Lens tissue vs. Microfiber

SloYerRoll

I have a microfiber in my cambag just for worst case scenarios, but normally use disposable lens tissue instead.

My reasoning behind this is every time you grab your microfiber, your transferring oils and all the other junk from your hands to the microfiber. I just don't see how this can effectively clean your glass over any decent period of time.

Thoughts?

pathfinder

SYR,

I use a micro fibre cloth and try to avoid lens tissue if at all possible. I have never understood using tree bark to clean lenses.

My First preference is to use a fine lens brush to remove any mineral particles or dust motes. If you feel there is something attached to the lens, that does not come off the camel's hair brush or a micro fibre cloth, then I use a lens cleaning solution which is basically distilled water and maybe 10% ethanol ( denatured ethyl alchol or iso propyl alcohol ) and a very soft old cotton cloth ( I use a old bandana ). Gently mist the bandana with the cleaning solution, and then clean the lens with it. Pec Pads are fine for this task too.

Rarely is anything else needed. I really like using a soft lens brush for most lens cleaning, and only go to wet cleaning for a fingerprint on the lens or other oily or salty encrustations. Mild oil will be removed by a micro fibre cloth. They can be washed in the washer if you are concerned about them - preferably with warm soft water. Rinse them thoroughly.

carmel6942

pathfinder wrote:

They can be washed in the washer if you are concerned about them - preferably with warm soft water. Rinse them thoroughly.

Just as a warning don't use any kind of fabric softener, this will clog the micro fiber. I was told this by a manufacture rep at a retail auto parts venders show.

SloYerRoll

I would be concerned about the residual chemicals in the washer.

Maybe I'm being too paranoid?

I can see the logic about paper products being used to clean glass. But every piece of my limited glass collection is flawless and I've used lens tissue since I bought them.

pathfinder

carmel6942 wrote:

Just as a warning don't use any kind of fabric softener, this will clog the micro fiber. I was told this by a manufacture rep at a retail auto parts venders show.

Yup -- no fabric softener- rinse thoroughly too

pathfinder

SloYerRoll wrote:

I would be concerned about the residual chemicals in the washer.

Maybe I'm being too paranoid?

I can see the logic about paper products being used to clean glass. But every piece of my limited glass collection is flawless and I've used lens tissue since I bought them.

Usually all I need is a lens brush for dust motes

jeffreaux2

I don't normally touch the surface of the lens. I use a short burst of air to blow debris (mostly pollen) away. I bought a make up brush from my sister in law(Mary K Cosmetics) that is made of natural materials, and is enclosed in a lipstick type enclosure that you twist to expose the bristles. If I have to get a smudge or fingerprint off, then I use a microfiber cloth. I have never used a chemical on my lenses.....yet.

A question.

At walmart....in the auto accessory dept. they sell micro fiber clths in a handtowel size. Would these scratch a lens?

WilliamClark77

jeffreaux2 wrote:

A question.

At walmart....in the auto accessory dept. they sell micro fiber clths in a handtowel size. Would these scratch a lens?

I haven't tried those exact ones so I can't comment. I've found the microfiber bags that Oakley, Ray ban, etc name brand sun glasses come in to be great for keeping filters in and for wiping off a lens in a pinch. I like em cause you can use the bag to hold the filter and never have to touch it. Just turn the bag inside out as you screw it on/off. My ham fists can't get near one without smudging it.

I pretty much exclusively use a Nikon lens pen over any cloth. I've got probably five different lense pens and the Nikon one is the only one that's worth a crap.

LiquidAir

When I was an undergraduate, my thesis research was in optics and my advisor gave me a lesson in cleaning lenses. These were expensive, research grade lenses with very delicate coatings. The technique is to carefully take the lens paper from the package holding it by the edges and folding it in a way that the center of the paper is used to clean the lens, put a couple drops of cleaning fluid on the paper and then drag (don't rub) the paper over the surface of the lens. It is not all that different from the Copperhill method of cleaning sensors. If you really want to baby your lenses, use this technique with PEC pads. Keep the PEC pads in an airtight bag and toss them when you are done.

That said, I don't think it is necessary for Camera lenses. The outer coating on a camera lenses is much tougher than the research lenses and can handle much rougher treatment. I find microfiber cloths to be much more practical in the field than paper and, while I am careful about how I hold the cloth when I am cleaning, they will never be as clean as a PEC pad. In practice, I find that often the cloth will leave a thin film behind on the lens which I can easily clean up with a LensPen.

