recommendations for good stuff? Is wood grain alcohol based fluid preferable to isopropyl alcohol based fluid?

--- snipped ---
Thanks. :)
Click to expand...
 
Upvote 0
#6
I have used the Zeiss cleaning kit for years and it's done a great job. You can pick it up from B&H. You get a cloth, some lens fluid of course, a great brush and some "wetnap" style packets to keep in your bag when you're out and about. I notice B&H has discontinued the package I have but the new one is pretty much the same with the addition of a blower. For $28 it seems reasonable to me and again, it's done a great job for my cleaning needs.
 
Upvote 0
#7
OP if your microfiber cloth is leaving smears it's time for a wash. Simple.

Now here's a good place to argue the case for the 100% use of protective filters (and hoods...)

A lens smudge will generally happen when you least expect it; an impossible to predict splash of water or liquid, a dogs tongue, a child's hand, a dusty gust of wind, a horse sneeze (errrgh!) or even a momentarily careless greasy hand of your own can dirty up a previously pristine front element.

On location my most used lens cleaner tends to be a puff of hot breath and the shirt that I am wearing. Or even a tie. Or a towel. Or a tissue. Back in the studio it tends to be a blast of air then a lint free microfiber cloth that is used for nothing else. From time to time I'll give my microfiber cloths a wash in warm soapy water and rinse well.

With a protective front filter which may get replaced every few years, you don't mind quickly grinding it with a T-shirt or a silk tie to get immediately back to work. Without a front filter you really need to approach the job more thoughtfully to avoid permanent front element damage. In the time you've lost cleaning up, you might just miss the shot of the year.

-pw
 
Upvote 0
#8
Not all microfiber cloths are created equal. My personal favorite are Leica. But in order for it to stay clean I hand wash it in my wife's Nordstrom lingerie laundry soap. Very mild stuff. Also never use dryer sheets or fabric softener.

My line of defense:

1. Rocket Blower
2. Leica cloth

That's it.
 
Upvote 0
#15
Hi pwp, Sanj.
I'll admit a huff and shirt is my primary filter cleaner, never a lens element, I don't want the hassle of sending a lens in for a new front element even if it is said by many to be no dearer than a good filter (so why put another bit of glass in the light path argument).

Cheers, Graham.

pwp said:
sanj said:
Since when blowing air from the mouth and the bottom end of the shirt stopped working? :)
Click to expand...
Oh good! Someone else who is straightforward enough to admit their shirt is their primary lens cleaner.

-pw
Click to expand...
 
Upvote 0
#16
I appreciate the input. I have a lenspen, and a Giottos rocket blower - among other cleaning supplies. I'm not overly fond of the lenspen. I read an article at LensRentals about what they use. I ordered the following today:

  • Photographic Solutions Eclipse Optical Cleaner
  • Photographic Solutions PEC-PADS Photo Wipes
  • Purosol Optical Cleaner
  • ROR Residual Oil Remover
  • Giottos Microfiber cloths
  • Delta 1 Camel hair brush (1")

For the most part, it's overkill, I know. Especially the fluids. If there's anything else that might be helpful, feel free to let me know. I'm still looking for non microfiber cloths (like what I have now), tissues, and pre-moistened wipes.

Here's the article I found:
http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2011/05/the-lensrentals-lens-cleaning-methods

... and no, I will not use my breath and the t-shirt I'm wearing to clean (and possibly scratch) the front element of my lenses. I appreciate the carefree attitude that doing this must require (I bet it's really nice to keep things so simple) but I couldn't do it myself. ;)
 
Upvote 0
#18
Valvebounce said:
Hi pwp, Sanj.
I'll admit a huff and shirt is my primary filter cleaner, never a lens element, I don't want the hassle of sending a lens in for a new front element even if it is said by many to be no dearer than a good filter (so why put another bit of glass in the light path argument).

Cheers, Graham.

pwp said:
sanj said:
Since when blowing air from the mouth and the bottom end of the shirt stopped working? :)
Click to expand...
Oh good! Someone else who is straightforward enough to admit their shirt is their primary lens cleaner.

-pw
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Graham we both a joking.... We would never do that. Well, almost never. :)
 
Upvote 0
#19
I have an unmodified Rocket (reference Surapon's experience with airport security...) and use LensPens for most cleanings. For saltwater and worse, I use a eyeglass kit from Costco for the wet clean. I found the tip years ago and it's dirt cheap and comes with 2 big cleaner bottles, one small sprayer (free refills at Costco), eyeglass repair kit (ok, useless for me), and two nice microfiber cloths for like $10. Best deal out there and cleans really well. Found it on the forums years ago.
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Canon 16-35mm f/4 Lens Cleaning Issues
Replies
32
Views
19K
Ruined
R
J
  • Locked
Using pencil eraser to clean Camera / Lens contacts?
Replies
8
Views
23K
Don Haines
Don Haines
Top Bottom
Home
Forums
Media
Menu