How do I Clean a Lens?

LiquidOps

so... we've all talked about cleaning the sensor and such, but how does one go about cleaning the lens?

Discuss

Steven

Jrh

ideas
I use clear (UV) filters so that I can avoid doing anything to the lens itself. You should be able to find one for $20-50 at your local photog store. A horse hair blower ($5) gets dust particles off quickly and easily. If you get a fingerprint or something that won't blow off, a microfiber cloth ($5) will normally get the job done. If all else fails, I break out the Residual Oil Remover and cleaning tissue ($10).

My eyeglasses cost a few hundred bucks and I've always just used my t-shirt and water to clean them. Even after a few years of doing this daily they don't have many scratches, so you could do that if you were in a pinch, but I wouldn't make a habit of it.

Cheers!

USAIR

Well here's how I clean my lens
First I use a blower that may be enough.
If not I use soft brush/blower
If that dosen't work then I use lens pen or microfiber cloth.
I try not to touch the lens but sometimes you just have too.

Fred

John Mueller

A warm bath and plenty of Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo
Dont forget to rinse and repeat...............

Blower/brush and cloth.

USAIR

John Mueller wrote:

A warm bath and plenty of Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo
Dont forget to rinse and repeat...............

For L glass only ?

Fred

John Mueller

USAIR wrote:

For L glass only ?

Fred

No,I read this in a Nikon manual

LiquidOps

John Mueller wrote:

A warm bath and plenty of Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo
Dont forget to rinse and repeat...............

Blower/brush and cloth.

ok...

i tried what you said and now i'm getting some weird error messages when I put it on the camera....

What did I do wrong? :uhoh


ok... i'm kidding... haha

i'll try these things when I get home...

Thanks all

Steven

John Mueller

I have only seen error messages when using none baby shampoo

LiquidOps

John Mueller wrote:

I have only seen error messages when using none baby shampoo

maybe I should have used the tear free stuff....

Pezpix

LiquidOps, assuming it is just average dust muck that has stuck to your glass, a good way to remove it would be to use a microfiber cloth.

However, if you end up with sand/dirt/salt-water properties on your lens or filters, then the best way to remove it is to use a designated cleaning solution compatible with the multicoatings on camera lenses. (Saltwater seaspray is a big problem for me too)
Be sure to dab the dirt off completely using the microfiber cloth. Then use a circular motion starting at the center of your lens and lightly work your way outward to the edges of your lens. [FONT=Book Antiqua, Times New Roman, Times][/FONT]

jwear

John Mueller wrote:

No,I read this in a Nikon manual

were do you think the NIKON blue comes from

pathfinder

Saltwater spray is an indication for using a filter in my book.

1st )Rocket blower, 2nd) camel's hair brush, and last) lens cloth with lens cleaning solution - Eclipse ( methyl alcohol ) works just fine.

flyingpylon

What about getting stuff in the lens itself? I sometimes shoot photos at dirt race tracks and everything gets covered with dust. It's easy to clean off of exterior surfaces, but I know it has gotten into one of my zoom lenses enough so that the lens doesn't slide as smoothly as it used to.

pathfinder

I'd send that lens into Canon for service.

I don't think you can deal with that at home.

I know that is what I would do anyway.

flyingpylon

pathfinder wrote:

I'd send that lens into Canon for service.

I don't think you can deal with that at home.

I know that is what I would do anyway.

Does Canon service Nikon lenses now?

Re: sending it in... I figured as much, just thought I'd see if anyone had any bright ideas.

pathfinder

Collecting dust inside a Nikon lens is grounds for disposing of it and switching to white lenses which, of course, are serviced by Canon Factory Service rofl

I am not sure where Nikon's comparable service center is, but I am sure Harry or someone around here knows.