All your lens cleaning tips

[PekkaM]

I fear I might scratch the surface of a lens accidentally. So far I used this thing called LensPen that has a brush on one end and a microfiber pad on the other.

How to remove grease or fingerprints? I heard of someone using acetone but I wouldn't try it on a lens with plastic body.

[robertwgross]

I think that acetone might be too aggressive.

I use simple lens cleaner solution.

---Bob Gross---

[msvadi]

lenspen is great. for dust use rocket blower

[robertwgross]

I had some bad grease spot on a lens one time. Ordinary lens cleaner solution didn't do much, so I tried Windex (window cleaner). That worked. Then I rinsed it with ordinary lens cleaner.

---Bob Gross---

[Jim_T]

I mostly use a lens pen.. There;s nothing better for getting off regular stuff like finger smudges etc.. A rubber blower is always handy for blowing off bits of dust.

If there's lots of gunk on the lens, I use a regular tissue dampened with window cleaner..

Note.......... I use clear UV filters on all my lenses, so I actually clean the filter and rarely touch the lens itself..

[defordphoto]

The lens pens are good. Warm breath (always available; some hotter than others! ;) ) and a lens cloth work 90% of the time.

[Tomsk]

I had some bad grease spot on a lens one time. Ordinary lens cleaner solution didn't do much, so I tried Windex (window cleaner). That worked. Then I rinsed it with ordinary lens cleaner.

---Bob Gross---

Careful.
Window cleaning agents are not recommended for cleaning monitors, as they can remove the anti-reflective coating from them.
I'd hate to think what window cleaners could do to lens coatings! :shock:

[PhotosGuy]

I've been using Jims method for 40 years. Put on a UV filter & leave it on.
For cleaning I use lens tissue or an old handkerchief which I keep in a sealed plastic bag. A bottle of lens cleaning fluid will last well over a year. Put just a small drop ON THE TISSUE & use it on difficult problems. Usually just a tissue will do it though.

[robertwgross]

Careful.
Window cleaning agents are not recommended for cleaning monitors, as they can remove the anti-reflective coating from them.
I'd hate to think what window cleaners could do to lens coatings! :shock:

Stop and think about where the light is coming from and which reflections you want the coatings to stop.

To think of it differently, with a computer monitor, you are in front of the glass and the light is behind you. With a lens, you are behind the lens and the light is in front of you. The coatings are on the inside glass surfaces within the lens. Let Magnesium Fluoride be your friend.

---Bob Gross---

[Tomsk]

Careful.
Window cleaning agents are not recommended for cleaning monitors, as they can remove the anti-reflective coating from them.
I'd hate to think what window cleaners could do to lens coatings! :shock:

Stop and think about where the light is coming from and which reflections you want the coatings to stop.

To think of it differently, with a computer monitor, you are in front of the glass and the light is behind you. With a lens, you are behind the lens and the light is in front of you. The coatings are on the inside glass surfaces within the lens. Let Magnesium Fluoride be your friend.

---Bob Gross---

Aren't coatings on BOTH sides of each element in a lens?. Canon imply that here
http://www.canon.com/technology/s_labo/light/003/03.html

[Tom W]

Aren't coatings on BOTH sides of each element in a lens?. Canon imply that here
http://www.canon.com/technology/s_labo/light/003/03.html

I believe that is correct, given that the coatings tend to improve the transmittance and attenuate the reflection of light.