lens pen lifetime?

[mmcp42]

I have a couple of lens pens that I use for - well cleaning lenses!
clearly the brush part will last for ever

but what about the pen end - you know the one with the black gunk on it?
how long do they last?
is there a best wiped before date?
use once and discard?

:shrug:

 

[Raymond Lin]

i don't use mine now, as it just pick up stuff and stays there, you risk rubbing it back onto the lens and even scratching it so i use a cloth instead, which i can wash.

 

[mmcp42]

cheers Raymond!

 

[StewartR]

I use a lens pen as part of my vast arsenal of lens cleaning tools. There are some issues - e.g. small water spots - for which it really is the best solution I've found. Anyway it seems to have a *very* long lifetime. I've probably used it on a couple of hundred lenses with it, and it's still going strong.

 

[mmcp42]

I use a lens pen as part of my vast arsenal of lens cleaning tools. There are some issues - e.g. small water spots - for which it really is the best solution I've found. Anyway it seems to have a *very* long lifetime. I've probably used it on a couple of hundred lenses with it, and it's still going strong.

thanks Stewart, that's how it seems to me - just goes on and on and on
but I did wonder if there is a limit
and how do you tell?

keep going until it scratches a lens then go back one step!

 

[simonkit]

I don't keep mine too long, couldn't put a timescale on it but as they're pretty cheap I just discard them when I think I've used them for a while.
I also always give it a blast with the rocket blower before & after use


simon

 

[mmcp42]

I don't keep mine too long, couldn't put a timescale on it but as they're pretty cheap I just discard them when I think I've used them for a while.
I also always give it a blast with the rocket blower before & after use


simon

now that is a neat idea!

 

[StewartR]

now that is a neat idea!

What is? Discarding them after you've used them for a while? Or using the rocket blower?

If the latter, I agree 1000000%. I always use a rocket blower heavily, and also use a light brush (the one in a lens pen, or similar) if necessary, before I even touch the surface of the lens with any sort of wiping tool.

 

[mmcp42]

What is? Discarding them after you've used them for a while? Or using the rocket blower?

If the latter, I agree 1000000%. I always use a rocket blower heavily, and also use a light brush (the one in a lens pen, or similar) if necessary, before I even touch the surface of the lens with any sort of wiping tool.

yup, I meant the rocket blasting
I always brush before I wipe, too

 

[corky]

yup, I meant the rocket blasting
I always brush before I wipe, too

Hmmmm