what's the very best filter surface cleaner you use..?

Yardbent

Yardbent

Suspended / Banned
Messages
7,761
Name
John
Edit My Images
Yes
I've bought several over years - not one was 100% satisfactory

the lastest spray (whom i shall NOT name ...:) ..... leaves a thin (oily) smear film over the glass

i removed this with weak Isopropanol - but concerned about long term usage effects of this on coatings

( I am aware of, and read, most of the discourse about no filters etc.)

but 'too late' I have about 20 protection and film filters I wish to clean
thanks
 
Jayst84 said:
one of those little carbon(?) pens from LensPen or whomever. ....
Click to expand...

Microfibre cloth,.......I have those (to use with the fluid)

pens ... thats a thought...thanks
 
Spectacle lens wipes, 20 in a box from Sainsbury.
 
Whichever tshirt I'm wearing at that time..

Failing that, the spectacle wipes that Trevor mentioned above. I buy boxes for £1 from Asda/Poudland and use the individual wrapped wipes.
 
I like the calotherm spray and their microfibre cloths
 
I use a few things.

Micro fibre cloth most times I pull a filter out
Zeiss wipes here and there (cheap on Amazon every now and then), especially if shooting near water spray.
Lee filter cleaning solution (had a bottle for a few years and still almost full) when I sit down to give them all a good clean
 
Well if its not that dirty i.e. hardened grime...I just breathe (huff) and use a clean cotton hankie or camel haired brush,,,,more serious stuff would use lighter fluid and then huff if any streaks left.
But I know what you mean about "oily" streaks as some old lenses it's very difficult to get them looking as new......just guessing maybe the coating they put on most lenses avoids this problem.
 
Woodsy said:
As much as my training has taught me otherwise, my t-shirt is usually the in-the-moment cleaner :/
Click to expand...

This ^^^

I only have 1 filter, a 10-stopper, but breathing on it and my t-shirt is my in-the-field cleaning method

If greasy/grimy then back home the sink & washing-up liquid

Dave
 
The thing is, ND filters are especially bad for this method of cleaning. The microscopic scratches aside, ND filters are made by dipping the substrate into a hot liquid and coating the surface. Cleaning these surfaces with T-shirts and improper soaps/solvents etc can lift the surface coating off, reducing the density of the filter over time. Not only that, but by nature of the way it's done, it will be a non-uniform effect over the entire surface as well. I wince a little every time I rush to clean my ND filters with said T-shirt in the field.

For evidence of this, one only needs to inspect the inside of their LEE microfiber filter pouch :)
 
Last edited:
Woodsy said:
The thing is, ND filters are especially bad for this method of cleaning. The microscopic scratches aside, ND filters are made by dipping the substrate into a hot liquid and coating the surface. Cleaning these surfaces with T-shirts and improper soaps/solvents etc can lift the surface coating off, reducing the density of the filter over time. Not only that, but by nature of the way it's done, it will be a non-uniform effect over the entire surface as well. I wince a little every time I rush to clean my ND filters with said T-shirt in the field.
Click to expand...

You should buy a cheap one like mine, made from girders :D

Dave
 
Aren't steel wool T-shirts a bit scratchy on the skin? And don't they go rusty under the armpits?
 
nog said:
I like the calotherm spray and their microfibre cloths
Click to expand...

..do you get..''leaves a thin (oily) smear film over the glass..''
 
Last edited:
excalibur2 said:
.............
But I know what you mean about "oily" streaks as some old lenses ...
Click to expand...

my lens optics are always covered by a filter ...... possible bad habit from back-in-the-day...;)

but my prob is the filters themselves - on @Jayst84 comment, i have ordered a FilterKlear

interesting point - ( my highlight)
Lenspen-Filterklear-LFK1-1.jpg

john
 
Yardbent said:
:)...do you get..''leaves a thin (oily) smear film over the glass..''
Click to expand...

Looks ok to me, take it you are now naming calotherm as the culprit:) Do you use their cloths as well?
 
Last edited:
nog said:
Looks ok to me, take it you are now naming calotherm as the culprit:) Do you use their clothes as well?
Click to expand...

my misleading wording

I was wondering if Calotherm was a good spray..? and so worth a try
i have no knowledge of their products........
 
Piranha solution, it'll clean more or less anything off glass... Even the glass...
 
This must take the record for posts about cleaning filters,should have finished at T-Shirt. :D
 
Yardbent said:
my lens optics are always covered by a filter ...... possible bad habit from back-in-the-day...;)

but my prob is the filters themselves - on @Jayst84 comment, i have ordered a FilterKlear

interesting point - ( my highlight)
View attachment 70741

john
Click to expand...

John,

Please do not waste your money on a cheap lens pens they do not work. Use a good micro-fibre cloth and if the deposits are very bad,then use the good old fairy liquid and warm water as already stated.

I had a friend who put his Glasses into the dishwasher on a warm wash with other items,never tried that myself.(y)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top