Cleaning Lenses

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DinoS

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Hi

I got a small drip of water on one of my lenses to day i mean small a couple of mm across, It has left a small mark.

How do i get it off without scratching it, Tried the huff and wipe with micro oakley cloth, and its still there.

Any ideas and maybe a tutorial


:help::help::help:

Thanks

Mark
 
You sure it's water? Shouldn't leave a mark. Unless the lens was dirty anyway and the water has smeared the dirt? Anyway I use a blower (or my breath) and then Eclipse fluid and Pecpads. Unless there's grit on there, you're unlikely to scratch it. Might be worth getting a UV filter as protection in future.
 
luckly its only my kit lens, it doesn't effect pictures. Prehaps i should take it into a shop and see what they think.

Wheni try and get water off one of my UV filters it just smudges and leaves a trail,

how can i get rid of the trail.

:help:
 
You need to get a good anti-static cloth. I'd also get some cleaning fluid.

I clean my lenses with a spray or two of fluid, then just constantly wipe with a descent cloth until the smears dissapear.

It's also worth getting two cloths, one for use just after you use the liquid and then one for when the lens is a little drier (as when you wipe of the cleaning solution it will just make the cloth wet).

A blower is also usefull when you have cleaned your lens/filter. I always blow away all the dust before putting my filter back on to ensure no dust/dirt particles are trapped inside. As a result, my 70-200 is crystal clear :D
 
I hate cleaning the things, they always looks slightly smeary especially around the edges.
 
:bonk: within 2 weeks of owning my 10-20 I had several watermarks on the front element that actually looked like they were pulling the coating off. All gone now though, lens cleaning fluid should do the trick but blow any dust and dirt off first.
 
What so some lens cleaning fluid anyone impaticualar? and what cloth wipes should i use?

thanks For you help
 
72p from Aldi...

wipes.jpg


May cost more by now. I bought them about a year ago. Still plenty left. They work very well.
 
It's funny that it costs so much to buy a descent lens, but maintaing it with cleaning products costs absolutely nothing :D
 
8utters said:
It's funny that it costs so much to buy a descent lens, but maintaing it with cleaning products costs absolutely nothing :D
Click to expand...

Hmm maintaining it with cheap cleaning products is a bit dodgy IMO. I only clean my lenses when essential - usually no more than once or twice a year - and I only use Eclipse fluid with Pecpads.
 
Eclipse is the best IMO - cleans thoroughly and evaporates quickly, so doesn't leave streaks.
 
Grave Robber said:
Hmm maintaining it with cheap cleaning products is a bit dodgy IMO. I only clean my lenses when essential - usually no more than once or twice a year - and I only use Eclipse fluid with Pecpads.
Click to expand...

I use some cheap stuff that came free with my 40D (from DigitalRev, was thier own branded cleaning kit) and have had no problems, I just use 2 cloths so that there's no streaky marks on my lenses/filters.
 
I have a filter which i have tried to clean I would still like to get the streaks off, how would you reccommend doing so....

I have tried plain water then a micro cloth but streaks are still left on there, is it maybe because of grease from a finger,

can i use mild handsoap?

:help:

Mark
 
If you use 1 cloth then as soon as you spray whatever solution you have onto the filter/lens, then the cloth you use will just get wet, the more you wipe the more streaky it will be.

I use a 2nd dry cloth after it starts to streak to clear it all up and make it nice and clean. Then I use a blower to get the dust off.

Also DON'T touch it with your finger or anything other than a cloth, hold it around the edges. Just keep wiping with a cloth until it all clears up.

Filters are multi-coated which is why you get streaks, you just have to keep wiping.
 
I use this on my camera and telescope optics. It clears the grease and debris from fingers (help from the kids on my binoculars), eyelash streaks and marks left by hail/sleet that hit the eyepiece lens when I forgot to cap the eyepiece whilst waiting for the moon to clear the house.
 
If you use a micro fiber cloth make sure when it's washed that no fabric conditioner is used. That ruins the cloth and it leaves smears whenever you use it after that. Well mine did any way :lol:
 
visualisetheworld said:
I have a filter which i have tried to clean I would still like to get the streaks off, how would you reccommend doing so....

I have tried plain water then a micro cloth but streaks are still left on there, is it maybe because of grease from a finger,

can i use mild handsoap?

:help:

Mark
Click to expand...

I'm sure you're winding us up now - handsoap?!
 
ok then not handsoap, i guess i need to just buy some cleaning fludi now. Lens shop here i come!
 
I tend to use whatever I'm wearing and I've never had any problems.

Just check it isn't covered in sand or grit before you huff and wipe.

Failing that I'll use my Lee filter bag (hmmmmmm, soft) or a microfibre cloth.

Best practice is to get it off before it dries though.
 
I'd always put the cleaning solution (whatever you use) on the cloth itself, and not directly onto the lens, this way the liquid can't run into the lens barrel past the front element.
I've been using some 'Jessops' lens cleaner and lens tissues for years with no problems at all. I now have a micro-fibre cloth that I use, but make sure its kept clean and replace it if/when it gets dirty.
 
Interesting thread. I'll take the advice and buy some Eclipse fluid and Pec Pads. Sounds ideal for a number of applications.

Thanks!
 
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