Recommendations on lens cleaning equipment

[aeonnemesis]

Hi, I'm new to DSLR and have recently invested what i consider to be a small fortune in a decent camera/lens/cpl package.. my question is, what should i buy to help keep clean off dust and to remove dirt if by any chance it happens to get dirty or i accidentally putting a finger print on it?

they seem to have a few things on hvstar

such as "Giottos Medium Rocket-Air Blower lens cleaner AA-1910"
http://hvstar.net/ProductImages/accnew/thumb_1910.jpg
and "LENSPEN "Superior Lens Cleaning System for Fine Optics" NEW"
http://hvstar.net/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=614http://hvstar.net/ProductImages/accnew/thumb_lenspen.jpg

or just some lens cleaning clothes... what do you all use? are those things on hvstar a waste of $$? Thanks for any help and advice you can offer :)

[ben_r_]

I use both of those items (except I prefer the large rocket blower) and both are must haves for everyone.

[Mark]

I use both of those items (except I prefer the large rocket blower) and both are must haves for everyone.

+1 rocket blower (large) blows first on the lens then lenspen brush, then lenspen tip 2-3x then rocket blower is what I do usually.

Rocket blower can also be used for your camera insides.

[SkipD]

A large rocket blower, lens cleaning tissues, and a small bottle of lens cleaning fluid is all you need - and all I have ever used in the four-plus decades that I have been cleaning lenses.

[aznkidd55]

where would be the best place to buy these items?

I am new and just purchased a camera and lens so this would be next on my buying list.

[SkipD]

where would be the best place to buy these items?

I am new and just purchased a camera and lens so this would be next on my buying list.Any decent camera store should have the items I suggested above.

[aeonnemesis]

A large rocket blower, lens cleaning tissues, and a small bottle of lens cleaning fluid is all you need - and all I have ever used in the four-plus decades that I have been cleaning lenses.

Thanks for the advice Skip, I have to be honest and say that pen/brush dealie looked like it may damage the lens.. i'm not a huge fan of brushes.. so i'll look for some lens cleaning tissues/fluid/large rocket blower

[SkipD]

Now.... here's how to use those items:

Quality lens tissue (such as that sold by Kodak), a good lens cleaning fluid, and PROPER TECHNIQUE is the way that I have cleaned my lenses for decades. What is "proper technique"?

First - the goal is to clean the lens (or filter - I would use the very same process) without grinding any dirt/debris into the lens. To me, this absolutely dictates single-use surfaces for anything that touches the lens. That's why I use lens tissues instead of a washable cloth or - particularly - something like a lens pen.

Here are the steps that I use to clean a lens:

1. Use a squeeze-bulb blower to blow any loose dust off the lens. 90% of the time, step #1 is all that is necessary.

2. Take a lens tissue out of the pack. Fold it once, holding only what was the ends of the tissue. You want to be extremely careful to NEVER TOUCH the areas of the lens tissue that will be touching the lens. This will avoid transferring oils from your fingers to the lens.

3. Moisten the folded portion of the lens tissue with a little lens cleaner. You don't want the tissue dripping wet, but it must be damp.

CAUTION: NEVER apply lens cleaner directly to the lens (though it won’t hurt a filter, you don’t want liquid leaking into the lens’ innards).

4. Wipe LIGHTLY across the lens ONCE with the damp tissue. Then either turn it over or fold it so that you can wipe again, but with an unused surface. You can do this as often as needed, as long as you never wipe the lens twice with any surface of the tissue. This prevents scratches. Again, make sure you never touch an area of the tissue that will touch the lens.

5. Ensuring that the lens is actually clean, use a dry tissue, handled the same way as above, to wipe the lens dry. Since you have already removed the dirt, there's no risk of scratching the lens with the dry tissue.

6. Dispose of the used lens tissues in a proper trash receptacle.

That's it in a nutshell. Simple and effective. I've been cleaning my lenses this way for over 40 years, and all of them have pristine glass (and none have ever worn "protective" filters).

[aeonnemesis]

awesome, thanks again Skip. Some definite pittfalls there that i would have fallen into had you not pointed them out :)

[Jpiano]

GREAT!! Very helpful! thanks SKIP!!!

[vibin247]

I recommend the Giottos cleaning kit that has a small Rocket Air blower, microfiber cleaning cloth, cleaning solution, retractable dusting brush (my personal favorite), and some precision tipped swabs. I bought one at Samy's.