cleaning salty air / mist / fog from lens

[gordeaux]

Any recommendations on the best way to clean my lenses used shooting near the ocean? I think there's some sea salt in the mist that gets on the lenses.

One comment I had was to make sure to use water when cleaning the lens -- to disolve the salt prior to rubbing it, so as not to damage the coatings on the lens.

I use a blower mostly to clean the lenses, occasionally when needed a B+H cleaning cloth and LensPen brush/rubbing tool.

Any experiences and/or suggestions from anyone? :?:

[defordphoto]

I always have UV filters on my lenses so I just wash those in running water. Then I wipe both the lens and camera bodies twice with a slightly damp rag and dry.

[johneo]

I'm around the salt water much of the time and I always keep some sort of filter on the lens. Much rather clean a filter and accidently ruin it than an expensive lens.

Under normal use I just spray a little windex on a lens cloth and wipe. Been doing this for some time without noticing any adverse affects. I also go over the filter with a dry cloth after, as well.

I also have and carry in my bag some of those wipes (for electronics) and go over the camera and lenses (NOT the glass) to clean off anything on the camera, especially after being around the salt water.

[whowie]

Windex will, over time, remove the UV protection from any surface (lenses, eye glasses, etc) its applied to. I think it has to do with the amonia that's in the product. Any chemists looking in that can varify this? I use an eyeglass cleaning solution, available from any optomitrist shop, and a lens cloth.

[ron chappel]

I am probably the roughest lens cleaner around but frankly sand and salt spray scare me :shock:
Take lots of care