how do i clean my lense? i got a fingerprint on it

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

01/17/2006 12:29:16 PM · #1

household items i can use??
thanks

DjFenzl

01/17/2006 12:32:52 PM · #2

your breath and a t-shirt. Really. Just don't scrub it TOO hard and you should be fine.

NstiG8tr

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

01/17/2006 12:34:00 PM · #3

Go to Wal-Mart and get a box of Carl Zeiss lens cloths. Bout $4 for 250.

eschelar

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

01/17/2006 12:34:50 PM · #4

I would be really careful.

I use silk ties, sunglasses or glasses papers, and sometimes good cotton clothing (on the inside, where it doesn't touch the skin and isn't exposed) if it is really important.

If it is kinda greasy, I find that breathing on the lens really helps.

Another thing you can do is head on down to any local photography or camera shop and check out a lens pen. They are only 5-10 dollars and apparently work great. I just got one but haven't tried it out yet.

Anyone know if these things are safe on rear elements for DSLR lenses?

Elmakias

01/17/2006 12:35:02 PM · #5

thanks guys!

Elmakias

01/17/2006 12:37:04 PM · #6

wal mart, i never shop there, i just saw a play called walmartopia...it was real funny and aobut how bad wal mart was.
that is what you gt for living in madison wi

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

01/17/2006 12:37:54 PM · #7

Dishwasher!

No, not really, it leaves spots.

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

01/17/2006 12:40:08 PM · #8

Originally posted by Elmakias:

wal mart, i never shop there, i just saw a play called walmartopia...it was real funny and aobut how bad wal mart was.
that is what you gt for living in madison wi

Madison is one of the coolest places around. Very fun town.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

01/17/2006 12:53:00 PM · #9

Originally posted by eschelar:

Anyone know if these things are safe on rear elements for DSLR lenses?

The coatings ont he rear elements are no different that what's on the front, so, yes. In any case, I'd avoid anything that's not designed to clean lenses unless it was an emergency.

edit: Wal Mart is the devil.

Message edited by author 2006-01-17 12:53:45.

jbsmithana

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

01/17/2006 01:11:55 PM · #10

Pick up a small fine microfiber cloth. I also carry paper and fluid but seldom use them. The cloth and my breath seem to work well.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

01/17/2006 01:35:07 PM · #11

While keeping a microfiber cloth in the bag is a good idea for cleaning the barrel or the camera body, try to keep anything that has been laundered off the glass. Any fabric will have oil from your skin, and dust from the air or the bottom of your bag trapped in it's fibers. It isn't as bad as taking 60 grit sandpaper to the glass, or 600 grit, maybe somewhere aroung 6,000 grit paper, which seems quite smooth to the touch, and is used to polish metal. If it is a really clean cloth it might be more like 60,000 grit emery paper if anyone makes such a thing, but it will still be an abrasive. I figure that the coatings on the elements are a fair bit of the cost of a lens, and anything I can do to prolong their life is worth a bit of my time.

If you are stuck without any thing else then go ahead and use a shirt tail, or a tie to wipe the gunk off the front element, but you would be better off using Pec pads, or a Lenspen to reduce the amount of abrasives to are dragging across your coatings. I keep both and a bit of Eclipse solution in my bag, as well as the micro fiber towel and a blower bulb. Spit, Comet, Windex, or dish washing detergent will not prolong the life of your glass.

Message edited by author 2006-01-17 13:38:47.

jbsmithana

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

01/17/2006 01:46:01 PM · #12

I guess I should have clarified. I'm talking about photo specific microfiber cloth you buy in a photoshop. They are very fine knit and come in pouch to protect them, as do photo papers. I keep it in a seperate zipped compatment and sometimes use it with a small amount of lens fluid. And I always blow the galss off before using either paper or cloth. I do also carry a larger normal microfiber cloth in the bottom of my bag for general cleaning.

jpochard

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

01/17/2006 01:55:47 PM · #13

I also purchased the Carl Zeiss premoistened. cloths. I keep them in my camera bag, my car and also by my computer. I use them for my eyeglasses, my camera filters and lens, and my monitor. Seems to work very well.

