Lens Contact Cleaning

I've done a search and found articles on cleaning just about everything on the camera except the lens contacts. I've heard use alcohol and don't use alcohol, use a pencil eraser and don't ever use a pencil eraser. What do you all use??

I used a pencil eraser once, and it seemed to work pretty well. I haven't had a lens error since then. What, out of curiosity, are the given reasons for not using either method?

NEVER use an abrasive such as a standard pink eraser on gold-plated contacts. A very soft white drafting eraser can be used lightly, but I don't even really advise that. The best thing to use is a liquid product designed for the purpose (such as the old Cramolin that I use), but a little 91% isopropyl alcohol on a lint-free cloth (damp, not wet) could also be used for most cleaning without problems.

This advice comes from 37 years of experience in the industrial control systems field.

I've used both. I heard from members that Canon service center techs may recommend using the pencil eraser.

folville wrote in post #3361197
I used a pencil eraser once, and it seemed to work pretty well. I haven't had a lens error since then. What, out of curiosity, are the given reasons for not using either method?

Something about some of the chemicals damaging the brass of the contacts.

SkipD wrote in post #3361251
NEVER use an abrasive such as a standard pink eraser on gold-plated contacts. A very soft white drafting eraser can be used lightly, but I don't even really advise that. The best thing to use is a liquid product designed for the purpose (such as the old Cramolin that I use), but a little 91% isopropyl alcohol on a lint-free cloth (damp, not wet) could also be used for most cleaning without problems.

This advice comes from 37 years of experience in the industrial control systems field.

Thanks Skip. I will try that and keep my fingers crossed!!

Bob Charnier wrote in post #3361320
Something about some of the chemicals damaging the brass of the contacts.

The contacts can handle a quite a lot of chemicals. However, the surface coating on the lens is not guaranteed to like the chemicals.

There is a watch makers product called Rodico which is excellent for cleaning contacts. Any jewelers supply house should stock it.

WMS

Tee Why wrote in post #3361280
I've used both. I heard from members that Canon service center techs may recommend using the pencil eraser.

That's what I'm going off as well. I'd never have thought of that myself, but it makes sense. I suppose the logic is that the rubber will absorb any oils that may have gotten on the contacts. I wouldn't really consider a light erasing that abrasive..

folville wrote in post #3361953
That's what I'm going off as well. I'd never have thought of that myself, but it makes sense. I suppose the logic is that the rubber will absorb any oils that may have gotten on the contacts. I wouldn't really consider a light erasing that abrasive..

I've been in electronics for 30 years - you'd be surprised how abrasive a pink pencil eraser is. A soft, white drafting erasor plus isopropyle is what we used on precision electronics, and even then we only lightly rubbed the eraser across contacts, then cleaned up with the alcohol.

Mark

Definitely go for a white soft eraser. If it damages a newspaper paper, it is too hard.