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05/25/2003 11:54:40 PM · #1 |
Greetings DPCers,
What do each of you use to clean your camera lenses, filters, and camera bodies with?
Bob
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05/25/2003 11:58:27 PM · #2 |
| I listen to the professionals that are teaching class...I clean my lens with a piece of an old tee shirt and I do the same with filters. Although if filters are really dirty or smudge i use a little plan water. As for the body I just keep it dusted off and so far I haven't had to worry about the inside of the camera. |
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05/26/2003 12:12:56 AM · #3 |
Originally posted by OneSweetSin:
I listen to the professionals that are teaching class...I clean my lens with a piece of an old tee shirt and I do the same with filters. Although if filters are really dirty or smudge i use a little plan water. As for the body I just keep it dusted off and so far I haven't had to worry about the inside of the camera. |
What teachers? I've never heard of someone recommending a tee-shirt. Front elements are pretty delicate, especially with coatings most have on them now. Maybe I'm just paranoid or stupid, but I wouldn't ever put a tee-shirt on glass.
As for cleaning, I have a blower brush to use on lenses/filters if it's just a little dusty. A lens cloth, some Zeiss lens cleaning solution and a box of lens tissue. For the body I'll use the blower brush or take a slightly damp cloth and wipe it off. |
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05/26/2003 12:32:33 AM · #4 |
I use the Lens Pen on the lenses and filters....works great and cost about $8, can be found online or at your local camera shop
the body of my cameras never really gets dirty, but if it did just a rag would do
James
Message edited by author 2003-05-26 00:33:24.
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05/26/2003 12:45:05 AM · #5 |
| You must be careful to avoid blowing dirt INTO your equipment too. |
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05/26/2003 12:50:46 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by jab119:
I use the Lens Pen on the lenses and filters....works great and cost about $8, can be found online or at your local camera shop
the body of my cameras never really gets dirty, but if it did just a rag would do
James |
James,
I use a Lens Pen too. I think it is does a good job. I just wondered if anyone else uses them. Has anybody had any problems from using these cleaning devices?
Bob
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05/26/2003 02:01:01 AM · #7 |
RLS, the only problem I have EVER had was the little pad came off while I was cleaning a filter and scuffed it a little bit. But I was able to clean it with another lens pen with NO problems.
I also use the lens pen to clean the eyepieces for my telescope.
James
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05/26/2003 02:13:42 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by matt betea:
Originally posted by OneSweetSin:
I listen to the professionals that are teaching class...I clean my lens with a piece of an old tee shirt and I do the same with filters. Although if filters are really dirty or smudge i use a little plan water. As for the body I just keep it dusted off and so far I haven't had to worry about the inside of the camera. |
What teachers? I've never heard of someone recommending a tee-shirt. Front elements are pretty delicate, especially with coatings most have on them now. Maybe I'm just paranoid or stupid, but I wouldn't ever put a tee-shirt on glass.
As for cleaning, I have a blower brush to use on lenses/filters if it's just a little dusty. A lens cloth, some Zeiss lens cleaning solution and a box of lens tissue. For the body I'll use the blower brush or take a slightly damp cloth and wipe it off. |
For starters New York Institute of Photography teachers recommend tee shirt material...now they don't mean the one you are wearing they recommend an old one that is ready to be thrown out...wash it then cut it into squares and keep on in the camera bag to use. They were the first professionals I ever heard say that but since then I have been told that by others and also the local camera shop confirmed that when I asked.
I was told not to ever use the lens tissues, they were made for glass lenses and most cameras today are actually plexiglass and they will scratch the surface if there is any granulated dirt on the lens. |
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05/26/2003 02:42:59 AM · #9 |
I don't think I would trust any old shirt that I have worn that is ready for the waste bin. and what if the one you are wearing SHOULD be ready to be thrown out? (C: Myself, I believe they are of too rough of a material to clean MY lenses, even if NYIP says I should...not taking a chance.
I like the lens pen for getting the "watery" spots off and general cleaning. I also have a lens "rag" that I found at Office depot. it tends to like to leave little particles, but maybe I need to wash it again. the lens pen brush or a hand operated blower gets rid of the little dust specks though
tracy
Message edited by author 2003-05-26 04:15:58.