I have done quite a bit of shooting in situations where I have had to clean the lens in the field. When shooting near the surf, I often have to clean the lens anew for each shot. For field cleaning, I carry a handful of microfiber cloths with me. I use a spray lens cleaner and wipe the lens with the microfiber. Once I have the lens as clean as I can get it with the cloth, I finish it off with a LensPen. When the microfiber gets soaked through I put it in a dirty bag and grab a new one; I hand wash the dirty cloths when I get home. Often there is a saltwater mist everywhere in the area where I am cleaning so speed is of the essence. I find the most protected place I can, clean, put the lens cap on, set up the shot and only take the cap of at the last minute.

SloYerRoll

The pros have spoken
And who am I to argue w/ them?

Sounds like I'll leave the lens tissue to the wayside and make the switch to microfiber.

I've always thought lens pens were a waste since they picked up all the crap when cleaning and would deposit part of it the ext time it was used. But I can see their use if they are used as a last step in a cleaning process.

Thank for all your comments.

NeilL

jeffreaux2 wrote:

I don't normally touch the surface of the lens. I use a short burst of air to blow debris (mostly pollen) away. I bought a make up brush from my sister in law(Mary K Cosmetics) that is made of natural materials, and is enclosed in a lipstick type enclosure that you twist to expose the bristles. If I have to get a smudge or fingerprint off, then I use a microfiber cloth. I have never used a chemical on my lenses.....yet.

A question.

At walmart....in the auto accessory dept. they sell micro fiber clths in a handtowel size. Would these scratch a lens?

Hi Jeff.

I recently bought a couple of microfiber cloths for cleaning (household) glass from a hardware store. I needed to clean my filters (good Hoyas). I ran the filters under the tap and then dried/cleaned them with one of the cloths, with the side with the soft, shiny pile, using a firm, circular motion, keeping the hems of the cloth away from the surface. I further polished with the other cloth. The filters are clean and the surface unaffected, as far as I can see with my eyes in the light of a window. These cloths can be washed.

I have also used these cloths to lightly polish my lenses after blowing/dusting them off with a brush. Good results apparently. I think it is in the nature of clean microfiber material not to abrade glass/delicate surfaces. In the places I have read about cleaning camera glass positive mention has been made of microfiber cloth without any caveats. As always, be sure to get high quality.

Neil

claudermilk

Boy are we finicky these days! What ever happend to the old T-shirt method? You know, breathe on the lens, then grab the bottom of your shirt & give the lens a quick wipe?

SloYerRoll

NeilL wrote:

I ran the filters under the tap

NeilL

SloYerRoll wrote:

ziggy53

I would suggest that any cloth which touches a lens surface be both clean and free of contaminants as possible. If you have hard water, I suggest using distilled water as a final rinse when cleaning the cloths. The lime and scale in many tap water systems can be pretty abrasive when the cloth dries.

Using an automotive grade cloth for lenses might not be a good idea simply because you don't know the quality employed in manufacturing the cloth.

I tend to use the micro-fiber cloths sold in the optics department of many drug stores and even the "X-Marts" of the world. I believe the last purchase even had the "Zeiss" label and only cost a few dollars.

NeilL

SloYerRoll wrote:

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]CLEANING YOUR FILTERS:
Due to their high precision, filters should always be handled with care and kept clean whenever possible. Filters should be cleaned gently with just a lens tissue or soft cotton cloth, such as Hoya's Hi-Tech Microfibre cleaning cloth.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular] Never use any chemicals, such as lens cleaning fluid, on your filters, as these can damage the coatings. If any stubborn stains occur, these can usually be washed off with some clean water and a soft cotton cloth.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Hoya Hi-Tech Microfibre Cleaning Cloth is specially designed microfible cleaning cloth, ideal for cleaning dust & finger marks from camera lenses or spectacles. Machine washable. Size: 170 mm x 170 mm (6.7 inch x 6.7 inch).


[/FONT]
Next time I'll use distilled water to wash 'em off, as ziggy said, & to save SYR from a crisis attack hehe!!

LiquidAir

SloYerRoll wrote:

I've always thought lens pens were a waste since they picked up all the crap when cleaning and would deposit part of it the ext time it was used. But I can see their use if they are used as a last step in a cleaning process.

As far as I can tell, Lens Pens don't actually pick up much of anything at all. If the lens is at all dirty, they just spread the dirt around rather than picking it up. However, after a less-than-perfect wet cleaning they work great for removing the thin film left on the lens.

Another note on cleaning: I have found that my technique for wet cleaning i the field tends to push some grime to the the seal at the edge of the lens. If I then push the lens pen all the way out to the edge of the glass it will drag that grime back on to the lens. When I am in the field, I prefer just to leave the grime there and be careful with how I use the lens pen. Then when I get home I take the time to clean the seals.

MarkBarbieri

claudermilk wrote:

Boy are we finicky these days! What ever happend to the old T-shirt method? You know, breathe on the lens, then grab the bottom of your shirt & give the lens a quick wipe?

It works for me.