Gentle way to remove Fingerprints from lens?

Got my lens back from Canon service tonight for calibration -- and they were nice enough to leave a small fingerprint on the rear glass and a slight smudge on the front (don't these folks wear rubber gloves)? It was only a week old.

What's the best way to clean this off? I am using a B+W UV filter on the front anyway so I won't have to cleanings like this, but here I am.

I suspect first blow dust off the lens with canned air or a Rocket Blower? I fogged the glass a bit with my breathe and then gently wiped with a clean microber cloth, but this seems to leave faint streaks where I end my wipe. I got rid of the smudge, but when I breathe on the lens I can see a ghost of it, maybe residual oil

What technique or products do you use? Eye glass cleaner?

thanks!

amonia?

I would recommend using lens cleaner and lens tissue found at any camera store.

pixelmama wrote in post #2646028
I would recommend using lens cleaner and lens tissue found at any camera store.

Cheap at twice the price, and that's what it's for.

I'd just use lens cleaner, a microfibre cloth and care. Works for me, though I've never had to wipe a rear element.

Residual oil remover from BH rubbed with a cotton gtip and kimwipes to wipe it dry. Works really nice.

Maybe one of the sales people at the place you got it was fondling your lens...it's tainted! I highly recommend the LensPen....it works better then a microfibre clothe...great product and I think it is around $5.00

If you have a steady hand I use and recomend opticlean
http://www.opticlean.c​o.uk/
Its like a facepack for a lens. You paint on the liquid to within 1-2mm of the edge of the lens, leave it to dry ( about 5 mins ), attach a sticker and pull off the now solidified liquid whick comes off in a film taking all crud and oil with it. I've had my bottle for years now.

I find it incredible that Canon would actually do that, makes you wonder

steveathome wrote in post #2647708
I find it incredible that Canon would actually do that, makes you wonder

Thaks for the suggestions guys. To Canon's credit they had everything done in a week. But yes, they need to be more careful with handling.

Sand blast it...

wannasmaxx wrote in post #2648595
Sand blast it...

LOL

newfly5 wrote in post #2645973
amonia?

Please tell me that's not what YOU do. The lenses have a thin multicoating on them to reduce flare. Ammonia is a reactive chemical and would not be a good choice for cleaning any coated optics.

Mark

MotifOne wrote in post #2645921
Got my lens back from Canon service tonight for calibration -- and they were nice enough to leave a small fingerprint on the rear glass and a slight smudge on the front (don't these folks wear rubber gloves)? It was only a week old.

What's the best way to clean this off? I am using a B+W UV filter on the front anyway so I won't have to cleanings like this, but here I am.

I suspect first blow dust off the lens with canned air or a Rocket Blower? I fogged the glass a bit with my breathe and then gently wiped with a clean microber cloth, but this seems to leave faint streaks where I end my wipe. I got rid of the smudge, but when I breathe on the lens I can see a ghost of it, maybe residual oil

What technique or products do you use? Eye glass cleaner?

thanks!

I wouldnt use a microfiber rag- When I tried using it, it sounds as if it scratches the rear element ( I just had to wipe mine down). I just bought the little cleaner kit at best buy (DYNEX) it comes with a lens cloth and some lens cleaner that you dab on the cloth then wipe clean. worked great! it's a cloth like the kind you get to wipe your eye glasses clean.

Mark_Cohran wrote in post #2648982
Please tell me that's not what YOU do. The lenses have a thin multicoating on them to reduce flare. Ammonia is a reactive chemical and would not be a good choice for cleaning any coated optics.

Mark

I beveive a lot of lens cleaning fluids are just that. Very duluted though.

Ammonia as a base will react with caroxylic part of the fatty acids forming a soluble organic salt, thus cleaning the fats off the surface of the lens.