GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

I don't want to start another discussion about cleaning lenses or sensors but do have a question about some automotive cleaners.

Most liquid auto windshield cleaners leave a slight film of some kind that isn't very good for lenses. Two months ago I saw and snuck a couple drops on my glass eyeglasses. That stuff worked really good and no leftover film! Super clean!

I purchased new eyeglasses. They came with Nikon plastic lenses. The instructions claim a distolate(sp?) in it and was not recomended for plastic. But what about the true glass in lenses?

I was wondering about that so I called the company, (Invisible Glass). They just repeated not to use it on plastic.

The glass on camera lenses might have a plastic body so I don't know. It seems to me just put some on a microfiber and carefully wiper the glass only.

Has anyone tried it on the glass part of there lens? I was impressed with it on my glass eyeglasses but wonder about lenses with their type of plastic. (Got a couple lenses I could try it on but would hate to screw up my Sigma 70-200 body.)

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

GEN - I use "Ultra Carity" lens cleaner from a company called www.CarityBrandProducts.com. Got it from my optomitrist's office and have been using it to clean glasses, the screen on my MacBook Pro, my iPad, the screen on my 'not so smart' cell phone, and, so far with no adverse results, my camera lenses, viewfinders and LCDs. I have no affiliation of any nature with the manufacturer. I have a bottle of "Invisible Glass" and have had pretty good experience with its ability to clean my car's windshield, but haven't (yet) considered using it on camera gear and lenses.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

Be careful and do not use any cleaner that leaves a polymerized film on the glass.
Avoid anything that claims to shed water or dust.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Brand?
To a test on seldom used coated filters may do your test???

Bill_de Loc: US

Use number one for glass optics coated or not.
Use number four on plastic optics.

http://lensclens.com/

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wolfman

Zeiss lens cleaning wipes on all of my lenses.

Blasthoff Loc: Life halved NY and IN

One thing you need to remember about "lens glass", it isn't exactly "glass" you need to worry about, but the coatings on the glass. I don't know and I'm not sure I'd want to experiment with automotive glass cleaners and certainly DO NOT use any sort of automotive glass "treatment" like Rain-X. Cleaners very a lot but some are probably strong enough to remove dried bugs and crap and may have some sort of unknown solvents.

A suggestion for inexpensive lens cleaner is to go to a Walmart Eyeglass dept and pick up a 2 oz spray bottle of "Platinum No-Glare Lens Cleaner" for $1.97, it's alcohol free and safe for all lens types (glass or plastic) and appears to be identical to brand name camera lens cleaners I've used. My optician also told me it was safe for camera lenses. Not only is the price right but you only have to buy it once and they will refill it for free, just bring the bottle in any time it runs low.

I bought some lens wipes to try but I found not only do they cost more, but you still need a micro fiber cloth or dry lens tissue to clean up after them. I think "wipes" are just a gimmick to dispense the same lens cleaner you get in the bottle.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I wouldn't take a chance on anything that isn't specifically labeled for use on camera lenses. I use the Zeiss Wipes.

Rain-X sounds tempting, though. :D

guitarbts Loc: Charlotte, NC

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Not knowing the chemistry of those cleaners and their interaction with your lens coating, I would not use it. Why would I possibly want to ruin a 500 or 2000 dollar lens because I want to see if it will clean it better thn a microfiber cloth or Kodak lens Cleaner..

jrh1354 Loc: Dayton, Ohio

Totally agree. Windshield cleaners are for windshields. Zeiss cleaners are specifically formulated for coated lenses.

louparker Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

Another caveat: NEVER spray any cleaner directly on your lenses, but instead spray a "safe" lens cleaner solution on a microfiber lens cleaning cloth and the wipe your lens with that. If you spray anything directly on your camera lens, you run the risk of having liquid seep inside the lens elements.

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

The reason I haven't tried it before is simply because I didn't trust using it. As mentioned above,windshields are windshields and lenses are lenses.

Best stay with my gut and not try it.

Thanks everybody!

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

A glasses shop I sometimes go to makes it own glass cleaner - soft water with a small amount of added Dawn dish detergent in a handy sized spray bottle. Cleans effectively and leaves no streaks.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I have heard of using Windex (the NON-amonia type) for lens cleaning, sometimes diluted with distilled water and/or with some isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol added.

Still, I'd be reluctant to use it. Cleaners specifically designed for lens cleanings simply aren't all that expensive, and are more likely to be safer to use on coated optics.