LittleRed

Last fall while out chasing birds in mid- Michigan I met an old timer photographer (tongue in cheek as seeing I won't see 70 agin). As he was using the same lens as I (300 f4 prime) although he had it attached to a FF Canon while I have mine on a T5i cropper we struck up a conversation. While talking he proceeded to clean his lens with what appeared to be either a very old, soft handkerchief or a piece of an old T-shirt. But prior to using the cloth he took out a small bottle of liquid and applied some to the cloth. Being curious I asked him what type of cleaning fluid he used. He then told me it was something he made up himself, being a mixture of distilled water and white vinegar!!! I've never heard of this method before and really wonder if this is advisable as vinegar is in fact an acid, be it very mild. I also should say that this old gentleman did not have a filter on the lens but was cleaning the front elements of the lens proper. Has anybody seen this or use it themselves and what do you fella hoggers think of it?????

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

It is a top secret formula handed down from the hands of working women. A little vinegar and cold water cleans glass better than newspaper.

Clemens Loc: Maryland

modern lenses are coated and the acid in the vinegar can damage the coating.
In short: this is NOT how to clean a lens

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

I use Ziess wipes. considering the cost, relative to the cost of glass they are essentially free.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

Sandpaper and Comet will remove just about ANY thing on your lens. :D

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Including the front element. On seecond thought if the sandpaper doesn't work, try a hammer and a very sharp chisel

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

Vinegar won't hurt the lens as much as it can eat through the housing allowing air and moisture in.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

That'll get it! :D

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

Since he did not give you the portions, I would bet if it was in a small bottle it probably had about 1 tablespoon white vinegar to 6 ounces of water. My mother & grandmother used white vinegar & water to clean all the glass at home and it was 16 ounces of vinegar to one gallon of water.

pixbyjnjphotos Loc: Apache Junction,AZ

I have not heard of distilled water and vinegar. I worked many years for a DOD contractor and cleaned expensive lenses for high powered telescopic sites. Some were astronomically dirty. This is external lens surfaces I am referring to. We began with the soft brush. If there was greasy substance on the lens we started with some methyl ethyl ketone. A camera lens will most likely not ever need that. The next step used denatured alcohol and the last step we used acetone. Acetone evaporates completely and leaves no ugly streaks. Consult the link below and that should help some.

http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/how-to-clean-a-lens-the-right-way/

When cleaning lenses you should fold a small (approximately 2 inches by 2 inches) of lens paper into half twice and turn 90 degrees and fold into half again. Push the now folded end a little to form a small pad. Do not use toilet tissue or facial tissue for lens paper. They have lotion added to the paper to make them softer and you will never get all the streaks off your lens. Dip the pad into your cleaning solution and then apply to the center of your lens. Using a circular motion to work your way to the outside of the lens. Then take a second dry pad and wipe the lens clean. Repeat both processes until there are no streaks, spots, etc left on the glass. Always start in the center and work your way to the outside. Denatured alcohol does not have any of the additives of isopropyl alcohol so it does not leave as residue. I do use isopropyl alcohol to clean my lenses. Takes a little more time since it has some additives and usually requires more than one application. I personally do not use over the counter lens cleaning solutions. They contain something that leaves streaks and I do not have good luck with it. All cloth, even micro fiber, attracts dirt particles and, in time, can scratch your lens.

Hope this helps a little. Have a GREAT DAY!

LittleRed

Yes, this is a home recipe used for ages by our moms and grandmoms. But this gentleman was not in my opinion a rank amateur but someone whom did photography for countless years. In talking and photographing with him over a period of a copla hours he showed me he had much more experience in wildlife picture taking than I have or probably ever will have, even though I've been at it for longer than I can remember. He also told me the lens he was cleaning he said he purchased shortly after it was introduced for public sale. I don't know when this was but I do believe it was quite a few years ago. If he has been using this method for many years without a problem one has to wonder if this in fact another way to do your cleaning. I don't think I would ever use this method myself but it seems to have worked for him a long time. Perhaps he started doing this many moons ago when the more modern commercial wipes were not available or too costly for him at the time.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Use neat vinegar to wipe down the wiper blades on your car to restore smear free performance (usually). Even add a little to the washer reservoir.
It's powerful stuff. Be wary if you use it on lenses.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

I think these guys are pulling your plonker!!! I soak mine in cat pee which I have trained my tabby Timmy to do in a lens bath I keep on the kitchen table. Lenses shine like new and my inlaws refuse to visit.
A double result!!!!!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Nikon used to advise against it for the reason you stated, but they referred to acids in breath and blowing on the lens to fog it and create moisture.

They have since removed the part about blowing on the lens:

https://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/539/~/how-do-i-clean-the-camera-lens?

The recommended approach is to blow, then a wet system with the moisture applied to a lint free cloth. My local camera guy uses liquid ether:denatured alcohol - in a 70:30 mix.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Nikon used to advise against it for the reason you stated, but they referred to acids in breath and blowing on the lens to fog it and create moisture.

They have since removed the part about blowing on the lens:

https://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/539/~/how-do-i-clean-the-camera-lens?

The recommended approach is to use a bulb blower, then a wet system with the moisture applied to a lint free cloth. My local camera guy uses liquid ether:denatured alcohol - in a 70:30 mix.