Why is my CPL so hard to clean?!

For the life of me I can't seem to get my circular polarizer clean. It's easy to accidentally get finger prints on it reaching through a hood and it's seemingly impossible to get this thing clean. I am using the canon lens cleaning kit, but it doesn't seem to touch it.

Any tips?

Thanks,
Nick

Lenspen

LV Moose wrote in post #10314267
Lenspen

Funny you mention that. I actually have one and didn't even try it. I Will give it a shot, thanks!

Is it a Hoya filter? They are notorious for cleaning. I use a lens cloth from Costco with a little of the eyeglass cleaner on the cloth first.

Dont touch the glass with your fingers

FYI make sure you dont have any dust on that thing before using the lenspen. Unless you want swirls engraved on your glass. You may have a buildup of fingerprint grease on there as well. You may need to go heavy with a little soapy water first . Microfiber microfibre microfibre.

This is the exact reason I bought a Hoya HD filter. Ridiculously easy to clean...now if I can just master using it.

Sdiver2489 wrote in post #10316717
This is the exact reason I bought a Hoya HD filter. Ridiculously easy to clean...now if I can just master using it.

Indeed, also the only ones you can clean with a hammer ^^

Seriously though, The B+W kaesemann as well as Hoya HD's are MUCH easier to clean. My hoya just needs a quick blow followed by a wipe to be supershiny again. Some other filters need special liquids etc to dissolve the acid + fat in fingerprints. Some even stay smudged forever.

Get yourself a small bottle of "Formula MC" and some lens tissues. It'll clean up nicely.

One of the reasons I rarely use my Hoya (non HD) CPL filter: it's almost impossible to get it clean

Buy Giottos Multi Optical Cleaning Solution. All you have to do is spray (once) the solution over your cleaning cloth. Take the cloth and apply it in circular motion from the center of the CPL and work you way to the outside. Good luck.

That's why I highly recommend B+W MRC filters. They are so easy to clean.

I found the Hoya HD CPL very easy to clean, same with the B+W MRC CPL.

sinjans wrote in post #10316704
Dont touch the glass with your fingers

FYI make sure you dont have any dust on that thing before using the lenspen. Unless you want swirls engraved on your glass. You may have a buildup of fingerprint grease on there as well. You may need to go heavy with a little soapy water first . Microfiber microfibre microfibre.

The last thing you'd want to clean a CPL with is soapy water (or any water, for that matter) due to the risk of getting liquid between the glass plates (works okay for UV's and the like, though).

Use a rocket blower first to remove any loose particles, then a lens pen or cleaning fluid applied to a lens tissue or microfiber cloth (don't apply liquid directly to the filter). When you're out and about, plain old breath and a microber cloth/tee shirt will work just fine (as long as its not a Hoya with problem coatings).

SuzyView wrote in post #10314284
Is it a Hoya filter? They are notorious for cleaning. .

I have Hoyas, but have no issues with cleaning streak free...using Residual Oil Remover (ROR) on the few occasions when I need anything more than simply fogging with breath and wiping with microfiber.

argyle wrote in post #10318158
The last thing you'd want to clean a CPL with is soapy water (or any water, for that matter) due to the risk of getting liquid between the glass plates (works okay for UV's and the like, though)...

Absolutely. NEVER dunk a CPL in the sink! You'll end up with water spots at the very least - which you can't clean without taking the filter apart. There may also be lubrication in the ring which will not take to soapy water very well and potentially leave a very greasy filter; inside and out.