Lenspen vs wipes (Page 2): Actually, it's extremely soft, and very effective. I use them when I'm out and about. They're not for cleaning extremely dirty or caked lenses but for the...

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

RWR wrote:

I said I "tend" to agree. I've never cleaned a lens with anything harder than a lens tissue, and do not believe that the dry chamois lenspen tip is that soft.

Actually, it's extremely soft, and very effective. I use them when I'm out and about. They're not for cleaning extremely dirty or caked lenses but for the normal cleaning of lenses that have accumulated air born dust, oils and fingerprints over time. In other words, it meets the needs of the average camera user most of the time, and it works well. The renewable carbon on the tip absorbs fingerprints and other oils.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Duplicate post

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Dlevon wrote:

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I agree. I've also been using lens pen for years and have had no problems. Don't use circular a motion with them. Use a cross motion. I also use lens wipes and both are fine. Lens pens are great to have with you out in the field.

:thumbup: I use the circular motion as recommended by Lenspen without any issues, but use whatever method works for you. :)

Carl D Loc: Albemarle, NC.

I don't seem to have a problem with the lenspen as long as the lens or filter is not real dirty then I use lens cleaner, tissue and a micro-fiber cloth.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

I have a little, well not too little, box full of zillion-washed cotton baby diaper and flannel baby PJ squares for glass-anything cleaning. Always squirt them with isopropyl alcohol first. The lady expert at a local glasses shop makes up her own mix of water and Dawn detergent, quite dilute. Modern eyeglasses have lens coatings, but probably not exactly the same as for camera lenses.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

mwsilvers wrote:

Actually, it's extremely soft, and very effective. I use them when I'm out and about. They're not for cleaning extremely dirty or caked lenses but for the normal cleaning of lenses that have accumulated air born dust, oils and fingerprints over time. In other words, it meets the needs of the average camera user most of the time, and it works well. The renewable carbon on the tip absorbs fingerprints and other oils.

AGREED.

Folks, LensPen products are MADE for cleaning lenses, sensors, and eyepieces. That's what they were designed to do, and the company has been in business for YEARS selling those products.

They work, and used as directed, are COMPLETELY safe and effective. :thumbup:

Dlevon Loc: New Jersey

CHOLLY wrote:

AGREED.

Folks, LensPen products are MADE for cleaning lenses, sensors, and eyepieces. That's what they were designed to do, and the company has been in business for YEARS selling those products.

They work, and used as directed, are COMPLETELY safe and effective. :thumbup:

:thumbup: :thumbup:

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

John_F wrote:

I have a little, well not too little, box full of zillion-washed cotton baby diaper and flannel baby PJ squares for glass-anything cleaning. Always squirt them with isopropyl alcohol first. The lady expert at a local glasses shop makes up her own mix of water and Dawn detergent, quite dilute. Modern eyeglasses have lens coatings, but probably not exactly the same as for camera lenses.

The problem with your solution would be the slight smearing and small fibers that it would leave on the lens. Perhaps you haven't noticed it, but its there.

AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

mwsilvers wrote:

The lenspen is not intended to clean debris (except with the brush), but oily spots like those from fingers prints. The oils are absorbed and the carbon is refreshed by the cap. The OPs experience maybe be a result of what was on the lens in the first place. The lenspens won't remove things like dried mud or peanut butter. ;) My have serviced me well and my lenses are spotless

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzcj2HX5QHE

Seriously? You think I have dried mud and peanut butter on my lens? Did you see the part that said how many years Ive done photography? I had small spots on the filter which appeared to be from a light mist. I followed the directions, brush, then swirling motions as instructed. If youre "in the field" I dont think you should have to use a second product (tissues or wipes) to finish up what the Lenspen cant do.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

mwsilvers wrote:

The problem with your solution would be the slight smearing and small fibers that it would leave on the lens. Perhaps you haven't noticed it, but its there.

With respect to fibers the zillion washings will have reduced them to a minimum, but what few there are will blow off easily when dry.

As for smears, the trick is to always look at the surface obliquely so through birefringence they will show up.

Another option are the antiseptic wipes - they are usually 70% isopropyl alcohol and 30% purified water and come in little (like inch & a half sealed packages). They would be good for getting finger greases off.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

AndyT wrote:

Seriously? You think I have dried mud and peanut butter on my lens? Did you see the part that said how many years Ive done photography? I had small spots on the filter which appeared to be from a light mist. I followed the directions, brush, then swirling motions as instructed. If youre "in the field" I dont think you should have to use a second product (tissues or wipes) to finish up what the Lenspen cant do.

I wasn't suggesting you had dried mud or peanut butter on your lenses. :) But there are people here that photograph such things as muddy motocross races and sticky fingered toddlers that do. The Lenspen wasn't meant for that. I've never had a problem keeping my lenses spotless using the Lenspen in the field. I'm sorry your experience wasn't as positive. A couple of things did occur to me. One is that they are only good for 500 or so uses. I'll assume the one you have was new. The other thing is where did you purchase it? I've read that there are a number of counterfeit ones out there that don't work very well. I've never run into one myself, (that I'm aware of), but supposedly they are out there. Beyond that I have no idea why this very useful product doesn't work for you as well as it does for many other people.

Kuzano

MT Shooter wrote:

Two different products with two different purposes. Wipes are best for actual cleaning. Lenspen is best for dusting, never serious cleaning as the pad end picks up debris and continued use can cause scratching.

I often dream of the "boulder embedded in the pad end". I find it hard to use the lens pen.... My constant fear is that somewhere, somehow, the pad end is going to pick up a bit of grit, and when I run it across the lens, viola'... big gouge when I look at the lens.

Sorry.. no lens pens for me. dedicated lens tissues have worked quite well for me for 5 decades now. That and SPIT!!!

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Kuzano wrote:

I often dream of the "boulder embedded in the pad end". I find it hard to use the lens pen.... My constant fear is that somewhere, somehow, the pad end is going to pick up a bit of grit, and when I run it across the lens, viola'... big gouge when I look at the lens.

Sorry.. no lens pens for me. dedicated lens tissues have worked quite well for me for 5 decades now. That and SPIT!!!

Just a thought. If an inadvertent piece of grit gets under, or attaches itself to the lens tissue won't the same thing happen? There are no embedded boulders in the end of the Lenspen unless you are very careless. Using one is every bit as safe as using a lens tissue. But hey, if you're not comfortable using one, than don't.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

^^^There is LESS chance of getting that imbeded Boulder WITH A LensPen because if you follow the directions and brush first, large particles are removed long before the pad touches the glass.

Additionally, not all lens wipes are made equally. Some are designed for glasses that don't have exotic coatings. Some have coarser fibers than others. Not saying either would damage your lens, but with the LensPen there is a lot more quality control and almost zero chance of damaging your equipment.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

Oh, and mw is right; the carbon end has a finite lifespan, after which it becomes much less effective at removing anything oily or greasy.