What's your lens cleaning ritual?

ajax_andy

ajax_andy

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I currently have a brush for removing dust etc, and the cloth + fluid method. What does everyone else use?

I know using the cleaning fluid too often is a bad idea as apparently it can degarde the glass (or something like that over time), however I don't know if i'm just careless or it's dust and grime etc but I seem to need to use it quite often to clean the lens.

Any alternatives?

Also with regards the micro fibre cloths, do people use the disposable ones, or a proper one? I use a proper one but it's been used a fair few times now... how often would you use one before throwing it away and getting a new one? I used to buy the disposable wipes but was never keen on them.
 
Breathe on the lens then rub with whichever T-shirt or jumper I'm wearing
 
I use the micro fibre cloths from Hama, £1 each and come in their own little bag, I throw them once the feel is a bit different as they can pick up small particles very easily which might scratch the lens! I try to stay away from anything liquid based apart from my own breath etc!
 
Flightphoto said:
I use the micro fibre cloths from Hama, £1 each and come in their own little bag, I throw them once the feel is a bit different as they can pick up small particles very easily which might scratch the lens! I try to stay away from anything liquid based apart from my own breath etc!
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I don't have a link handy but Nikon recently said breathing on your lens glass is actually BAD for it.

Something to do with chemicals or what not that breath has.

No idea if this just related to people with bad breath mind :lol:
 
ajax_andy said:
I've seen a few people use these on here... how do they work? They have a brush and another cleaning element don't they?

Just wondering what the other element is and how it works / how well it works?
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The other end is a cleaning disc with some carbon compound, just run it over the lens to removes grease marks etc.
 
sk66 said:
I generally don't clean lenses in the field. Little bits of stuff really don't matter. I use blower/brush/cloth at home for maintenance cleaning.

The cloth I use is something different for which I have a patent and will be bringing to market soon (hopefully).
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Hmm SK66... sure I've seen that user name somewhere else before ;)
 
Oh dear, everyone seems so laid back compared to my ritual. When I sit down and clean all my gear I start off with the brush on a lens pen to dislodge debris, followed by a rocket blower to remove it. Then I clean the front and rear with the cleaning end of the lens pen and then I use a wet wipe to clean the body whilst checking for any damage.

I must seem mental to all of you :cuckoo:
 
faddius said:
Oh dear, everyone seems so laid back compared to my ritual. When I sit down and clean all my gear I start off with the brush on a lens pen to dislodge debris, followed by a rocket blower to remove it. Then I clean the front and rear with the cleaning end of the lens pen and then I use a wet wipe to clean the body whilst checking for any damage.

I must seem mental to all of you :cuckoo:
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Haha I think this approach is probably better than spitting on it and rubbing it on your jeans like some people seem to do :lol:
 
faddius said:
Oh dear, everyone seems so laid back compared to my ritual. When I sit down and clean all my gear I start off with the brush on a lens pen to dislodge debris, followed by a rocket blower to remove it. Then I clean the front and rear with the cleaning end of the lens pen and then I use a wet wipe to clean the body whilst checking for any damage.

I must seem mental to all of you :cuckoo:
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All depends how precious a person is I suppose. How much of a chance is there of actually causing damage to a tough piece of glass by wiping it with a t-shirt?

I clean my glasses a few times a day with whatever I have to hand and they bear up to it for years and they are more important to me than a lens.
 
ernesto said:
All depends how precious a person is I suppose. How much of a chance is there of actually causing damage to a tough piece of glass by wiping it with a t-shirt?

I clean my glasses a few times a day with whatever I have to hand and they bear up to it for years and they are more important to me than a lens.
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Probably very little, I've used t shirts, jackets etc. to clean lenses when I've had nothing else to hand but I've always found they do very little to remove any grease or smudges and tend to just smear it. I don't bother trying to wipe off dust. Similar problem with my glasses, if I use my t shirt any muck just gets smeared around so I tend to use a micro fibre cloth if I'm at home.
 
I start off by using a rocket blower, then a lenspen brush, rocket blower again, then lenspen. For marks I will breath over it and use lenspen. Will finish off with a blower. WIll also do this to the mounting side of the lens sometimes. Every so often I use one of the damp lenscloths.
 
faddius said:
Similar problem with my glasses, if I use my t shirt any muck just gets smeared around so I tend to use a micro fibre cloth if I'm at home.
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I actually put my glasses into fresh washing up water every few days and removes all grease from frames and lens.

Please note - May not be a suitable approach for camera lenses!
 
Ultra soft small soft brush then lint free cloth...or breathe on the front element then gently wipe with lint free cloth.

Sensor cleaning with swabs and cleaning fluid.
 
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PMN said:
Surely spit works better on sensors than breathing on them?
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Only if it has chunks in to remove the really stubborn dirt.
 
I use a little cloth that came with my Samsung telly and breath in the field if needed

paintbrush (very soft one) and same cloth with breath for maintenance after any messy days out :)

not unknown for t-shirt action occasionally as well if i'm out with single lens on a walk and no bag etc
 
Good blower brush and micro fibre cloth sparingly, I always have a skylight stuck to the front of the glass too learnt from bitter experience many years ago photographing at a rally .
 
I remove the lens cap, take a look at the lens, figure "that'll do", fit the hood and get on with shooting. Using hoods when shooting and caps when not keeps the need to clean to a minimum.

On the rare occasions when more robust action is required it'll be any combination of breath, lens pen and microfibre cloth as necessary/available.
 
LensPen and microfibre cloth for me too. My best cleaner, believe it or not, is the tail of whichever Craghopper shirt I have on!
 
cambsno said:
I start off by using a rocket blower, then a lenspen brush, rocket blower again, then lenspen. For marks I will breath over it and use lenspen. Will finish off with a blower. WIll also do this to the mounting side of the lens sometimes. Every so often I use one of the damp lenscloths.
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Pretty much the same as me but I only ever use the rocket blower on the rear element.

Some body mentioned earlier in the thread that nikon recommend not breathing on the lens they have since retracted this.
 
Keep the lens clean by using a skylight filter.....the front of the lens doesn't get dirty then.
 
ajax_andy said:
I currently have a brush for removing dust etc, and the cloth + fluid method. What does everyone else use?

I know using the cleaning fluid too often is a bad idea as apparently it can degarde the glass (or something like that over time), however I don't know if i'm just careless or it's dust and grime etc but I seem to need to use it quite often to clean the lens.

Any alternatives?

Also with regards the micro fibre cloths, do people use the disposable ones, or a proper one? I use a proper one but it's been used a fair few times now... how often would you use one before throwing it away and getting a new one? I used to buy the disposable wipes but was never keen on them.
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I throw mine in the dishwasher. Comes out like brand new afterwords
 
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