How do I clean a Lens Pen? (or don't I??)

photobug

I have a Lens Pen I've been using for a while. I begin to worry that it has picked up dust, etc, that might cause micro-scratches when I clean a lens.

Old-fashioned lens paper I'd throw away after one use. Microfiber cloth can go through the clothes washer now and then. But what about a Lens Pen -- it does need periodic cleaning, doesn't it? If so, what's a recommended method?

mr peas

The lenspen that came with my Lensbaby I just cleaned by removing the dust by hand (does yours have some felt material on the tip too?). I just rub it out until its all gone. Then again, mine is really small and its much easier to clean, for larger applications, I would use

How to clean felt material:

http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-clean-natural-fabrics.htm

Try blowing steam on it and then rubbing it out.
Hah, I dont know how much use I've been but this works for me.
Another opinion would be helpful though.

photobug

mr peas wrote:

The lenspen that came with my Lensbaby I just cleaned by removing the dust by hand (does yours have some felt material on the tip too?). I just rub it out until its all gone.

Yes, mine has a felt-type material on the tip. I really wouldn't want to touch the tip with my fingers/hand, though, to avoid getting skin oils on it (and then transferred to the lens).

How to clean felt material:

http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-clean-natural-fabrics.htm

Try blowing steam on it and then rubbing it out.

Thanks for the pointer -- I never would have thought to look up "how to clean felt", but that sounds like a reasonable method. (or if it's too much of a pain to clean, buy a replacement len every now and then , but I hate to buy too much into the "disposable society" thing)

pathfinder

I have a lens pens, and I use the brush on it to remove debris sometimes if an air bulb does not seem to work.

I have given up using the other end - I think it is too easy to trap an abrasive particle and grind it across the lens. I think lens pens are fine for cheap P&S camera lenses that folks don't take good care of or care about. They are not really suitable for fine optics - My opinion, YMMV!!

I clean a lens in this progression...

1st)- do nothing unless you really feel you need to - a few dust motes are insignificant and should be ignored.

2nd)- use an air bulb to try to blow dust motes off

3rd) If unable to remove with a dust mote, I use a lens brush or an old Sensor brush that I no longer plan to use on a Sensor

4th) I use a lens cleaning multi-fibre cloth very gently. I think a multifibre cloth is vastly superior to lens paper.

5) If there is STILL something on the lens - like an oily film from a fingerprint ( it should not ever happen, but sometimes.....) I use an sold very soft cotton cloth( not synthetic) or a multi fibre cloth and lens cleaning solution of distilled water and alcohol - Zeisss makes fine lens cleaning solution but it can be found in any glasses dispensary in the office of an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist. A mix of distilled water and 10% isopropyl alcohol will do fine. DO not use more thatn a very fine mist, you do not want the fluid to run around to the backside of the front lens objective.

DO NOT perform step 5 without first using a lens brush to remove any abrasive particles. This is especially important in the desert, the beach, canyons like Antelope Canyon, etc.

6) If it is still not clean - ignore it, or replace the lens, it is scratched:D

photobug

I clean a lens in this progression...

1st)- do nothing unless you really feel you need to - a few dust motes are insignificant and should be ignored.

2nd)- use an air bulb to try to blow dust motes off

3rd) If unable to remove with a dust mote, I use a lens brush or an old Sensor brush that I no longer plan to use on a Sensor

4th) I use a lens cleaning multi-fibre cloth very gently. I think a multifibre cloth is vastly superior to lens paper.

5) If there is STILL something on the lens - like an oily film from a fingerprint ( it should not ever happen, but sometimes.....) I use an sold very soft cotton cloth( not synthetic) or a multi fibre cloth and lens cleaning solution of distilled water and alcohol - Zeisss makes fine lens cleaning solution but it can be found in any glasses dispensary in the office of an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist. A mix of distilled water and 10% isopropyl alcohol will do fine. DO not use more thatn a very fine mist, you do not want the fluid to run around to the backside of the front lens objective.

DO NOT perform step 5 without first using a lens brush to remove any abrasive particles. ...

6) If it is still not clean - ignore it, or replace the lens, it is scratched:D

Thanks, Pathfinder -- this seems like very sound advice