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05/26/2003 03:46:22 AM · #10 |
| excuse me, I'm interested on the idea of using old tee-shirt. do you mean cotton or polyester material? |
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05/26/2003 10:05:17 AM · #11 |
Actually lens tissue should only be used with some solution, it's not ment for a "dry cleaning". I've always read and been told a process when cleaning lenses:
Depending on how dirty it is, start with the blower brush to get rid of any loose material/dust. Apply some solution to a lens tissue and wipe the lens to get rid of any smudges. Then use a chamois to wipe the lens after.
I just never read a book that talked about lens care and using something coarse like tee-shirt material. I would also think tap water would be leaving some type of film on a lens or filter. But I think the things I've read are probably wrong.
Message edited by author 2003-05-26 10:06:15. |
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05/26/2003 10:06:14 AM · #12 |
| use a brillo pad and some toothpaste |
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05/26/2003 10:53:04 AM · #13 |
For lenses I blow off as much as possible with low pressure compressed air, then use a microfiber cloth that has been lightly dampened with lens cleaning solution. The compressed air is to try to get as much of the particulate matter off of the lens as I can so I donĂ¢€™t grind it into the front element causing small scratches. Filters can be cleaned the same way. Front lens elements are surprisingly durable, even with the coatings, but for the most part, if you mess one up the cost of replacement is almost as much as the cost of the lens so you want to be very careful.
I have heard a lot of people, both pros and amatures recommend using an old tee shirt for lens cleaning. The key things with doing so are that the shirt needs to be 100% cotton and should be clean and lent free. If there is any oil or lent on the tee shirt you will just smudge oil and lent around on the lens and never get it clean. I believe microfiber cloths are better but an old tee shirt works great if you donĂ¢€™t have one.
As for the lens bodies and camera bodies I usually use something like a clean old tee shirt that has been lightly dampened with windex and just wipe everything down. You donĂ¢€™t want it to be so wet that any liquid comes out, just damp so it removes the oil and dust.
Greg
Message edited by author 2003-05-26 10:58:26. |
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05/26/2003 11:44:59 AM · #14 |
These are the cleaning means you'll find in my bag. I use them more or less in this order, some (3. and 4.) I keep for backup only.
1. Optex LensPen containing brush and cleaning pad
2. Finely woven (white) cotton handkerchief (for wiping thumb prints off LCD)
3. Microfiber lens cleaning cloth (for eyeglasses plus, they're cheaper)
4. CD cleaning tissue
5. Separate blow brush (for body only, camera body, that is :-D)
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05/26/2003 12:02:12 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by shadow:
excuse me, I'm interested on the idea of using old tee-shirt. do you mean cotton or polyester material? |
the 50/50 blend is what I use, they recommended using one that is very soft and worn. I actually use a piece of an old white hanes tee shirt that my little boy has outgrown. When you clean your lens using this method they recommend a slight fogging using your breath then wipe with the piece of a tee shirt. Your breath creates just enough moisture to get any smudges off and the tee shirt doesn't leave speaks of lint behind.
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05/26/2003 02:51:50 PM · #16 |
I use whatever i`m wearing at the time. Tee shirt, jumper, coat, scarf but i never have touched the lens as i have a uv filter in front of lens since the day i bought the camera.
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05/26/2003 03:19:46 PM · #17 |
| they are right you know an old soft cotton t shirt clears lenses excellent just like a lense cloth would waste my money on all these wipes and pens, t shirt material if a soft cotton is very effective |
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05/26/2003 04:06:26 PM · #18 |
| I love the microfiber clothes, they are awesome and clean so well. I am always loosing them though and many times have used an old shirt with no ill affects, except they don't clean as well as the micrifiber :) |
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05/26/2003 04:21:10 PM · #19 |
| It's wonderful after the orginal reaction I got when I said tee shirt material to have so many of you say thats what you use too. =o) I'm not nuts after all, just thrifty. |
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05/26/2003 06:06:13 PM · #20 |
| Settle down there sparky. Sorry if your feelings got hurt that someone disagreed with you. But disagreements will happen from time to time in the real world. As you've been told about things to use, so have I. I didn't think this was some kind of rallying thread for or against certain cleaning materials. When I spend over $1,000 on a lens, personally I think it would be silly not to spend $5 on a piece of microfiber. |
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05/27/2003 06:07:53 AM · #21 |
The point of the old t-shirt material is that it's been washed so many times ... I use them on everything - the windows, the car, everything. Was given a lens-cloth with the camera though, so that just lives in the bag.
Ed
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