Wasted an Hour tonight..

[smallboy3uk]

Hi,

I have the mucking frump at the mo, I was preparing my kit for a day out tomorrow and thoguht I would take a close look at my 100-400 as i have been getting 'soft' images in the centre and lo and behold there was a mark on the Hoya Pro-1 uv0 filter, so i removed it to clean it and despite lens paper and lens fluid, then spray lens cleaner and paper, spray and a lens cloth i cant get the bugger clean and smear free. I have left it off for now but am happier with the protection it give when in the field. Any advice please before it break it an buy a new one!!!!

[james048a]

sounds like youll be getting a new uv filter. I to like the peace of mind protection they give. Its cheaper to replace a filter then a lens.

[folville]

I would suggest using the lens hood for the time being. You can order a new protective filter (I would suggest something of high quality (B+W, Heliopan, Formatt, Hoya HMC, etc), but I wouldn't let the fact that you don't have one for a shoot tomorrow prevent you from using your lens to its fullest with the protection of a lens hood in the meantime.

[_aravena]

I know my hood has served my lenses well in the protection area. While I still have filters on them, it's more for anything else that might get up there.

[ben_r_]

Its cheaper to replace a filter then a lens.

Man isnt that the truth!

[joeman]

Back when I did some work in the electro-optics, we would flush the surface of GaAs wafers with water and use dish detergent. We would follow up with solvents to get rid of the water and leave a clean surface. Just remember that in lens grinding, water is used to provide flushing and cooling so water and a small amount of detergent should be fine.

If nothing else works, you could try this method. Its better than breaking the filter and buying new.

Only use your fingers to wash the glass. Make sure you use plenty of water to rinse particles away that may scratch the surface while you are cleaning. If you have any Iso to clean the surface (rubbing alcohol), that will help with drying and possible water spots.

The only problem with this approach that I have seen is that the metal ring will capture some water/alcohol when you are done and may streak the edge. Provided that there is no abrasive particles, your standard cleaning procedure may clean up this residue.

Again, only do this approach as a last resort and of course, your mileage may vary.

[Lester Wareham]

Hi,

I have the mucking frump at the mo, I was preparing my kit for a day out tomorrow and thoguht I would take a close look at my 100-400 as i have been getting 'soft' images in the centre and lo and behold there was a mark on the Hoya Pro-1 uv0 filter, so i removed it to clean it and despite lens paper and lens fluid, then spray lens cleaner and paper, spray and a lens cloth i cant get the bugger clean and smear free. I have left it off for now but am happier with the protection it give when in the field. Any advice please before it break it an buy a new one!!!!

Sounds like you have either scratched it (in which case it did its job) or got grease on it. I never use cleaning fluid on my Hoya filters (I think they tell you not to) many people comment the solvent residue causes smears. I just use a huff of breath and polish with a microfiber cloth.

I don't know if it is true but I hear that some lens cloths have solvents or other residues in them so I keep clear of them.

[smallboy3uk]

Thanks for all the advice, It was getting to the point where i may end up putting it in the dishwasher as my glasses come out sparkling!! I have got a new cloth and may go for the water/detergent option.

[Lester Wareham]

I have heard of people washing them, might be ok if your water is soft rather than hard. If you do decide to wash it I would try some distilled water, but to be honest just huff and polish, huff and polish - but use a microfibre cloth.

[pturton]

For a couple bucks I picked up a handfull of UV filters of various grade and manufacturers at a pawn shop a few years ago and they all needed significant cleaning. I ended up washing them in hot water and liquid dish detergent. I could not tell them from new once washed and dried. Even the coated ones came clean and streak free. My water source is rain water saved from the roof via the eaves and filtered to take the lumps of bird poop out;-)

[Dream Merchant]

For a couple bucks I picked up a handfull of UV filters of various grade and manufacturers at a pawn shop a few years ago and they all needed significant cleaning. I ended up washing them in hot water and liquid dish detergent. I could not tell them from new once washed and dried. Even the coated ones came clean and streak free. My water source is rain water saved from the roof via the eaves and filtered to take the lumps of bird poop out;-)

Not sure about what the HMCs are like over there, but in my country, they have the most notorious reputation of being 'the most difficult to clean', and most folks never really get all the stains etc off/damage the coatings very easily etc.

I've used the mild dishwashing detergent and lots of water, and a high speed hair dryer on low temp settings for years with no problems.

You could also try a high quality spectacle cleaning liquid or spray, which is essentiall glorified diluted detergent water of some description, or diluted Windex.

[pturton]

Not sure about what the HMCs are like over there, but in my country, they have the most notorious reputation of being 'the most difficult to clean', and most folks never really get all the stains etc off/damage the coatings very easily etc.

I've used the mild dishwashing detergent and lots of water, and a high speed hair dryer on low temp settings for years with no problems.

You could also try a high quality spectacle cleaning liquid or spray, which is essentiall glorified diluted detergent water of some description, or diluted Windex.

Yes, the Hoya HMCs are miserable to clean but the 77mm Hoya HMC Super which I purchased new seems no worse for wear after a cleaning in hot soft water and mild liquid dish detergent.

A Lenspen does a decent job on them as well provided there is no major crud on them to begin with.

I've cleaned some old camera lenses that have seen the worst of care and it seems that the coatings on lenses are tougher than one may think. I wipe my coated eye glasses every day with whatever I have handy and their coating does not appear to be affected - single element lens @ ~$100 per element compares with many camera lenses for cost.

[queenbee288]

When I had a circular polarizer that I couldn't get the smear off with lens cleaner, I just used water. Worked like a charm.

[smallboy3uk]

Well, hot water, cold water, washing up liquid, new lens cloth, lens paper, huffing and puffing, even the dishwasher!!! Still cant get it clean and clear.

ARRRGGGHHHHHH!!

Thanks to all that have contributed.

[JohnnyG]

I would throw the filter away and only use the lens hood. Better protection and cheaper. Filters have been known to affect focus and degrade the image. Using the highest quality filter you can get helps but still I only use the lens hood. I pay thousands of dollars for Canon quality lenses and I don't want to put anything on the front of it.

Just my opinion folks!

[BearLeeAlive]

I would throw the filter away and only use the lens hood. Better protection and cheaper. Filters have been known to affect focus and degrade the image. Using the highest quality filter you can get helps but still I only use the lens hood. I pay thousands of dollars for Canon quality lenses and I don't want to put anything on the front of it.

Just my opinion folks!
My opinion too. I do use polarizing filters, but never UV. I always use hoods on my lenses though, except for the macro when real close to subject.