Edited to ask:

my problem is finding some way to store my filters in my camera bag so that they won't get scratched or dirty. Are there convenient wallet type things available or pouches?

One more edit to add that I suppose I should look before I ask. Apparently there are a number of filter holders out there. I just typed in "filter wallet" and camer up with several right away.

Message edited by author 2006-01-17 14:00:26.

wavelength

01/17/2006 01:58:29 PM · #14

I'm such a troll. I use my shirt, and just lick it if it's particularly scuzzy. (think kid with sticky hands) LOL. ;O)

wavelength

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/17/2006 01:59:46 PM · #15

Originally posted by jpochard:

my problem is finding some way to store my filters in my camera bag so that they won't get scratched or dirty. Are there convenient wallet type things available or pouches?

If all your filters have front threads, just screw them all together in one big stack. and use two lenscaps at the ends.

Message edited by author 2006-01-17 14:00:00.

Telehubbie

Canon EOS-40D

01/17/2006 02:44:39 PM · #16

Lenspen - has a brush and a wiper thingy

BowerR64

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

01/18/2006 12:13:10 AM · #17

Isnt there an oil on the lense that gives it that purple look? i remember i had a pair of glasses once that had this same kind of coating on it and using solutions would somtimes wipe that oil off or somthing and it would change the blue film.

Are Q-tips bad? i notice no one mentioned those? with my P&S the front opening is so small its hard to get a rag or cloth in there. It seems just the right size for a finger though because i seem to get my finger in there easy yet when i go to clean it i cant get it clean.

I have a fine cloth that came with a CD cleaner kit, maybe ill cut some sections off that and glue them to somthing to get in there all the way.

crayon

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

01/18/2006 12:17:20 AM · #18

had always used my t-shirt when outdoors, just dont rub it with too much force. fingerprints are easy to clean off.

TooCool

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

01/18/2006 02:43:51 AM · #19

Lenspen!

eschelar

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

01/19/2006 08:01:07 AM · #20

The point is, the longer the cloth/fabric/cleaning surface is exposed, the more likely it is to pick up dirt which will scratch your glass.

I don't know how, but a lot of people seem to agree that lens pens don't actually pick up dust or something (?) I have one but haven't used it yet.

I also don't feel particularly scared about using what I feel to be fairly clean cloth surfaces.

If you blow on the lens beforehand, you can put a small amount of moisture on the lens that way which may help prevent a certain amount of scratching as well as helping it to pull those fingerprints off there.

Every time I use just plain cloth, I just end up moving the oil around. If I breathe on it, I can take a fingerprint off in just one or two swipes.

We are talking about miniscule levels of scratching here though, on the order of 60,000 grit plus.

Being gentle is also key.

I don't actually believe that there is a specific type of microfiber for camera lenses. It is all the same basic thing, Microfiber cloth with very very high thread counts is just microfiber cloth. If you keep it folded and in a bag, it is likely that you will be able to keep it clean and free from dust, but not oil.

I use my facial soap (which is custom made for me by a Spaniard of only the highest quality chemical free soap ingredients - not that it makes any difference) to clean both lens cleaning cloths and my sunglasses microfiber bag (which itself sits in a poly shell case) periodically.

It is more important that whatever chemicals you use to clean your cleaning cloths, that they leave no residue. You would need to know all of the ingredients in your soap for that.

Bottom line, A t-shirt usually suffices.

deapee

Kodak V803

01/19/2006 08:01:47 AM · #21

t-shirt

BowerR64

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

01/19/2006 03:59:33 PM · #22

The best pictures always have dust on the lense, i just leave it there. It helps me shoot better. HA!

wavelength

01/19/2006 04:08:48 PM · #23

Originally posted by dpaull:

t-shirt

another troll like me, what up D!!

Mick