In order to minimize the possibility of grit damaging the lens, it's best to remove as much dust as possible by blowing with a bulb blower first. After you've removed loose dust, you can use wet cleaning to get other soils off.
For wet cleaning, I strongly recommend Pec Pads as the wipe. Fold the pad twice (or three times) and moisten it, then gently wipe from center to edge. Re-fold and use a new edge after a couple wipes.
For cleaning solution, you can use a water-based lens cleaner (don't use general puropse glass cleaner!) or you can use 'eclipse' (a purified 'methanol' product). 'Eclipse' will get oily stuff (more common than you'd think) off fast, but there will be some water-based contaminants that it will not touch. If you use 'eclipse', try wiping once with 'eclipse' and if there are spots left, breathe on the lens surface, then quickly, before the moisture evaporates, re-wipe with 'eclipse' on a clean pad. I have yet to find a soil that this method will not remove.
Disclaimer: This is my personal method, and I can attest that I've used it with success for years, but of course YMMV, and it is offered without warranty... you know the drill.
Edit:
For what it's worth, I clean lenses only when necessary. That's either when they visibly need cleaning, or after they have been exposed to potentially damaging things like ocean salt spray.
Message edited by author 2006-07-24 16:23:25. |
