CaliTexican
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 p.1 #6 · Best Lens/Filter Cleaning System | |
jcolwell wrote:
Hi CaliTexican,
Welcome to FM.
I use a variety of tools, starting with the least intrusive, and then getting tougher, but only going down the list, as far as I need to go. IOW, if the blower does the trick, then I'm done.
blower, soft brush (don't brush or wipe dry glass with particles stuck on it)
no particles:
- Zeiss wipes
yes particles:
- 50/50 window cleaner > Eclipse fluid (on swab)> ROR (on swab)
- Pec Pads and/or microfibre cloths, aided by pointy cotton swabs, angle-cut popsicle sticks, lens pen, etc.
- Zeiss wipes, maybe
I find Zeiss wipes are much better than 'plain' alcohol swabs (aka prep pads, wipes, etc.), mostly because the alcohol pads are too wet for lens glass. OTOH, I do use alcohol pads for all kinds of other cleaning.
I'll sometimes use a lens pen on 'dry' glass, to remove a spot (not a particle), but I'll first exhale onto the glass, to provide a bit of fog, so it's not really 'dry' when the lens pen touches down.
With diluted window cleaner (and all other fluids), I don't want to put a lot of fluid on the glass - it can leak around the edges of the front element (esp. on non-sealed lenses), and then migrate to bad places, like between closely-fit elements (I've been there). With the window cleaner sprayer, in particular, I make sure the sprayer produces a fine mist spray, or replace the sprayer. Then, I put a spray or two upwards, into the air, and pass the lens through the resulting cloud of atomized cleaner (front first), a couple of times. Then, I use Pec Pads or microfibre cloth to clean up (or Scotties, or my T-shirt).
If more fluid is needed to get particles or spots, I put a drop or two of Eclipse fluid on a swab, and then apply it to the glass. Next step (if reqd), is to use ROR (Residual Oil Remover).
ROR is the 'best' cleaning fluid. It's the only one I've found that can remove residue-rings from dried water drops and other alien marks. Sometimes, a ROR treatment needs a final cleanup with window or Eclipse, to get the 'oil slick' off the glass; otherwise, this nasty remnant of gummy residue just skates around on the surface of the glass.
So far, I've been talking about cleaning the front element. I follow more or less the same procedure with a rear element (where being clean counts the most), but I generally don't blow or spray a rear element, unless it's flush with the rear mount. A flat-cut popsicle stick with a double/triple layer of Zeiss wipe, Pec pad or microfibre cloth wrapped over its end, is a great way to get to a recessed rear element. Sensor cleaning stick-swabs work, too.
Cheers,
Jim
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Wow! Thank you so much for such a thorough answer. I particularly like the way you structure your escalating list of cleaning methods from least to most. Very helpful.
I have used those Zeiss wipes for years but I must say, every time I use one I think how flat and hard the surface of those wipes appear to me. If I didn't know they were designed for lenses I would have avoided them because their hardness seems to me like it would scratch a lens!
Thanks again,
Ray
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