Lens Condensation

[Foreverstorm]

I accidently touched my S50 lense when I was opening it, and I had wax on my hand that didn't wash off easily. Needless to say I was annoyed at the large streak that now covered the lense. So then I decided to shove some window cleaner on a tissue and wipe it down, and the residue off with a dry tissue. To my horror everything was now misty on the LCD screen! I left the camera for a while and came back to it, and a hideous blob of condensation INSIDE the lense was revealed to me. It hasn't gone away yet and I am afraid it will leave a stain there. What should I do?
This brings about another point to do with Cannon Powershot cameras, the lense cover is a clunky slab of metal that feels like it's going to break! I always eye the petite Sony Cybershot covers in envy...

[stduc]

Sounds like you got the lens too wet. Looks a bit like a canon service centre job to me. Your not supposed to clean camera lenses with windowlene - or whatever you used. I have found the lense pen to be very good at getting rid of the ocassional fingerprint.

[Matzzzy]

I bought a lenscloth to clean the lense of my camera...wouldn't handle wax probably...but works fine with fat fingerprints.

[stopbath]

Was the LCD itself misty, or was it just showing the window cleaner on the lens?

Hopefully it's just showing the moisture on the lens.

To get rid of the blob, moisten it with a short blast of throuty exhale (say ah) and quickly give it a few swips with a soft lint free cloth. Don't scrub. It may take several tries.

If you just can't do it, try the a drop or two of methal hydrate (pure alcohol) This is the best tough cleaner to use on lenses. It will help remove fingerprints, and evaporates extremely fast. It also removes the oil from your fingers too, so they'll feel funny if you get any spilt on yourself. You'll find it's also good for removing magic marker and sticker glue.

Apply liquid directly to the cloth, and the cloth should not drip the liquid.

[stduc]

I don't know enough about lenses or 'methal hydrate' to comment on it's suitability as a lens cleaner but felt I had to raise the fact that the lens has a special coating to reduce reflaction/refraction. When cleaning, extreme care should be taken not to damage this coating.

BTW - methal hydrate - or methyl hydrate is also known as methanol, carbinol, colonial spirit, columbian spirit, methylol, methyl hydrate, wood alcohol, wood naphtha, wood spirit, methyl hydroxide, pyroxylic spirit, meths
Molecular formula: CH3OH

It's quite toxic and highly inflamable.

[stduc]

Just found this site that my interest some - in fact I may order some myself.

recommended lens solution (http://www.moose395.net/howto/lensclens.html)

[stopbath]

stduc wrote:
I don't know enough about lenses or 'methal hydrate' to comment on it's suitability as a lens cleaner but felt I had to raise the fact that the lens has a special coating to reduce reflaction/refraction. When cleaning, extreme care should be taken not to damage this coating.

BTW - methal hydrate - or methyl hydrate is also known as methanol, carbinol, colonial spirit, columbian spirit, methylol, methyl hydrate, wood alcohol, wood naphtha, wood spirit, methyl hydroxide, pyroxylic spirit, meths
Molecular formula: CH3OH

It's quite toxic and highly inflamable.

During the time I worked for a couple of national camera repair depots, Mythal hyrdate was used to clean lenses, camera bodies, circuit boards, focus screens, battery contacts and well, almost everything else. I've used it on every camera and lens (Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Minolta, and others) that I have owned that needed cleaning.

The coatings on the glass (or in some cases plastic) are extremely strong. Repeated light cleaning with solutions will not affect them. They will be affected by grinding dirt on them (as would the glass too), so care is needed when cleaning, but you don't need to be too worried (I don't recall ever seeing a lens scratched by cleaning, but I wouldn't rule it out from happening.)

[Foreverstorm]

Cheers dudes, it's gone. MethylHydrate works

[stopbath]

Foreverstorm wrote:
Cheers dudes, it's gone. MethylHydrate works

Great!

After some macro shots this morning, I discovered some sticky glue was adhering to the A70's lens cowling :~(, so I used the Methal Hydrate to clean it up. Also gave the camera a general cleaning for dust and fingerprints (now I can see the LCD again:)).