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Archive 2014 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?

  
 
wsalopek
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


Hi guys...

We all see lenses, etc, for sale on the buy/sell forum, that look CLEAN...the pics are beautiful (of course in no small part because of the skill of the photographer).

But I am talking about the clean/no-dust look of the items.

I have some lenses, etc to sell, but no matter how hard I try to clean them (and they are almost new, very little use)...after I take a picture, those dust specs are far more visible than they are even to my eye looking at the actual lens...they look, well, kinda awful, even though they are in great shape. I have used the "pony tail", and occasionally a bit of gentle compressed air.

So what is the secret to cleaning, and/or, making the lens, etc, look so good?

Thanks...

--

Bill






Dec 04, 2014 at 01:15 AM
Paul Mo
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


Auto vinyl polish - just make sure they're not too shiny. Plus, blowers, soft brushes, lens tissues and Eclipse.


Dec 04, 2014 at 02:56 AM
ontime
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


Photoshop?


Dec 04, 2014 at 03:10 AM
Savas K
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


Don't use a flashgun when shooting lenses.


Dec 04, 2014 at 03:25 AM
verbiage
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


Savas K wrote:
Don't use a flashgun when shooting lenses.


this ^^^

Or diffuse it.



Dec 04, 2014 at 03:34 AM
jcolwell
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


Savas K wrote:
Don't use a flashgun when shooting lenses.

verbiage wrote:
this ^^^

Or diffuse it.


...or use softboxes.

Here's two examples from a current thread on the Canon forum:

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1332635/0#12713134

First lens, no extra lighting at all. Second lens, softboxes.



Dec 04, 2014 at 07:21 AM
Etherton
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


jcolwell wrote:
...or use softboxes.

Here's two examples from a current thread on the Canon forum:

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1332635/0#12713134

First lens, no extra lighting at all. Second lens, softboxes.


I'd rather have photos like the second image (70-300) than the first one (1DX/Zeiss). Nothing is hidden in the shadows. Well, I suppose it all depends on the seller feedback too...




Dec 04, 2014 at 07:31 AM
Savas K
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


Or, use full disosure in the description. "This lens is dusty outside like a mf'r."


Dec 04, 2014 at 07:32 AM
Jman13
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


I use the brush on my lenspen plus a rocket blower to get 99% of the dust off. If there are dust specs that are transient on the outside, sometimes I'll clone it out on the picture, especially if it's just a piece of dust resting on the outside of the element and I can brush or blow it off, since these can sometimes be mistaken for a mark on the lens, and if the glass is perfect, then a dust speck that happened to rest on in when I took the picture is more misleading than actually cloning it. I won't photoshop it out on the barrel and such, because it's usually more obvious that it's just a few stray specks of dust rather than a scratch. Of course I will never photoshop out any actual marks that are present on the lens body or glass (in fact, I generally take macro shots of any of this type of damage to more clearly show the extent of it).


Dec 04, 2014 at 07:52 AM
jcolwell
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


Savas K wrote:
Don't use a flashgun when shooting lenses.

verbiage wrote:
this ^^^

Or diffuse it.

jcolwell wrote:
...or use softboxes.

Here's two examples from a current thread on the Canon forum:

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1332635/0#12713134

First lens, no extra lighting at all. Second lens, softboxes.

eth3rton wrote:
I'd rather have photos like the second image (70-300) than the first one (1DX/Zeiss). Nothing is hidden in the shadows. Well, I suppose it all depends on the seller feedback too...


It also depends on intent. The second photo was part of a for-sale listing. The first photo was for the old "Lens Porn" thread.



Dec 04, 2014 at 09:33 AM
wsalopek
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


Paul Mo wrote:
Auto vinyl polish - just make sure they're not too shiny. Plus, blowers, soft brushes, lens tissues and Eclipse.


Paul....do you mean something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-Mirror-Rubber-Cleaner-Conditioner/dp/B0002SQYV4/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1417707441&sr=8-15&keywords=vinyl+cleaner




Dec 04, 2014 at 10:44 AM
Paul Mo
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


Sorry, for some reason that pages refuses to load here. But there are a million variations of interior vinyl/dashboard car cleaner. Shake thoroughly, never apply directly, apply sparingly and wipe off any excess well with a spare dry cloth.


Dec 05, 2014 at 06:34 AM
Shane3v3
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


A little denatured alcohol, a few microfiber rags and an old shaving brush go a long way. I don't like using polish. It tends to get slippery again in the rain.


Dec 05, 2014 at 07:08 PM
Two23
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


I run mine through the dishwasher.


Kent in SD



Dec 05, 2014 at 11:54 PM
Veedotcom
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


Try a little contrast or local shop. YouTube is helpful.


Dec 14, 2014 at 05:09 AM
Jim Servies
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


Note to self: Probably should pass on any FS listings by Kent. Made me lol Kent!


Dec 14, 2014 at 11:10 AM
Steve Park
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


I don't trust any photos since they only shows what seller wants to show. Rather ask detailed description in seller's own words.

When I take photos, I do my best to clean them wearing nitrile gloves and shoot dust free(well, close to) area. If I find something I don't like(as in buyers' shoe), I re-check, re-clean and re-shoot. I know this is extreme, but I want to represent my stuff as best as possible.



Dec 14, 2014 at 11:25 AM
Methodical
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


Steve Park wrote:
I don't trust any photos since they only shows what seller wants to show. Rather ask detailed description in seller's own words...


Yeah, but the seller's words can be just as shady as the pics.




Dec 16, 2014 at 11:15 AM
Alex Phan
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


lighting is everything.


Dec 16, 2014 at 02:03 PM
Joseph.
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · How do folks get lenses, etc, so clean-looking on the buy/sell forum?


soft diffused lighting, contrast, and content-aware

I never use any cleaning chemicals on my lenses



Dec 16, 2014 at 08:29 PM
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