What should be used to clean both the camera's contacts and the len's contacts: Please help. I can not seen to find anything definitive regarding this. Thanks...

Jim S Loc: Barrington RI, DC now Hilton Head,

Please help. I can not seen to find anything definitive regarding this.

Thanks

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Electronic contact cleaner. Anything abrasive may not only leave residue, but can abrade the extremely thin gold plating on the contacts (often .001” or less) which are often steel or berillium copper, and can corrode once the plating is removed.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

TriX wrote:

Electronic contact cleaner. Anything abrasive may not only leave residue, but can abrade the extremely thin gold plating on the contacts (often .001” or less) which are often steel or berillium copper, and can corrode once the plating is removed.

As TriX said, nothing abrasive and that includes pencil erasers. A paste made from baking soda and water carefully applied with a tooth pick can often be all you need.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Coca-cola tapped on (not rubbed) on the contact with a q-tip covered with a lint free fabric. Let sit a couple of seconds. Remove with an absorbing material (do not rub).

Damned coca-cola will clean/disolve anything including gun powder.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

I once heard someone recommend DeoxIT. It comes as a pen and says that it "enhances, conditions, protects Gold plated electrical connections". Haven't used it. Anyone else ever hear of it?

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Rongnongno wrote:

Coca-cola tapped on (not rubbed) on the contact with a q-tip covered with a lint free fabric. Let sit a couple of seconds. Remove with an absorbing material (do not rub).

Damned coca-cola will clean/disolve anything including gun powder.

Thats for sure, Coca-Cola was always good for cleaning battery terminals in cars that were gunked up with battery acid corrosion!

AND was good for a swig on hot days!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I use a LITTLE pure isopropyl alcohol (not rubbing alcohol) on a Q-tip.
NEVER a pencil eraser or anything abrasive! The gold plating on the contacts is only microns thick!
(Gold does not tarnish. You only need to remove any oils and dust, if any.)

Jim S Loc: Barrington RI, DC now Hilton Head,

Where does one buy Pure Isopropyl Alcohol ?

Is the Coke diluted ?

Thanks

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

cameraf4 wrote:

I once heard someone recommend DeoxIT. It comes as a pen and says that it "enhances, conditions, protects Gold plated electrical connections". Haven't used it. Anyone else ever hear of it?

https://www.amazon.com/DeoxIT-Pen-NSN-6850-01-477-1444-100-solution/dp/B001EQ7H82/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1517264960&sr=1-1&keywords=deoxit+pen

Wipes, Pen, spray... pick your poison ;)

FWIW - I have not used Deoxit myself.

BB4A

Rongnongno wrote:

Coca-cola tapped on (not rubbed) on the contact with a q-tip covered with a lint free fabric. Let sit a couple of seconds. Remove with an absorbing material (do not rub).

Damned coca-cola will clean/disolve anything including gun powder.

👍
Probably safer for you used in this way, than ingested into the body... 😱

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Jim S wrote:

.../...

Is the Coke diluted ?

Thanks

No. Just be careful not to use too much otherwise you will get into a sticky situation. (joking but the advice is serious)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Jim S wrote:

Where does one buy Pure Isopropyl Alcohol ?

Is the Coke diluted ?

Thanks

You can probably get it at multiple places. (Old fashioned rubbing alcohol used to contain some form of mineral oil. Just check the label.)
I use the alcohol wipes that you can buy in a drugstore or in bulk at Costco.
I just rip off the top, insert a Q-tip, and squish to saturate the Q-tip. There is plenty of loose alcohol in the packet.
(I've been cleaning circuit board and connector contacts with isopropyl forever (45+ years).)
BTW - standard gold contact plating is 0.03 - 0.1 microns (1 - 4 micro inches).

MichaelH Loc: NorCal via Lansing, MI

Longshadow wrote:

I use a LITTLE pure isopropyl alcohol (not rubbing alcohol) on a Q-tip.
NEVER a pencil eraser or anything abrasive! The gold plating on the contacts is only microns thick!
(Gold does not tarnish. You only need to remove any oils and dust, if any.)

You want 99% isopropyl alcohol - not 70% which will leave 30% water when the alcohol evaporates. I do not know what you would clean any Coca-Cola off with if it seeps into any crevice on your lens or camera. I do not put gunpowder on my camera or lenses so I would never need to use Coca-Cola.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

MichaelH wrote:

You want 99% isopropyl alcohol - not 70% which will leave 30% water when the alcohol evaporates. I do not know what you would clean any Coca-Cola off with if it seeps into any crevice on your lens or camera. I do not put gunpowder on my camera or lenses so I would never need to use Coca-Cola.

Definitely the 99% would be best, but I've never has a problem with the 70% at all. I do use another Q-tip (or the other end) to remove any excess liquid.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Jim S wrote:

Please help. I can not seen to find anything definitive regarding this.

Thanks

According to Canon, a soft, clean cloth, no solutions or solvents...., that’s all!!!
SS