how to clean lens?

I did not have a filter on the lens at the time of taking the picture.

maybe I should add a lens hood?

copenhagen69 wrote in post #11813288
maybe I should add a lens hood?

I certainly would recommend that. Get the hood recommended by the lens manufacturer or a direct copy of that one rather than a generic rubber hood which may not block as much stray light.

well that is good I thought my lens was messed up

copenhagen69 wrote in post #11815211
well that is good I thought my lens was messed up

Now I'm afraid mine is. I was trying some macro shots this evening with my SX20-IS and I noticed some artifacts in the pictures. I stopped and cleaned the lens using a lenspen. Took some more shots and they're still there. Did it again, and still there. Got out some lens cleaning solution that says its made for multicoated lenses, cleaned with a chamois. Still there. Please take a look and tell me if this is something more than a dirty lens? It's the hexagonal shapes in the upper right quadrant. They kind of look like flares, or kinda like floaters in your eye.

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mr. howdy wrote in post #11872336
Now I'm afraid mine is. I was trying some macro shots this evening with my SX20-IS and I noticed some artifacts in the pictures. I stopped and cleaned the lens using a lenspen. Took some more shots and they're still there. Did it again, and still there. Got out some lens cleaning solution that says its made for multicoated lenses, cleaned with a chamois. Still there. Please take a look and tell me if this is something more than a dirty lens? It's the hexagonal shapes in the upper right quadrant. They kind of look like flares, or kinda like floaters in your eye.

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Please advise. I'm going nuts. And BTW, I move the camera around and they remain stationary.

Looks like dust in the lens to me. Not much you can do about it if it is not on the front element, since I assume the lens is not detachable? If it were sensor dust, it wouldn't be shaped like the aperture like that.

I never clean the lens. All are covered by Hoya UV filters. The lens is tucked away behind. I only use a microfiber on the filter Sometimes very little liquid lens cleaner for a smudge. I rarely take the filter off to look at the lens.I gave up on the powerwasher years ago I'm convinced it causes damage.
Sam

Damn I should stop using fairy liquid.

Yeah that looks like inner lens dust, dont know if it can be cleaned

funkyfones wrote in post #11875947
Damn I should stop using fairy liquid.

Yeah that looks like inner lens dust, dont know if it can be cleaned

Well thanks guys for the replies. I have cleaned it four times now and the little hexagonal artifacts have not changed a bit. I've also taken a flashlight, held it at about 80 degrees or 90 to the surface of the lens and examined it carefully, and can't see any irregularities or dirt.

And Sam Walker, I always keep a UV filter on mine, and only took it off to clean the lens, and I did that because of this problem. So your advice is sensible in my opinion, and I'm trying to do the same as you all the time in this.

I have sent an email to Canon. This camera is only 10 months old and I'm hoping they'll just give me an RMA or whatever they do.

mr. howdy wrote in post #11876154
And Sam Walker, I always keep a UV filter on mine, and only took it off to clean the lens, and I did that because of this problem.

Was your filter on or off the lens when you made the images with the hexagonal flare in the images?

If you had a filter on the lens when you made the images we see, get rid of the filter and try it again. In fact, you want to put the camera on a tripod and shoot one image with and another without the filter to see if the problem disappears without the filter.

SkipD wrote in post #11876668
Was your filter on or off the lens when you made the images with the hexagonal flare in the images?

If you had a filter on the lens when you made the images we see, get rid of the filter and try it again. In fact, you want to put the camera on a tripod and shoot one image with and another without the filter to see if the problem disappears without the filter.

Thanks Skip but I ruled out the filter first. The defective pic I posted was without it. Thanks though!