Slightly O/T - Lens Cleaning

[BrandonSi]

Well I was wondering how long I could have the camera before I had to worry about cleaning the lenses.. Apparently it was about 1 week :) I need a kit, but I've heard some can be a waste of money.. I don't know what exactly I should be buying.. I was starting with this one.. any opinions?

http://www.wolfcamera.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10101&catalogId=10001&langI d=-1&productId=29740

[defordphoto]

Wolf? Ritz/Kits/Quantaray...Ewwwwwwwww!

Sorry, but I don't like these guys. They're the Radio Shack of camera stores: "We don't have that in stock, but we do have this Quantaray over here..."

Shop around a bit more and get a kit worthwhile. I don't have one myself. I use a soft lens cloth and warm breath. Voila! And I NEVER clean my lenses. I clean the UV filters. ;)

[BrandonSi]

Wolf? Ritz/Kits/Quantaray...Ewwwwwwwww!

Sorry, but I don't like these guys. They're the Radio Shack of camera stores: "We don't have that in stock, but we do have this Quantaray over here..."

Shop around a bit more and get a kit worthwhile. I don't have one myself. I use a soft lens cloth and warm breath. Voila! And I NEVER clean my lenses. I clean the UV filters. ;)

Yeah, wolf is just the closest by me, I'm leaving thursday for Arizona, I plan to shoot alot during the trip so I don't have time for mail order.. and actually, my UV and polarizing filters are what need cleaning, not the lenses themselves. :wink:

So you think a cloth would be sufficient? I know you're not a big fan of wolf, but how about this? Are most cloths the same material?

http://www.wolfcamera.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10101&catalogId=10001&langI d=-1&productId=13097262

[defordphoto]

That would be sufficient.

[BrandonSi]

That would be sufficient.

Thanks once again for helpin' out the newbies :)

[KennyG]

Jim, a man after my own heart. Good quality cleaning cloth, a bit of heavy breathing and that's it.

There is a guy over on DPR who spends 45 minutes to an hour in his bathroom with shower running to clean a lens. At an hour a lens with my collection, that is a couple of day's work and a fortune to run the shower. It takes all sorts.....

[Ballen Photo]

I use a soft lens cloth and warm breath. Voila! And I NEVER clean my lenses. I clean the UV filters. ;)

I use old(but clean) T-shirts and warm breath on My filters(As Jim said). They work great! I also keep a blower brush in each bag for light duty. :wink:
-Bruce

[cdhender]

Great tips guys, especially for a newbie like myself who otherwise would have spent $$$ on some kit that probably wasn't too good anyway. Thanks.

[MarkH]

I have used a microfibre cloth and some cleaning solution designed to be safe on glasses that have an anti-reflective coating. This is cheap and readily available from the Optometrist or pharmacy.

It seems to work well on my filters, anyone got any reason not to do it this way? Would it be OK to use the same thing on the front element of the lens itself?

[Adam Hicks]

Seems like the Eclipse solution and PEC pads do the best job that I've seen, and it's pretty cheap. It disolves quickly and completely and doesn't leave streaks like many of the other cleaners.

Adam

[defordphoto]

Jim, a man after my own heart. Good quality cleaning cloth, a bit of heavy breathing and that's it.

There is a guy over on DPR who spends 45 minutes to an hour in his bathroom with shower running to clean a lens. At an hour a lens with my collection, that is a couple of day's work and a fortune to run the shower. It takes all sorts.....

I thrive on simplicity. I (also) don't have that much time, or hot water, to clean all my lenses. When shooting the boats the UV's will get pretty trashed. That's when I pull them, rinse them under the faucet and then dry them well.

[dtrayers]

I use a lenspen. It's convienent and works well.

[MrKickalot]

Seems like the Eclipse solution and PEC pads do the best job that I've seen, and it's pretty cheap. It disolves quickly and completely and doesn't leave streaks like many of the other cleaners.

Adam

These work great just watch out traveling with them. This is from Photographic Solutions web site "

Traveling by air with ECLIPSE :

Technically, the regulations allow some exemptions for small amounts - usually ½ ounce or less (about 7 ½ mL) . The items referred to in the regulations are for such things as small butane lighters, and some medical items.

Strictly speaking the regulations seem to prohibit things like cleaning solvents, especially in volumes greater than the allowable ½ ounce. In many cases, I have been allowed to carry bottles of either product with no problem, but I have heard from many photographers who had these items removed from their carry-on.

Putting these materials in your checked luggage may put you at risk for violating the law, and the penalties are quite stiff – $250,000!"

Clean lenses aren't worth $250,000!!!